I Became My Son's First Love - Chapter 54

“I can’t give you any answer other than that my eye color changes. For any other questions, you’ll have to figure them out yourself.”

Eve’s face twisted in frustration. He had come all this way to address something she had been trying to ignore, only to refuse to answer any further?

Irritated, Eve retorted, “What do you mean by that?”

Azazel leaned forward, whispering sweetly, “I want you to be curious about me, Eve. I want you to want to know me, to think about me all day long.”

Despite his sweet words, his gaze was menacing, brimming with desire and possessiveness, as if he wanted to devour her right then and there.

“You’ll be desperate to know who I am, thinking about me every day, just as I think about you.”

His voice, thick with emotion and a dangerous intensity, clung to her like a web, wrapping her up tightly. Eve held her breath, and only when Azazel donned his usual composed mask again did she manage to breathe.

“If you’re curious, come find me. You can do that.”

“Why should I?”

Azazel grinned mischievously. “Because you’re curious about what I am, aren’t you?”

Being utterly overwhelmed by him and having her thoughts laid bare frustrated her. Eve did want to know if he was the same as the figure from her dreams, or somehow related to him. And even more, she was curious about Azazel’s true identity. There was no denying it—he already saw right through her.

Grumbling, Eve asked, “Not even a hint?”

Her tone was gruff, but it was practically a surrender. Azazel twirled his fingers, appearing to think for a moment, before letting out a small sigh.

“Count Hound has found something.”

“What? Seriously? Why bring up Dane now, out of nowhere?”

“You asked for a hint. You might find useful information by being around him.”

“Why not just tell me outright?”

Azazel stroked the corner of her eye, which had begun to twitch in irritation. “Where’s the fun in that?”

“This is even less fun.”

Azazel laughed but remained stubborn. “Count Hound worries about you and doesn’t like seeing you with me. If you ask him directly, he won’t tell you anything. You’ll have to nudge him and extract the information indirectly.”

Her head was spinning. As she pressed her lips together in frustration, Azazel met her gaze with an unwavering, playful smile.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because, until you figure out the truth, you’ll be thinking about me every single day. I’m so happy.”

“That’s so you.”

He was always consistent. Eve found it amusing how accustomed she had grown to such responses from him. Suddenly, Azazel stood up.

“Well, I should be going now.”

Without warning, he leaned in as if to kiss her, but Eve, feeling a sudden surge of defiance, pushed against his chest, preventing him.

“Oh.”

Startled by his pained groan, Eve looked at him in surprise. Azazel stepped back, clearly trying to avoid her touch, and his evasiveness made her suspicious.

When she pressed her hand against the same spot on his chest, his handsome face contorted in pain, his jaw muscles tightening as if he was struggling to endure it. He really was hurt.

Eve sprang to her feet and grabbed him, placing her hand on his chest.

“Don’t move.”

“But, Eve, you really shouldn’t see this.”

“If you keep avoiding it, I won’t let this go.”

With no other choice, Azazel sighed and dropped his hands.

Skillfully, Eve began undoing his coat and vest, revealing a blood-stained wound through his white shirt. That wound hadn’t been there this morning. Carefully, she undid the buttons of his shirt down to his chest, where her sharp gaze fell.

“What’s this? You didn’t even treat it?”

Azazel, looking troubled, remained silent. The wound, swollen and red as if it had been burned, was seeping pus. As Eve stared at the injury without saying a word, Azazel added hesitantly.

“It’ll heal soon. My lip healed quickly, didn’t it?”

“Hah.”

Now that she had caught him once, he was openly revealing how suspicious he was.

Eve tapped his chest lightly, her gaze cold. “So, you’re not in pain?”

This time, Azazel didn’t seem prepared, and a groan of pain escaped him. It confirmed that one of the painful groans she had heard in the shop had indeed been his. She felt a surge of anger—how could such a beautiful body be injured like this?

“Was it that man?”

“Yes.”

