ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond-Chapter 181: Heartless

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Chapter 181: Heartless

Chapter 181

KATYA POV

The sound of the door opening, made me divert my eyes from Romeo. My gaze snapped toward the sound.

Nonna.

She wheeled into the room slowly, her movements controlled, the way they always were.

Her silver hair was neatly pinned back, her dark shawl folded perfectly over her shoulders. Her eyes lifted.

And landed directly on me. I was still pressed against the wall. Barefoot. Wrapped in Romeo’s shirt.

My hands half-raised like I’d been caught mid-surrender.

And Romeo, he was kneeling. Nonna’s gaze moved once. From my face, to the bandages at my head. To the way I was shaking. Then to Romeo on the floor in front of me.

The room went completely still. "What the hell are you doing to her?!" The words resounding all over the room.

I had never heard that tone come from Nonna’s mouth. Not once.

Unmistakable rage cutting through the room, and it was aimed straight at Romeo.

For a second, my brain couldn’t process it. My eyes stayed wide, my breath caught painfully in my chest as I stared at her.

Romeo stiffened at the sound of her voice. Slowly, he turned his head toward her. Then he rose.

Not abruptly. Not defensively.

He stood to his full height, unfolding himself from the floor until he towered over both of us—over Nonna in her wheelchair, and over me, still crushed against the wall like something pinned there.

His body shifted just enough that his back blocked most of my view of him, but I could still see Nonna’s face clearly.

And she didn’t flinch. She wheeled herself closer. Her hands gripped the arms of it tightly, knuckles pale.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, "Why is she cornered like this?"

Romeo opened his mouth. "Nonna—"

"Haven’t you done enough?" she cut in sharply. "Look at her." She gestured toward me with a sharp flick of her hand. "She’s shaking. She’s terrified. Is this how you think you fix things?"

My throat closed.

Fix things?

Nonna didn’t slow as she rolled closer, her glare never leaving Romeo’s face. "You loom over her like you’re about to pass judgment, and you expect her not to be afraid?"

"I wasn’t—" Romeo started again.

"Don’t," she snapped. Her eyes flicked briefly to me, and something in them softened—not pity, but recognition. Like she was really seeing me for the first time.

"Was he threatening you, Mia cara?" Nonna said, her voice lower now, more dangerous. I shrank further against the stone without meaning to, my fingers curling into the fabric of the shirt.

The sudden question made my chest seize. Nonna’s eyes locked onto mine immediately, taking in my posture, my hands, the way my shoulders were practically glued to my ears.

"He... I...." Her jaw tightened, "Oh, child," she murmured, looking harshly at her beloved grandson.

"Move"

"I was just trying to help," Romeo said quietly but nonna didn’t hear a thing about that as she glared daggers at him, "Move Romeo. I don’t want to see your face anywhere near us."

Romeo’s jaw set so hard I heard the bone click.

He didn’t look at Nonna. He looked back at me. His eyes were dark, swirling with an emotion I couldn’t name, but it felt heavy.

I shrank into myself, my spine pressing so hard against the stone wall I thought it might merge with the rock. Pain flaring.

He’s angry. I made him look weak. I made him look like a monster in front of the only person he cares about.

I braced for the blow, my eyes squeezing shut, waiting for the hand that would drag me up or the words that would crush what was left of my spirit.

But the blow never came. Instead, I heard the sharp, frantic scrape of his boots against the floor.

He didn’t say a word. He simply side-stepped Nonna’s wheelchair, the movement so swift it was almost a blur, and walked out.

The door didn’t slam. It clicked shut with a precision that was somehow more terrifying than a bang.

It felt final. I stayed frozen for a heartbeat, my breath hitching in my chest. The silence he left behind wasn’t peaceful at all.

"Mia cara," Nonna whispered, her voice reaching out to me like a lifeline. "He’s gone. You can breathe now. Come away from the wall."

I didn’t move. My eyes were fixed on the door he had just walked through.

What am I doing here?

The question screamed in my head, louder than the throbbing in my skull.

This wasn’t my room. This wasn’t the servant’s wing. This was his room. His bed. His scent. I looked down at the dark silk of the shirt I was wearing—the way it drowned my frame, the way the sleeves bunched at my elbows.

I have to get out. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"I... I shouldn’t be here," I rasped, my voice sounding like broken glass. I tried to push myself out from my hiding place.

"Nonna, I have to go. This is his room. If... if Marina finds me... she’ll think I came here on purpose. She’ll think I’m trying to—"

"Marina is nowhere near this room, Katya," Nonna said firmly, trying to wheel closer to me, but the bed was in her way.

"It doesn’t matter " I choked out, a fresh wave of panic rising in my throat. I could see it all—Marina’s face twisted in that mask of ugly spite, the scissors she used on my dress, the way she looked at me like I was a parasite.

"She’s the Donna. She’s his wife. I’m just a shadow. I’m a servant who...who hit a maid."

New set of panic washed in, what would nonna think of me now? I literally attacked gina. I don’t even know her state, was she dead?

No...no...no. I wasn’t a killer but a deep darker and unfamiliar place in me would be satisfied if she was.

"Nonna, I didn’t mean to. I swear on my life....i

..I never ment to do that...something just...just switched." I scrambled to the floor, kneeling in front of her.

I needed her to believe me,my eyes darting frantically around the dark, brutalist room. "Please, Nonna. Help me get out before he comes back. He’s angry. You saw him. He’s going to come back and. and Marina.." I stammered.

"She’s heartless, no...no, I didn’t mean that"

††

Merry Christmas y’all

I just wanna say thank you all for staying with me throughout the story from the start of the year, happy first Christmas.

Can I have a gift at least 😩

A castle or anything 😉