Chapter 24 : New Day

To her surprise, it turned out that Fiona managed to sleep all night in the new house. She opened her eyes slowly when the glass window beside her bed shone sunlight through the open curtains. The mattress she was lying on gave off a strange, soft scent. Like the smell of freshly changed sheets. She got up and sat facing out the window.

As far as the eye could see, the bright blue sky greeted her. Faintly the sound of birds sounded melodious. How long had it been since she had woken up in the morning feeling this calm?

Fiona turned her head and looked around.

The feeling of calm then disappeared.

She would never be able to calm down until she could get out of this problem.

Tasya and Nia, how are they? Do they really believe in Leonard? The first thing that Fiona kept thinking about didn't give her an answer. She got up from bed, threw back the blanket, and washed her face in the bathroom. When it was finished, someone knocked on the bedroom door. Her beat is similar to Yulia's. So Fiona called out for her to come in.

But it turned out that it wasn't Yulia who came in.

Noura stood in the doorway in a simple dress and styled hair. Her face has also been made up. She stared at Fiona for a moment before asking if she could come in. Fiona nodded and didn't feel bothered by the fact that she hadn't changed clothes and was still wearing pajamas.

“Did you sleep well?” Noura asked casually. A woman—who seemed to be Noura's servant, poured tea from a food trolley in the corner of the living room. Fiona was a little uncomfortable, but as long as Noura didn't make a fuss first, she wanted to respect the woman too.

"Good."

Noura sipped tea slowly. A sweet aroma wafted through the air. Fiona rarely wakes up this early. The last time she woke up early was several months ago. When she was still in Paris she always walked to the city park to just enjoy the morning air. For Fiona, morning is a comfortable time to fill your mind with a positive aura before starting to write.

Writing.

Fiona glanced at the table where Leonard's laptop was.

She still didn't dare check her email or continue writing.

She doesn't know what happened in Paris. Until now Fiona hasn't dared to even look at it.

"Are you on holiday in Jakarta because you are really running away from the problems that are happening in Paris?" Noura's question made Fiona immediately turn towards her. At first, Fiona wanted to ask how the woman knew, but when she realized it, everyone in the house must have found out her origins via the internet. Moreover, Cornelius had also met her before, so Fiona's name as a writer was not that difficult on the internet.

"Yes."

Noura placed her cup on the table, causing a faint clink. "Previously, I was pleased to see that you were very disinterested in Leonard's wedding this time. But I can't deny that I am also very frustrated by the circumstances that force Leonard to like you." Noura looked at her while observing. Making Fiona look back at her without expression.

"I don't know what he likes about you, but for me, it's something strange."

“Strange?” said Fiona, a little offended. For some reason, Noura's way of speaking sometimes feels elegant but full of flaws at the same time. Fiona knew that she was from a rich family, someone like her who never cared about her appearance and character in public really looked unkempt in their culture in this house. But that doesn't mean that Fiona can just be put down as if she doesn't deserve anyone—especially since her son is a pervert.

“I have been told some information about you in the past. Since childhood, you have been cared for in orphanages in Europe. But actually, there are several monks from the orphanage branch where you are who said that they found out that your parents are Indonesian. That's why they move you at the age of 10 and stay five years in Jakarta. You certainly know about this, don't you?”

Fiona snorted. "Rumors. Until now I never cared where my parents were. Even if they are still alive..."

Just to care, Fiona felt like she didn't have the energy. Since childhood, she was cared for by monks in an orphanage. She was indeed transferred to Jakarta, but she doesn't have any memories of this small town. All the memories that appear here are just how hard she loved literacy in Jakarta and Europe. Jakarta for her is just a small city where he stops for a while.

"Are you sure? Then when will you return to Paris?"

Fiona glanced at the woman without interest. “Can I still go back to Paris? If you can let me out of this stupid marriage, I'll go home. And will never come back here again."

“This should be easy. I just ask you to leave right now without other people knowing. But… the problem is that you are already marked. And I'd rather let you be captured by Marionette and let Leonard have no more contact with you."

Hearing the name Marionette, for some reason, Fiona immediately felt discouraged. She remembered Yulia's story that afternoon. When Marionette easily terrorized Black Horse company employees and killed those who tried to escape after being marked.

You've been tagged.

“Damn,” Fiona muttered absently. Making Noura let out a small gasp and then narrowed her eyes.

"So you already know what a Marionette is like?"

Fiona looked at the woman in embarrassment. “Whether that's true or not, I wouldn't want to go into the lion's den.”

Noura smiled slightly. “You've been marked, Fiona. Anyone who has been marked will not go anywhere except to the cage.”

Fiona's fingers were clearly shaking. She didn't want to believe the terror Yulia told him about, but for some reason, the words 'marked' gradually became a terror for her. Especially when accompanied by the image of when she locked eyes with Marionette at the bar at that time.

That already proved that she was indeed unsafe.

“I don't understand,” said Fiona. “Why does Marionette mark me and everyone has to protect me? Including Cornelius and Leonard himself?"

This time Noura took another sip of tea slowly and then looked at Fiona. "That's because they are blind to your charm. But…"

The answer was not at all predictable, but Fiona was not at all flattered by her words. She looked at Noura's smile which grew wider as she started to feel uneasy.

"In this way, I will exchange you, for the sake of big profits between Cornelius and Marionette."

***