In the kitchen, Eve quickly prepared a meal for Aveline. She leaned against the counter, exhausted, as the food cooked.
"You're surprisingly close with that girl," a female servant said as she scrubbed the floor nearby.
Eve glanced at her, saying nothing.
"It seems like you're trying to help her or protect her," the girl continued. "I suggest you stay out of it and don't do anything stupid."
"What do you mean by that?" Eve asked cautiously.
"You're planning to get her out of this mansion, aren't you?" the girl said with a smile. Eve didn't respond.
"Don't try to save her. You're not capable of doing that. Besides, she's not in danger here. Just focus on the job you were given and stay out of their business."
"She's not safe here! Did you see what he did to her last time? And you expect me to just sit by and watch her be tortured?" Eve snapped.
"Why do you care so much? It's not like you know her," the girl said, chuckling as she resumed mopping.
Eve clenched her fists and bit her lip.
"I don't know if you two knew each other from before," the girl added, "but don't do anything stupid trying to save her."
Eve stared at her, confused. Why was this girl talking like this? And how did she know so much?
"Who are you? I haven't seen you here before," Eve asked suspiciously.
"Oh, I'm new. My name's Luna," the girl replied with a smile.
Eve nodded slowly and turned back to the stove to check on the food. "Mine's Eve."
"I know," Luna said chuckling, then left the kitchen, having finished her task.
"idon't know if you two knew each other from before ..."
Luna's words echoed in Eve's mind as she dished the food.
Of course they knew each other. But she wasn't sure if Aveline still remembered her.
Thanks to Aveline, she had survived all those years ago. Aveline had saved her life and now it was her turn to return the favor.
She pulled out a small vial of sedatives and carefully mixed it with the other tablets. She'd noticed that Aveline hadn't been able to sleep since arriving, and had been sneaking sedatives into her medicine to help her rest. She had also instructed the doctor to inject her with sedatives while she was unconscious.
"I promise I'll get you out of here, Aveline," she whispered.
Dominic paced around his room, still confused about what had happened earlier.
In Aveline's room... he didn't understand why she reacted that way.
Did just hearing Elias's name trigger something in her?
He could still remember her trembling body, how she was begging him to save her.
And it made him...
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Sir, they're here," the guard replied from the other side of the door.
"I'll be there," Dominic said with a sigh.
---
Meanwhile...
Lucian and Andrea sat in the spacious living room.
"Ugh, coming back here reminds me of what Dominic made me see," Lucas muttered, his face twisting in discomfort.
"You didn't like it?" Andrea snickered.
"What was there to like? I had to keep a straight face. I don't even know why Dominic showed me that. Maybe she pissed him off that day... or maybe it was something else."
"Who knows," Andrea replied, leaning back into the couch.
"Seriously, don't you think Dominic's going too far with this? That girl's already been through hell."
"You know we need her," Andrea said, rolling her eyes at him.
"I know, but he could at least treat her like a human being. Not torture her over her father's crimes," Lucas sighed.
Andrea stared at him for a moment before looking away.
"Don't say things like that... it sounds weird."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucas asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
Andrea scoffed, not answering.
Dominic entered the living room, hands in his pockets.
"So? What did she say about Elias?" Lucas asked immediately.
"Nothing. And I don't think she'll be able to say anything either," Dominic replied as he took a seat.
"What do you mean?" Andrea asked, confused.
"It seems... just hearing Elias's name triggers her."
"Wait.. so she was abused while living with Elias?" Lucas said, shocked.
"Can I see her?" Andrea asked.
Dominic turned to a nearby maid.
"Go get Aveline."
Aveline ate her food silently while Eve watched her.
"Don't you have other things to do?" Aveline asked, not looking up while eating.
"No, I don't. I'll leave once you're done eating and take your medicine," Eve replied calmly.
"Do I still need to take them?"
"Yes, you do," Eve said firmly, her gaze fixed on her.
Aveline nodded and continued eating. A knock came at the door.
