Chapter 22 Twenty Two
Mira didn’t stay in the kitchen much longer.
The silence was doing that thing again.
Pressing in. Making everything feel heavier and more uncomfortable than it should.
She grabbed a slice of toast, more out of habit than hunger, and took a small bite.
It tasted like nothing.
Her mind wasn’t on food.
It was on Lena.
On the way, she avoided her eyes.
On how her voice dropped when she mentioned the bird.
On the question she asked—
Did Sir Corvin see it too?
Not what happened.
Are you okay?
That she found weird
Mira chewed slowly, watching Lena move around the kitchen avoiding her gaze.
“Lena,” she said again, quieter this time.
Lena paused.
Didn’t bother turning to look at her.
Mira sighed. “…Never mind.”
Because pushing her now wouldn’t work.
Lena wasn’t going to talk.
Not here. Not like this. Not when she is so scared
Mira dropped the toast back on the plate.
“Thanks for the toast,” she muttered, even though she hadn’t really eaten.
She turned and walked out of the kitchen.
The hallway felt colder than before. Or maybe it was just her. Mira wrapped her arms lightly around herself as she walked.
Her steps slower now.
Thinking.
She was trying to connect everything that happened the bird, her photo, Lena’s question, and Salvatore.
The way he wasn’t surprised.
The way he just… handled it.
Like it wasn’t the first time something like that had happened.
Mira stopped walking.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
“…No,” she whispered. That thought didn’t sit right.
Because if it wasn’t the first time…
Then what exactly was going on in this house?
Her stomach turned. She forced herself to move again. Back to her room.
When she got to her door, she didn’t go in immediately.
She just stood outside her door … Staring at it.
Like something might be waiting on the other side again that she might not like.
Her hand hovered over the handle.
“…You’re overthinking,” she muttered.
Still… She opened the door slowly.
Carefully.
Her eyes scanned the room first before stepping in.
The bed. Clean.
No bird. No blood. No photo.
Mira stepped inside slowly.
Closed the door behind her.
Her jaw tightened.
That didn’t make her feel better. That made it worse.
Someone was messing with her she had no idea who the person was.
“…Someone came in last night but who?,” she murmured.
Her chest tightened again.
Mira stepped back slowly. Her eyes were moving around the room.
Checking again for the camera.. still nothing.
“…Okay,” she whispered. “Fuck this… You want to play like this huh? It's on.” she yelled, looking around to wherever the camera might be, but she wasn't sure
Her jaw set.
Because if this was meant to scare her.. It was working.
But it also made one thing very clear.
She was going to go down easily.
And whoever did this— Was about to regret not finishing what they started.
A soft knock broke the silence.
Mira’s head turned immediately toward the door.
Her body tensed for a second—then forced itself to relax.
“Yeah?” she called.
The door opened slightly.
Lena stepped in, careful as always, like she didn’t want to disturb anything.
“Miss…” she said quietly. “Sir Corvin asked me to inform you to get dressed. His stepping out.”
Mira stared at her for a second.
“…Stepping out?” she repeated.
Lena nodded once. “He said to be ready soon.”
Of course he did.
No explanation. No details on where they were going.
Just orders.
Mira let out a small breath through her nose.
“Right,” she muttered. “Because why would anyone tell me anything in this house?”
Lena didn’t respond to that.
She just stood there.
Waiting.
Mira glanced at her briefly… then looked away.
“…Fine,” she said. “Give me a minute.”
Lena hesitated.
Then added, “There are clothes prepared for you. Your wardrobe was rearranged.”
Mira’s eyes flicked toward the wardrobe.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
“…Yeah, I figured… I’m not a mannequin for that lunatic.” She muttered under her breath.
A short silence passed.
Then Lena spoke again, softer this time.
“You should wear them.”
Mira looked back at her. Really looked this time.
Lena wasn’t just suggesting.
There was something else there.
Something like… caution.
Mira held her gaze for a second longer.
Then sighed.
“…Alright.”
Lena nodded once.
And stepped out, closing the door behind her.
Mira stood still for a moment after she left.
Then slowly turned toward the wardrobe.
“…This better not be another power move,” she murmured.
She walked over and opened it.
Inside… Clothes.
Neatly arranged.
Different styles. Different colors.
All is clearly expensive.
Her eyes scanned through them.
Then stopped.
A dress. Simple.
But elegant.
Dark. Not too loud.
Just perfect kind of attention.
Mira reached for it slowly.
Her fingers brushed against the fabric.
“…Fine,” she muttered. “We’ll play along.”
A few minutes later— She stepped out of her room.
In a black bodycon dress. Hugging her tightly.
Antonio was already there. Leaning slightly against the wall, as if he had been waiting for hours.
His eyes lifted the moment he saw her.
They moved over her once.
Quick. Assessing.
Then back to her face.
“…Good,” he said simply.
Mira rolled her eyes slightly.
“Nice to see you too.”
He didn’t respond.
Just pushed off the wall.
“Boss is waiting.”
Of course he is.
Mira fell into step behind him. Her mind was already turning again.
Where were they heading to? Is he ever going to address what happened last night?
They walked through the hallway in silence.
As they reached the entrance… Mira slowed slightly.
Her eyes flicked outside.
The car was already there.
Engine running. Door open.
Waiting.
She exhaled slowly.
“…Here we go again,” she murmured under her breath.
Antonio glanced at her briefly.
“Any Problem?”
Mira shook her head.
“No,” she said calmly.
Then stepped forward.
“Not yet.