Chapter 58
Beatrice’s POV
What was I even thinking… that he would wait for me? Me? Raven? I should have known better. Nothing has ever come easily for me. Luck has never been on my side, not once. And just when I was about to open my heart to him, to let him in completely, everything came crashing down like a wave determined to drown me.
It hurts. Goddess, it hurts so badly I can hardly breathe. I can’t speak to him. Not now. Not after seeing that. All I can see now is flashes of her perfectly manicured hand on his bare chest.
I can’t even pretend to compare myself to the woman her. She looked like she had stepped straight out of a myth, beautiful, confident, the kind of beauty that makes the world pause. I’m not even in the same league.
Why did he tell me he would wait… when clearly he didn’t? Was it all just a lie? Did he just want to sleep with me, then move on?
I feel sick. My chest tightens as I press my palms over my face. I’m so damn unlucky. Who did I harm in a past life to deserve this kind of pain?
'You don’t have any faults, my darling.' A sudden voice hits me. The voice is faint, soft as the wind whispering through leaves, yet somehow it wraps around my heart. For a moment, I wonder if I’m losing my mind.
'Just close your eyes,' the voice says again, tender, almost motherly. 'Let go of yourself. I promise… you’ll feel much better.' And maybe I’m too tired to resist. I close my eyes. A gentle breeze brushes my face, cool and comforting. My breathing slows.
'Let go, my child… let go,' the voice murmurs. A strange calmness washes over me, erasing the ache in my chest. I feel my tears drying against my cheeks. My body… it’s as if it’s lifting off the ground. The weight I’ve been carrying all my life feels lighter.
“You can open them now,” the voice says, clearer this time, right in front of me. I open my eyes… and my breath catches. Two people stand before me.
“Who are you?” My voice comes out shaky. My head spins, because just moments ago, I was in my hostel room. How did I get here?
“Where am I?” I ask.
It’s an endless field, a sea of soft, short-trimmed grass stretching into the horizon. The sky is too perfect—blue without a single flaw, clouds painted like they belong in a dream. It’s beautiful… too beautiful to be real.The woman takes a step forward. Her eyes glisten as she studies my face.
“You’ve grown so much,” she whispers, voice trembling with emotion. She lifts her hand as if to touch me, but instinctively, I step back.
“You are so beautiful, my Raven,” she says, her voice breaking, tears sliding down her cheeks.
“What’s happening?” My heart is pounding so hard it hurts. This has to be a dream. It has to be.
“Hello, Raven,” the man says with steady composure.
I look at him properly… and my pulse stutters. Every feature, his eyes, nose, even the curve of his jaw, it’s like staring into a mirror. He looks exactly like me.
And when I turn back to the woman, it hits me again, her height, her long hair, the curve of her lips. She’s like an older version of me.
I take another step back. “No. This is a dream.”
“No, my darling,” she says gently, “we came for you. Raven… you are our daughter.”
My throat tightens. “No. I have no parents. I’ve been alone all my life.” The tears come again, faster this time. And yet… deep down, a part of me aches to believe her. If this is a dream, then I want to live here forever.
“We are here now, darling.” She closes the space between us and pulls me into her arms. This time, I don’t resist. I melt into her embrace, sobbing until my body shakes.
“There, there,” she soothes, rubbing slow circles on my back. “You’ll feel better soon. I promise.” Her warmth feels so real. Too real.
“Is this… real?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes, it is,” the man answers firmly.
The moment he speaks, the world shifts. Out of nowhere, shapes begin to appear. A quaint little house rises in the middle of tall, swaying trees. A wooden fence outlines the yard. And before I can process it, we’re standing on the porch of the house.
“What just happened?” My eyes dart around in shock.
“It was an illusion,” the man says calmly. “Now… we are home.”
“Home?” I repeat, still confused.
“I know you have so many questions, darling,” the woman says, taking my hand. “But please, come inside first. We promise to answer every one of them.”
The moment my feet cross the threshold, a wave of peace engulfs me. It’s warm here. The air smells faintly of pine and fresh bread.
The living room is cozy, wooden floors, soft rugs, mismatched chairs that look well-loved. The walls are painted in warm, earthy tones, and the shelves are lined with books, small carved figurines, and clay vases with dried flowers.
But what draws my eyes the most are the picture frames. Baby pictures, my baby pictures. A little girl with wide eyes and a messy tuft of dark hair. One shows me giggling in a crib, another wrapped in a soft blanket. I stop breathing for a moment.
“Those… are me,” I whisper.
“Yes,” she says softly. “Every moment we had with you, we kept.”
They lead me down a short hallway, and at the end is a small room. The bed is neatly made with a handmade quilt. The walls are painted a calming shade of soft green. On the desk sits a single vase of fresh flowers.
“This is your room,” the woman says, smiling through tears. “We’ve kept it ready for you.” My chest twists painfully. Where were they when I was being mistreated.
“Why am I here?” I finally ask, my voice shaking in anger. “If you’re truly my parents… then you’re going to tell me why you abandoned me.”
The silence that follows is heavy.