Of course, Azazel wouldn’t hurt someone without reason. Thinking of the man who had been sprawled on the floor, Eve asked, “So, that’s why he was in that state?”

“Exactly. I always repay double.”

Now that she thought about it, the man had been the one who had faced those transformed eyes.

“If you don’t explain everything, I’ll go find that man.”

Though she was attempting a threat, Azazel remained unfazed.

“That’s impossible.”

“Why not?”

“He won’t talk.”

Looking skeptically at Azazel’s slight smirk, Eve asked, “Did you silence him?”

“Let’s say I did.”

There were many ways Azazel could silence someone—through violence, money, or power.

“Should I use my charm to get him to talk?”

Azazel gently held Eve’s hand, still gripping his collar, and blinked at her as if pacifying her. “Oh, Eve. Please refrain. I might get jealous and do something reckless.”

Eve frowned. Why was it acceptable for her to get information from Dane but not from this man?

“Why are you so insistent that I get information from Dane? You don’t like it when I’m with him.”

“True. But among the people who have information about me, he’s the only one who’s transparent and won’t be able to hurt you.”

Eve agreed that the man might be dangerous, but there was a simpler solution.

“Why don’t you just tell me everything?”

If Azazel would just talk, everything would be solved without all this beating around the bush. His brow furrowed as if he were hesitating, and he shook his head.

“You’ll need time to prepare yourself.”

Eve scoffed sarcastically. “Is it really such a big secret?”

“Well, for some, it might not be that significant, but… it’s a little scary for me.”

“Scary?”

Eve had been about to scoff again, but when she saw the flicker of fear in Azazel’s eyes, she sighed quietly. It seemed the preparation was something he needed as well. Once again, her resolve weakened. Still, she didn’t like how things were constantly going his way.

“I’ll use my charm on Dane, then.”

Though she expected him to react angrily, Azazel merely responded calmly, “You won’t. You’ve started feeling sorry for Dane Hound. Besides, you like me more now than you did before.”

Azazel brushed his thumb across the inside of Eve’s wrist as he continued, “A forbidden relationship with secrets—how alluring, don’t you think?”

Eve couldn’t quite tell if she felt more annoyed or worried. She wasn’t sure about her own emotions.

“Annoying.”

Azazel was quick to respond to her succinct expression of mixed feelings.

“I love it.”

He released Eve’s hand and began buttoning up his bloodstained shirt. Eve stopped him.

“Why are you putting it back on? Let me apply some medicine.”

“I know you don’t have anything like that here. Besides, it’s not pleasant to look at, so don’t.”

“……”

How did he even know that? Setting that aside, she was baffled that, even in this situation, he was more concerned about her discomfort than his injury.

“I have some painkillers. I’ll give you those, at least.”

Eve rummaged through a drawer and pulled out painkillers for menstrual cramps.

“When I see you next, I’ll check if it’s healed.”

“Of course.”

After handing him the pills, Eve watched Azazel leave, only realizing after the fact that she had grown too comfortable with him. Worrying about his eyes, thinking about her dreams, and the realization that despite everything, she felt secure in the belief that Azazel wouldn’t harm her. It struck her that Azazel had taken up a larger part of her thoughts than she had imagined, and perhaps he was continuing to expand his influence.

Even though she recognized this, it didn’t bother her. She didn’t feel the urge to push him away, which was troubling.

***

The next morning, Eve appeased Lina, who had been trying to dissuade her from going out, by using her regular appointments with Dane as an excuse.

“I have to meet with him twice a week anyway.”

Eve inspected her neat outfit and tidy updo, suitable for a visit to an ailing friend, then left the room. Gina, who was to accompany her to the Hound estate, was waiting by the carriage with a bouquet of flowers. Once Eve climbed into the carriage, they set off immediately.

As the carriage swayed, Eve pondered her situation. Since she had already planned to visit Dane, going to see him wasn’t difficult. But she had no idea how she was supposed to extract information from him. She didn’t know what Dane knew, nor was she sure what she needed to find out.