Vadim trembled as he stepped away from your father. He said he wasn’t like his family, like his father. He felt sick to his stomach as looked down at his hands. The rage had blinded him.

He is Vadim Redwood, separated and raised away from his siblings, love was a foreign concept before he had met you. As the future head of the family trust, there was no time for love. Others would refer to their younger years as childhood. Vadim would refer to his as training.

Now a young man, he often reflects on his life. Wishing he had been there to protect his younger siblings from the torment and abuse of their parents. It was around his 23rd birthday when you had stepped into his life.

With you, the monochrome world transformed to colour. He may have been obsessive at first, but it was only out of fear of you leaving. What good is living if he doesn’t wake up beside you.

Coming from the Redwoods, it’s no surprise that he has some sort of behavioural problem. Unlike his sister, he doesn’t hide behind others to commit cruel acts. And you had caught him in the act, strangling your father late at night. He didn’t hurt you directly but seeing the panic in your eyes was enough to know that you won’t ignore this.

“Love. Look at me— He was going to take you away from me.” Vadim stumbled over his words. He’s never done that before. It was like watching a castle collapse in on itself.