<h4>Chapter 20 - How Was It?</h4>


    Lina froze. It felt like roots grew from the ground, keeping her in ce. Lights shed before her eyes, enough to cause a seizure and have her foaming in the mouth.


    Strange images flooded her mind. Leather bound wrists and ankles, metal helmets, white rooms, and terrifying screams. ??


    Unable topose herself, Lina opened and closed her mouth, frantic of the blinding shes. Paparazzi took pictures one after the other, until all she could see was white.


    "Miss Yang, look this way!"


    "Miss Yang, are you and Everett Lere official?"


    "Is this a date?"


    Questions after the other were hollered at Lina. Lina trembled, her breathing caught in her throat, and her mind went nk. She couldn''t even think, much less blink and react.


    Lina felt like she was caught in the middle of a terrifying storm, and the world was closing in on her.


    "Please, gentlemen, some privacy," Everett said, shielding her from the light.


    Everett wrapped an arm around her waist and began pulling her down the staircase. He was confused by herck of movement.


    Lina behaved like a doll. She moved as he pleased, walked numbly, and said nothing. Her expression was nk, but she was shaking like a dog with rabies. He couldn''t help but protect her, even though he had gotten her into this mess in the first ce.


    "Boss… Shouldn''t we intervene?" Sebastian worriedly asked, standing behind his Boss.


    Sebastian nervously nced at therge crowd of cameras and paparazzi blocking the couple from leaving.


    Lina''s face was deste as if she had abandoned the light.


    Kaden said nothing. He simply brought his cigarette to his mouth, breathing it deeply. The smoke tickled his eyes, but he still watched her. Watched the panic on her face, the way she was pulled like a rag doll, and the shift of her hair over her features.


    Kaden''s expression didn''t change even when Everett pulled Lina closer.


    "Let the fool dig his own grave," Kaden coldly said.


    Kaden leaned against his ck car and took another drag of the cigarette, the fumes clogging his throat. It was the only thing keeping him in control, despite the temporary relief.


    "Yes, Boss." Sebastian continued to stare at the couple, his brows tugging together.


    Did the Lere heir think Miss Yang was stupid? Once Lina got over the shock of shing lights, she should realize who sent the paparazzi here in the first ce. For goodness sakes, she went to one of the most prestigious universities in this country!


    Just then, Sebastian saw Lina get into the car. Even from afar, he could see the Lere heir lean over and buckle Lina in.


    They were captured in all sorts of intimate positions. Without a doubt, the news was going to spread. First, she was caught in photos with the DeHaven Young Master, and now, it was the Lere Law Firm''s heir.


    Just how was Lina going to get herself out of this mess now?


    - - - - -


    The entire car ride home was silent. Everett tried to make small talk, but she said nothing. Her face resembled an empty canvas, her gaze hollow and distant.


    Everett instantly regretted not protecting her well enough. Was she afraid ofrge crowds or was she afraid of the paparazzi?


    His brows tugged together and he turned to see her staring out the window.


    "Are you alright?" Everett asked.


    Nothing.


    Not even a nce.


    Everett softly sighed. He drove her home. The second the car stopped, she opened the door and left.


    Lina didn''t even nce back. She mmed the car doors and stormed into her house.


    Not a minuteter, he received a phone call. ncing at the phone screen, his lips pulled into a thin line. Lina''s mother, Evelyn Yang.


    "Hello?" Everett answered amicably whilst gazing at the door Lina had walked into.


    "Mr. Lere, how was it?" Evelyn kindly asked, her voice airy with hope.


    "Awful," Everett muttered.


    "W-what?"


    "Awesome," Everett corrected.


    Everett didn''t know Lina''s rtionship with her mother, but judging from her questions, he concluded it wasn''t a good one. Everett didn''t want to give Lina another reason to hate him. Though, it was quite refreshing and charming at times…


    "Perfect! Would you like to arrange another—"


    "No need," Everett curtly said. "Just make sure I''m the only date she''ll ever see."


    Evelyn blinked. She was sitting in the living room and had instantly called him upon hearing Lina return home. To think the young Lere would be so possessive... Her lips curled with the opportunity of gaining power through her daughter''s husband.


