Running around Caleb's mansion is one of the ways I remove my worries. I started running at 5 in the morning to ensure my mood was good and I could fully show him my smile. I caught my breath when something growled behind the trees near the gate. My heart pounded fast as I walked, and fear crept into my system. "No," I whispered, trying to comfort myself. As I got closer and passed the trees, I felt something strange. The hair on the back of my neck began to stand up. It was like a wave of anxiety rising. A loud howl echoed inside the mansion. I looked back, and the birds in the sky started to fly away. My eyes widened, and I didn't know where to go. The howls were coming from both near the gate and inside the mansion. I screamed as I saw something moving in the grass. It was so fast.I ran inside the mansion, thinking about Caleb's safety. I ran and ran until I reached Caleb's room, but to my surprise, he wasn't there, and a gust of wind hit my ears. I walked inside and saw the curta
I couldn’t move even though Diana was no longer around. "Caleb?" I muttered to myself multiple times. Was it the same Caleb that I loved? My eyes widened. Love? Did I love him? I shook my head and ran. I had no direction and didn’t know where to go. It was too much to carry. My scar made Caleb mad, but I didn’t know why.I felt something in my stomach that made me stop. I looked around. The gust of wind was so noisy. It sent shivers down my spine. I took a seat in the grass and closed my eyes. Everything flashed back to me.It had been too easy to leave the orphanage. I thought it was better for all of us, but it seemed it was not. I took a deep breath and lay in the grass. My heart beat so fast as I tried to think about every moment.The first time I met Caleb, he was so arrogant. Caleb rarely spoke to me after he accepted me into his mansion, but for some reason, he started to talk to me. His eyes always held a certain sadness, a depth of pain that I could never fully understand. Yet
Days had passed, and Caleb remained despondent. He was always sleeping and refused to go outside. I took a deep breath and closed the door behind me. As I looked around, I forced a smile for the people there. Walking through the trees, I felt a strange sensation coursing through me, my skin prickling with goosebumps when I heard a loud howl. I sprinted through the grass, my heart pounding until I heard someone calling my name.“Eliana.” I turned around, stunned. It was Caleb. He appeared suddenly and grabbed my hand, pulling me as we ran out of the village.“Wait,” I tried to protest, but he kept running until the village was no longer in sight. We stopped, gasping for breath, and I seized the moment to speak.“Are you alright?” he asked, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face. I nodded. “It’s good that you kept nagging me to wake up. That village is no longer good for me.”“What do you mean?” I asked, bewildered. He just smiled and tapped my head.“Don’t worry about it. Let’s
As Caleb left me in the kitchen to tend to the meal, my thoughts swirled with uncertainty. Charles had already disappeared into the living room, leaving me alone with the daunting task of preparing a meal for an unexpected gathering. The clatter of pots and pans echoed my racing heartbeat as I pondered over my place in Caleb’s life.Does he love me? The question lingered like a stubborn shadow. Had he ever uttered those words to me? I couldn’t recall, and the uncertainty gnawed at my insides as I mechanically cleaned the shrimp, trying to distract myself from the whirlwind of emotions.Outside, the sounds of boisterous laughter reached me through the kitchen window, drawing my gaze. I peered out to see six men arriving, their camaraderie evident in their easy banter and hearty laughs. It was a rare sight—Caleb seldom had visitors, let alone a group of six.Turning off the stove, I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to join them or retreat to the solace of the kitchen. Before I c
Caleb's warm hug still lingered on my body, a comforting memory that I never expected. Hugging myself, I closed my eyes, replaying his words in my mind: “I will always be with you.” Opening my eyes, a sudden wave of nervousness washed over me. Why was I feeling this way?Caleb's visitors were different. Although I enjoyed their company, there was something off, something they were hiding. Even the glasses I washed earlier had unusual scratches. It was strange.Shaking my head, I tried to dismiss my suspicions. I walked into the kitchen to check the glasses again. The scratches were not just superficial; they were peculiar. I ran my fingers over them, feeling the rough lines that marred the surface but didn’t break it. Something was wrong.I took a deep breath and decided to focus on Caleb. The memory of his embrace brought a smile to my face. His declaration, “I will always be with you,” had sent warmth through me. His touch and his words had begun to dissolve the pain in my heart. Cal
My body ached as I moved my hands before opening my eyes. The room smelled of lavender, and as I looked around, I realized it was not the room in the mansion. Where am I?"You are awake." I turned toward the door and saw Charles, one of Caleb’s friends. "You need to stay here.""Why?" I asked. He just smiled and left me. What was happening? I thought everything would be alright. I shifted sideways, trying to think of what to do next. I shook my head and got up. I needed to find Caleb. I opened the door and noticed flowers scattered on the floor.I followed the trail of petals, hoping it would lead me to answers. My mind was a whirlpool of confusion and fear. Why was I taken here? What was Charles hiding? The corridor was dimly lit, adding to the eerie atmosphere. I walked cautiously, my heart pounding in my chest.The trail of flowers led me to a large wooden door. I hesitated for a moment before pushing it open. Inside, the room was lavishly decorated, with a large bed covered in silk
I enveloped my hand around my body and silently closed my eyes. I don’t know what is happening; I just feel so much pain inside my chest. Am I afraid? What if it is just infatuation? What kind of enemies does Caleb have?Still, I don’t know who he is. I thought I knew him but realized I don’t know him completely. His change of mood before must have had a reason. He has deep pain. In the blink of an eye, the light turned on, and Caleb stood before me.“Are you afraid?” he asked. I gulped. I did not answer. He sighed and tapped my hand. “Just calm down. You’re shaking.” That was the only time I felt my body, and he was right.I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself. Caleb's presence, usually so calming, felt different now. There was an intensity in his eyes that I hadn't noticed before, a flicker of something dark and unresolved. I wanted to ask him so many questions, but the words seemed to be stuck in my throat.“Caleb,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper, “what’s going
"Run!" I looked back and saw a man shouting at me, his face contorted with fear. Without thinking, I started running as fast as I could, my heart pounding in my chest. "Don't look back!" The urgency in his voice sent shivers down my spine. Before I could respond, I stumbled over a root and tumbled off the cliff, my scream echoing through the canyon below."Eliana!" Someone tapped my shoulder, and when I opened my eyes, I saw Caleb staring at me with concern. His dark eyes were filled with worry, and the lines on his forehead deepened. "Was it a nightmare?"I nodded, my throat dry. He handed me a glass of water, the coolness of the glass soothing against my palm. We were silent for a minute, the only sound being my shallow breathing, until I noticed I was in my room in his mansion. The room was spacious, with high ceilings and ornate furnishings that exuded a sense of history and grandeur. Caleb smiled as he observed me, his expression softening."Yes, we're back here now," he said, ev