25ALICIA

Two days have passed since Elijah left and hasn't returned. I won't lie; I'm a little concerned about his whereabouts, especially considering how our last encounter ended. None of his guards have been willing to give me information about him, and they haven't even let me leave the house when I wanted to visit my father and check on his health.

I'm a Rapunzel living in the tallest tower now. Right now, I'm having lunch in a small hut by the pool, completely alone.

"Hello."

A sultry voice behind me catches my attention. I turn slightly and find Michele Morgan with a big smile on his face. I gesture to a chair next to me, and he quickly sits down.

"How did you get in here?" I ask while taking a bite of chicken. "Elijah will kill you if he sees you here," I remind him.

"Elijah is not currently in the country," he says confidently and elegantly, quite different from his older brother.

But knowing that Elijah is out of the country makes me a little sad.

"Anyway," I shrug, "you should know that this place is heavily guarded by Elijah's men."

"They can't touch me because all these lands belong to me, as stipulated in the family will."

"What are you doing here, Michele?" I set my fork aside and looked at him. "You lied to me and didn't tell me who you were."

"Because I was sure my brother filled your head with a lot of ideas about me."

"He doesn't like talking about you."

"Anyway, I wanted to know what kind of woman is going to marry my brother."

"And what kind of woman am I supposed to be?"

"It's clear you're a great woman, I won't deny it, and of course, you have my brother Elijah completely crazy about you. There was only one woman he was in love with."

That confession surprised me, and jealousy began to invade my body, especially remembering the words Elijah often says to me when he's hot as a teapot. But as the saying goes, "What doesn't happen in your year won't hurt you."

"Angelique was also madly in love with Elijah, just like you are," Michele continues, "but my brother is someone who can't control his feelings. Sooner or later, he'll break your heart."

"And what happened to that girl, Angelique?"

"Elijah is not what he seems. He likes to always be in charge, he's possessive, and arrogant, and poor Angelique was always confined to this house, just like you are now. One day, she escaped, but it seems she wants him back." He looks at me with concern. "Do you remember the girl from the nightclub?"

I nod my head.

"That's Angelique Voucher, Elijah's ex-girlfriend."

I felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me, instantly freezing me, and a flood of images of Elijah cheating on me with his ex-girlfriend filled my head. I felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

"I understand," I nod. "I really don't care if Elijah prefers to be with his ex-girlfriend. I can be with other men if I want."

"Wow," Michele crosses his legs, a sinister smile on his face. "Really? I thought you were madly in love with him."

"Well, you're wrong. I'm not foolish enough to fall in love with a man in less than 3 weeks."

"So why are you here?" Michele raises an eyebrow. "You could leave here and leave him. After all, he'll find another woman in no time, and he might be with one right now."

"I don't know if you've noticed, but there are many guards inside this place. Leaving would be impossible."

"I can help you with that."

Michele smiles sinisterly, and a strong chill runs through my body. Something told me not to trust him, but he was just as charming as his older brother. It's as if both of them have a strong power of persuasion that invites you not to refuse what they say. I look away from him and gaze at the pool; its waters are calm, unlike the conversation I'm having with Michele Morgan.

"You know, it's better to wait for him to return."

"Okay," Michele raises his hands in surrender. "But remember, you can find a friend in me."

"I'll keep that in mind," I nod.

"Now, with nothing else to add, I must go see my dad. He's probably waiting for me." Michele gets up from the chair. "See you soon, Alicia."

"Goodbye, Michele."

I feel confused and hurt by Michele's confession about Elijah. His words echoed in my mind over and over as he walked away with elegant steps, leaving me with a bitter taste in my mouth and a series of unanswered questions.

Just a few weeks ago, Elijah asked me to be his wife. Remembering that moment fills me with joy and excitement, but now I'm questioning whether his proposal was sincere or just an act of deception. How can I reconcile his words of love and commitment with Michele's revelation?

On one hand, Michele is not someone I can fully trust. Under Elijah's words, Michele has always been somewhat enigmatic and seems to enjoy sowing discord among people. But his confession about Elijah seemed genuine; his eyes reflected a mix of sadness and concern. That makes me think that maybe there's some truth in his words.

However, I also have to consider that Michele and Elijah may have their own personal conflicts or disagreements that are keeping me trapped in the middle of their dispute. Perhaps Michele has reasons to want to damage Elijah's image in front of me, and that could be clouding my judgment.

Right now, I need clear and honest answers. I have to talk to Elijah and confront him about what Michele has revealed. I can't move forward in our relationship if there are secrets and deception involved. Trust is fundamental in any relationship, and I need to know the truth before making a decision about my future with Elijah.

This situation has left me with a knot in my stomach and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. I just hope that after talking to Elijah, I can find the clarity and peace I need to make an informed decision about our future together.