CHAPTER 18

*First Person's Perspective*

~Enise~

"I'm coming for you, you better run" Her voice echoed and the sound of laughter followed through

Miracle and I were in the garden. We were running around, her laughter filling the air, and I couldn’t help but feel lighter than I had in a long time. For that brief moment, everything felt perfect. The sun was setting, casting a soft golden hue over the garden, and we were just two souls enjoying each other’s company, free of worries. But then, as I spun in circles with Miracle chasing after me, I suddenly felt a prickling sensation at the back of my neck. Eyes on me.

I turned around to find Lucas standing by a corner, his posture stiff, arms crossed, just watching us. There was no expression on his face, as usual, so I couldn’t tell what was going on in his mind. His dark gaze was fixed on me, unblinking, as if trying to see right through me. The air between us felt thick, charged with something I couldn’t quite identify.

I smiled faintly and waved. He simply nodded in acknowledgment, but that was all. No words, no real connection. It felt hollow, as if our communication was limited to gestures, distant and cold. That was odd. I get that he was trying to keep his distance after what had happened the other day, but I mean, just a nod? urgh!

I turned back around, forcing my focus on Miracle, who was still chasing after me, her tiny feet running as fast as they could, her face lit up with joy.

We played for a while, the sound of her giggles filling the air as we chased each other around. Time seemed to slow down as I held on to this moment, knowing it was precious. Eventually, the games came to an end, and we decided to wash our hands and freshen up with a quick bath. It was nice to feel clean and rejuvenated after the chaos that seemed to constantly surround me.

When we returned to the living room, a sense of calm washed over me, but as soon as I entered, I saw Lucas sitting on the couch, his usual brooding presence making the room feel small. I immediately felt a pang of discomfort in my chest, but I tried to ignore it. Or maybe I should leave instead. That would be better

As I made my way to turn and leave, Lucas’ voice stopped me.

“Dr. Denise,” he called softly.

I froze, my hand on the door handle. I didn’t want to deal with him, but I also couldn’t afford to make things worse. With a reluctant sigh, I turned back toward him, my feet heavy as I walked toward the couch. I sat down beside him, keeping my distance.

He looked at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, in his usual low, steady voice, he spoke.

“You’re really good with Miracle,” he said. “You treat her like she’s your own daughter.”

I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “She is like a daughter to me.” I paused, glancing toward the window, then back to Lucas. “She reminds me so much of myself when I was young.”

There was a brief silence, and I could see something shift in his eyes, though I couldn’t place what it was. He was always so hard to read. But this was my chance. I needed to know. I needed to hear him admit it.

I used the opportunity to ask the one question that had been gnawing at me for days. “What about Miracle’s mother?” I asked softly, my voice quieter than I intended. “Do you ever think about her? What happened?”

Lucas hesitated, the shift in his posture immediate. His eyes darkened, and he let out a heavy sigh, leaning back into the couch as if the question weighed too much.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said flatly, his tone final.

I chuckled softly to myself, though it was more a sound of bitterness than amusement. Of course, he wouldn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want to seem like the bad guy, didn’t want to confront the sins of his past. I could practically hear him trying to bury it all beneath layers of indifference.

“That’s okay,” I said quietly, not pressing him further. I could see it in his eyes that he wasn’t ready to open up, and there was no point in pushing him.

“I’ll leave you to it,” I added, standing up from the couch, my gaze flicking toward the door.

Lucas didn’t stop me. He just nodded slightly, his face unreadable. “Do what you have to do,” he said, his voice void of any real emotion.

I left the room and made my way down the hallway, feeling the familiar weight of the house settle around me. As I walked into my bedroom, The hairs on my skin rose and I had goosebumps all over my body. The presence. It was here again. I could feel the eyes on me. Someone was watching me. And I knew it was the same one that had unsettled me during my first few days here. It was hard to ignore, but I didn’t have the time or energy to deal with it right now.

I needed to clear my head. So I decided to go for a walk, hoping the cool night air would calm my restless mind.

The moment I stepped outside, I was greeted by the soft kiss of the breeze against my skin. It was a welcome relief, the coolness soothing the heat that had gathered in my chest. I walked slowly down the street, letting the silence of the night envelop me. I didn’t know how long I walked or where my feet were taking me, but it didn’t matter. I needed to escape, even if just for a little while.

And then, out of nowhere, I bumped into him.

“Dr Denise" he said, his voice low and calm, as if nothing were amiss. “What are you doing out here by this hour of the night?”

I stepped back, surprised at the sudden encounter, but I didn’t step away from him. Instead, I looked up, meeting his gaze.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I murmured, shrugging lightly. “Needed some air.”

He nodded, understanding without question. “Mind if I join you?”

I hesitated for only a second before shrugging again. “Sure.”

We started walking together in silence, the sound of our footsteps the only noise between us. There was an unspoken understanding between us, a shared sense of solitude that didn’t need to be explained.

The air grew colder as we walked, and I could feel my mind starting to clear, the haze of confusion lifting just slightly. But then, Lucas spoke again, his voice catching me off guard.

“She was the sweetest person I ever knew,” he said suddenly, the words hanging in the air between us.

I stopped walking, my heart skipping a beat. I turned to look at him, confusion clouding my thoughts. “Who?” I asked, unsure of where he was going with this.

Lucas didn’t answer right away. He just stared at me, his eyes distant, as if he were lost in another memory. When he finally spoke again, his words were softer, almost regretful.

“My mother,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t place. “She was the sweetest person I ever knew.”

I blinked, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. I didn’t know what to say. This was the most personal thing I’d heard him say in the time I’d known him, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. And I felt a bit of embarrassment as I had thought he was talking about me, his 'late wife's bunny ears

I could feel the weight of his words settling on me, and for a moment, I saw him—really saw him—for the first time. He wasn’t just the cold, distant man I had thought he was. He was a person, someone with a past, someone who had lost something.

But still, I couldn’t help but ask the question that lingered in my mind. “Do you ever think about what you’ve done? About the things you’ve taken from others?” only when it came out did I notice how unrelated it sounded. I felt stupide

Lucas glanced at me, his expression unreadable. But I knew what he must have been thinking “I don’t regret anything,” he said, his voice hardening. “Not anymore.”

The words stung, but I didn’t let him see that. Instead, I just nodded, turning my gaze back to the street ahead. I didn’t know if I could ever understand him, but I knew one thing for sure: this little talk was the key and sign that he was finally opening up to me