"What?!" Eve asked, completely taken aback.
Aveline sighed. "When I fainted, Dominic took me to a doctor. The doctor said traces of sedatives were found in my body." She looked at Eve closely, observing her reaction before continuing. "I've never taken sedatives, even though I have insomnia. But I noticed I was able to sleep after taking the medicine you gave me."
Eve looked away, avoiding her gaze, her fists clenching tightly.
Aveline was surprised. Eve was always so emotionless around her. The sudden hug earlier had already shocked her, and now this reaction…
Eve bit her lip hard. "I just wanted to help you," she finally admitted. "I felt sad seeing you unable to sleep, so I decided to give you sedatives to help you rest. I'm so sorry."
Aveline was both relieved and surprised by the confession. "How did you know I had trouble sleeping?"
"Well… I usually check up on you every night, and I always saw you awake."
"Check up on me?" Aveline muttered, startled. She sighed. "But thank you for caring enough to help me. Just… please don't give me sedatives again."
Eve stared at her for a while. "But it helps you sleep well."
"I don't really need it. I appreciate what you did, but I don't want the sedatives." Aveline said and laid back down on the bed.
"…Oh. Then I won't give them to you anymore," Eve said, her face returning to its usual emotionless mask.
"Great."
Eve poked her tongue against her cheek and slowly walked over, sitting down next to Aveline. "Aveline, do you want to escape from this mansion?"
Aveline sat up, surprised. She hadn't expected that question. "What do you mean?"
"I can help you escape. I already have a plan. You can be free from this place, okay?" Eve turned to face her, determination in her eyes.
Aveline's eyes widened. "Escape… plan?"
"Yes. I can get you out of the mansion without him finding out. You can finally be free," Eve said with a faint smile.
Aveline sighed and looked down at her lap. "But why are you helping me? We don't even know each other that well."
"I'm helping you because you're suffering," Eve said firmly. "I don't want to watch you go through more pain. The longer you stay here, the more dangerous it will get for you." She gently held Aveline's hands.
Aveline sighed again. If this offer had been made back when she was being humiliated, or before she'd faced Elias at that party, she might have agreed.
But now… now she felt safer inside this mansion. Leaving scared her more than staying. She knew that if she stepped outside, Elias would find her. He'd lock her up again, torture her again. At least here, Elias couldn't reach her. And maybe… just maybe… if something went wrong, Dominic might protect her.
She chuckled softly at the absurd thought.
Eve frowned. "Why are you laughing?"
Aveline laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Eve, I'm very thankful for what you're trying to do for me. Really, I am. But I can't leave," she said, closing her eyes.
"What?! But why? You're suffering here!" Eve exclaimed.
"I just can't."
"But you can't stay here! You need to leave!" Eve said, standing up in frustration.
Aveline opened her eyes and looked at her. "I appreciate everything you're trying to do for me, but I don't need you to do anything anymore. I'm fine. Please… don't worry about me."
Eve clenched her fists, her jaw tight. "Why do you want to stay here after everything you've been through?"
Aveline looked back at the ceiling, a faint, bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Because… it feels safe here. Or maybe I'm just insane," she said with a soft, broken chuckle.
Eve stared at her for a long moment, then turned and left the room without another word.
Aveline kept staring at the ceiling as tears slid silently down her cheeks.
---
"You know we have to act fast. Elias is already ahead of us. Talking to Aveline didn't work… because someone thought it was a good idea to... "
"We have someone who was once involved with the machine," Andrea cut Lucas off before he could finish.
"And who is that?" Dominic asked, arms crossed.
"Dr. Virelli. I did some research earlier on people who worked on or were connected to the machine." Andrea straightened up. "Lucian was involved in producing the tools needed for the machine, which means he must have had files about it. But now he's dead… and Elias has those files."
Dominic leaned back into his chair, arms still folded. "So this Dr. Virelli must've worked on the machine and might have a clue about where it's hidden or at least give us a lead to find it."
"Correct," Andrea said with a satisfied smile.
"So where does this Dr. Virelli live?" Lucas asked.
"It wasn't easy to find him. He hid himself well. But I managed to track him down," Andrea replied, stifling a yawn.
"We'll pay him a visit tomorrow," Dominic said, rising to his feet. "Until then, you two can stay here." He turned to leave.
"You know…" Andrea's voice made him stop in his tracks. "You looked scared when Aveline fainted. I saw it on your face. Are you scared of losing her?"
Lucas's eyes widened. "Andrea!"
Andrea ignored him, her gaze locked on Dominic's back. "Could it be that having her here filled some sort of void in you? You've been alone in this house since your parents died, haven't you?"
"Enough!" Dominic snapped, his voice like thunder. His eyes blazed with anger as he turned toward her. "Watch your mouth, Andrea. I only did that because we needed her. I don't need the daughter of a murderer to fill the void in me. So think carefully before you speak."
Lucas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Enough, both of you. Andrea, you shouldn't have said that…"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry. I was just testing something," Andrea said lightly, her smile sharp, eyes glinting.
Dominic said nothing more. He turned and walked off, his silence heavier than his outburst.
Lucas glared at Andrea. "You really need to control what comes out of your mouth. Why would you bring up his parents or suggest that about Aveline? You've probably made him even angrier."
Andrea shrugged. "I wasn't lying. I was just speaking the truth."
Lucas shook his head. "You know what, I'm going to bed." He walked out.
Andrea chuckled softly to herself. "He was scared. No doubt about it."
---
In the servants' quarters, Eve sat on her bed, Luna lounging casually beside her.
"But why doesn't she want to leave this place?" Eve muttered, biting her nails. "It's too dangerous for her. She could die here. I want to save her, but she insists she's safe here. She's not."
Luna leaned against the wall, watching her with an amused grin, as though she'd discovered something interesting. "She feels safe because she's grown attached to this place. Even if she's tortured, she'll still choose to stay."
"Attached?" Eve asked, confused.
"Yeah. You said she feels safe here, right? That means life on the streets must've been hell for her. Bad enough that this place feels safer in comparison." Luna pushed off the wall and sat down beside her.
Eve slowly nodded. "That makes sense."
The corner of Luna's lips curved upward. "Which is exactly why we need to get her out of here before that attachment gets worse. Her feeling safe here isn't good."
Eve frowned. "You're right… but how?"
Luna leaned close, whispering something in her ear.
Eve's eyes widened. "But isn't that dangerous?"
"No, it's not. So… do you want to do it?" Luna asked with a sly grin.
Eve hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "…Yes."
Luna's grin widened.
---
Dominic stormed into his study, Andrea's words replaying in his head, fueling his anger. How could she say Aveline filled a void in me?
His gaze fell on the small portrait on his desk. He picked it up, his grip tightening until his knuckles whitened. His eyes burned with a mixture of rage and bitterness.
"The daughter of the man who destroyed my family? Filling a void in me?" He scoffed, his voice dripping with venom. "Ironic."
A cruel smile tugged at his lips as a chilling thought struck him. "Come to think of it… she broke one of my rules." His voice lowered, dark and cold. "She wasn't wearing the collar."