Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Roman’s POV

The hallway was empty and the house was silent around me.

My hands still shook.

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It had been over thirty years since that day, and the memories still haunted me, still made me feel seven years old and powerless and trapped.

I walked past the main rooms, past the kitchen, and down the west corridor to the hidden door.

I pressed the panel. It clicked and swung inward.

This room was

apart

my

from Eva, Serot haven, the one place in this entire house I never let anyone into. I kept it hidden from the world

ensured it was always cleaned.

I flipped the switch and soft light flooded the space.

He bought the pi $

for an audience.

“ed up with l

when I was five, placing it in the living room for Mother to show off, though Father hated performing

while Mothe comments, he moved it to the attic, a private space no one else used. It became our refuge. After dinner,

hands, and

Thos

escape.

sat on the

The notes

G

tended to her calls and guests, Father would teach me there. He showed me how to read music, position my

it honestly.

to

the only time I felt free. Later, after Mother forced me to lie about what I had seen, the attic became my play until my fingers ached, drowning out her lies.

and

ran my fingers over the keys, feeling the smooth ivory under my fingertips.

play. Beethoven. Moonlight Sonata, my father’s favorite.

automatically. Muscle memory took over and my breathing started to slow.

The music built and I poured everything into it, the anger, fear, shame, and grief.

All of it flowed through my fingers and into the keys.

I played faster, harder, lost myself completely in the sound until felt a presence behind me.

My hands froze mid phrase,

I turned around slowly,

My eyes locked onto hers.

Anna.

“Sorry for interrupting.” Her feet were bare and her expression was cautious.

I stared at the keys and tried to remember when she had walked in, how long she had been standing there.

“You didn’t come back to bed,” she continued. “I waited thirty minutes and then I got worried, so I came to check on you. I heard the piano and I followed the sound.”

“It’s fine.” My voice came out rougher than I intended. “You should sit.”

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17:03 Fri, Mar 6 AMO

Chapter 137

I removed my hands from the keys and tapped the space beside me on the bench.

She sat very close to the edge.

I wrapped my hand around her waist and drew her closer.

“Better.”

She giggled softly and continued. “I never knew you played. You e incredible.”

“I’m adequate.”

“You’re being modest.” Her

I chuckled. “First time

“Did you learn

sparkled with amusement.

t your I suppose.”

“My father taught

Her eyes widened.

kepp when die

Chools or…”

you start?”

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“I was five.” I kept staring at the keys because if I looked at her I would want to touch her again, and I couldn’t trust myself. “My father loved music. He often said it was the only honest thing in a world full of lies.”

“Most people

“My fathe

have grand pianos keep them on display,” she said carefully. “In the living room or the main hall.”

showpieces &

“So this

was different. He didn’t like to play for people. He played for himself and for me. He didn’t want it to be a

room. ”

“Is private.

one knows about it except Eva.”

And now you, I thought but didn’t say.

“It’s beautiful,” Anna said softly. “The piano. This space. The way you play.”

I didn’t respond he didn’t know what to say.

She searched my face for a moment and then asked, “Are you alight?”

“Now that you’re here, I am.”

The words surprised me, but they were true.

Having her beside me, her presence calm and grounding, made the pieces of the nightmare fade.

“Roman…” She hesitated. “Do you want to talk about it? The dream?”

“No.” The word came out harsher than I intended.

“Okay.” She didn’t push and I was grateful for that, “But I have to ask. Does it happen often, the nightmares?”

“Not very often.” I paused. “But on some nights.”

I was being vague on purpose and she probably knew it, but she didn’t call me out.

“When I couldn’t sleep,” she said, “when you didn’t come back, I kept thinking about you. Wondering if you were okay. Then

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Chapter 137

I heard the music and I thought…” She trailed off. “I thought you might need comfort.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“I couldn’t sleep. Not when I didn’t know if you were okay,”

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My chest expanded with warmth, knowing she cared about me. Not to manipulate me, but because she was genuinely worried.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you earlier.” My head turned toward her

“I think I understand.” She reached out and put her hand on mine where it rested on the keys.

I took her hand in mine, threading our fingers together.

I leaned in close enough to feel the heat radiating from her skin and watch her pupils dilate as goosebumps rose on her

arms.

My mouth hovered over hers, barely a breath away. Our lips brushed lightly, and all I could think about was kissing her until we lost ourselves in each her.

“Were

you always

way?” she asked, breaking the moment. “When you were a child? This intense?”

I almost laughed. “No. I was the opposite.”

“I don’t believe

“It’s true. noticed”

I

shy

”

y and withdrawn. The kind of child who didn’t talk much. Who stayed in corners and tried not to be

“Life changes you.” I finally looked at her properly and her eyes were so clear in the dim light. “Circumstances force you to become someone different. Someone stronger. Or at least someone who can pretend to be strong.”

“After

died,” she said softly.

“After

I didn’t elaborate and she didn’t ask me to. “What about you? Were you always this defiant?”

“Defiant?” She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I learned how to be bold from you, though sometimes I’m terrified of pushing back. But you’ve taught me how to stand my ground.”

“That’s tru you.”

At first you were so shy. Those annoying glasses. You couldn’t meet my gaze. Always looking down. Now look at