The moonlit night descended, and the estate plunged into chaos.
A scream shattered the midnight silence. The sharp, tear-stained cry reached the annex and echoed even to the servants in the far-off main mansion. Soon, the first maid to arrive at the source of the commotion let out a shout, and others quickly swarmed the area.
“Oh, my heavens!”
“Young Master Christopher? Is that really Young Master Christopher?”
“Aah! Someone, help over here!”
Cries of horror and urgent footsteps filled the dark, deserted night. The ground behind the annex was soaked in blood; droplets splattered against the wall. The red smear, hinting at a scene too gruesome to imagine, trailed past the corner and along the front of the building. And at the end of that path, the youngest son of the Christopher family lay collapsed, bleeding. Anyone could see it was no accident. Realizing this, the servants fell into a state of panic. Who would dare do this to him?
The butler immediately took command. Isabella ordered everyone to retreat, leaving only a few servants behind. They stole glances at Lucas, who lay like the dead, before returning to their posts—all too busy whispering about who could have done such a thing.
While the chaos was at its peak, I remained holed up in my room.
I buried my tear-streaked face between my knees and curled my body as tightly as I could. With my nerves frayed, I glared at the firmly shut door. I felt as if someone would burst through it at any moment and swing a blade at me. Even though I had locked it, such images dominated my mind.
*Terrified.*
I shivered alone all night until I drifted into a fitful sleep.
My body floated in the sky. The weightlessness was pleasant. I didn’t want to go back down. If I just drifted aimlessly like this, wouldn’t I eventually reach somewhere? Even if I didn’t reach anywhere, it didn’t matter. I just wanted to disappear.
‘You’re okay, Sister. I’m okay.’
A fair face smiled kindly. I wanted to capture that image, but my vision kept blurring. That was all I could do, and yet, I couldn’t even manage that.
‘Don’t do anything. That is what you need to do.’
A blatant sneer pierced me. I had stayed silent at those words because I thought the same thing.
‘Then think about it. This isn’t the right place to be dreaming foolish dreams.’
I know. I know that all too well. Stop it. Don’t do this. Even if you don’t say it like that, I can’t do anything. Please, just leave me alone.
‘You will never forget this moment.’
A gentle voice reached me. I thought of Lucas—the man who watched me in the darkness, the man who confessed he liked me. He had always smiled at me kindly. He had smiled at me then, too. No, that wasn’t it. I hadn’t looked at his face then. I had been the one to turn away from that moment, which might have been his last.
The darkness lifted, and his face was twisted in pain. He tried to capture me in his gaze with listless, open eyes. A trail of tears flowed from the corner of his eye. His rough, dry lips parted urgently.
‘Run, away!’
My eyes snapped open.
I scanned my surroundings. It was silent. I strained my ears, listening intently, but I couldn’t sense any presence. *It’s okay here. There’s only me. No one else.* Only then did I exhale and let my shoulders drop.
*Knock, knock.*
A sound of knocking on the door reached me.
I jolted. Wrapped in my sheets, I curled up tightly, hiding in the corner. I kept my gaze fixed on the door, wary.
When I didn’t answer, the doorknob rattled. Realizing the door was locked, the sound stopped abruptly.
However, a moment later, with a *click*, the door opened. Someone entered through the slowly creaking gap. I watched them, not daring to look away for a single second.
The door shut with a thud. Groping through the darkness, the person slowly approaching me was Vincent Bellunita. He reached out, feeling the air as if searching for me.
As soon as I saw Vincent’s face, I crawled out from under the bed and lunged at him.
I grabbed his arms, which were still feeling the air, and clung to him. With my other hand, I grabbed his chest and turned him toward me. His emerald eyes, wide with surprise, locked onto mine.
“Lu, Lucas-nim, is Lucas-nim…!”
I stammered, unable to finish my sentence. His surprise gradually subsided. I scanned his lips anxiously.
“He is alive.”
As soon as I heard those words, the strength left my legs. I sank to the floor, and Vincent crouched down with me. He asked if I was okay, but my mind was so filled with one single thought that I couldn’t answer.
*Alive. He’s alive. Lucas is alive…* The tears I had been desperately holding back burst forth again. I clutched his lapels and sobbed.
Vincent’s hand brushed against my face. Sensing the moisture, he pulled me into an embrace.
“Don’t cry.”
He patted my back.
“It will be okay.”
“I, I thought he would die. I thought he would just die like that, *hiccup*. His wounds, his wounds were so severe. He lost so, so, so much blood. *Sob*.”
The hand that had been patting my back froze. He urgently pulled me away from his chest.
“What does that mean? Don’t tell me… were you the one who screamed?”
“Yes.”
I answered, wiping away my tears. Last night’s events rushed back. I had been so terrified and so worried about Lucas that I had finally screamed. I had desperately hoped that someone would hear and come to save him.
“What?”
His emerald eyes widened. His gaze flickered before he grabbed both my arms.
“The assailant? Did you see them?”
“No. I didn’t see them. I ran away before I could…”
“And did they see you?”
