Until We Met Again ( Rowan and Johnson )
Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Karla mulled over her words before she spoke, “Because it’s you from the future who asked

me to protect you.”

“The future me…” A flicker of intrigue darted across his gaze as he looked at Karla, his eyes suddenly taking on a complicated sheen.

Observing the boy, Karla thought of a phrase that would aptly describe him: an old soul in a young body. Despite his tender years, he was quite the schemer and remarkably bright. No wonder he was destined for such dazzling accomplishments.

Finally, under Karla’s eloquent persuasion, Rowan agreed to keep her secret and

allowed her to stay in the room. However, the bad news was that Burk had left on a long trip. As for when he’d return, that was anyone’s guess.

Which meant Karla had only one real option: to wait.

Rowan’s meals were brought to his room by a maid, and when she arrived, Karla would hide in the closet. Only after the maid left would Karla emerge.

Thankfully, the portions were generous, so Karla could share meals with him. She took to sleeping on the couch at night. Though even with the door locked, she couldn’t shake the fear that someone might burst in, leaving her sleep uneasy.

This peculiar life continued for two days, and Karla was starting to feel cooped up. Boredom was setting in, and it was stifling.

During those days, Rowan behaved as if she was invisible, his time consumed by piano and violin practice, studying, reading, calligraphy, and chess. He never seemed to have a moment to spare. And when tutors arrived for lessons, Karla had to hide away in the closet, sometimes for hours on end.

Aside from bathing, he never left the room, living like a prisoner within its confines. The person Karla saw most frequently was Rita, the maid, since she delivered all the meals.

Another reason for Karla’s growing frustration was more personal: she hadn’t bathed in three days, nor had she changed clothes. She had initially thought she’d only be there for two days, but that was clearly no longer the case.

One restless night, lying on the couch, Karla sat up and nudged the peacefully sleeping boy. “I need a shower,” Karla whispered.

Since it was midnight and the staff were likely asleep, Rowan sneaked her out for a bath–Karla’s first foray out of the room.

Karla had guessed from the room’s grandeur that they were in a mansion, but stepping out, she realized this was no mere mansion–it was a castle.

A real castle, like those she had toured abroad, only those had been from afar. Now she meandered through the labyrinthine corridors, following Rowan as he led the way with a

19.07

Chapter 14

candlestick, giving Karla a surreal sense of being in a movie.

The bathroom was enormous, and as she ran water into the bathtub, Karla was careful not to make too much noise. Only when submerged did she finally exhale in relief. This was pure

bliss.

Rowan didn’t leave. Instead, he sat outside the door, listening to Karla hum tunes from within. Karla didn’t linger. She quickly finished, donned a robe, and followed Rowan back. Midway, Rowan suddenly halted and pulled her into a hiding spot.

“What’s up?” Karla whispered.

He

didn’t reply, just stared intently in a direction, Karla’s gaze followed and she saw a woman in a white nightgown standing on a balcony, gazing into the distance. The night’s shadows played upon her figure from the window, highlighting her silhouette.

Though Karla couldn’t see her face, the woman’s poise alone suggested she was stunning.

After a while, the woman left the balcony. As she turned, Karla caught a glimpse of her face–a true beauty, albeit with a cold, expressionless air, as if her soul were absent.

Karla glanced down at Rowan and saw him staring fixedly at the woman, with a hint of sadness and sorrow in his eyes.

For the first time, Karla witnessed such an emotional display from him. Who was this woman

to him?