Ch8: unknown corpse

​Eileen POV:

I expected him to explode, and I braced myself internally for a slap or a scream to shatter what remained of the room's calmness. But what happened made me look at him with a bewilderment that I could not conceal.

​Seconds of heavy silence passed before Kai’s tensed features slowly relaxed. He exhaled a long breath laden with the remnants of the wine's odor, and a strange look glinted in his exhausted eyes... a look that was a mixture of relief, need, and unexpected gratitude.

​His large hand extended—not to grip my jaw with cruelty, but to stroke my hair with a rare gentleness, a warmth I had not felt from him for long months. His fingers moved through my scattered hair strands with extreme care, and his raspy voice dropped to a whispering tone that my ears caught:

"You did well, Eileen... we need every penny at this cursed time."

​I froze in my place, feeling a burning lump of guilt that nearly choked me. My lie, which stemmed from fear, was met with the greatest emotional reward I had been waiting to receive from him for years. My way of protecting myself made him see me as the loyal partner who supports him in his ordeal, while the cruel truth lay inside Adrian's mansion.

​He leaned down and kissed my forehead lightly, then stood up while putting on his coat, which had been tossed carelessly on the chair. He continued without noticing my pale, startled features:

"Rest now... your night has been long. I am leaving for my work; take care of yourself."

​He turned and walked toward the door with steps that seemed lighter than before, leaving me alone in bed, gripping the coffee mug that had begun to grow cold, listening to the sound of the door closing behind him. I remained stunned, drowning in a sea of self-reproach and fear... I had survived his suspicion this time, but at what price?

​In an entirely different place, where a legendary mansion extended, overflowing with excessive wealth and dark luxury, the atmosphere was devoid of any warmth.

​In her vast, dimly lit private suite, stood a woman in her mid-forties. Her features carried an overwhelming allure blended with a sharp coldness that reflected an unshakeable influence and authority. She was wearing an elegant velvet dress, slowly swirling a glass of red wine in her hand, watching the liquid move regularly, her eyes fixed on the marble table before her.

​On the table, several recent photographs, captured with high accuracy and professionalism, were scattered.

​The woman approached slowly, set her glass aside, and picked up one of the photos with fingers adorned with precious antique rings. The photographs were of "Eileen" in the early morning, exiting the towering gates of Adrian's mansion in her exhausted clothes, her fatigue evident, and stepping toward his luxury car under the guard of his personal men.

​The woman contemplated Eileen's pale features in the photograph with ambiguous glances. She placed the picture back in its place, then whispered in a quiet voice:

"Finally I found you, Eileen... your mother has searched for you a lot."

​I woke up as darkness cast its first shadows over the room. The sun was approaching its setting, leaving behind a red twilight that resembled the color of blood. I felt a sharp headache, the result of long hours of futile thinking and self-reproach that had gnawed at my mind throughout my intermittent sleep.

​I stood up with a feeble body, preparing myself quickly as I tried to banish the features of fatigue from my face. I had to go; my feet were leading me against my will toward Adrian's shipping company... I needed answers, and I needed to end this game before it swallowed me.

​I walked through the streets leading to the company, and the atmosphere was cold and bleak with the absence of the sun. Only a few minutes passed before a strange and terrifying sensation began to overtake me... a feeling that I was not alone. I turned behind me more than once, but the twisting alleys appeared empty; nevertheless, the sound of light footsteps echoed regularly behind my steps.

​My heartbeat accelerated, and my calm walking turned into a troubled jog. I looked behind me out of the corner of my eye and glimpsed the tall shadow of a man wearing a dark coat, following me with persistence. Here, the bond of my courage unraveled completely, and I began to run... running with all the strength I possessed through the narrow paths, my racing breath burning my chest, panic blinding my eyes.

​I turned into a semi-abandoned alley leading to the back of the company building, but his steps were faster and closer... close to the point that I could hear the rustle of his clothes right behind me. My foot stumbled, and I felt that I was completely trapped when his huge hand reached out from behind, almost gripping my shoulder to stop me.

​I screamed in terror, my body shuddering, and I closed my eyes, surrendering to my dark fate... but at that very moment, a sharp and terrifying thud shattered the silence of the night.

​"Bam!"

​My scream blended with the sound of the bullet that pierced the void. I opened my eyes in bewilderment and saw the man's body stiffen in its place for a single second, his eyes wide, before he fell dead onto the ground right in front of me as a lifeless corpse... hot blood gushing profusely from a bullet hole that had settled in the middle of his head with fatal accuracy.

​I recoiled backward, placing my hand over my mouth to stifle a scream of horror that choked my throat, while my eyes remained fixed on that unknown deceased man who was swimming in his blood before my eyes.