Jacob loved Annabeth, so he must know something.
On my way here, I tried calling him, but his line wouldn’t go through.
My best guess was he’d blocked my number. I wouldn’t be surprised given that he made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.
Which means the last option I had was my father, and as much as that annoyed the fuck outta me, that was my last resort.
"Anastasia?"
Caleb’s voice pulled me out of it.
"Is everything okay?"
"No," I replied flatly.
He released a sharp exhale, nodding. "That’s understandable. This must come as a shock for you."
He flipped through the blank pages, looking deeply worried about the situation.
"Did you know?" I asked out of the blue.
"Know what?"
"That I lost my memory."
He dropped the diary on the table and leaned back. "So that was it..."
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I wondered why you didn’t remember me. I had a feeling something might have happened, but I didn’t know what. I was worried."
"You sound as if we were close."
He forced a smile. "We crossed paths. We had tea together."
As much as I wanna hear more about that, I can’t at the moment. Zade was currently held up between meetings, and I didn’t want him to find out about my digging.
Which meant the sooner I got to the bottom of this, the better.
"What are you gonna do with the diary?" I asked.
"Return it, I guess. If you ask me, I think Zade concealed the diary without checking the contents. Maybe it was more important to lock it away as soon as possible."
Caleb was right because I had that guess too.
The events of my sister’s death were all connected somehow, and as much as I didn’t wanna admit it, I believed there was something Zade wasn’t telling me.
"You told me something once," I began.
"About what?"
"You said you saw Annabeth getting into the car with Zade and she looked scared."
"Yes."
"Did it happen here, in the manor?"
"Where else could it have happened?" he mused. "As you’re aware, I don’t go out much."
"Right..." I muttered.
What was Annabeth doing here then? Was that the same day she was killed, or was it after?
God, so many questions, but I’ll get my answers too. I could feel I was close to something.
"Thank you, Caleb. Though I feel like I dragged you into this."
"It’s alright, I’m happy to help. I’m glad I found you sneaking around in my brother’s office. If my brothers had, they wouldn’t have been so keen on helping you," he replied.
"You sound certain."
"Because the rest of them don’t just see Zade as a brother but a Don too, which means they have this certain fear and respect for him."
"What about you?" I tilted my chin.
"I don’t see him as a Don. I never did. He’s just my brother and the man who raised me." He redirected his wheelchair, his expression contoured in thought. "That kind of perspective gives me freedom in a way."
In a way, I understood him, knowing he was a lone wolf and never liked the blood and violence.
"What changed?"
"Pardon?" I blinked.
"I’m genuinely curious about why you’re suddenly geared up about this. That day you looked scared and confused when I gave you the diary. I felt bad after that, and I thought about coming to see you to apologize, but..."
"But..?"
A soft smile curled his lips. "I figured I might be intruding. I’m sorry if I hurt you."
"You didn’t," I admitted quietly. "A part of me realized then that running from the past doesn’t really end well; it has a way of catching up to you before you realize it. I was the one who was hurting myself by trying to forget."
Caleb nodded slowly at my words before saying softly. "I hope you find what you’re looking for, Anastasia."
"I hope so too."
I turned on my heels and left the library. Closing the door behind me, I stayed there for a while, taking a deep breath.
"Ana?"
I whipped my head. "Elliot!"
"Fancy reading?" He looked at the door and then me.
"Y-You caught me."
He chuckled lightly. "Has Caleb lured you to his special place?"
"Special place?"
"The library."
"O-Oh..."
"He treats that old place like the world. I think he has read all the books there."
"I wouldn’t be surprised if he has."
He smiled. "Though I wish he learns that’s not the only place he can be. He spends so much time there I worry."
"Well, you can’t blame him. Everyone has their comfort. This place is his."
"I’m aware." He sank his hand into his pocket. "I heard what happened."
The sudden change in his tone made my smile fade away as I was reminded of that night.
"Did you?"
He took a step closer, and my heart raced when he gently stroked my cheek with the back of his hand.
