Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 41: Momentary Lapse Of Judgement

Chapter 41: Momentary Lapse Of Judgement

Viviana did everything Leander asked of her the following days and didn’t ask him anything. If he asked her to eat, she did, and if she asked her to sleep, she did. She changed his bandages regularly, and she had found that like her, he heals faster too.

He didn’t disturb her much except when he asked her to eat with him or change his bandages. She tried to sleep on the floor one night, but he did not like that. So, she scraped that idea and continued sleeping on his bed. He was a deep sleeper and he rarely woke up in the middle of the night. Also, he kept to his side of the bed.

Viviana was a little weirded out to share a bed with someone else for some days, but she got used to his presence. She still couldn’t get used to using the same bathroom he used. She was not allowed out of the room and she had to share that bathroom.

She was so comfortably used to living alone and this new prospect of sharing the room again needed some getting used to. Especially, with a man.

But after what he did that day, he didn’t show much interest in getting close to her. So, she slowly got accustomed to his presence.

Also, she knew that it could be a thousand times and a million ways worse considering who she is and who Leander Kastello is.

She was not complaining. She would prefer it if he lets her go, but he was not willing to. If she was honest, she is treated as a guest in this house with very minor inconveniences.

She didn’t know why she was treated nicely. Maybe he was fattening up the calf before slaughter. Why else would he take her to that party? She gathered her courage to face anything with grace. She is not going to beg him for anything. She will get humiliated or torn to pieces without begging.

The Kastello family took everything from her. She will not let them take her pride.

She understood that the bathroom window had sensors. Maybe that’s how Leander knew that she tried to escape back then. She learned that Katerina wanted to say a lot to her, but she always controlled her words around her. The maid she saw sneaking to the fence... she did that daily.

And there was a dog. She didn’t know whose dog it was or if that dog even lived in the house. She only saw it once. But there was a dog. Viviana knew she will have to find a way to cozy up to the dog if she wants to escape.

But nothing can be done if she is trapped inside this room. She might have told Kastello that she was not going to escape, but she is not a fool to keep her word.

That dreaded day came. Leander offered her a dress. It was a simple floor-length black dress with an embellished jewel neckline and cap sleeves. She wore it no questions asked. Honestly, it was not a bad dress. If she wanted to humiliate a woman, she wouldn’t have chosen this dress. If she thought deeply, he’s been acting weird lately. He often looked like a lost puppy invoking her sympathy.

But... It’s Kastello! She didn’t want to let her guard down. It might all be very well planned by him.

She didn’t know why Leander insisted on staying with her when she was applying her makeup. Leander got her everything she asked for. She jotted down the shades she wanted and he got everything from an expensive brand she didn’t even dare to window-shop in the past. He asked her if he needed to hire someone. She refused. Good or bad, she decided not to put someone else’s life on the line.

His walk-in closet had a small vanity area that opened up to the bathroom. She wondered if he used to live with his girlfriend or wife in the past. The room was designed for living with a woman. But she found no records of any woman living with him. She didn’t bother to ask. It doesn’t matter anyway.

He was sitting on the vanity table wearing his trousers and shirt. His big stature was a distraction, but she tried not to mind him and continued with her makeup. She needed at least half an hour to finish her look.

"What’s this?" he asked. "It looks...weird..." Like some torture device...

"An eyelash curler," she answered and continued on with moisturizer and toner.

"Oh...this?"

"It’s primer... I...need it next..." she got it from his hand.

"Primer?" Leander raised his brows. He thought only walls and wood needed primer before a paint job. Do faces need primer too?

Leander stayed silent for some time, but he couldn’t hold the silence. He didn’t understand why she is slapping herself.

"This..." he picked up the eyeshadow palette. "...is what you color your lips with? Why is there green?" he asked.

"That’s eyeshadow... that’s blush..." she named the other stuff he pointed at. And then he started pointing at all the products one by one. Each time, his eyes widened. And he smelled everything like a curious puppy.

"Concealer...highlighter, contour... that’s eyeliner... mascara... lip pencil... lip balm... that’s lipstick..."

"It smells good," he smelled the lipstick again and again. "I wonder how it will taste..."

A puppy!

"You want to wear it?" she got up. It was a nude shade and it won’t look odd on him if applied rightly.

"No! I don’t wear lipsticks," Leander stood up hurriedly.

Where did she get the idea that he wanted to wear lipstick? He was thinking about how her lips would taste if she applied this on her lips. And she thought that he liked wearing lipsticks? Why is she always thinking wrongly of him?

"But it won’t show... see..." she showed him the color. "It’s the color of your lips and it won’t show. You can try it and if you don’t like it, we can remove it. What do you say?" she pulled his collar. She was excited.

Leander gulped. Those shimmering eyes didn’t have an ounce of hate in them. She was looking at him with unadulterated excitement.

Wow!

His knees went weak. She could kill him with her eyes holding that expression and he will die the happiest man on earth.

How pretty!

He sat on the chair and let her do her thing. The tips of her fingers were cold as they accidentally grazed on him. Her eyes were focused as she painted with the brush.

And she was smiling. How beautiful...

His shoulders relaxed and he stared at her without blinking her eyes. His heart started to pound and yet he was relaxed. A smile bloomed on his face. He could live like this for the rest of his life.

"There..." Viviana pressed her lips together urging him to do the same. "Ah... your skin is a bit dry... wait..." She got the moisturizer and dabbed it on his face.

"Hmm, perfect!" she exhaled in satisfaction. He was keeping his lips scrunched and apart. It reminded her of the kids she used to play with who would do the same because they don’t want to smudge the lipstick. They won’t even drink water and would talk without their lips touching. It would be so funny to watch.

Leander was doing the same. It was so adorable to look at. "Look!" she turned him to face the mirror.

She was shocked when she looked in the mirror. She didn’t know when a smile bloomed on her face, but she was smiling.

What am I doing?

She clenched her jaws. She couldn’t get how she could get a lapse in her judgment.

Who am I comparing those kids with? His family kills kids for a living! And what am I thinking to see him as cute?

He is a murderer! He’s not some innocent puppy!

Ugh! Viv, get a grip!

"It’s late. I should get ready," She pressed her lips.

Leander’s smile vanished. The innocence and joy he saw in her eyes just a moment ago were not there anymore. It was as if it was a mirage... She was looking at him like she always does—with hate.

He stood up.

It hurt.