    Besides this phone call, Evelyn had another one to make… to someone who rarely picked up her calls. But she''d be relentless this time. She wore her hard work would not go to waste!


    "Of course, you''ll be the only man my daughter ever sees," Evelyn responded. "As you know, she is quite a prude, thus doesn''t have many—"


    "Then why is Kaden DeHaven always seen with her?" Everett snapped.


    Before Evelyn could answer, Everett hung up the phone. Releasing a loud sigh, he mmed his hand against the steering wheel.


    Everett scowled at the memory of Lina and Kaden. They looked good together. He hated to admit it, but there was a spark between those two. It was electrifying, and the sight of them kept people on their toes. He gritted his teeth, leaning back in his car seat.


    "Be patient," Everett breathed out.


    After today''s events, Lina was guaranteed to be his—whether she liked it or not.


    Unfortunately, Everett had an inkling suspicion that another predator wasing for his prey.


    Everett narrowed his eyes. He had a habit of wanting things that didn''t want him. And Lina was the epitome of that. A conquest, if he would.


    Everett wondered how long she could uphold her facade.


    It was all due time.


    - - - - -


    Lina wasn''t worried about the photos showing up in the tabloids. The second those images are released, they''ll be taken down again. She already knew who''d have her back.


    The only person in this world who wanted to keep her lowkey. And for his personal gain.


    "I should begin burning this dress," Lina muttered to herself.


    Lina red up at the ceiling, deciding she would lock her bedroom doors from now on. No more ambushes. No more blind dates. She nned on getting the hell out of here.


    Suddenly, someone knocked on her door. Then, it opened to reveal Milo peering through it.


    "You awake?" Milo softly asked her.


    Lina nodded, ncing at his apologetic expression. His attention shifted into the room andnded on his zer, resting on the coat hanger.


    "My friend was passing by the museum earlier and saw amotion," Milo slowly said. "I know what happened."


    Lina cringed. "I don''t want to talk about it."


    "You never told me where your fear of shing lights came from," Milo mumbled, fidgeting with his fingers. "I just remember you returning from summer camp one day afraid of rain and shing lights."


    Lina blinked. What? "I-I''ve always had this fear…"


    Lina didn''t remember a summer camp. What was Milo talking about?


    "I''ve never been to a summer camp," Lina began.


    Milo stiffened. Immediately, he averted his eyes. "Ah, I meant your boarding school."


    Lina went cold. Her face was drained of blood and instantly, she looked to the ground. Her horrid past. She wanted to forget all of it. And all of a sudden, she was no longer hungry.


    Lina knew the past couldn''t be changed. Her grandfather''s words shed in her head. You''ll never live in the present if you leave yourself in your past.


    Lina knew her father and grandfather had done everything they could, but it was no use. All three of them regretted the years she spent in boarding school. And it''d be guilt that haunted her grandfather and father for the rest of their lives.


    "Sorry," Milo admitted. "I just— hey, did you eat anything today?"


    Milo decided to change the topic. Judging from themotion in the museum, he doubted his sister had anything to eat.


    Lina squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. "No, I''m not hungry."


    "But I made cookies, and they''re your favorite," Milo said. "I''m finally behaving like a filial younger brother. Don''t you want toe and witness it?"


    Lina lightlyughed and opened her eyes.


    "I just want to sleep, Milo. I''m tired," Lina responded.


    Milo''s expression softened.


    "Well, alright. I won''t disturb you," Milo said.


    Lina nodded. She curled into herforter, despite wearing the same thing from this morning.


    Milo turned off the lights and she closed her eyes again. He lingered by the doorway, taking in theck of photos in her room. A sharp contrast to his, where photos of his middle and high school friends could be seen.


    Her room was clean and untouched as if no one had ever lived in here before. Holding back a sigh, Milo exited the room, hoping sleep would heal her wounded heart and foggy mind.


    "Sweet dreams," Milo whispered, closing her doors.


    But both Milo and Lina knew it''d never be sweet dreams for her. It''ll always be nightmares of the forgotten past.