Accusations
880 Words
CHAPTER 15 📖
Seraphina stared at Lucien in stunned silence.
The hallway light cast sharp shadows across his face, making him look colder than she had ever seen him before.
“You think I killed someone?” she asked slowly.
Lucien stepped inside the apartment without waiting for an invitation. His presence filled the small living room instantly, his tall frame and controlled anger making the space feel even smaller.
“I didn’t say that,” he replied.
“But you believe it.”
Lucien closed the door behind him.
The click of the lock sounded louder than it should have.
“I believe you spoke to the technician two hours before he died.”
Seraphina felt her stomach twist.
So Marco had told him.
She folded her arms, forcing herself to stay calm.
“Yes,” she admitted.
Lucien’s eyes hardened.
“Why?”
For a moment, Seraphina considered lying.
But something told her that would be a mistake.
“He called me,” she said.
Lucien frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
Lucien took a step closer.
“Why would a laboratory technician contact you about a DNA test that had nothing to do with you?”
Seraphina’s chest tightened.
Because technically…
It had everything to do with her.
But Lucien didn’t know that.
Yet.
She forced her voice to remain steady.
“He said someone had broken into the lab.”
Lucien’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s what he told you?”
“Yes.”
“What exactly did he say?”
Seraphina hesitated.
Because the truth was much worse.
The technician had sounded terrified during that call.
His voice had been shaking.
He had said someone powerful wanted the DNA results destroyed.
But if she told Lucien that…
Then Lucien would start asking questions about the test.
Questions that could expose Adrian.
So she chose her words carefully.
“He said someone was trying to interfere with the test results.”
Lucien studied her face closely.
As if searching for a lie.
“And you believed him?”
“I heard the fear in his voice.”
Lucien looked away for a moment, thinking.
Then his gaze returned to her.
“He’s dead now.”
The words landed like a stone in the room.
Seraphina swallowed.
“I know.”
Lucien’s voice grew quieter.
“The police think it was an accident.”
“But you don’t.”
Lucien’s eyes darkened.
“No.”
A long silence followed.
Then he asked the question Seraphina had been dreading.
“What test were they running?”
Her heart skipped.
Lucien stepped closer again.
Close enough that she could see the tension in his jaw.
“Seraphina.”
She forced herself not to step back.
“I don’t know.”
Lucien’s gaze sharpened instantly.
“That’s not a good lie.”
“I’m not lying.”
“You expect me to believe a lab technician randomly called you to discuss a test you know nothing about?”
Seraphina lifted her chin.
“Yes.”
Lucien studied her for a long moment.
Then he sighed quietly.
“You were always terrible at lying.”
Her pulse quickened.
“What makes you so sure I’m lying?”
Lucien’s voice dropped.
“Because I know you.”
Something flickered in his eyes then.
Something complicated.
Something that reminded her painfully of the man she had once loved.
But the moment passed quickly.
Lucien straightened.
“The police will probably contact you,” he said.
“I understand.”
“But that’s not why I came here.”
Seraphina frowned slightly.
“Then why are you here?”
Lucien hesitated.
And for the first time since arriving, uncertainty crossed his face.
“I came because something about this situation doesn’t make sense.”
Seraphina said nothing.
Lucien continued.
“Someone kidn*pped Adrian.”
Her heart skipped again.
“Then the kidnapper suddenly released him.”
Lucien’s eyes narrowed.
“And now the man connected to the DNA test is dead.”
Seraphina felt cold.
Because she already knew who was behind it.
Antonio.
Lucien rubbed his temple.
“Too many things are happening at the same time.”
Seraphina forced herself to remain calm.
“What are you trying to say?”
Lucien looked directly at her.
“I think someone is manipulating all of this.”
Her heart pounded.
Because for the first time…
Lucien was getting close to the truth.
But before she could respond
A sudden sound came from Adrian’s bedroom.
A small thud.
Lucien’s head turned instantly.
“Is he awake?”
Seraphina frowned.
“No, he was asleep.”
Another noise followed.
This one louder.
Lucien moved toward the hallway immediately.
“Wait” Seraphina said.
But he was already walking toward the bedroom.
Seraphina hurried after him, her heart racing.
Lucien reached the door first and slowly pushed it open.
The room was dark.
Quiet.
Empty.
Seraphina froze.
The bed was empty.
The window was open.
And Adrian was gone.
Seraphina’s voice broke.
“No…”
Lucien’s expression turned deadly.
Because taped to the inside of the open window was a small white envelope.
Lucien pulled it off slowly.
Inside was a single card.
Three words written in black ink:
“Round two begins.”
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