Chapter 5. The Hidden Shadow
1567 Words
As soon as she received the phone from Edward, Remi did not hesitate and immediately returned to her room. Her hands trembled as she dialed Ivy's number. The phone rang for a long time, her heart pounding in her chest, hoping that this time Ivy would pick up.
"Hello."
The voice was low and unfamiliar. It was not Ivy.
Remi was immediately alert, her breathing became heavy. She looked back at the screen, making sure she had not dialed the wrong number.
"Who is it?" She spoke, her voice slightly off because of anxiety.
There was a soft laugh on the other end, but it was full of sarcasm. "I should be the one asking that. Who are you?"
Remi suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Before she could react, the voice continued:
"You are the annoying person who has been bothering my Ivy lately, right?"
His Ivy? Remi's heart felt like it was about to stop. She gripped the phone tightly, taking a deep breath.
“I need to talk to Ivy.” She tried to keep her voice calm, despite her turmoil.
The man on the other end chuckled. “My Ivy told me about this jerk who kept stalking her. I think you’re smart enough to know that’s annoying.”
Remi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her skin until they hurt.
“You’re Paul, right?” she asked bluntly.
“Oh, so you know me.” Paul’s voice was filled with amusement. “Then I won’t go on any longer. I don’t care who you are or what you want, but you better stay away from Ivy. If you don’t… I guarantee you’ll regret it.”
The threat cut through Remi’s thoughts like a cold knife. She opened her mouth to say something, but a “beep” sounded, and the call was disconnected. Remi stared at the black screen in shock.
Paul… How much control did he have over Ivy? A wave of panic rose in her heart. Could it be… Ivy really trusted him? Was she being manipulated by him? Remi clenched her phone tightly, feeling helpless and angry. She couldn’t just sit still like this.
“No! Tomorrow, I must find a way to see Ivy.”
The next day, Remi took advantage of the few short hours of rest after the rigorous training sessions to sneak out of the Asinla mansion. She walked quickly out of the large campus, trying not to attract attention.
Remi caught a taxi, she went straight to Ivy’s dormitory, her heart filled with hope to meet her sister and warn her about the truth about Paul. But when she arrived, unexpected news came.
“Ivy moved away?” Remi asked Ivy’s group of friends in shock.
A girl in the group nodded. “Yeah, a few days ago. We don’t know the reason either, we just know that she left in a hurry.”
Remi clenched her fists.
“So do you guys know where she is?”
Another person thought for a moment and said, “Ivy said she was going to the cemetery today to visit her father and sister’s graves. If you want to find her, you should try going there.”
Remi didn’t hesitate any longer, she immediately ran. She arrived at the cemetery with her almost tireless legs. When she got close to the burial area of Karen – her and her father’s bodies. Remi immediately saw the familiar figure of Ivy standing in front of the two graves. But… Ivy wasn’t alone. Paul was standing right next to Ivy, looking natural and intimate.
Remi was about to step forward when suddenly, Paul gently wrapped his arms around Ivy, whispering something. Ivy didn’t resist, she leaned her head on his shoulder, her eyes red. Remi’s heart felt like it was being squeezed. She immediately backed away, found a hidden corner and held her breath to observe. Paul gently stroked Ivy’s hair, his voice full of love. “You have no one else but me, Ivy. I know how much you’re suffering, but I will always be here for you.”
Ivy hiccupped slightly. “You’re the only one who cares about me right now. I feel like… there’s no one else to trust.”
Paul smiled, gently taking Ivy’s hand. “As long as I have you, I won’t be alone.”
Remi bit her lip. She had hoped that Ivy would realize the danger of Paul. But no… her sister trusted him completely. Ivy’s eyes were filled with pain but also a bit of warmth as she looked at Paul. She had no idea that this man was the one who killed her sister, the one who destroyed her family. Remi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh. She wanted to rush out immediately, wanted to scream to warn Ivy, but her reason held her back. She couldn’t. With her current status, Remi couldn’t appear in front of Ivy.
She watched helplessly as Paul gently led Ivy away from the cemetery. He was completely manipulating Ivy’s emotions, slowly pulling her sister towards the darkness. When their shadows gradually disappeared, Remi slowly stepped out of her hiding place. She walked towards the two graves, Ivy’s father’s grave, and her own grave. She placed a small bouquet of white flowers on each grave. A gentle wind blew, carrying a chilly feeling. Remi stood there for a long time, looking at the name engraved on her own gravestone.
“What should I do?” she whispered.
She was dead in everyone’s eyes. Now, she could only stand on the sidelines, silently watching Paul take over everything. No… No fear. Remi clenched her fists, her eyes filled with determination.
“I must expose Paul. He must pay for what he did.”
Remi returned to the Asinla mansion just before the afternoon training session began. She walked through the large gate, trying to keep a calm appearance even though her heart was still shaken by what had just happened to Ivy. But she didn't know that... From the balcony on the second floor, Edward was standing there, silently observing her with cold eyes. He knew. He knew that Remi had secretly left the mansion. But Edward didn't say anything, didn't make any move to stop her. He just silently watched her return, his eyes sharp like a predator waiting for the right moment to attack his prey.
Remi quickly changed her clothes, blending into the ranks of bodyguards participating in the training. She moved flexibly with each movement, but in her mind she couldn't stop thinking about the plan to approach Paul. What should she do to find evidence? Paul was an extremely cautious person. He wouldn't easily reveal his traces. Ivy was completely manipulated by him, she no longer trusted anyone but him. Remi bit her lip.
She couldn't act rashly. If she showed any signs of carelessness, not only would she be in danger, but she could also push Ivy into a worse situation. She needed a plan. A way to approach Paul without arousing his suspicion. Remi took a deep breath, focusing back on her training. She continued to perform combat moves with her opponent, avoiding blows, counterattacking strongly.
But no matter how hard she tried, she still couldn't feel the gaze on her. Edward's gaze. Edward stood with his arms crossed outside the training area, his cold eyes watching Remi move. He didn't miss a single move of hers. The way Remi returned without the slightest worry showed that he thought no one would notice his escape.
From Remi's thoughtful eyes, from every slightly distracted gesture during training, Edward could guess that he had some kind of plan. A new soldier, who had just passed the special test, seemed to be hiding something. He smirked.
"Remi... what secret are you hiding?"
Edward was in no hurry to expose him. He wanted to observe more. He wanted to see what he would do next.
The next day, Remi sneaked out of the Asinla mansion again. She knew it was a risky move, but she had no choice. Ivy was in Paul's hands, and if Remi didn't quickly find evidence to expose him, things could get worse. Remi had been following Paul all morning, watching his every move. But she couldn't make a move.
It wasn't until Dante, one of Paul's most trusted henchmen, left that Remi decided to follow him. Dante wasn't the cautious type like Paul. He seemed gruff, hot-tempered, and reckless. If anyone could easily give themselves away, it was him. He entered a convenience store, heading straight for the cigarette counter. Remi kept a safe distance, pretending to browse the shelves, trying not to attract attention. But she had underestimated him.
"Slam!"
Before she could react, Remi was pressed against the cold wall behind the store by a strong force. She panicked and tried to break free, but Dante's strong arm blocked her shoulder, holding her back. His eyes were sharp, staring at her suspiciously.
"You're following me?" Dante's voice was wary, low and threatening.
Remi clenched her fists, trying to stay calm. She couldn't reveal her true intentions. So she took a gamble. She looked straight into his eyes and lowered her voice:
"Do you sell drugs?"
Dante paused. He frowned, his voice mixed with doubt and confusion.
"What?"
- Writer
