The Devil I Lied To のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

It has been five days since I started breathing the heavy, silent air inside this gothic mansion. Each day bleeds into the next, with the same cold floors and the same uniform routine. Eat. Sleep. Talk in hushed tones with Clara and Beatrice like they are plotting a prison break. Repeat.I have stopped trying with Viviana. Whatever warmth the woman may have is buried too deep to reach. Clara once told me that Viviana had worked here before Lucien even owned this place. "She is like a living ghost. "Beatrice has muttered over a cup of chamomile. "Knows everything. Says nothing."I am not sure what unnerves me more, Viviana's silence or the way this mansion seems to breathe around me. Walls whisper. Door moan. Shadows clung like secrets.Today, something shifts inside me and I dare to wander further than my permitted area. Maybe I want to do something that will make Lucien come and meet me or maybe tell me about the reason he is keeping me here. I'm bored and curious and only Lucien Mor

I tug my deep blue dress a little higher on my chest as I step out of the elevator, my heart thudding like a bass drum in my ears. The dress fits like a glove, silky, backless, and far too fancy for a simple dinner. I thought I was having dinner alone with Lucien; the way he summoned me made it sound like something...intimate.But when I open the tall double doors, my breath catches in my throat. The dining table stretches across the room like something out of a mafia movie. Crystal glasses, polished silverware, and candlelight flickering off gold-rimmed plates.And people. A lot of people. I don't know why, but here I am, a bit disappointed. Maybe I wanted to be alone with Lucien Moretti. But why? Before I can think further, my eyes are drawn to Lucien, who is sitting at the head of the table like a damn ruthless king. To his left: Matteo, arms folded and smirking. Rafe, already sipping red wine. Clara, in a sleek green dress. Elena, looking sharp and icy as usual. Beatrice's face l

The sunlight filtering through white curtains, and hearing my dad laughing in the kitchen.Then suddenly...flames.The walls pulse orange. Smoke coils through the air as if it has a purpose. My legs freeze on the carpet as fire licks the ceiling."Dad," I scream. But no one comes.I turn, run, and keep turning, and somehow the hallway never ends. I see my dad's face, lifeless, pale, and still in his chair, like he hasn't noticed the fire swallowing the room around him."Ethan." I cry out now, desperation clawing at my throat.I see him, standing at the end of the corridor. He is trying to reach out."Anaya, come on. Run." Ethan shouts.I take a step forward, and then someone grabs me from behind. Cold, invisible hands yanking me backward into the dark. My feet are scraping against the floor. My screams pierce my chest.The darkness is drowning me, and the last thing I remember is Ethan's face fading into the distance with a smirk and his devilish smile.Then...gasp.I shoot up in bed

I don't look at anything displayed or in my hands. The racks of designer dresses and heels no longer matter to me. I keep both heels back on the rack and walk out of the shop. Elena follows me. Before she asks, I tell her. "Let's go back. Not feeling it."The ride back to the mansion is quiet, except for the hum of the engine. Elena doesn't ask questions, which is probably smart. I am not in the mood to fake small talk.The moment we step inside, the cold and gothic decor of this mansion overwhelms me, and I realize that it can never feel like home. I go straight to my room. Doesn't bother to change. Don't bother eating, and on top of that, not a single knock on my door. No one comes here to check. Not even Lucien.I don't know why I am even thinking about Lucien coming. I am not a guest here. I am his captive. I pace by the massive window, arms wrapped tight around myself. The view is a postcard; autumn leaves scatter like fire on the lawns, and the fountain is still running in the c

The daylight filters through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hall while I sit on a couch, wrapping my hands around a mug of coffee and trying to make myself ease and calm in this gothic and cold mansion. Today I draw the curtains back for the first time and let sunlight enter to get rid of shadowy vibes.I look around and see that Clara is arranging flowers like the rest of the world doesn’t matter to her. "Clara." I clear my throat, keeping my voice even. "Can you help me meet Lucien?"She lifts her head and pinches her brows. "I don't know anyone here who can help you with that."She just shakes her head and goes back to her flowers. Frustration rushes through my body, so I walk away and look for someone else who can help me. I find Beatrice and Viviana lounging near the back terrace. "How can I talk to Lucien? There is gotta be some way you guys contact him, or at least tell him when you have got something to say."Beatrice looks at me like she has just asked for the moon, the