CHAPTER FOUR

LENA’S POV

“Have you eaten today?” Ethan’s voice comes from behind me while I’m standing in the kitchen, staring into the fridge like something might jump out and surprise me. The question is normal. Almost casual. That’s why it unsettles me.

“I will,” I say, closing the door. “I’m just… thinking.” He nods once, accepting that answer without pushing. He’s been doing that more lately letting silences exist without filling them. It makes him easier to be around.

Edward isn’t home yet. The house feels suspended because of it, like everything is waiting for his return.

I move to the counter and start slicing tomatoes even though I’m not hungry. My hands are steady, but my chest feels tight, like something is sitting there that doesn’t belong.

“You don’t have to cook,” Ethan says. “Staff will handle it.” “I know,” I respond. “I want to.” That gets a look from him. Not disapproval. Just mild curiosity. “Alright,” he says. “I’ll be nearby.”

He steps back, giving me space, but he doesn’t leave the room. I can feel him there quiet, present, grounded. It helps more than I want to admit.

Edward walks into the house shortly after. “Lena, come to my study now” I quickly left all I was doing and rushed after him to his study.

“I am expecting very important people tomorrow in this house I need you to on your best behavior well you know what happens when you disobey me.” He said with a tone that makes me know how serious this is. “That will be all.”

Immediately I left his study Edward picked up his phone to answer a call, pacing slowly, jacket off, sleeves rolled up. He holds up one finger when he sees me wait. His attention is elsewhere.

“no,” Edward says into the phone, voice calm, irritated. “That wasn’t the agreement.” He turns slightly, back half-facing me. “I don’t care how it looks,” he continues. “The man was warned. Multiple times. My heart starts to beat faster. “Yes. Her father.” The words hit before I can stop them. I don’t move. I don’t breathe. Edward keeps talking. “I said increase the dosage. Slowly. You rushed it.”

My ears start ringing. “No, don’t insult me. It worked. He died quietly. Doctors saw what they expected to see.” My knees feel weak. Edward sighs. “Illness is very convenient when people refuse to cooperate.” The room tilts.

“He thought hiding behind morality would save him,” Edward continues. “He was wrong.” I grip the edge of the desk to keep myself upright.

“Listen to me,” Edward says sharply into the phone. “This conversation is finished. Clean it up and don’t let it resurface.” He ends the call and turns.

I try to stable myself and not make any noise as I quietly leave the spot where I stood listening to him. I was shaking, my whole body was shaking, I took few steps and Ethan was next to me.

“Are you okay?” he asks quietly. I open my mouth. Nothing comes out. He doesn’t touch me. Doesn’t crowd me. Just waits. “I need air,” I say finally.

He nods. “Garden or terrace?” “Terrace.” We walk in silence. Every step feels unreal. The night air hits my face and I grip the railing hard. “He killed him,” I whisper.

Ethan doesn’t respond immediately. “Edward,” I say. “He killed my father.” Ethan’s posture changes not dramatically, but I feel it. Like a wire pulled tight. “How did you hear?” he asks.

I stare straight ahead. “He was on the phone. He didn’t know I was there.” Ethan exhales slowly through his nose. “What exactly did he say?” he asks. I repeat it. Every word I can remember. The dosage. The illness. The way he said it like it was a scheduling error. When I was done, my throat burns.

“That’s confirmation,” Ethan says quietly. The certainty in his voice makes my stomach twist.

“You’re not surprised,” I say. “No,” he replies honestly. “But I was hoping to be wrong.” I laugh once, broken. “I married my father’s murderer.”Ethan turns to face me fully now.

“You didn’t know,” he says. “That doesn’t change the fact that I sleep next to him.” Silence stretches between us. “You need to be careful,” Ethan says. “From this moment on.” “I have been careful,” I snap. “It didn’t save him.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he replies evenly. “You can’t let him know you know “I won’t.” “You can’t even let him suspect,” he continues. “Edward doesn’t forgive awareness. I close my eyes.

“Everything makes sense now,” I whisper. “The timing. How fast he appeared. How prepared he was.” Ethan doesn’t interrupt. “He wasn’t saving me,” I say. “He was finishing something.”

“Yes,” Ethan says. My hands start shaking again, but this time I don’t fight it. “I don’t know how to live with this,” I say. “You don’t,” he replies. “Not yet.” I open my eyes and look at him. “What does that mean?” “It means you survive first,” he says. “Feel later.”

I nod slowly. We stand there longer than we should. Finally, I straighten my shoulders. “He can never know,” I say. Ethan meets my eyes. “He won’t. As long as you don’t change.” “I’ve already changed. “Yes,” Ethan says quietly. “Internally.” That scares me more than anything.

Edward’s voice echoes faintly from inside the house. He’s laughing now. Relaxed. I look back at the lights, the windows, the place that has been my cage.

“I can’t stay here forever,” I say. Ethan doesn’t respond right away. When he does, his voice is careful. “Then you don’t rush. I nod. Not yet. But someday. I turn toward the door. “We should go back.” Ethan gestures for me to walk first.

As we step inside, I feel something settle inside me a combination of both grief and rage.