Louyi was your ex-boyfriend.

It wasn't long, but you used to date him not because of love, but because you were just going with the flow, and Louyi was one of Yohan's friends. He often frequented the main house back when you were still living with your human. Unlike Yohan's other friends who politely ignored your existence in that house, Louyi was the only one who sought you when he came to visit; he often bought you souvenirs, pampered you, and often jokingly called Yohan "brother-in-law."

You remembered that Yohan would only smile helplessly when that happened, thinking it was only a joke, but who could have thought that Louyi would confess to you on your (age) birthday?

It happened so suddenly. Instead of feeling cherished and happy as the people around you sang you a birthday song, you were too busy staring at Yohan and his girlfriend. You admitted that you were narrow-minded, naïve, and immature back then; that's why you hated that girl, because only when Yohan had a lover did he seem to come home late. He didn't even allow you to follow them. Needless to say, you were jealous.

Then Louyi, as if he could see your bitterness, suddenly confessed his longing for you, and even after knowing your real identity and your flaws—which were your infertility and your strange mindset that differed from humans—he assured Yohan that he didn't mind, that he loved you for who you are.

Naturally, you couldn't understand those feelings.

"Louyi," you uttered his name, pulling away slightly. "What are you doing here? Where's Yohan? Is he around?"

The said man who now stood before you was a stark contrast to the sunny, carefree youth in your memory. Gone was the bright, open smile that used to light up his face. In its place was a deep, heavy frown that etched permanent lines across his brow. A distinct wrinkle now creased the skin between his thick, furrowed eyebrows. The once lively and expressive eyes had hardened; the vibrant spark dimmed and was replaced by a weary, guarded gaze.

Louyi was clad in a crisp, tailored suit—a far cry from the casual, comfortable attire of his younger days. The sharp, angular lines of the suit's structure seemed to mirror the rigid set of his jaw and squared shoulders. Every aspect of his appearance conveyed an air of maturity, responsibility, and control.

He sneered, scrutinising the matching outfits you wore with Hollis. "I must say, I find it rather laughable that you would inquire about Yohan, given the current circumstances. Are you truly intent on pursuing that line of questioning, even though you appear to be otherwise engaged at the moment?"

You flinched at his cold tone, noting that even the way he spoke had changed. You averted your eyes away, feeling embarrassed by the eyes of strangers who were watching you. You assumed that your situation must have looked like that of a woman who was caught cheating because you could see their judging eyes on you, but suddenly, the onlookers shuddered, their teeth chattering as they looked around.

"I— Is the heater broken?"

You don't know who pointed that out, but your eyes quickly made their way to Hollis. The Amorii doesn't seem pleased that his date was interrupted. His visage was positively daunting, his usual indifferent expression now twisted into a deeply unsettling scowl that made you instinctively hold his hand to calm him down.

"Hollis," you called out his name desperately.

Right now, if Louyi's demeanour was akin to a raging thunderstorm, then Hollis's imposing presence was the equivalent of a towering, all-consuming hurricane of a snowstorm. You needed to soothe him before the humans here ended up freezing to death.

"I assume this is the young man you've chosen to share your affections with now?" Louyi suddenly questioned, his breath visible from the cold. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You always did have a remarkable talent for moving forward, regardless of the emotional wreckage you left behind."

You clenched Hollis's hand, desperately giving Louyi a warning gaze.

The latter held up his hands, as if surrendering. "Fear not, I have no intention of making a scene. However, I would like to caution your new lover to be wary. Your capacity for callousness is not something to be taken lightly. If he knew what you did, what you are, he would walk away right n—"

"That's not for you to decide," Hollis, who had been silent, suddenly interrupted, his voice cold and firm. After observing Louyi's interaction with you, he can somewhat guess what this man meant to you. "Whatever happened between you two in the past is just that—the past. It's not your place to dictate how I would behave."

He clenched your hand back possessively, meeting Louyi's gaze unflinchingly.

"Our relationship is not something you get to interfere with or judge. You had your chance with her, but you failed to attain the love that you want from her," the Amorii sneered, pulling you closer. "So what right do you have to interrupt our time under the pretext that it's for my own good?"

Louyi's eyes narrowed as the escort continued, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Listen here, it's not that my darling is callous—it's you who spoiled her too much. You gave your heart so easily and so foolishly without teaching her how to love you the way you needed to be loved. In the end, you have no one to blame but yourself." He smiled humorlessly, taunting the man by cupping your cheeks. His smile was so gentle, yet so pretentious. "Right, darling? If I told you to go west, you would never go south. If I picked the stars for you, you would pick one for me too, right?"

You blinked in confusion, guiltily glancing at Louyi's hardened expression, before nodding your head when your lover's nails started to dig deep into your skin as a silent warning.

"Ye— Yes."

He patted your cheek, as if satisfied.

"Now, let's go pay for our clothes."

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||HOLLIS'S LOVE STATUS||

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