CHAPTER 3
1027 Words
Trapped in the Web of Deception
Her fingers curled in her fists while she looked at Anneliese and her step-sister's smile curving in delight. Her childhood house, once a place of peace, now felt like a cold, suffocating prison. While betrayal was common worldwide, she had no idea it would reveal the faces of her former family.
"How could you do this to me?" The weight of everything she had lost was evident in her raw and heavy voice. "I trusted you. I loved you!"
Anneliese smiled and let out a smoky smile, with the sound as sharp as a sharp blade. "That's the problem, dear sister. You've always had everything. Father's love. The spotlight. Even Viktor's attention was focused on me, despite his lack of eye contact. But that's not how the story ends, Liesel. This time, I win."
The breath of Liesel twitched, and her eyes blubbered with tears. "God will never forgive you for this."
A pause. After that, Anneliese leaned in, her lips curling in cruelly. "God? If He existed, you wouldn't be standing here, broken and humiliated. So let's not waste time on fairy tales, shall we?"
Liesel shivered as if someone had struck her. However, before she had the chance to react, Helga entered the room.
"You disgust me," her stepmother said and crossed her arms. "You've brought nothing but shame to this family. If I were you, I'd drink poison and save us all the trouble."
The nails of Liesel's dipped deep into her palms. When did Liesel first believe this woman loved her?
"Why?" She shook her lips just before she could put it down. "Why do this? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Anneliese looked at Helga before exchanging an exaggerated look. "Oh, poor, naive Liesel. Father planned to leave you half of Bauer Industries. Half. As if you deserved even a fraction of it."
The pulse of Liesel sounded like a hammer through her ears. "You did all of this... for money?"
"And Viktor," Anneliese continued, her grin growing wider. Ultimately, he required minimal persuasion. A few whispers, a few planted doubts, and he already believed you had betrayed him. You always were too easy to destroy."
Liesel was slouched back in shock and shook her head, with the reality of everything slamming right onto her with the force of a smashed ball.
"You're monsters," she whispered.
Anneliese gripped her hands tightly, mockingly. "And yet, you're the one who's leaving Ravensburg in disgrace."
The eyes of Liesel shifted toward the entrance. She had the option of running. Get away before they do more harm.
Then Anneliese took out her mobile by tapping it once before lifting it up.
The video was played. The room was dark. The sheets lie tangled. An unidentified, shadowy figure hovers above her.
Liesel's stomach lurched.
"You wouldn't."
"Oh, I would," Anneliese smiled softly. "And I will. Unless you do exactly as I say."
Alaric was standing at the ceiling-to-floor window in his penthouse, Der Schattenhof, overlooking the black waters of the Schwarzwasser See. The grip of his whiskey glass was firm; his jaw was clenched.
The woman vanished.
There is no name. There was no trace. There was nothing but empty beds as well as a vivid memory that would not allow him to go away.
The smell of her persisted upon his sheets; it was a disturbing reminder of the previous night. The worst part was that he found out way too late.
A new.
Her body was unharmed by him, but he had snatched her without noticing.
The thought frightened him; however, he was able to hide the emotion in a deep place, locking it in with the unnecessary emotions he did not find time for.
The sound of a knock on the door distracted him from his thinking.
"Enter," he commanded.
The assistant came in with his eyes closed. "Boss, we checked all security footage. We have erased it.
Alaric breathed through his nostrils. "And?"
The man paused. "There was a wedding last night. A scandal. The bride... she ran away."
Silence played between them.
The fingers of his hands were tightly encircling the glass. "And what does this have to do with me?"
The person who was helping swallowed up the air. "We believe the girl from last night... was her."
Alaric was still.
And then, slowly, he put his drink down.
"Find her."
The employee was hesitant. "Boss--"
"If you have to turn this city upside down, do it," Alaric's voice was a steel. "I want her in front of me. Now."
Greta Weber brushed her skirt and adjusted the bracelet of gold that was on her wrist. She soaked herself in a thick scent, but it didn't bother her.
The night was dark.
The woman had spent months trying to connect with Alaric von Rothschild. She finally got his attention.
She tapped lightly on the front door of the penthouse, her heart beating. The butler responded with a neutral expression.
"Master is waiting."
Greta took a deep breath before stepping inside.
Alaric stood in front of the fireplace with his back towards her. From this position, it was difficult to sense his presence, and his strength was gradually ebbing away from him in waves.
She kissed her lips. "You called for me?"
Silence.
He then changed.
In a split second, the light flickered within his dark gray eyes, not readable.
And then it vanished.
"Yes," he said afterward, moving closer. "And I expect you to listen carefully."
Greta's pulse quickened. The thought of this moment had been in her head for a long time.
"I'm all yours," she purred before stepping ahead.
Alaric's lips curled slightly; however, there was nothing warm about his smile.
"Not quite."
He reached in his pockets, took out his cell phone, and then tapped the screen at once.
A blurred image emerged. It's a photograph of a woman disappearing in the darkness.
"I need information," he muttered in a cold voice. "On her."
Greta's stomach was twisted.
She felt the time slip through her fingers.
"Who is she?" she inquired with a tense voice.
Alaric's jaw was tense.
"Mine."
- Writer
