Adeline panicked. She sprinted out of her bedroom, barefoot and all.

The necklace was precious to her. It was the last gift her parents had given to her. She could still remember the gentle caress of her mother's hand when the jewelery was placed around her neck. When she excitedly showed it to her father, he warmly patted her on top of the head.

Adeline racked her brain for something to say, aside from begging him to stay. And suddenly, a name came to mind. He did tell her his name. She had forgotten the bewitching name until it was forced out of her.

"Elias, please!"

He halted.

Her heart soared. She hesitatingly smiled over the railing, hoping he was not that cruel. Slowly, he turned around, taking his sweet time doing so, whilst continuously twirling the necklace on his long forefinger.

She gulped.

He had touched intimate parts of her with that finger. Like her lower back when they waltzed, and her hand as he guided her on the dancefloor.

"Please?" she repeated, lowering her voice this time.

Aunt Eleanor and Viscount Marden's room were on the other side of their large house. Unfortunately, they were light-sleepers and Adeline didn't want to take any chances. She could not afford to.

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of her again. Her breath caught in her throat. She stepped backwards timidly, her hands pressed to her chest. He was standing too close for comfort.

"You chased me away," he teased. "And now you want me to return?"

"I-it was only a natural reaction. What woman would invite a stranger into their room—"

"Ah, so now I am a stranger? Even though I am well acquainted with your body."

"Do you have to be so shameless?" she exasperated.

His smile became gentle. "It's not being shameless. It's being honest, my sweet."

Adeline receded even more. He was good with his words, nearly sounding manipulative. He was a charming man. Granted, he also possessed qualities of a psychopath in the making. Perhaps, he already was one.When she peered into his eyes, tinted like freshly spilt blood, her stomach flipped. He was regarding her like a piece of flesh.

"My necklace," she whispered. "Please."

Elias held up his hand beside him. "You mean this little thing?"

She rapidly nodded.

"It's mine now." He enclosed his fingers around it.

Elias saw the hope flee from her face. Her bottom lip trembled. It was an endearing sight. Was she going to cry? Goodness, he hoped not. He did not deal with tears too well.

"Y-you're a big bully and, and—"

"Here, darling," he lifted his hand to her.

Adeline instantly perked up. She reached forward. Within seconds, he captured her wrist. She expected it to shatter upon impact. Surprisingly, his touch was delicate. He treated her like glass.

"I didn't say you could have it."

"Please give it to me," she implored. "It was mine in the first place."

Elias noted her unhappy glare. Her mood switched quickly. She must have been suppressing a lot of emotion in this moment.

"Like I said, what will you give me in return?" he inquired.

"My gratitude?"

"And why do I need something so useless, darling Adeline?" he asked.

"It will come in handy in the future," she bluffed.

"Sounds like something a con man would say."

Adeline wondered if he was sadistic. Elias must've enjoyed tormenting her.

She couldn't stay out much longer. She was freezing cold. Her night dress did nothing to shelter her from the nightly breeze and the temperature had dropped further when he suddenly appeared in front of her.

"I d-don't know what I did to warrant your bullying but I will apologize for it. So, please… won't you leave me alone?" she sullenly requested.magicElias raised an amused brow and the tiny action bewitched her in a second. He was so handsome that she could not bring herself look away. No matter how much hatred festered in her heart, she was sucked in by him. In the dusk of the night, he was absolutely breathtaking.

"My darling Adeline," he gently cooed. "I am merely toying with you."

"Well, it hurts."

"Really?"

Adeline nodded.

"Forgive me," he softly whispered.

Adeline thought he was jesting with her again. But his playful features had morphed into seriousness.

"You h-have a strange way of telling me you're sorry," she muttered. "Saying 'forgive me,' is too demanding of an apology."

He chuckled. The deep, luxurious sound caused her toes to curl. Even his laughter was pleasant to the ears. He was a dangerous concoction. Suave but sadistic.

Elias could have anyone in the world if he wished. When a man looked like that, it was natural for people to react to him.

"That's because I'm not apologizing."

Adeline immediately scowled. Did no one teach him manners? What happened to the etiquette of a gentleman?

"Didn't we go over this discussion before?" he reminded her.

Adeline was tired of his charade. She fisted her dress and stepped back. "If you're going to continue teasing me like this, t-then good night."

"Adeline—"

"I said good night," she snipped.

Elias's smile remained. So, his little prey had this side to her? He was impressed. Adeline was not as demure as she was portrayed to be.

Without waiting for his response, she spun on her heel. Her dress twirled with her action, fluttering in the wind when she stomped back to her room. Without missing a beat, she swiveled around and locked the windows.

Elias could simply break them with a flick of his fingers. For her sake, he didn't. He watched as she stormed towards her bed and climbed into the safety of her blankets. Like a sulking child, she faced her back to him. Lovely ringlets of gold-spun hair cascaded down her small shoulders, a delectable scent following after her exit.

Elias shook his head. Not from disappointment or anger, but pure amusement. She was so endearingly cute, he wanted to squeeze her to death. Since their conversation had come to an inevitable end, he decided to leave.

Now that she had been provoked, she would have no choice except to attend the second day of the ball.

It was his plan all along.

Once she set foot in his castle, she would never escape.