Chapter 21

~Natalie~

I looked straight at the man in the silver mask, his last statement replaying in my mind. How exactly did he know my mother? How did she really die?

“How did my mother really die?” I asked.

For a while, he didn’t answer, he didn’t even blink. He just stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing something in his mind and contemplating whether to tell me or not. Then, without saying a single word, he stood and walked towards the exit.

“Wait!” I called after him, pushing back my chair. I ran after him, but by the time I got to the hall, he was gone. I looked around, but there was no single trace of him.

My chest felt heavy, I didn’t know if I was more angry or more afraid.

Feeling tired, I walked back into the main restaurant and sank into my seat again. A waiter came over, and I ordered a cup of coffee. My hands wrapped around the warm mug when it arrived, but the warmth didn’t reach my frozen heart.

My mind went back to Freya, I was starting to get worried she’d been caught by Lucien. I took out my phone and called Freya. She picked up after a few rings. “Any news?” I asked.

“Not yet,” she said. “It’s harder to get than I thought. But I’ll find it.”

I closed my eyes and sighed. “Please be careful. If Ryan finds out…”

“I know,” she cut in. “Just don’t give up your position. We need you where you are.”

I almost laughed. “Where I am feels like a prison.”

“It’s still the best place to be for now. Trust me,” she said. “And don’t lose your focus.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “Alright. I’ll keep going.” We ended the call, and I sat in silence for a few minutes, staring into my coffee.

My thoughts drifted to my brother. I wondered how he was doing in school. I wondered if he had heard about our father yet. The thought made my throat tight. He didn’t deserve this, he didn’t deserve to lose so much so fast.

When I finally stood up, it wasn’t to go back to the mansion. I didn’t want to return just yet. The thought of going back and feeling Lucien’s eyes on me made my chest feel smaller. I needed air.

Wanting to ease stress, I took a cab to the cinema and bought a ticket for a late afternoon movie. Something light. Something that would pull me out of my thoughts for a while.

The theater was dim and almost empty. I kept my shades on so no one would recognize me. I sat near the middle, letting the darkness swallow me in my thoughts.

A man sat down in the seat next to mine. I didn’t look at him at first, but when the lights dimmed and the trailer started, I caught his profile out of the corner of my eye. He was really handsome. Halfway through the movie, he leaned toward me slightly. “First time watching this?” he whispered. “Yes,” I said quietly.

He smiled. “It’s good. You’ll like the ending.” Something about his tone made me smile back before I could stop myself. When the movie ended, he waited for me in the lobby. “Want to grab a coffee?” he asked. I hesitated, not wanting to trust a stranger.

He seemed to have noticed. “Just coffee or a walk. I know a nice park nearby.”

I agreed after giving it some thoughts.

We walked through the almost empty park, talking about nothing important. He asked for my number, and I gave it to him without thinking too hard. I didn’t even know why. Maybe because it felt good to talk to someone without games or threats hanging in the air.

By the time we parted ways, it was already late. I checked the time in the cab 8:45. The thought of going back to meet Lucien's cruel gaze crawled into my mind and I felt disgusted. When I stepped into the mansion, the first thing I saw was Lucien.

He was sitting by the fireplace, his eyes fixed on me as if he had been waiting for hours.“Where were you?” he asked, his voice low.

“Where were you?” he asked again.

I ignored him. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

“Natalie,” he said again, his voice low. “I asked you a question.”

I  finally looked at him. My expression was calm, but my eyes were sharp. “Why do you care?”

He took a step towards me. “Because you’re my wife. And because I don’t like you disappearing without telling me.”

I didn’t reply.

“I have something for you,” he said. I walked over to the living room, where the bags were still lined up neatly.

I followed his gaze, then looked back at him with disbelief. “What is that supposed to be?” I asked.

“A gift,” he said. “Ten of them. The best money can buy.”

In anger, my  jaw tightened as I stared at him in disgust. “You think you can buy me?”

“That’s not what I…”

He stuttered

“You think I’ll forget everything if you give me expensive things?” I cut in. “You think I’ll let you off just because you spent money?”

His voice rose. “I was trying to make you happy.”

“Well, you failed,” I snapped angrily at him.“I don’t want your bribes, Lucien. Keep them.”

I looked at the boxes again. Ten of them. Each one probably worth more than most people made in a year. And yet they felt cheap to me.

“You want to know what I think?” I asked, looking him in the eye.

He didn’t speak.

“I think you’re afraid,” I said. “Afraid I’ll never see you the way you want me to. And you’re right. I won’t.”

For a second, I thought I saw something flash in his expression,but it was gone before I could decipher what it was. I turned away from him and started walking toward the stairs.

“You can keep your gifts,” I said over my shoulder. “I don’t want them.” I didn’t look back as I went upstairs. My hands were shaking, but my steps stayed steady. I had to let him know how much I hated him.

When I closed my bedroom door, I leaned against it and took a deep breath. I knew I had pushed him. I knew I had crossed a line. But for the first time in days, I didn’t feel trapped. I felt confident in myself.