Chapter 80: Silent Confessions

Samuel’s voice broke through her thoughts, low and serious. “Kate, what’s going on? What’s so important?”

Samuel hesitated for a moment, the words clearly weighing on him. “I don’t want to make this a big thing here,” he said, his tone firm but almost cautious. “Can we talk in your room? It’s something I need to say, and I’d rather not do it here.”

Kate’s mind raced. What does he want to talk about? What’s so important? She glanced at him, trying to read his expression, but all she could see was a determination she hadn’t expected.

She nodded slowly, the unease settling deep in her stomach. What is he thinking? What does he know? As they pulled into the parking lot, her thoughts spun wildly. Is this about what I’ve been hiding? Does he know why I left my house? But how could he? How could he possibly know anything about the things I’ve kept buried?

When they entered her room, the silence between them felt heavier than ever. Kate closed the door behind them, her heart hammering in her chest. The faint hum of the air conditioning was the only sound as Samuel turned to her, his gaze locking with hers, filled with something she couldn’t quite place.

“Samuel, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “What’s so important?”

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, every inch of him exuding a quiet but undeniable strength. “Kate, I didn’t want to do this in the car,” he said, his voice soft but urgent, a subtle edge of emotion hiding behind his calm exterior. “But I need to talk to you about something I’ve been thinking about all evening.”

Kate felt a chill run down her spine. What is it? What’s going on?

Kate’s thoughts spiraled again—Could it be that he knows the real reason I left my house? That goat-headed figure, the one I couldn’t escape from? How could he know? Could it be possible that he’s figured it out?

“I can’t keep pretending I don’t know,” Samuel said, his eyes searching hers as if looking for a sign, a response. His words hit her like a wave, and her mind reeled. Pretending? What is he talking about? How could he know anything about what I’ve been running from?

“Samuel, what are you talking about?” she asked, her voice shaking with confusion, her heart pounding in her chest. Fear crept in. How could he know? What is he trying to say?

He stepped closer, closing the gap between them with slow, deliberate movements. His voice dropped, almost a whisper, as though what he was about to say carried the weight of something too significant to be spoken aloud in any other way.

“Kate, I know you’re hiding something from me. I’ve been thinking about it all night. I didn’t want to make a scene, but I need to talk to you.”

Her pulse quickened. What? Hiding something from him? What does he know? Her legs felt weak beneath her, the fear taking hold as her thoughts raced in a dozen different directions at once. She wanted to step back, to retreat into the safety of her own space, but her feet felt glued to the floor. Samuel’s presence was magnetic, pulling her in even as her confusion deepened.

“I didn’t expect this from you,” he said, his voice steady, but there was a subtle edge to it that made her heart race.

“I didn’t think you’d hide this from me.”

Kate's breath hitched, a cold shiver running through her as her mind struggled to catch up. Hide what? What am I hiding? The truth? The secrets I’ve carried with me for so long?

Samuel’s gaze intensified, and before she could react, he reached out, gripping her arms gently but firmly. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, as if his hands alone could unravel all the walls she’d built.

“Kate, I thought you trusted me. I didn’t think you’d keep something like this from me.”

The pressure of his hands on her arms made her skin tingle, her heart racing with each beat. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, the pull of his presence overwhelming her senses. His touch, his proximity, it was all so intimate—so dangerously close.

“Samuel, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What do you want to know?”

Could it be that he knows the real reason I left my house? Her pulse quickened again, her heart thumping erratically in her chest as her gaze flicked to his. That goat-headed figure, the one I couldn’t escape from... She felt a shiver run down her spine, her thoughts spiraling. Could he have found out? How would he know? Only Ophelai and Jasson know about that...

The room felt smaller, the air thick with tension. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She didn’t know what to say. What was she supposed to say to him? How could she explain herself? Could she even explain everything that had happened to her?