Chapter 13

 Elena’s POV

The air in the house was heavy and Lucien's silence cut deeper than any word, he didn’t shout, he didn’t question, but every time I moved, I felt his eyes on me, watching, measuring, knowing.

At breakfast, he barely touched his food, the sound of the spoon against his cup felt too loud.

“Did you sleep?” I asked softly.

He looked up, and his eyes were unreadable. “You?”

I nodded even though I didn’t and my hands shook under the table.

He nodded once and said nothing more, the silence stretched between us like glass, it was clear, fragile, ready to break.

When I left the dining room, I felt his gaze follow me and every step I took felt watched.

I went to my room and shut the door and my phone vibrated at once and my chest tightened when I saw the number, it was the kidnappers again.

A message flashes on the screen.

“He knows. Keep quiet, or your son dies tonight.”

I dropped the phone and my whole body trembled and tears filled my eyes. “Please, not my baby,” I whispered.

I sank to the floor, and clutched my chest and I and couldn't breathe  and I couldn't think.

Lucien’s face flashed in my mind and the way he looked at me this morning, it was calm but cold, as if he already knew the truth.

If he found out, they would kill Jace.

I paced the room, and pulled my hair. “What do I do?” I whispered. “What do I do?”

There was a knock on the door and my heart jumped.

“Elena,” Lucien’s voice said through the door. “Open up.”

I quickly wiped my tears and hid my phone under the pillow. “One minute!” I called, and forced my voice to sound normal.

He opened the door anyway, his eyes met mine. It was sharp, tired and searching.

“You have been crying,” he said flatly.

“I…no, I’m fine,” I whispered.

He stepped closer. “Are you?”

I couldn't look at him and my chest burnt. “Yes.”

He studied me for a long moment. “You’ve been acting strange. Always hiding, always afraid. What are you hiding from me, Elena?”

My throat dried and  I tried to smile. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” His voice hardened. “Because I feel like I have been living with a stranger.”

I froze and he took another step closer. His scent filled the room, it was warm and sharp, and I felt my knees go weak.

“Lucien…” I whispered. “Please stop.”

“Tell me what’s going on,” he said softly this time. “I can help you. But you need to tell me the truth.”

The words almost broke me. I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to say Jace is your son. I wanted to fall into his arms and stop hiding.

But then I remembered the message.

He knows. Keep quiet, or your son dies tonight.

My breath caught and I shook my head quickly. “There’s nothing to tell.”

He clenched his jaw. “You’re lying again.”

“Lucien, please…”

He turned away before I could finish. “I can’t do this,” he muttered and walked out of the room and the door slammed.

I collapsed on the floor again, and cried quietly. “Please, God… don’t let him find out. Not like this.”

Hours passed and the house grew quiet, everyone had slept..

I sat by the window, watching the rain fall, my phone stayed silent now, but the fear didn’t fade.

Every drop of rain felt like a heartbeat, ticking down the time I had left before everything fell apart.

By midnight, I couldn't take it anymore. I got up to check the window locks when I heard footsteps outside my door. It was slow and steady and the door opened..

Lucien stepped in, his face shadowed by the dim light. He was holding something in his hand, a paper.

“Elena,” he said quietly and my stomach twisted.

He walked closer and placed the paper on the table. “I found this.”

I stared at it, frozen. I already know what it is.

The birth record and my breath stopped.

He lifted his eyes to mine, his voice was low but steady. “Why does your son bear my name?”

The room spinned and my lips parted, but no words came out.

My knees weakened and the paper fluttered under the wind, and my secret, my greatest fear, hung between us.

Lucien stood in front of me, the birth record shaking in his hand. His voice was low but cold.

“Elena,” he said again, “why does your son bear my name?”

My heart stopped and my throat felt tight. I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

“Lucien, I…”

He cut in sharply. “Tell me the truth.”

I tried to breathe. “It’s not what you think.”

His eyes darkened. “Then make me understand.”

Before I could speak, his phone rang and the sound filled the tense room, he stared at the screen for a second, his jaw tightened and then he turned away and answered it.

“Yes, Daniel. What?”

I stood still, trembling, his face was changed and something in his eyes hardened again.

 “Fine. Handle it,” he said coldly and ended the call.

He didn’t look at me as he grabbed his coat.

“We’ll finish this later.”

“Lucien, please,” I whispered. “You’re getting it wrong.”

He walked out before I finished and the door closed hard.

I fell on the bed and held my chest and my heart felt like it might break. My hands shook as I picked up the birth record he dropped on the floor. His name printed there burnt into my eyes.

I cried quietly for a long time, I didn’t know what to do anymore. I couldn't tell him yet. If I told him, they would kill Jace.

When my phone buzzed, I jumped and a new message appeared on the screen.

Unknown Number: Keep quiet, or your son dies.

My breath caught and my fingers went cold.

I dropped the phone on the bed, my eyes blurred with tears and I covered my mouth to stop the sobs. They knew, someone knew everything.

I deleted the message fast and locked the phone and my mind spinned. I looked around the room as if someone might be watching me.

I whispered to myself, “Please, not my son.”

Later, I didn't sleep. I just sat there in the dark, and prayed Lucien wouldn't find out yet.

I heard the sound of a car outside and the gate opened. Headlights flash across the window and I rushed to the curtain and peek, Lucien’s car was back…but he was not alone.