"I heard you were hurt pretty badly."
I cleared my throat. "Y-Yeah, but I’m fine now. The bruises are fading, and nothing makeup can’t hide, right?"
He took his hand away. "Don’t speak so lightly about this. You almost died."
"But I didn’t. And I don’t need to worry about Clara anymore. Zade has handled everything."
"Yes, he has," he said in a shifty tone. "I told him not to drag you into this. The moment we knew you were involved with Shane, we should have pulled you out."
"That—"
"But Zade being unpredictable as always let it get this far when he shouldn’t."
I frowned. "Shane dug his claws into me because I let him. There was no one to blame except me. I was gonna betray Zade."
"And no one would have blamed you."
I blinked at his words. "I’d have blamed me."
"Look..." He sighed. "Your life was at risk."
"And I know that, but let’s face it, Zade gave me a chance to choose, and I did."
There was a flicker in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place because the moment I saw it was gone.
"Then there’s no need for my input on the matter."
"Your input means you care, right?" I forced a smile.
"You’ve been through a lot, Ana, and I only want you to find peace."
"Peace is for the dead."
"But that doesn’t mean it can’t be for the living too. You deserve that much and to be happy, and not dragged into our world. As you’re aware, everything we do is messy, and this is not a place for you."
I dipped my gaze briefly as I licked my lips. "What makes you think I’m not happy now?"
"I don’t know. Are you?"
"I’m trying to be," I murmured more to myself as I walked past him, but his words stopped me midway.
"Do you think you can be happy with him, Ana?"
I turned to him and found his eyes fixed on me.
"Elliot..."
"It was a simple question, Ana."
My mouth hung.
"But you can’t answer that, can you?"
I scowled. "I think we should end this conversation here."
"Ana—"
"Zade is my husband."
He halted in his tracks. I didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t have to.
"Apologies... I was just asking as a concerned brother-in-law. I overstepped."
I didn’t reply, as I turned and walked away. I felt his gaze lingering until I disappeared toward the other hallway.
I got to my room and closed the door behind me, and my babies swamped around my legs.
"Heyyy!" I sat down on the bed, and they jumped against it.
I stroked Coco and Boba’s fur while they had their fill of rubbing their heads on my arms and hopping onto my lap.
I paused for a while, lingering in thought, but I didn’t dwell longer before I pulled out my phone and dialed my father’s number.
He picked up on the first ring.
"Anastasia."
"Hello, father..."
"I wasn’t expecting your call."
The last time we saw each other was at the Opera, when he thought he could just walk into my life after what he did.
Zade may have orchestrated everything, but my father made his choice to sell me away like I was fucking furniture.
"We need to talk," I replied.
"Talk?"
"Why? Can’t spare some time for your daughter?"
Just saying that made me sick to the stomach.
"Unfortunately, we can’t right now. I’m out of the city."
"When will you be back?"
"By the end of the month."
"Until then."
I ended the call.
~☆~
My car pulled up at the entrance, and I got out, closing the door. I was spending some time with Jade at the café when I got a call from my father.
He was back from his business trip.
Good thing I didn’t have to wait until the end of the month. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.
I entered the manor and headed straight for his study, where I saw two men hanging around.
"Is my father in?"
They looked toward me, and I recognized them instantly. Fate has a way of playing tricks on you. These two were the same ones who dragged me out of the car on my wedding day.
"Hello, boys," I smirked, and they grew uncomfortable.
The one on my right spoke. "Mrs. Salvero. Don Morri’s busy."
"He’s expecting me." I was already reaching for the doorknob, pushing the door open before either man could object.
I froze instantly when I saw the horror before me.
"Don Morri!"
"Secure the building now!"
My father’s body was slumped on the desk. Blood glistening on the polished surface, dripping onto the white rug now dyed in red.
I staggered back, my heart lurching into my throat as I snapped my gaze to the wall.
"N-No..." I whispered, shaking my head as my voice cracked.
A single name was scribbled across the wall in blood.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Stasia.