Chapter 5
1365 Words
Renee's POV
Muffled voices pulled me from the darkness. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy and my body sluggish, but as the sounds sharpened, so did my awareness.
"Stay the hell away from her..."
That voice... low, sharp, and laced with barely contained fury... It had to be Rafael's.
My eyelids fluttered, heavy and uncooperative, as I tried to make sense of where I was.
"And if I don't?" A familiar voice drawled, dripping with mockery. My heart stuttered. That had to be Julian's.
I forced my eyes open, the room coming into focus in blurry fragments, but I could see the tension crackling like electricity. Rafael stood rigid, his fists clenched at his sides, staring down Julian.
Before I could react, another voice cut through the standoff.
"Well, well. What do we have here."
A smooth, icy voice cut through the tension. Natalia stepped into the room, her heels clicking against the polished floor.
I barely registered Ethan and Rafael moving closer, their presence a solid force beside me. My attention was locked on Julian. He turned his smirk on me.
"Ah, sleeping beauty awakens. Did you miss me sweet heart?" he drawled.
I swallowed down the nausea rising in my throat. "Stay the hell away from me."
His smirk widened. "Now, now, is that any way to greet an old lover?"
"Lover?" I snapped, forcing myself to sit up. "You mean the man who destroyed me?"
Silence filled the room, thick and suffocating. Julian's eyes darkened, but before he could speak, Rafael stepped in front of me, blocking his view.
"You heard her," Rafael said coldly. "Get out."
Julian let out a low chuckle. "Touchy, aren't we? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You've always been a sucker for damaged girls."
Rafael's fists clenched, and I could see the barely restrained fury in his eyes. But before he could act, Natalia's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"That's enough, Julian," she said smoothly. Then, her gaze landed on me. "You must be confused, dear. So much has happened. But don't worry, we're here to help."
I scoffed. "Help?"
She nodded, her expression calm, almost motherly. It made my stomach churn. "You've been through so much. I can only imagine how hard it's been, almost getting shot yesterday, having to—"
"Wait!?" Rafael's voice came out sharper than expected. "Natalia, how did you know? You've been outside the country for the whole month and just out of the blues you know alot now, how?"
"Ahh..." she replied, her gaze sweeping over him. "Let's see, unlike you, i have eyes everywhere, i can tell even the color of your inner pants yesterday if i wanted to. Nothing is hidden from Natalia Silvercrest!"
"If you claim to be madam eagle, why did no one have information on where dad was the past few weeks? Or do you have anything to do with his disappearance and death?" Rafael, now seemingly furious, questioned Natalia.
"Stop it, you bastard! You accuse my mama of murder? Damn you...!" Julian cursed in anger, something I had seen a long time ago, making me tremble on the bed as it brought me memories of the nights I slept crying, the blisters on my face every time he came home drunk, and many more nightmares I chose not to carry with me.
"All of you get out! Get out now, this is none of your business." Rafael pointed the duo to the flush door.
"Mr high and mighty, lets see what will be left of you when the will is read Rafael. Bye bye sweet lips, see you around soon." Julian sarcastically said as he exited after his mother.
"Renee, how are you feeling now?" Ethan moved closer to me, his hand gripping mine, having been silent all this time as the family drama ensued. "Who was that sis? He seemed toxic and full of bad energy to be around. Is it true what he just said?
I squeezed Ethan's hand, trying to steady myself. My throat felt dry and my mind was still reeling from Julian's presence and Natalia's icy words.
"He's... my ex," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "Julian. We were engaged. But it... it didn't end well."
Ethan's eyes widened. "Engaged? You never told me that!"
"I didn't want to," I admitted, my chest tightening. "It was a long time ago. I thought I'd never see him again and plus it was when you got a scholarship abroad for three years."
Rafael stepped closer, his expression grim. "Julian's not just your ex, Renee. He's my stepbrother. And he's dangerous."
I stared at him, my mind racing. "Your stepbrother? But... how?"
"It's a long story," Rafael said, his voice low. "One we don't have time for right now. What matters is that you stay away from him. And Natalia."
"Natalia?" Ethan repeated, his brow furrowing. "Who's that?"
"Julian's mother," Rafael said. "And my father's first wife. She's just as dangerous as her son, if not more."
A chill ran down my spine. This family was a minefield, and I'd just stumbled into the middle of it.
"Why are they here?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
Rafael hesitated, his eyes flicking to Ethan before returning to me. "They're here for the will. My father's will. And if what I suspect is true, they'll do whatever it takes to get what they want."
I exhaled shakily, trying to keep the panic at bay. "What do they want from me?"
Rafael hesitated.
I narrowed my eyes. "Rafael."
His gaze met mine, and for the first time, I saw something that unsettled me—uncertainty. "They want control, Renee, over the company, the fortune... and you."
I felt the blood drain from my face. "Me?"
"Natalia doesn't do anything without a reason," Rafael continued. "If she's suddenly taking an interest in you, it means you're either a threat to her... or a piece in her game."
My pulse thundered in my ears. "I don't understand. I have nothing to do with them. I don't even belong in this world."
"Don't you?" Rafael asked quietly.
The weight of his words settled heavily between us.
Ethan frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Rafael's jaw tightened. "My father—" He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "He was a powerful man. And powerful men don't just disappear without a fight. There's more to his death than we know. More to why Natalia is suddenly so interested in you."
Ethan and I exchanged uneasy glances.
Rafael turned to me, his expression unreadable. "I need you to be honest with me, Renee. Did my father ever have any direct connection to you?"
I blinked. "No. Why would he?"
He studied me, as if searching for something deeper. "Because Natalia doesn't waste her time on nobodies."
The room fell into a tense silence.
Ethan exhaled sharply. "Okay, so what do we do now?"
Rafael's gaze darkened. "We prepare. If Natalia and Julian want to play their games, we make sure we're ahead of them."
I shook my head. "I don't want to play their games. I just want to be left alone."
Rafael's expression softened for the briefest moment. "I know." Then, steel returned to his eyes. "But that's not an option anymore."
The gravity of his words settled in my chest like a lead weight.
Ethan looked between us, his expression filled with determination. "Then we fight."
A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment. All three of us tensed. Rafael reached for the handle, opening it just enough to see who was on the other side. His entire body stiffened.
"Sir," a deep voice rumbled.
"Speak," Rafael commanded, his voice clipped.
"The reading of Mr. Johnson's will has been moved up. It's happening within two days."
My breath caught in my throat.
Rafael cursed under his breath. "Natalia's speeding up the process."
Ethan frowned. "Why would she do that?"
Rafael's grip on the doorframe tightened. "Because she's hiding something. And she wants to secure her position before anyone can challenge it."
My stomach twisted.
What kind of a place and mess had I gotten myself into?
- Writer
