Episode 4: Dangerous Curiosity
1113 Words
I didn’t sleep.
Not even for a second.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard those words again.
“She died because of you…”“History has a way of repeating itself…”
My chest tightened painfully.
Who was she?
And why did it feel like… I was already walking the same path?
Morning came too quickly.
Or maybe… I never left the night.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection.
Pale.
Tired.
But my eyes…
Different.
Stronger.
Because now I knew one thing for sure—
I wasn’t going to stay blind.
Not anymore.
I stepped out of my room with a purpose.
If no one would tell me the truth…
I’d find it myself.
The mansion was quiet again, but this time, I paid attention.
Every detail.
Every door.
Every camera.
Yes… cameras.
Hidden.
Carefully placed.
He really did control everything.
I walked downstairs slowly, pretending to look around casually.
But inside—
I was searching.
There had to be something.
A clue.
A sign.
Anything.
“Looking for something?”
I froze.
That voice again.
I didn’t even need to turn this time.
“Or someone?” Dmitri added, amusement clear in his tone.
I turned slowly, crossing my arms.
“You really like appearing out of nowhere.”
He smiled lazily.
“And you really like walking into places you shouldn’t be.”
My jaw tightened.
“Maybe if people actually told me what’s going on, I wouldn’t have to look.”
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Measured.
Dangerous.
“But where’s the fun in that?” he murmured.
I held my ground.
Even though every instinct screamed at me to step back.
“Why did you call him your brother?” I asked suddenly.
Silence.
For a split second—
His expression changed.
Then it was gone.
“Curious girl,” he said quietly.
“That wasn’t an answer.”
“No,” he agreed. “It wasn’t.”
My frustration grew.
“You said someone died,” I continued, my voice sharper now. “Who was she?”
This time—
He didn’t smile.
Good.
I hit something.
“Careful,” he said softly. “You’re stepping into dangerous territory.”
“I’m already in dangerous territory.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“And yet,” he said, tilting his head, “you’re still standing.”
A chill ran through me.
“What happened to her?” I pushed.
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then—
“Ask your husband,” he said.
Before I could respond, he leaned closer.
Too close.
“If he dares to tell you.”
My heart skipped.
Something in his tone…
It wasn’t just a warning.
It was a challenge.
“Enough.”
The word cut through the air.
Again.
I turned.
Alexey.
Standing at the top of the stairs.
Watching.
Always watching.
His gaze moved from Dmitri… to me.
Sharp.
Unreadable.
“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly.
“I live here,” I shot back.
Big mistake.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Dmitri chuckled.
“This is getting interesting,” he muttered.
“Leave,” Alexey said without looking at him.
Dmitri raised his hands.
“As you wish.”
But before walking away, he looked at me one last time.
“Be careful what you wish for,” he said quietly.
And then he was gone.
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Alexey walked down the stairs slowly.
Each step felt like pressure building in the air.
“You were told to stay away from him,” he said.
“And you were told not to control me,” I snapped back.
His jaw tightened.
“Don’t push me, Alina.”
“Or what?” I challenged. “You’ll lock me in a room? Kill me like—”
I stopped.
Too late.
The words hung in the air.
His eyes changed.
Darkened.
Completely.
“Finish that sentence,” he said quietly.
My heart pounded.
Fear crawled up my spine.
But I didn’t look away.
“Like the girl who died,” I said.
Silence.
Deadly.
For a moment—
I thought I went too far.
No.
I knew I did.
In one swift movement, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him.
Hard.
I gasped.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
“Then tell me!” I shot back. “Who was she?!”
“Enough!”
The shout echoed through the hall.
My breath caught.
I had never heard him raise his voice like that.
Never.
For a second—
He looked… different.
Not cold.
Not controlled.
But angry.
Really angry.
Something was breaking through.
Good.
“Tell me the truth,” I whispered, my voice shaking now.
His grip loosened slightly.
But he didn’t let go.
“You want the truth?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Big mistake.
Because the next words—
Cut deeper than anything.
“She was someone who made the same mistake you’re making right now.”
My heart dropped.
“And what mistake is that?” I whispered.
His eyes locked onto mine.
“Trusting me.”
Silence.
My chest tightened painfully.
“What happened to her?” I asked again, softer this time.
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then—
“She died.”
Simple.
Cold.
Final.
Tears burned my eyes.
“How?”
Silence.
“Alexey…” my voice broke. “How did she die?”
He stepped closer.
So close I couldn’t breathe.
“Because in my world,” he said quietly, “people don’t get happy endings.”
A tear slipped down my cheek.
I hated that it did.
I hated that he saw it.
For a moment—
Something flickered in his eyes again.
That same… human feeling.
Regret?
Pain?
But it disappeared.
Like always.
He let go of my arm.
Stepped back.
Walls up again.
“Stay out of things you don’t understand,” he said.
“And if I don’t?” I asked weakly.
His expression hardened.
“Then you’ll end up just like her.”
My heart stopped.
He turned and walked away.
Again.
Always leaving.
Always hiding.
I stood there, frozen.
My thoughts spinning.
My chest tight.
My hands shaking.
This is bigger than I thought.
Way bigger.
Someone died.
Because of him.
And now—
I’m here.
In the same place.
Asking the same questions.
Feeling the same things.
I wiped my tears slowly.
No.
I won’t be her.
I won’t be another story.
Another mistake.
But deep inside…
A terrifying thought whispered—
What if it’s already too late?
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