Chapter 3

Elena's POV

I had just finished getting dressed when there was a knock on my door.

I quickly wiped underneath my eyes one more time before turning toward the mirror.

My eyes were still red.

No matter how much makeup I had applied, I couldn't completely hide it.

I had spent the last hour crying over the fact that I was leaving the Blackwood mansion, and somehow I was expected to walk into a room full of people and pretend that everything was perfect.

I picked up my handbag and took one last look at myself.

The dress Sophie had chosen wasn't as terrible as I had first thought.

It still wasn't something I would have picked for myself, but it looked decent enough.

I touched the infinity necklace around my neck.

Another knock sounded.

"Elena?"

Adrian. My heart immediately jumped.

I quickly turned away from the mirror.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Adrian stepped inside.

His eyes immediately found mine and he frowned.

"What happened to your eyes?"

My heart skipped. "Nothing, I guess the makeup was too much."

He walked closer, studying my face.

"Are you sure?"

My fingers tightened around my handbag. For a moment, I considered telling him that I was leaving tomorrow.

I wanted to ask him if he would miss me. I wanted to hear him say that he didn't want me to go. But then I remembered what my mother had said.

People were already talking.

And if I told Adrian how much I hated leaving, he might realize how I felt about him. I couldn't risk that.

"It must be the mascara," I lied.

Adrian stared at me. He held my gaze for a few seconds before finally stepping back.

"Okay. Come on, they are waiting for us at the party"

I grabbed my handbag. "Let's go party then."

We walked downstairs together.

I tried not to think about the fact that this might be one of the last times I would walk beside him through this house.

Apparently, Richard had invited far more people than I had expected.

By the time we arrived at the venue, the place was already packed.

Music filled the enormous hall, and the entire room was decorated with gold lights, flowers, and candles.

I stopped at the entrance. "What is this?"

Adrian laughed. "You didn't know? It's a masquerade."

I looked around, everyone was wearing masks. Some were simple, others were so elaborate that I could barely recognize the people wearing them.

I laughed softly. "This is ridiculous."

We walked toward the table where the masks had been arranged and I picked up a simple black mask.

Adrian picked up a silver one and he held it against his face. "How do I look?"

"Like an idiot." I said without hesitation. 

He laughed, and placed the mask on his face. He went straight to the table and poured himself a tumbler of the finest scotch whiskey, which was his preferred drink as I had found out many years ago. 

He led me onto the dance floor. The music slowed, and his hand settled gently around my waist, my entire body stiffened.

I could feel his warmth through my dress.

My heart was beating so hard that I was terrified he would notice.

"Relax," he whispered.

I looked up at him. For a moment, everything around us disappeared.

Then suddenly, Adrian stumbled.

"Adrian?"

He almost lost his balance, I quickly grabbed his arm.

"What happened?"

"I'm fine." He tried to straighten himself, but his body swayed again.

I frowned. "You don't look fine."

"I'm just dizzy."

His words sounded slightly slurred. I looked at him carefully, his face was flushed, and his eyes seemed unfocused.

He tried to take another step, and his knee almost buckled.

I caught him. "Adrian!"

I looked toward the table where he had been drinking.

"Did you have anything besides alcohol?"

He shook his head. "Just my drink."

My stomach dropped. I remembered how quickly his condition had changed. One moment he had been perfectly fine, the next, he could barely stand.I knew immediately that someone had drugged him on purpose. 

I wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

Getting him upstairs wasn't easy. He was much heavier than me, and every few steps he leaned more of his weight against me.

When we finally reached his room, I helped him sit on the bed.

He immediately fell backward as I pulled the blanket over him.

"You need to rest."

He grabbed my wrist and I froze. His fingers were warm around my skin.

"Elena."

"Yes?"

His eyes were half closed as he muttered. "Stay."

My heart jumped and my breathing became uneven.

He pulled me slightly closer. "I want you, Sophie."

Everything inside me shattered. I couldn't believe how he'd look at me in the eyes and still think about Sophie. 

I slowly pulled my wrist from his hand, tears immediately burned behind my eyes.

"Okay," I whispered.

I forced myself to smile even though my chest felt like it was being crushed.

"I'll get Sophie."

I turned around and started walking, I was almost at the door when I stopped.

My hand rested on the doorknob, and I closed my eyes.

Why couldn't it be me?

I had loved Adrian for years.

I had loved him better than anyone in this world.

I slowly turned around, Adrian was still lying on the bed, and he looked completely vulnerable.

My heart pounded. I knew I should leave.

But another thought kept pushing its way into my head.

I was leaving tomorrow.

After tonight, I would no longer be living under the same roof as Adrian. I would no longer see him every morning.

My hand tightened around the doorknob.

"Why can't it be me?" The words slipped from my lips.

I knew I was being selfish, but my feelings had been buried for too long.

And tonight, knowing I was about to lose him completely, they were becoming impossible to control.

But when I reached the door, I heard voices coming from downstairs.

Then I heard laughter, and it was from Sophie.

My heart began pounding again as I walked toward the staircase.

She had just arrived upstairs, still wearing her beautiful dress and smiling as she talked to one of the guests.

When she saw me, her face brightened.

"Elena!" She hurried toward me. "Where's Adrian?"

I stared at her. I looked at the mask covering her face, then an idea entered my mind.

A terrible idea, a reckless one at that. An idea that I knew I would regret, but I couldn't stop myself.

"Sophie. Can I borrow your mask?"

She blinked. "My mask?"

"Yes, I want to change mine."

She shrugged. "Sure." She removed it and handed it to me without hesitation.

I took it with trembling fingers and I turned away before she could see my expression. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

I walked back toward Adrian's room and put on the mask, then I opened the door.

Adrian stirred when he heard me, his eyes opened slightly.

"Sophie?"

My heart cracked all over again, I said nothing.

I stepped inside. I walked toward him slowly, then I reached behind me and switched off the lights.

The room went completely dark.