Chapter 4
1172 Words
Selena stood frozen.
Adrian’s words echoed in her mind.
My family is cursed. And you? You’re next.
A slow chill crept over her skin. She had thought the whispers, the locked doors, and the strange presence in the house were just mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
But now, she realized—she was already entangled in something she couldn’t escape.
She forced herself to speak, though her voice was barely above a whisper. “What do you mean, I’m next?”
Adrian’s silver eyes darkened, shadows flickering behind them.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then, in a voice that barely carried over the crackling fire, he murmured, “You should have never agreed to this marriage.”
Selena’s stomach twisted.
“Why?” she demanded, stepping closer. “What are you hiding?”
Adrian’s jaw clenched. He looked like a man at war with himself.
Finally, he turned away. “It doesn’t matter.”
Selena’s patience snapped.
“It does matter, Adrian!” she grabbed his wrist, forcing him to face her. “I saw her. Your first wife. I saw a woman in white standing in the hallway last night.”
Adrian’s entire body went rigid.
His grip tightened—not painfully, but possessively, as if he were afraid she would slip through his fingers.
“You saw her?” His voice was barely a breath.
Selena swallowed. “Yes.”
Adrian stared at her for what felt like an eternity.
Then, to her horror, he whispered—
“Then it’s already begun.”
Selena’s head spun.
“What’s begun?” she demanded, her voice rising.
Adrian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. “I tried to keep you safe.”
Selena laughed bitterly. “By keeping me in the dark?”
Adrian’s eyes burned into hers. “By keeping it from noticing you.”
Selena’s breath hitched.
It.
She wasn’t sure if he meant the presence she had seen… or something worse.
Adrian finally spoke, his voice low and grave. “Every woman who becomes a Sinclair bride meets the same fate. Disappearance. Death. Or worse.”
Selena’s pulse roared in her ears.
“Worse?” she echoed.
Adrian took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “Some never die.”
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
“Adrian,” she whispered, “are you telling me your first wife is still here?”
His expression was unreadable. “I don’t know what she is anymore.”
Selena’s breath caught.
Her mind raced back to the night before. The figure in the hallway. The wind that had no source.
She had thought she was imagining things. But now—
She knew she wasn’t.
---
A Warning Too Late
That night, Selena couldn’t sleep.
Every shadow in her room felt too dark.
Every creak of the mansion sounded too loud.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, waiting.
Then—
A whisper.
Not outside her door.
Inside the room.
Selena bolted upright. “Who’s there?”
Silence.
Then—
“Leave… before it’s too late.”
Selena’s heart slammed against her ribs.
She turned sharply—only to find nothing.
But the air had changed. It felt heavier. Thicker.
Like something was watching her.
She scrambled out of bed and ran to the door—
Only to find it locked.
Her fingers fumbled with the handle, pulling and twisting, but it wouldn’t budge.
Then—
A cold breath against her neck.
Selena whirled around.
And saw her.
The woman in white stood in the corner of the room, her head tilted, her eyes hollow and empty.
Selena’s throat tightened. She tried to scream, but the sound caught in her chest.
The woman took a step forward.
“He can’t save you.”
Selena’s world blurred.
Then—
The door burst open.
And Adrian was there.
His stormy eyes locked onto the ghostly figure, and for the first time—
Selena saw fear on his face.
---
A Sin Too Deep
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
He strode forward, placing himself between Selena and the woman in white.
“Enough,” he commanded, his voice sharp as a blade.
The woman’s face twisted into something terrifying.
“You think you can stop me?” she whispered.
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t your place anymore.”
The woman laughed—a broken, hollow sound. “But she’s already mine.”
Selena felt the blood drain from her face.
Then, before she could blink—
The woman disappeared.
The room fell into silence.
Selena’s legs gave out, but Adrian caught her before she collapsed.
His arms wrapped around her, strong and steady.
She pressed her face into his chest, gasping. “She—she spoke to me.”
Adrian’s hands tightened on her. “I know.”
Selena swallowed hard. “She said you can’t save me.”
Adrian exhaled. Then, so quietly she almost didn’t hear—
“She might be right.”
---
The Truth Comes Out
Selena didn’t let him leave.
Not until he told her everything.
They sat by the fireplace in the study, shadows dancing across Adrian’s sharp features.
His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair. For the first time, he looked… uncertain.
Selena broke the silence. “Tell me.”
Adrian finally spoke.
“My family wasn’t always cursed,” he murmured. “But my great-grandfather did something that doomed us all.”
Selena leaned in. “What did he do?”
Adrian’s lips pressed together. Then, softly—
“He made a deal.”
Selena’s heart pounded. “A deal with who?”
Adrian’s gaze lifted to hers.
“With something that doesn’t belong in this world.”
Selena felt a cold wave wash over her.
“What was the deal?” she asked hesitantly.
Adrian exhaled.
“He wanted power. Wealth. Legacy. And in return…”
Selena’s throat went dry.
Adrian’s voice turned bitter. “…his firstborn son would always be cursed.”
Selena’s breath caught.
She looked at him, realization dawning.
“You mean… you.”
Adrian’s silver eyes locked onto hers.
“I was never meant to have a wife.” His voice was quiet. “Not one who lived, anyway.”
---
A Dangerous Decision
Selena stood, pacing the room. “So what, you married me knowing this?”
Adrian exhaled, rubbing his temple. “I thought… I could fight it.”
Selena scoffed. “And how’s that working out for you?”
Adrian didn’t respond.
Selena crossed her arms. “How do I break it?”
Adrian looked at her sharply. “You don’t.”
Selena narrowed her eyes. “I won’t accept that.”
A muscle in Adrian’s jaw twitched.
“You don’t understand, Selena. If you fight this, it will fight back.”
Selena’s heart pounded, but she stood her ground.
She had survived poverty. She had survived betrayal.
She would not be taken down by a curse.
She met Adrian’s gaze with steel in her eyes.
“Then let it.”
- Writer
