A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 166: Is This How Your Heart Thinks?

Chapter 166: Is This How Your Heart Thinks?

Avelina blinked her eyes and scratched her neck awkwardly. He sounded a bit annoyed by her question, and she did not fail to notice it.

"W-well... He’s your brother, and—"

"Hold on," Draven interrupted her. He stood up from the sofa and approached her on the bed.

He squatted down to her level and gazed into her eyes.

Avelina batted her lashes, not exactly sure what he was trying to do. Her heart was racing, this time for a different reason. The way he was gazing at her was different. It was in a way that he had never looked at her before. It was intimidating for her.

This was the same kind of stare he gave her the first time they met at the auction. Why? Did she say something wrong? Was he mad at her?

She furrowed her brows, unwilling to be intimidated by him. "Why are you gazing at me like that, Draven?"

She reached out her hands, covering his eyes.

Draven grabbed her wrist, removing her hand from his face. Then he said, "Complete your sentence."

"Huh?" Avelina flickered her eyes. "Complete...my sentence?"

Draven nodded at her. "Yes, finish it."

"Oh...Kay..." Avelina cleared her throat. "I was just saying that you could have played along. I mean, he is your brother, and I am sure you do not like that he is going through pain right now."

"You are wrong, Avelina," Draven said.

Avelina was taken aback. "Wrong? What do you mean?"

"What gave you the idea that I do not like that he is going through pain?" Draven inquired, genuinely curious.

Avelina raised her brows, not sure if she was correctly processing his words. "So... you’re saying that you do like it?"

"I do. Very much if I must say." Draven nodded, confirming her words.

"But why?" Avelina queried. She did not exactly comprehend what he was thinking or why.

"Why not?" Draven tilted his head as he stared at her. "Avelina, why would I allow him to pull me along with his lies?"

Avelina did not respond. She was thinking.

"I want to ask you a question. Answer me honestly." Draven began to caress her cheek while his eyes were locked on hers.

Avelina flickered her lashes and slowly nodded at him. "Okay."

"Put me in Ryan’s shoes. Do you think he would have played along with me? Don’t you think he would love to see me in worse pain than he could ever be?" Draven asked. He was staring at her in a way that was enough to tell one he already knew what her response would be. But it seemed like he wanted to hear the answer from her, as though wanting to prove something to her.

Avelina thought seriously about it. She didn’t need to be told, for she knew what the obvious answer was.

She looked at Draven and shook her head. "No, he never would."

"So then why do you expect me to do for others what they would never do for me if the roles were reversed?" Draven further pressed in the most sincere tone. He seemed to be quite disappointed.

Avelina took a deep breath and said in response, "I know Draven, but I just think that, um, you would be no different from them if you were like thi—"

"Haha." Draven chuckled, amused. "Silly, I do not aspire to be different."

"It’s an eye for an eye. You hurt me, I hurt you too. Treat me awfully, I do the same. That’s how it works and how it should be."

"Avelina..." He gazed deeply into her hazel eyes. "You mustn’t believe that nonsense. This world is too cruel to have mercy on your enemies. You mustn’t forgive easily, because forgiveness is earned. Hurt those who hurt you, and dare not feel guilty about it, even if you think it would make you no different from them."

"Do you think they feel remorse when they hurt you?" he questioned.

Avelina shook her head at him. "No..."

"Exactly! So you shouldn’t either. That is the way to survive. Play your cards right and use your number six." Draven tapped his forehead. "Everything should have a limit, do you understand? Too much forgiveness, mercy, and kindness is awful, and you must not do that. Each one of these is earned. If not, they will be taken for granted."

"You must not feel sorry for Ryan. He was aware of what his wife had done, but he covered for her, which is understandable. But that is not enough of an excuse for what he has done. He accepted her behavior and did not care that she hurt you. Why are you sorry for him? Is this how your heart thinks?" he asked.

Avelina stared at him. She was not saying a word. What has she been thinking all this time? All of a sudden, it made so much sense.

Why was she even feeling sympathetic? She was forgetting that if Draven were not with her, these people would have hurt her and tossed her away.

She took a deep breath and shook her head at Draven.

"It is not how my heart thinks, Draven."

"Are you sure?" Draven queried as he ran his finger through her hair, tucking a few strands behind her ear.

Avelina smiled, nodding her head.

"Good," Draven said. "You must understand that with every action an individual takes, there is a consequence. He lied, and that is the consequence of his actions. He should go through it, Avelina. I do not have to save him. It has nothing to do with me."

"I understand." Avelina smiled at him. She abruptly leaned in, kissing his forehead.

Draven blinked his eyes and looked at her. He gazed at her for a few moments before asking, "Do you want to eat desserts?

"Deserts?" Avelina inquired.

"Yes," Draven replied. "I want to eat one, so I’m wondering if you want to tag along with me."

"Will there be chocolate, brownies, cookies, muffins, cakes, pie, everything?" Avelina’s mouth had watered. Her eyes hung low in a dreamy manner.

Draven cackled in amusement, entertained by the expression on her face. He found it adorable.

He ruffled her hair and nodded at her. "Yes, yes, anything you want. You just have to ask, and I will give them all to you."