Chapter 20: Unspoken Truths
Chapter 20: Unspoken Truths
The figure stepped into the light, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.
“Sofie?” Alexander whispered, voice low.
My eyesfixed on the figure, and a calmness enveloped me. I have seen her before, I said to myself, but where could it be? The persistent sensation pulled at me, similar to a partially recalled dream, yet I couldn’t identify it.
whose existence remained in my mind like a question without an answer. The woman who had sent a cold shiver down my spine upon our first encounter, despite her grace and beauty. And now, here she stood, facing Alexander in the gentle light of the room, as if she belonged there entirely.
She stepped forward, her silhouette becoming clearer. The familiar waves of blond hair, the sleek, confident stride, and the graceful way she moved. Now that I remember I’ve seen her in a model magazine, one of the top models in Ravenhold. It was her. Sofie Stone. She had everything, beauty, charm, the kind of effortless allure that many would envy. And she knew how to wield it, like a weapon. She had an unyielding grip on the life she believed she deserved, and from the way she held herself, I could see she wasn’t going to let go easily.
Alexander’s voice cut through the haze in my mind. “What are you doing here?” His tone was cold, guarded, and yet there was an undercurrent of something else, a hint of familiarity that didn’t go unnoticed.
Sofie’s lips curled into a smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. It was the same smile I had seen countless times when she’d spoken to me before, but this time, it held something darker, something almost predatory. “Oh, come on, baby, don’t be mean. I really miss you,” she said softly, her voice smooth as silk, but laced with something cold, calculating.
And then, as if she were entitled to it, she wrapped her arms around Alexander’s back, pressing her head against his chest in an intimate, almost possessive way.
I felt a jolt in my chest. A stab of something I couldn’t quite define, pain? Jealousy? The sensation was foreign, and it unsettled me. My heart hurt somehow, but I didn’t understand why I felt this way. Maybe it was because she looked so natural with him, like they belonged together. But then, I remembered the kiss Alexander and I had shared that night in the car. The heat of it, the rawness, the way our lips had collided with such intensity. That was real, wasn’t it?
If he has a lover, then why did he kiss me back then? I reflected, my thoughts racing. The question lingered in my thoughts, but I swiftly recollected the reality of Alexander's existence. The regulations were unique in this place. He was indifferent to others' emotions, he acted as he pleased, no matter who got hurt.
I glanced at them again, attempting to understand what I was observing. Alexander remained silent. He didn’t reciprocate Sofie’s hug. He simply remained there, unmoving, like a statue, his body rigid, his face inscrutable. It felt as if he was caught in that moment, as if just being there could soothe her without needing to give anything back.
The moment left an unpleasant feeling in my mouth, and before I could think about it further, I looked away. I couldn't remain there as a quiet observer of whatever this was. I wasn't interested in seeing them together. Not at this moment, not in this way. The space felt stifling, and I had to get away.
I departed, my footsteps reverberating along the corridor as I headed toward the room Alexander had instructed me to remain in. I required some time to reflect, to inhale, to understand it all. Yet my mind was a torrent of thoughts and inquiries, all of which I lacked answers for.
Throughout the remainder of the evening, I couldn't rid myself of the sensation that something had changed. Something had shifted, and I couldn’t decide if it was for the better or for the worse. I sensed it strongly inside, it was an odd atmosphere, as if a tempest was approaching nearby.
I couldn't discern if it was just my mind playing tricks or if the connections among Alexander, Sofie, and myself were starting to unravel in ways I didn't completely grasp.
As the evening progressed, I attempted to divert my attention, to concentrate on something, anything, aside from the troubling sensation in the depths of my stomach. Yet, regardless of my efforts, my thoughts continually drifted back to Sofie. To her smile, icy and strategic, the manner in which she had enveloped Alexander without a moment's hesitation. It plagued me, turning like a thorn lodged in my side.
I found myself positioned in front of the window, looking out at the garden beneath. The moonlight enveloped the neatly tended flowers in a gentle, otherworldly radiance, creating elongated shadows on the surface. For a fleeting instant, the outside world seemed tranquil once more, as if I could break free from the turmoil within. Yet that tranquility was momentary, eluding my grasp like grains of sand.
The sound of the door opening interrupted my thoughts. My heart leaped, and I spun around, partly anticipating it to be Alexander. However, seeing him in the doorway felt like a blow to the stomach. His demeanor was impassive, inscrutable, as if nothing had altered.
I was unable to meet his eyes. I was unable to accomplish it. Not after all that had just occurred. The things I intended to express, queries, requests, allegations, caught in my throat, leaving me with only a straightforward, “You’re back.”
He didn’t say anything at first, simply stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. The silence between us was heavy, thick with unspoken words. I couldn’t help but notice how calm he was. How distant. It was like Sofie’s presence hadn’t even affected him. As though the hug had meant nothing at all.
Alexander walked toward me, his eyes scanning me briefly before he spoke. “You’re upset,” he said, his voice low and even. There was no question in it, just a statement. “I told you to stay in this room. Why aren’t you in bed?”
I sensed the anger building within me, but I struggled to control it. I couldn't allow him to realize how deeply his apathy toward Sofie's behavior had affected me. I inhaled deeply, attempting to calm myself. "I'm okay," I replied, although the words sounded empty.
He appeared to observe me for a brief moment, as if attempting to decipher the hidden meaning. However, instead of insisting, he simply nodded. “If you're feeling hungry, I can arrange for something to be delivered. I recommend you rest”
The nonchalant disregard hurt, yet I concealed my feelings. Rather, I compelled myself to agree. "Thanks, but I’m not in the mood to eat."
His gaze stayed on me a moment longer, and I felt certain I glimpsed a flicker behind them, perhaps a hint of guilt, or something more profound. Yet it vanished before I could completely comprehend it.
He pivoted, heading in the direction of the door. However, just as he was about to grasp the handle, I interjected, unable to hold back.
“Are you and that model ... .Sofie...?” I inquired before I had time to reconsider.
The question floated in the atmosphere like a delicate thread, and for a brief moment, he remained silent. Then, without looking back, he replied, “You disobey me again by leaving the room. However… That's not your concern, Dysis."
The door clicked closed after him, leaving me standing solitary in the center of the room once more.
And for the first time since my arrival, I was unsure whether to trust him.