Episode 4 : A Glimpse of Obsession

The library was silent, its tall shelves stretching higher than Arya had ever seen. The faint smell of leather and old paper hung in the air, making her heart skip with excitement. She ran her fingers lightly over the spines as though every book whispered its own secret.

But then she froze.

There, by the window, stood a man broad-shouldered, tall, his golden hair catching the pale winter light that streamed through the glass. His back was to her, but something about his presence made her pause. He turned slowly, as if sensing her, and when his eyes icy blue, sharp yet strangely vulnerable met hers, Arya forgot how to breathe.

Her first thought was ridiculous: Why is a celebrity here? Because she knew that face. Everyone knew it. Adrian Mealid. The actor. The man whose posters covered billboards and whose smile graced every screen.

But he wasn’t smiling now.

Instead, his gaze lingered steady, unyielding, almost hungry. It wasn’t the practiced charm of a star used to being adored. This was something different. Something raw. His eyes swept over her like he was memorizing every detail the fall of her black hair, the soft curve of her lips, the way her dark brown eyes widened in surprise.

Inside, Adrian’s chest tightened. Beautiful. The word echoed in his mind. Not the polished beauty he saw every day in the world of actors and lights, but something natural, untouched something real. She wasn’t dressed to impress. She wasn’t even trying. And yet, she was exactly his type. No more than that. She was perfect.

Arya, flustered, turned away quickly. She forced herself to focus on the shelves, running her hands over the books like she hadn’t just been caught in the gaze of Russia’s most famous man. Her fingers landed on a familiar section, and her lips parted with excitement.

Dark romance novels.

She pulled one from the shelf, her eyes sparkling as she flipped through the pages. Adrian noticed. His stare didn’t waver if anything, it grew sharper. She was different from what he expected. Sweet, innocent face… but her taste in books whispered of a hidden side. Passion, pain, forbidden love.

Adrian’s lips curved, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. So, the innocent little rabbit likes the wolves, he thought, amusement flickering in his chest.

Arya hugged the books close and hurried out of the library, never once daring to glance back at him. Her footsteps faded, leaving behind the echo of her presence.

But Adrian didn’t move.

Slowly, he walked to the exact shelf where she had stood. His fingers brushed the spines, resting on the very book she had touched. Dark romance. His smirk deepened.

“Interesting,” he murmured under his breath.

For years, women had thrown themselves at him shallow smiles, painted faces, empty hearts. None of them had mattered. But this girl, this strange woman with her soft eyes and unexpected taste, had caught his attention in a way that felt dangerous. His chest burned with a feeling he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***