The Billionaire behind the Silver Mask

Secrets

The hand stayed firmly over my mouth. My heart slammed wildly against my chest as I struggled on instinct, but the grip didn't tighten. Instead, a frightened whisper reached my ears.

"Don't scream... please."

There was so much fear in that voice that I stopped struggling. Slowly, the hand covering my mouth slipped away.

Moonlight spilling through the tall windows revealed a young woman dressed in a black-and-white maid's uniform. She looked only a few years older than me. Her eyes were wide with fear and every few seconds she glanced nervously toward the dark corridor leading to the East Wing.

She wasn't trying to hurt me. Infact, she looked even more frightened than I was. "Miss Hart," she whispered. "Please... you can't be here."

I frowned. "I heard someone crying."

Her head shook almost immediately. "No." The answer came far too quickly. "There was nobody."

I stared at her. "But I heard..."

"Please." She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "If Sir finds us here, we'll both be in trouble." Before I could ask another question, she gently took hold of my wrist.

"We have to leave."

Confused, I let her lead me away from the East Wing after the footsteps faded completely. Neither of us spoke.

The crying had stopped completely too. The deeper we walked into the main corridor, the more impossible it became to believe I had heard anything at all.

Maybe...

No. I knew what I had heard.

We had barely turned the corner when a calm voice stopped us.

"Miss Hart."

Both of us froze. The maid's hand slipped from my wrist.

Slowly, we turned around. Adonis Blackwood stood several steps behind us.

He wasn't wearing the black suit I'd seen earlier. Instead, he had on a plain black shirt with the sleeves folded neatly to his forearms and a pair of dark trousers.

For the first time since meeting him... He almost looked like an ordinary man.

Just almost. Because the silver mask was still there. Even in the middle of the night...He still hadn't taken it off.

Did he ever remove it?

His gaze moved from the maid to me. "What are you both doing here?"

His voice was relaxed and that frightened me more than if he had shouted.

The maid quickly bowed. "Forgive me, sir."

She looked at him and I could seh was trying her best not to shake. "Miss Hart couldn't find her room."

She swallowed.

"I found her wandering and was taking her back."

Silence ruled between us. He didn't respond. He simply just looked between us. Then his eyes settled on me.

For one uncomfortable moment, I had the strange feeling he already knew exactly where I had been.

He knew I hadn't gotten lost and that I had been heading toward the East Wing.

I opened my mouth.

"That's not.."

The maid's fingers brushed lightly against mine. A warning.

Don't.

I closed my mouth instantly. No one spoke. The silence stretched until it became almost unbearable.

Finally, Adonis spoke again.

"Take her back." His eyes remained on me. "And see that it doesn't happen again."

"Yes, thank you sir."

The maid bowed once more before gently leading me away. Only after we had turned two corridors did she finally let out a long breath.

I stopped walking.

"Why did you lie?"

She lowered her eyes. "Because telling the truth would only make things worse."

My brow arched. "What truth?"

She didn't answer. I tried again.

"Who was crying?"

She looked around the empty hallway before meeting my eyes. "There are some questions that are safer not to ask, Miss Hart."

There was no pretending in her face. She was genuinely afraid.

Without another word, she walked me back to my room. She opened the door and waited for me to step inside.

Just before leaving, she hesitated.

"Miss Hart..."

I looked back. "If you hear that crying again..."

She paused. "...don't follow it."

Before I could ask another question, she hurried away. The door closed softly behind her.

I stood alone in the middle of the room and my eyes drifted toward the window. The moonlight stretched across the gardens below, making the white camellias glow against the darkness.

Everything outside looked peaceful and everything inside this house felt anything but that.

I walked to the window and wrapped my arms around myself. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I thought losing everything was the worst thing that could happen to me.

Now I wasn't so sure.

I had married a man who wore a mask even while everyone else slept. I had heard a woman crying inside the house.

The East Wing was forbidden. The servants were terrified of something.

One of them had lied to Adonis Blackwood right in front of him. And somehow, he had let it happen.

What kind of family had I just married into?

I didn't sleep much after that.

---

The next morning, I woke much later than I intended. My head felt heavy. Every time I had managed to fall asleep, I expected to hear the crying again.

I never did.

After getting dressed, I stepped out into the corridor. Mrs. Harper was waiting outside.

A warm smile spread across her face.

"Good morning, Miss Hart."

I forced a smile back. "Good morning."

She studied me for a moment. "You didn't sleep well."

I squinted my eyes. "Was it that obvious?"

"I'm afraid so."

We started walking downstairs together. I kept thinking about what had happened during the night.

Maybe I should forget it. Everyone else probably had.

Still, the question slipped out.

"Mrs. Harper..."

She looked at me. "Yes, dear?"

I cleared my throat. "Has anyone ever... cried in the East Wing?"

Her steps slowed only for a heartbeat. Then she smiled again. "No dear."

Her smile didn't reach her eyes, and immediately I knew she was lying. I pushed.

"Hmm. Strange. I heard someone crying yesterday..." She stopped walking abruptly. "You had a nightmare, Miss Hart." She cut in.

I frowned.."It wasn't a nightma..."

The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted me. A young maid appeared at the end of the hallway and bowed politely.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Harper, but Mr. Lawson is here already."

Mrs. Harper turned. "Already?"

The maid nodded. "He's waiting downstairs. Your presence is requested, my lady."

Mrs. Harper looked at me and I looked back at her, completely confused.

"Me?"

She gave a small nod.

I blinked. "...Who's Mr. Lawson?"