"Come in," Aveline said.
The door opened, and a servant stepped inside. Eve looked up and saw it was Luna.
"You're needed in the living room," Luna said with a smile.
Aveline nodded and stepped down from the bed.
"I'll take the medicine when I get back."
Eve nodded, watching as Aveline walked out. Luna winked at her smiling before following Aveline and closing the door behind them.
"Something about her doesn't feel right," Eve muttered under her breath.
---
Luna led Aveline to the living room and then left.
Aveline was surprised to see unfamiliar faces alongside Dominic. Her eyes landed on a woman who looked like an assassin, staring at her intently. The look made her uneasy.
Then her gaze shifted and she froze.
It was the man who had seen her in those revealing clothes. She instinctively took a step back.
"Hey! I'm not like that, okay? I'm actually a gentleman. Just forget what happened, Dominic made me do it. I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable," Lucas said quickly, raising his hands in defense.
Andrea rolled her eyes.
The girl in front of her looked small in the oversized clothes she wore. Her face was pretty but tired. Black hair tied into a messy bun, and clear discomfort in her posture,she looked scared.
"Sit down," Dominic said to Aveline.
Aveline slowly sat in the empty space next to Andrea.
"She's here now," Dominic said.
"Sheesh, I know," Andrea replied, rolling her eyes. She got up and crouched in front of Aveline, making her flinch.
"I need some information from you, but it doesn't look like it's going to be easy."
Aveline didn't understand what she meant.
"I need to know about Eli... "
"Didn't I tell you she's triggered by that name?" Dominic cut in sharply.
"I know. Calm down."
Aveline bit her lip. She knew where this was heading they were going to ask her the same question Dominic had asked before.
"As I was saying," Andrea continued, her eyes locked on Aveline's, "I want you to tell me something about Elias. Can you do that?"
Dominic watched her closely, waiting for her reaction.
Aveline clenched her fists on her lap. Her heartbeat quickened, and her head spun.
Memories clawed at her mind, but she refused to fall apart in front of them.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay grounded.
Their eyes were heavy on her, but she was determined not to break.
"I... Yes," Aveline whispered, her voice barely audible.
Dominic raised a brow, surprised she hadn't panicked like before. He leaned back, intrigued.
Andrea nodded.
"Can you tell me anything about Elias? Or why he's after that machine?"
Aveline bit her lip again.
They were asking about that machine again.
"I... don't know much about what he wants to use it for," she said hesitantly, her chest tightening. "But he said something about my..."
She paused, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"...my father stealing the machine they worked on for years. He said my father called him greedy and hid the machine from him."
Her palms grew sweaty. Elias's voice echoed in her ears.
She fought the urge to cover her ears.
"So he worked on the machine too?" Lucas asked, surprised.
"Interesting," Andrea muttered. "Do you know anything about this machine?"
Aveline shook her head slowly.
"Did he ever ask you about the whereabouts of the machine? Do you remember anything from when you were little?"
The voices in her head grew louder at the question.
She remembered Elias beating her every time he asked that question, drunk or sober.
Her heart pounded. Her vision blurred.
Without thinking, she raised her hands and covered her ears, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"I... I'm sorry," she whispered. "Please, help. It's too much."
Dominic stood up immediately. He shoved a stunned Andrea aside and rushed to Aveline, scooping her up into his arms.
She was trembling.
Her vision faded. Voices dimmed. Darkness slowly creeping in.
Dominic carried her outside and placed her in the back seat of his car.
Her body had gone limp. Her eyes were closed.
"Shit," he cursed, jumping into the driver's seat and speeding off.
---
Back in the Living Room
Lucas sat frozen. "What just happened?"
"Very interesting," Andrea said with a small smile.
Lucas looked at her, disturbed.
"Weirdo."
---
Luna stood quietly in the corner, watching.
Her eyes flicked upward to where Eve stood on the second floor, watching with a angered expression.
"Interesting," Luna muttered smiling.