By the time the car stopped, Vincent was no longer thinking.
His mind was a blur, his thoughts nothing but static noise as he stepped into the private estate.
It was a place he rarely visited. A place meant only for the moments when he could not be Vincent Blackwood, the actor. Nor Vincent Blackwood, the second son of the world's second-richest family.
No.
Here, he was something else entirely.
The doors shut behind him.
The scent of blood filled the air.
A man, tied to a chair in the center of the dimly lit room, let out a choked whimper as Vincent stepped forward.
"P-Please," the man stammered, his voice hoarse from hours of screaming. "Please… I have money. I—I have power. I can give you anything you want—"
Vincent tilted his head, his green eyes glinting in the low light.
"Anything?" His voice was soft. Dangerous.
The man nodded frantically, his forehead slick with sweat. "Yes, yes—just tell me what you want. I can—"
Vincent pressed a gloved finger against his own lips, silencing him.
"Then tell me," he murmured, his expression unreadable.
The man swallowed hard. "W-What do you want?"
Vincent smiled.
It was not a pleasant smile.
It was the smile of a man who had long since abandoned reason.
"I want time to rewind." His voice was almost thoughtful. Almost wistful. "I want her to kiss me again, but this time… I want her to mean it."
The man's face twisted in confusion, but before he could speak, Vincent drove the knife into his throat.
There was no hesitation.
No second thoughts.
Blood spilled across the floor, warm and sticky, the metallic scent thick in the air.
Vincent exhaled slowly.
The rage within him did not subside.
He had known it wouldn't.
Because the only thing that could ever soothe him was her.
And she had left him standing alone in that ballroom.
As if he was nothing more than a fleeting memory.
A passing storm.
A man she had already forgotten.
His grip tightened around the bloodied knife.
No.
She could never forget him.
Even if he had to carve himself into her very soul, he would make her remember.
He would make sure of it.
Even if it meant burning the entire world down.