Chapter 21: A Glimpse of the Outside

Chapter 21: A Glimpse of the Outside


Months had slipped by after Sofie came to the mansion, no sign of Max Carter ever since and this room had become my entire world. Once suffocating, the four walls now seemed almost familiar, but their confinement remained unchanged. I had felt seriously ill in the past few weeks, but thanks to Lucian's meticulous care and Vee's vigilant watch. I feel much better now. Yet despite my recovery, an invisible barrier still held me captive, the unspoken command of Alexander, who had ordered me to remain within this room.

I sat in front of the mirror as Vee combed through my long, honey-toned hair. The afternoon light cast a soft glow on my skin, now radiant and healthy. But beneath the surface, a different ache had settled, a longing for freedom that grew more unbearable by the day.

Vee, as always, worked with quiet precision, adjusting my dress and smoothing the fabric until every fold was flawless. As she tied the final ribbon around my waist, my frustration spilled over, my voice sharp and unrestrained. 

“Aren’t you tired of playing dress-up with me? feeding me like I’m some kind of doll?” My words cut through the silence, and I met Vee’s gaze in the mirror, searching her eyes for a glimmer of empathy.

For a brief instant, Vee paused, her face maintaining a carefully neutral expression. “It’s my duty,” she responded, her tone gentle yet lacking emotion, as if she had practiced the reply many times before. "This is the reason I’m here." 

I breathed out quickly, pivoting from the mirror to look at the window. I rested my forehead on the chilly glass, gazing at the vast garden beneath, a vibrant space, yet completely unattainable. "Is he truly committed to it?" I murmured, my tone laced with urgency. I had already known the answer, but in some way, listening to it spoken made it feel even more tangible. 

Vee's quietness provided a sufficient response, and when she eventually talked, her tone was controlled. “Yes. The house master was quite unkind.”

The weight of helplessness settled heavily in my chest. I hadn’t seen Alexander in months, not since the day he’d given the order to keep me locked away. I had hoped, foolishly, that he might relent, that his command would fade with time. But it hadn’t.

I turned back to Vee, frustration hardening my tone. “And you? You’re just going to keep following his orders? Trapping me here like this?”

Vee didn’t meet my gaze. “I follow my master’s instructions. It’s not my place to question them.”
As my maid and bodyguard.

The anger simmered just beneath my calm facade, my hands clenching into fists. “I feel like a prisoner,” I muttered, my voice low and bitter.

Finishing her task, Vee stepped back to observe me. Her words were as distant as ever. “It’s for your safety.”

I shook my head, the anger rising inside me. I wanted to scream, to shatter the silence that seemed to choke me, but it wouldn’t change a thing. The walls would stay unyielding. The door wouldn’t magically unlock. Alexander's will was a cage that held my life tightly shut.

The door creaked open, breaking the tense silence. Lucian stepped inside, his tall figure casting a shadow over the polished floor. As usual, he carried his medical bag, his expression calm and detached. His green eyes flickered toward me briefly before he began his routine check-up, moving with practiced precision.

I watched him, my frustration mounting. I had grown accustomed to his visits, always impersonal, always the same. Lucian never lingered or offered comfort; he simply examined me, dispensed any remaining treatment, and left.

Today was no different.

Lucian’s movements were swift and exact as he assessed my condition. His sharp jawline and striking features gave him an air of cool authority, and the slight disarray of his jet-blue hair suggested he had hurried from another task. But it was his eyes that drew me in the most, green like a deep forest, with something darker lurking just beneath the surface.

“You’re healing well,” he said, his voice low and impersonal, as if reciting from a script. He packed away his tools, ready to leave as quickly as he had come.

But I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Lucian, don’t you think this is unfair?” I blurted out, my voice breaking.

He paused, hand hovering over the door handle. “Unfair?”

“Keeping me locked up like this. I’m not sick anymore, I’ve recovered. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be allowed to walk outside.” My voice trembled, the emotions I had fought to contain spilling out.

Lucian turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “My job is to ensure your health, Dysis. Physically, you’re fine.”

“That’s not what I mean,” I insisted, frustration tightening my throat. “I’m not a prisoner. So why does it feel like I am?”

