STAR CROSSED

CHAPTER EIGHT LOVE OR ILLUSION

The next morning, Nelson kissed me goodbye and headed out to work, leaving me to explore his magnificent mansion on my own. I spent the morning wandering through the rooms, admiring the artwork and the stunning views of the garden.

But as I turned a corner, I noticed something that made my heart skip a beat.

A woman's presence lingered in the air, a subtle scent of perfume and a faint trace of laughter. I felt a pang of unease, my mind racing with questions. Who was this woman? And what was her relationship with Nelson? I followed the scent to a room I hadn't seen before, a beautiful studio filled with paintings and sketches. And that's when I saw it, a portrait of a woman with piercing green eyes and long, curly hair.

My heart raced as I realized that this must be the woman I had sensed earlier. But who was she? And why did Nelson have her portrait in his studio? I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that there was more to Nelson's life than he had let on. And I was determined to uncover the truth.

As I continued to explore the mansion, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. I investigated further and made my way back to Nelson's bedroom. That's when I saw it, a long curly hair lingering on his pillow.

My heart raced more as I realized that this was the same hair I had seen in the portrait earlier. It was clear that the woman had been in Nelson's bedroom, and recently.

I felt a surge of jealousy and confusion. Who was this woman, and why was she in Nelson's bed? I thought we had a connection, but now I wasn't so sure. I tried to search the room more thoroughly and found a piece of paper on the floor. It was a note, written in feminine handwriting: "Thanks for the lovely night, Nelson. See you soon."

My mind was reeling. Who was this woman, and what was her relationship with Nelson? I felt like I had been blind-sided, and I didn't know what to think. I decided to confront Nelson about the situation, but he was gone for the day, and I was left with only my thoughts to keep me company. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was sharing Nelson's attention with someone else, and it didn't sit well with me.

I quickly grabbed my phone and dialled Bella's number, my fingers trembling with anxiety. She answered on the first ring, her cheerful voice a stark contrast to my turmoil.

"Bella, you won't believe what I just found out," I blurted out, trying to keep my voice steady.

"What is it, Sophia? You sound shaken," Bella replied, her tone instantly turning serious.

I took a deep breath and launched into the story, telling her about the portrait, the hair, and the note. Bella listened attentively, her gasps and murmurs of disbelief echoing through the phone.

"Oh my god, Sophia, that's crazy!" Bella exclaimed when I finished. "What are you going to do?"

I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. "I don't know, Bella. Part of me wants to confront Nelson, but another part is scared of what I might find out."

Bella's response was firm.

"Sophia, you deserve to know the truth. You need to talk to Nelson and get to the bottom of this. And if he's not honest with you, then maybe he's not the guy you thought he was."

Her words resonated with me. I knew she was right. I needed to face this head-on and find out what was going on.

Thanks for listening, Bella," I said, feeling a sense of gratitude for my friend's support.

Anytime, Sophia. Keep me posted on what happens next," Bella replied before we hung up.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation ahead. I was determined to get to the truth, no matter what it might be.

After the call with Bella, I felt even more confused and uncertain. My mind was racing with thoughts and emotions, and I couldn't seem to untangle them. Part of me wanted to believe that Nelson was innocent, that there was a reasonable explanation for the portrait, the hair, and the note. But another part of me was screaming to beware, to protect myself from getting hurt again.

I paced back and forth in the room, trying to clear my head.

But the more I thought about it, the more tangled my thoughts became. I felt like I was stuck in a web of uncertainty, with no clear way out. I didn't know what to believe, or what to do next.

As I stood there, feeling lost and alone, I realized that I needed to take a step back and calm down.

I couldn't think clearly in this state, and I risked making a mistake that I would regret. I took a few deep breaths, trying to center myself.

And then, I made a decision. I would wait until Nelson returned, and then I would confront him. I would ask him directly about the portrait, the hair, and the note. And I would demand the truth.

But as I waited, my anxiety grew.

What if Nelson's explanation didn't add up? What if he was hiding something from me? The uncertainty was suffocating me, and I didn't know how much longer I could bear it.

Nelson got back from work some hours later, he walked through the door, a warm smile on his face.

"Hey, Sophia! How was your day?"

I forced a smile, trying to push aside my doubts. "It was good," I replied, my voice trembling slightly.

Nelson noticed my unease and came closer.

"Hey, what's wrong? You seem a little shaken."

I hesitated, my heart racing. I wanted to confront him, to ask him about the portrait and the note. But a part of me was scared of losing him, of pushing him away with my accusations.

So I kept quiet, pushing my doubts aside.

"Nothing, Nelson. I'm just a little tired, that's all."

Nelson's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't press the issue.

Instead, he pulled me into a warm embrace. "Well, let's get you some rest then. I'll ask the chef to make us some dinner."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. I knew I was avoiding the truth, but I couldn't bring myself to confront him. Not yet.

As we spent the evening together, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was living a lie. I was hiding my doubts, my fears, and my suspicions. And I didn't know how long I could keep this up. But for now, I pushed aside my concerns and focused on the present moment. I would make more findings, and gather more evidence before I confronted Nelson. And I hoped that by then, I would have the courage to face the truth, no matter what it may be.