ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond-Chapter 121: Bang

Chapter 121: Bang
Chapter 121
KATYA’S POV
—Few minutes before Romeo POV—
Night had settled thick and quiet over the mansion. I’d just stepped out of Nonna’s room, her soft goodnight still echoing behind me.
She’d insisted I stay longer—offering cookies, stories, unsolicited advice—until I finally convinced her she needed sleep more than I needed feeding.
I pulled the door gently shut and let out a breath. An hour before that, I’d helped Romeo back to his room.
He hadn’t said much—he rarely did lately—but his silence tonight had felt heavier. Like every word he didn’t say was pressing into the air between us.
His room was on the top floor, same as mine. I brushed that thought away. That stupid thought that whispered for me to check on him before walking to my room.
I pressed the elevator button and waited, listening to the soft mechanical hum as it descended from the top floor.
Nonna’s wing was always warm, and as the elevator doors slid open and I stepped inside, the temperature seemed to shift.
The air felt cooler. More sterile. Like I was walking back into his orbit.
And Romeo’s orbit had never been gentle. I pressed the button for the top floor and leaned back against the rail as the doors closed.
The elevator glided upward in a smooth climb. I watched the numbers blink past and tried—really tried—not to think about the man two doors down from mine.
No reason to. No responsibility to. I’d done my job for today. I’d taken him to his room. I’d dropped him off. I’d helped Nonna. That was enough.
The soft ding broke my thoughts before the doors slide open to the quiet top floor. The hallway lights were dimmed, a soft golden glow reflecting off polished floors.
I stepped out. My room was only a short walk—straight, left, second door. Easy. No detours. No complications.
But as I moved down the hall, my steps slowed. My eyes drifted uninvited toward Romeo’s door.
Just a glance. Just enough to confirm nothing was wrong. The door looked... normal. Closed. Still. Silent.
Too silent. Was he asleep? I shouldn’t have cared. I didn’t care, I reminded myself, jaw tightening.
Still, without meaning to, I found myself pausing. Leaning. Listening.
Nothing. No footsteps, technically there shouldn’t. No the wheels of his chair. Not the usual annoyed grumble he made whenever he shifted.
Just silence. My stomach tightened, annoying and confusing and absolutely none of my business.
"Seriously?" I whispered to myself, brows pulling together. "Why do you even care? He’s fine. He has guards, staff, Antonio—an entire army. He doesn’t need you."
And he definitely didn’t want me. I forced myself to straighten, ripping my attention away from his door like it had personally insulted me.
My palms were slightly sweaty. Which was stupid. I took a breath. Then another.
"Stop it," I muttered under my breath. "You’re being ridiculous." I marched the rest of the way to my room, pushing the door open quickly, almost slamming it just to make a point—to myself.
Inside, I flicked on the lights, letting the warm glow wash the tension from my shoulders.
Whatever was going on behind Romeo Salvatore’s door was not my problem.
My white walls welcomed me as I kicked off my shoes by the door and let the familiar quiet of my room settle around me.
The soft lamp on my nightstand cast a warm, amber glow across the space, calming the leftover sting of frustration I’d carried from the hallway.
A bath. That was what I needed. Something warm. Something silent. Something that wasn’t him.
I walked toward my bathroom, untying my hair as I went. The strands fell loosely around my shoulders as I rolled my neck, trying to chase away the tension knotted there.
The bathroom lights flickered on. Soft, golden and gentle. I reached for the faucet and turned it, letting the water run until it flowed warm against her fingers.
As I began slipping out of my clothes, ready to sink into something that wasn’t stress or confusion, my eyes lifted—caught by the mirror across from me.
My tired eyes stared back at me, making me pause, fingers still on the hem of my shirt. I tore my gaze away, stripping down quickly because dropping my clothes neatly into the laundry basket.
Turned back to the tub, and slipped into the rising warmth, letting the heat wrap around me like a shield.
I sank deeper, closing my eyes, forcing myself to unclench my shoulders. I needed this.
This quiet. This space.
This moment where I wasn’t pulled toward someone who made me feel things I couldn’t even name.
Was it anger? Hatred? Fear? Or was it something far more annoying—
something warm and stupid that I kept shoving down because it made no sense?
I huffed, sliding deeper until the water kissed my shoulders. The heat loosened my muscles, but not the heaviness in my chest.
After a few minutes, I finally pushed myself up, letting the water drip down my skin as I reached for a towel.
The cool air hit me and raised a wave of goosebumps. I quickly wrapped the towel around myself, squeezing the ends tight, then stepped out of the tub.
As I crossed toward the counter, my gaze flicked again, to the mirror and this time, I stopped.
Fully. My reflection staring back, clearer and sharper than I wanted it to be. My white hair damp and messy. My cheeks slightly fuller than they’d been weeks ago.
My waist... softer. Nonna’s doing. Nonna’s "Eat, you’re too thin!" Nonna’s "Just one more spoon!"
"Just one more" had turned into three plates a day. I wasn’t unhealthy anymore. I was bony like before. I wasn’t even big now. But I wasn’t...
her.
Marina. Tall. Slim. Glossy-haired. Perfect. The kind of woman who looked flawless even when the world was burning around her.
I swallowed, my stomach tightening in a way that had nothing to do with hunger.
"Great," I muttered to the mirror. Now I’m comparing myself to a supermodel? Really. I lifted my chin, pretending I didn’t care.
But the sting was still there, quiet and persistent. I looked again. Really looked.
Not as fragile-thin as before. Not hollow-eyed.
Not weak. Just... different.
Just me. I wasn’t sure whether that felt good or terrifying. I loosened the towel, dropping it to the floor and my naked view came in place.
Pathetic. Unattractive and repulsive. I grabbed the robe from the hook, still drying, and slipped it around myself, tying the waist securely.
The fabric was soft as always. The only good thing I appreciated about being her was I had a bed to sleep on. I was reaching for the light switch when— Bang