Buried Secrets 1

Chapter 6

Leaving the room, I was expecting Adrian to follow behind, but his door didn’t even budge. "I guess he’s really distant from his brother," I murmured, walking toward the stairs.

"There you are. Where's Adrian?" Mr. Clastu asked, looking at me as I descended.

"I saw him heading to the bathroom. He should be out soon," I replied with a polite smile, though my mind wandered. Where was the man who brought me out of my crisis? And where had Sisi vanished to?

"Um, Miss Miranda, where is Sisi? Don’t tell me she went to welcome your son," I said, half-joking, aware of Sisi's vicious attitude toward men. Ironically, they always seemed drawn to her.

"Don’t worry, Camila. Sisi just went to the restroom," she answered with a serene smile.

We all took our seats and waited. For either Sisi or the two brothers to appear. But my gaze kept drifting to Grandpa Damien, sitting across from me, his face lit with a big, joyful smile. I hadn’t seen him this happy in forever. A warm smile touched my lips.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder about Adrian's brother. He was always so mysterious and quiet. We'd barely spoken until the day he defended me from a group of boys. They were going to beat me up, and he stepped in, getting injured in the process. He warned me to be more careful and not to get hurt.

Something stirred in me that day—a strange mix of comfort and fear, knowing he was watching. Protecting.

"I would really love to finally talk to him and thank him for what he did. That is, if he still remembers," I whispered, lost in my thoughts.

Suddenly, someone walked in. Even before I looked away from Grandpa, I felt uneasy.

"Here he is, Camila. Say hello to Roderick, my son," Mrs. Miranda said with a happy smile on her face.

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. "Wait, what?" I said in shock, whipping my head around and my body reacting also.

There he was. Looking straight at me, eyes intense and unreadable. My mouth parted slightly, and my pulse quickened.

"Welcome, Roddy," Mrs. Miranda said, moving in for a hug. He barely responded clearly shocked to see me.

"Welcome, son. Hope your day wasn’t too stressful. I want you to meet your Uncle Damien. The man I told you about," Mr. Clastu said, gesturing toward my grandfather.

"It’s been a long time, little Roddy. You’ve grown so much, and you’re so handsome too," Grandpa said warmly, extending a handshake.

There was a pause before Roderick responded. "It’s an honor to meet you too, Mr. Damien. I’ve heard a lot about you and the relationship you had with my family. Thank you."

"Oh, come on. That’s all in the past. No need to thank me," Grandpa replied kindly making me wonder what they meant and what relationship in the past.

Then Roderick’s gaze fell on me again. "Sorry, but who’s that? And what’s she doing here?" He said pretending not to recognize me and His voice was calm, yet carried an underlying authority.

I looked away affairs of meeting his gaze.

"Well, remember that lady I said I would introduce you to? This is Camila Gómez, Mr. Damien’s granddaughter and the beautiful young lady who could have been your wife," Mr. Clastu said, nudging him toward me.

"I’m sorry, Roderick. I didn’t know Camila would find a husband so soon. She surprised me too. But I’d still like the both of you to know each other. It would give m.e great joy." Grandpa added, looking apologetic.

A coincidence? Or fate?. I wondered, my taughts racing through my mind."

"Oh, no need to apologize, Mr. Damien. I too would especially love to speak to this very beautiful daughter of yours," Roderick replied, his words polite but eyes burning with something else. He was clearly not only confused but Angry.

He took my hand under the guise of wanting to talk privately and led me down the hallway to his room, which was two doors away from Adrian's room. i looked at Roderick as he held my hands wondering what made them so distant and what Adrian is doing.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed the moment the door shut, pinning me to the wall.

"What do you mean? I should be the one asking you that," I shot back, refusing to be intimidated.

"Ask me what? This is my house. Are you stupid? And what do they mean you're Mr. Damien's granddaughter?" His voice rose, thick with tension.

"Okay, first, I’m not stupid. And second, do you expect me to explain how my grandpa is Damien? Or do I have to explain the circle of life." I stared back at him, oddly thrilled by our closeness and a little excited.

"You know what? You’re right. You’re not stupid. You’re just a dirty cheat on your soon-to-be husband. And to think you were a virgin. I can’t even imagine the men you’ll be with once I marry you," he snarled, releasing me and pacing the room.

I rubbed my arms, slightly relieved he let go, but some part of me longed for him to stay close.

"How am I a cheat? I never cheated on you. We're not even married yet! And what do you mean by virgin. We're you wondering if I was a virgin?. I asked greatly surprised by Is uncontrolled words and worried expression.

"Well I stand to be corrected. He said walking towards a drawer and throwing a frame inside. "Ok, that's a very rude thing to think let alone say about any woman and besides, you read the contract…"

"Contract? I never agreed to some of those stupid rules! You made it sound like it was all for my benefit but now I know it was for your benefit." he interrupted, his fury boiling.

His eyes bore into mine, the atmosphere crackling with tension.

Then, out of nowhere, the silence was broken.

"Roddy?" came Sisi's voice.

Everything went still.