Chapter 6

Paulina sat in her mother and father's antique study, the air thick with dust and memories. Her arms shook barely as she held the letter from her father, his phrases echoing in her mind: "Trust no person, not even those who proportion your blood." She studied the road again, her  heart sinking. Her father had left her a warning, however, what turned into what she purports to take with it now?

She placed the letter down on the desk, watching the rows of books her father had once loved. The room hadn’t changed in ten years, yet the entirety of her existence had. She becomes again—again before the lies, the betrayal, and the heartbreak. It needed to have felt like a blessing, but as an alternative, it felt like she changed into strolling on the edge of a cliff, one wrong step away from falling into darkness.

Paulina’s thoughts have been interrupted with the aid of a knock at the door. Her heart jumped, her body worrying. "Who ought to it's at this hour?" she muttered to herself, the unease settling deep in her chest.

"Come in," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The door creaked open, and Elijah stepped inner. His tall body solidified a shadow over the dim room, his presence comforting and unnerving. His eyes, continually so extreme, locked onto hers with a quiet dedication that made her throat tighten.

“I heard you’ve been hiding in right here all day,” Elijah stated, his voice gent hovering company. He crossed the room with slow, deliberate steps, his gaze never leaving hers. “What’s going on, Paulina?”

Paulina swallowed difficulty, quickly folding the letter and slipping it into her pocket. “Nothing,” she replied, her voice shakier than she’d hoped. “I simply wanted a while on my own.”

Elijah didn’t flow. His eyes flickered with something she couldn’t quite vicinity—subject, or perhaps something darker. “You shouldn’t hold matters from me. I’ve recognized you on account that we have been children. You can believe me.”

Trust. That phrase felt heavy, especially now. She desired to believe Elijah intended what he stated, that he should protect her from the dangers lurking around every corner. But she had learned the difficult way that would be risky. Deadly, even.

“recognizes,” Paulina said, forcing a susceptible smile. “It’s simply… The whole lot feels so overwhelming. I want to parent matters out by myself.”

Elijah’s expression softened, and for a moment, Paulina almost believed she ought to let her defense down. But then, his hand reached out, gently brushing her shoulder. The touch changed into soft, comforting even, but it despatched a kick back down her backbone. 

“You’re not on my own, Paulina,” he said, his voice deep and steady. “I’m right here. I’ll usually be here. You recognize that, don’t you?”

She nodded, even though a sinking feeling advised her not to rely too much on those words. Elijah had usually been consistent in her existence, close by. But his presence felt heavier now, nearly suffocating. What did he need from her? Was his kindness virtually selfless, or did it mask something else?

Paulina cleared her throat, stepping back barely from his contact. “Thank you, Elijah. I recognize it. I do. But right now, I just want to assume.”

He studied her for a moment longer, his eyes scanning her face as though searching for something—doubt, worry, perhaps even love. Then he nodded, the tension between them thickening. “Alright,” he said eventually, his voice low. “But in case you ever need me… I’m just a call away.”

With that, he came and left the room, the door last softly in the back of him.

Paulina exhaled, her body relaxing best once he turned into long gone. Elijah was type, however, there was something off approximately him. He was continually so near, watching her, caring for her. At first, it was comforting—he had been her rock for the duration of her mother and father’s funeral. But now, something about his depth made her cautious. She couldn’t have the funds to let her shield down. Not with him. Not with all of us.

She walked over to the window, staring out into the dark nighttime. Her thoughts drifted back to James. He hadn’t changed but—he changed into nevertheless the fascinating, bold guy she had been as soon as loved him. But the reminiscence of finding him with Alexis lingered like a festering wound. How long did she have earlier before he betrayed her again? Could she stop it from going on this time?

The letter in her pocket seemed to burn towards her pores and skin, her father’s caution ringing in her ears. Trust nobody. Not James, no longer Alexis, and perhaps not even Elijah. The weight of all of it pressed down on her chest, making it tough to respire.

But she had to be strong. She couldn’t permit herself to crumble—not now, now not after she had been given a 2nd chance. Her father had left her clues, pieces of a puzzle she didn’t completely apprehend. There became something larger at play, something hidden inside the depths of her circle of relatives beyond. And anything it changed into, needed to do with the organization, the fortune, and the enemies that surrounded her.

Paulina’s hand tightened across the material of her dress as she made a silent vow to herself. She would parent this out. She might resolve the secrets and techniques her father had tried to shield her from, and she or he could stop James and Alexis earlier than they destroyed her life again.

But how? How should she outsmart them when they had always been one step ahead?

An unexpected knock on the door made her jump, pulling her from her mind. Her heart pounded in her chest. Has Elijah come back? Or was it someone else?

“Paulina?”

It wasn’t Elijah’s voice. It becomes James.

Her breath caught in her throat as she grew to come towards the door. James stood there, his face unreadable, his eyes sharp.

“What are you doing right here?” he requested, moving into the room without waiting for an invite. His tone was informal, however, Paulina could sense the underlying anxiety. “You’ve been performing unusually recently.”

Paulina’s pulse quickened. She needed to be speedy, to stay calm. “I’m just… remembering my dad and mom,” she stated softly, hoping to deflect his suspicions.

James raised an eyebrow, really now not shopping for her solution. He stepped closer, his presence commanding, dominating the small area. “Is that each one? Because it seems like you’re hiding something.”

Her thoughts raced. She couldn’t permit him to see the letter. He couldn’t recognize what she had located.

“I’m no longer hiding anything,” she stated, forcing herself to meet his gaze, even though her voice wavered slightly. “I just want a while to myself.”

James stared at her for an extended moment, his eyes searching hers. Then, without caution, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, silver item—a key.

Her  heart dropped.

“You’ve been averting me, Paulina,” he said quietly, his tone dark. “And I don’t like being avoided.”

Paulina’s blood ran bloodless. She had to be cautious. One incorrect pass and the entirety could disintegrate.

“I’m not warding off you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

James smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good,” he said, his tone chilling. “Because you and I… we have unfinished commercial enterprise.”