“I, I’m not sure. I was under the moonlight, so they might have…”
As I spoke hesitantly, his face turned grave. His grip on my arms tightened. I winced at the pressure, and he bowed his head low.
Just as I was trying to listen to his muttering, the door burst open. I jumped in surprise.
It was Ethan Christopher.
Ethan, scanning the room, spotted us and walked over urgently. Vincent’s gaze shifted to Ethan. Ethan grabbed Vincent’s collar and hauled him up roughly.
I scrambled to my feet, looking between them nervously.
“Vincent. Tell me now.”
“…”
“Tell me the truth.”
Ethan’s face was twisted. He looked nothing like his usual playful, lighthearted self. His clothes were disheveled, and his breathing was ragged. He was trembling with anxiety; his face was pale, and the skin under his eyes was inflamed and red.
Vincent didn’t seem flustered. He looked at Ethan with a calm expression.
“Was it James? Did my brother do this to you?”
To Ethan’s question, Vincent answered a beat late.
“…Yes.”
“Was he aiming for you from the start?”
“No. It was Lucas he was aiming for.”
“Why?”
“Because Lucas found out James’s secret. A secret he shouldn’t have known. That’s why he threatened Lucas. But he must have still been anxious. Even if Lucas promised to keep his mouth shut, he was still an eyesore.”
“So, it was James’s doing that Lucas ended up like that?”
I looked at Ethan in shock, then back at Vincent. He opened his mouth with a troubled expression, as if he had foreseen all of this long ago.
“Yes.”
Ethan gritted his teeth. His hand, still gripping Vincent’s collar, was shaking violently. Then, he let go and buried his face in his hands. His expression—a mix of grief and confusion—was hidden.
“…And killing my father, too?”
The muffled question came out once more. This time, the silence was long. Finally, Vincent closed his eyes and gave a heavy answer.
“Yes. Lucas witnessed it.”
“…”
“That is the secret James was trying to hide.”
Ethan turned on his heel. Noticing this, Vincent reached out. Barely catching him, Vincent continued urgently.
“Ethan! Please, try to understand Lucas’s heart.”
Ethan did not turn back. He said nothing.
“Lucas couldn’t tell you because he was worried about you.”
“Why.”
“Because you’re both precious brothers to me. Both you and James.”
“What about you.”
“I just didn’t want you to kill your brother.”
“…….”
“Lucas and I were both worried about that. Because you loved Father so much.”
*Ha.* Ethan let out a hollow breath and shook off Vincent Bellunita’s hand. As Ethan strode out of the room, Vincent hurriedly tried to follow him but tripped, colliding with a table. I rushed to Vincent, asking if he was alright. His gaze was fixated on the sound of his friend leaving.
He traced the back of my hand, which was holding onto him.
“Follow him. Go and stop him. Tell him not to do it.”
“Stop him from what?”
“Everything. Everything.”
Vincent urged me. I hurriedly exited the room and scanned the hallway. Ethan was already walking toward the far end.
I ran and caught hold of him. He turned to look at me, his face stained with confusion.
“Don’t do it.”
“…….”
“Please, don’t do it.”
“Do what?”
“Everything. Everything.”
“It’s impossible.”
Ethan smiled bitterly. His brown eyes were brimming with moisture.
“Maid. I didn’t come here to ask for permission. I just wanted to gain certainty. But in truth, I already knew. Yet, I turned a blind eye, telling myself it couldn’t be true. And this is the result.”
“Even so, don’t do it.”
“He tried to kill Lucas. My own flesh and blood.”
“…….”
“The next one will be me. Or perhaps Vincent.”
At those words, my hand slid away from his sleeve. Ethan wiped away his sadness. His face, now devoid of any tremor, was terrifyingly calm.
“Tell Vincent. Tell him I’m sorry.”
“…….”
Ethan turned away. This time, I couldn’t stop him. There was no need to put into words what Ethan, who blamed himself for his hesitation, was thinking, or how firm his resolve had become.
I lowered my head as I watched his retreating back.
When I returned to the room, Vincent turned his head as soon as he sensed my presence. To the look in his eyes asking what had happened, I answered with a hollow laugh.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. There’s no need to apologize.”
Vincent shook his head, but he could not hide how drained he was.
I approached him as he groped the air and helped him up. Vincent gripped my hand.
“Pack your bags immediately.”
“Pardon?”
“I intend to send you somewhere else.”
My eyes widened.
“Why, why? Did I do something wrong? Is it because I couldn’t stop Ethan Christopher?”
“No.”
“Then why…….”
“Because you’re in danger.”
Still holding my hand, he turned to face me and spoke calmly.
“He must know you were at the scene where Lucas met with his accident. You might be fine for the moment, but eventually, James Christopher will find out about your existence. He won’t leave you alone. You’re the only witness.”
“…….”
“There is a villa in Nobelle that belongs to our family. I am sending you there. Go and rest for a while. Once the situation is settled and I deem it safe, I will call you back.”
“I refuse.”
“…….”
“I refuse.”
I shook my head and took a step back. When I tried to pull my hand away, he gripped it even tighter. Though the distance between us had grown, my hand remained locked in his.
“Please don’t throw me away.”