His eyes shifted, yet he offered no response. Instead, he twisted the doorknob and quietly exited, leaving my words suspended in the silent atmosphere. I gazed at the shut door, the burden of disillusionment weighing heavily in my heart. I had wished, even if just for an instant, that he would concur with me, that he might assist me in breaking free from this suffocating imprisonment. However, as usual, Lucian maintained his distance. 

\-

Lucian strode through the mansion’s dim corridors, Dysis’s plea echoing in his mind. He had seen the longing in her eyes, the desperation in her voice, but he understood the boundaries of his role too well to intervene. Dysis belonged to a world he wanted no part in, a world built on power and control, where freedom was a rare and dangerous thing.

He made his way to the library, seeking refuge in the familiar scent of old books and the quiet rustle of pages. But any hope for peace faded the moment he saw Alexander already there, settled in his usual chair with a book open in his hands. The sharp blue eyes didn’t lift from the pages as Lucian entered.

“I don’t need any disturbance… leave,” Alex muttered, his voice low and indifferent, as if Lucian were just another servant to dismiss.

Unperturbed, Lucian strode over to the bookshelf, selecting a book with practiced ease. “I’m not one of your servants to order around,” he replied, a faint smirk curling his lips as he sank into the chair across from Alex.

A flicker of amusement passed through Alexander’s gaze as he glanced up. “This is my house, after all.”

Lucian thumbed absently through the pages of his book, but his thoughts lingered on Dysis. After a moment, he broke the silence, his tone light but his words edged with purpose. “Dysis needs to be let outside.”

The shift in Alexander’s demeanor was immediate. His relaxed expression hardened, the icy amusement in his eyes vanishing. “That’s not for you to decide.”

Lucian didn’t flinch. “She’s fully recovered. It’s not about decisions, it’s about what’s right for her health. She needs some exercise, at least a walk in the garden.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened, his stare darkening. “Are you showing concern for her?” There was a dangerous undertone to his voice, as if the mere suggestion of caring about Dysis treaded on forbidden ground.

“She’s my patient,” Lucian answered, his calm unwavering. “It’s my responsibility to ensure her health.”

A tense silence stretched between them, heavy as a storm cloud, as Alexander’s gaze bored into him. “She can do exercises in her room.” Alexander said, but Lucian held his ground, the steady resolve in his eyes never wavering.

After a beat, Lucian closed his book and stood. “It’s good for her health,” he said, his tone final. Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed for the door.

“I’ll consider it,” Alexander's voice echoed through the stillness as Lucian reached the threshold.

Lucian paused, acknowledging the remark with a slight nod before leaving the room.

\-

Alexander found himself frowning, the question creeping into his mind unbidden. When did Lucian start caring?

It wasn’t like Lucian to involve himself beyond his professional duties. He’d always maintained a careful distance, treating his patients with detached concern and never letting emotions cloud his judgment. Yet here he was, pushing Alexander to relent on an order as if Dysis's well-being was suddenly his personal matter.

Alexander's jaw tightened. Lucian’s concern for Dysis was unexpected, out of character even. Was it pity? Or something else entirely? The thought stirred a quiet irritation in him.

Whatever it was, Alexander wasn’t sure he liked it.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence, soft but clear.

"I know you're plotting something, Alexander."

He turned sharply, his heart skipping a beat. Standing in the doorway was Sofie Stone, her eyes gleaming with a knowing glint.

“Plotting something?” he repeated, his voice cold.

She stepped forward, her heels clicking on the marble floor, a small, triumphant smile curling on her lips.

“I know you’re keeping secrets... And I’m not going to let it slide."

Alexander’s gaze narrowed. What does she know?

Sofie’s smile widened as she stepped closer, her words a soft, dangerous whisper.

“I’ve got my eyes on you, Alexander. And I’m not the only one.”

A chilling silence descended between them, the tension thick enough to cut. Alexander’s fingers tightened around the edge of his chair, his mind racing.

"Then you’ll want to know the truth," he said, his voice laced with a calm menace.

Her smile faltered, but before she could respond, a faint click echoed from the hallway.

The door to the mansion creaked open, and the air grew heavy with the promise of something... or someone... unexpected.