In the arms of two sins

Chapter 17

Mara's POV

The message from Dr. Dan, the family doctor, came in while I was getting dressed.

> I’ll have the autopsy report delivered to you today. Someone will hand it to you quietly at the venue.

My heart thudded.

Finally.

Proof.

I had begged him a few days ago, messaged him nonstop.

I needed to know what killed Philip.

If it was really the poison.

I wanted the truth.

I tightened the clasp of my earring and stared at my reflection.

This was the anniversary Philip never lived to see.

The night meant to honor him, yet I felt like I was walking into a storm.

Downstairs, everyone sparkled. Everyone played their roles.

As usual.

During the party, while Elias spoke to one of the investors—Chavez—I stood beside him, smiling politely, being alert of when the message will come.

Then my phone buzzed.

Probably the sender from the doctor.

“I’m outside, Mrs.”

My breath hitched.

I glanced at Elias.

Still deep in conversation.

Good.

I slipped away quietly and stepped into the night air. The man was already waiting, dark suit, unfamiliar face. He handed me a slim envelope.

I held it tightly and headed back toward the mansion. I needed to hide it. Somewhere safe. I would look at it after the party.

Now wasn’t the time.

I reached my room, shut the door, exhaled

—and the door burst open so loud my heart flew into my throat.

“Mara!”

I gasped, the envelope slipping from my hand.

Without thinking, my foot moved fast, pressing it flat, sliding it under the bed’s edge.

I turned sharply.

Elias stood there, chest rising and falling, eyes wide like he had caught me committing a crime.

I crossed my arms.

And before I knew it,

the door clicked.

Locked.

We looked at the door.

At each other.

Then back at the door again.

I stepped forward and pulled the handle. Locked.

I tried again, harder.

“It won’t open,” I said, frustration cutting through my voice.

“Wait,” he murmured. “Let me.”

He moved behind me, brushing close enough that his cologne grazed my skin.

He tried the handle.

It didn’t budge.

He sighed. “It’s locked. From the outside.”

“So what do we do?” I asked quietly.

He didn’t answer.

He didn’t have an answer.

We stood there like two awkward statues while the party continued somewhere far from us.

Ten minutes dragged by in silence.

Then he spoke, voice lower than I expected.

“What were you doing here?”

“It’s my room,” I said, trying to avoid his gaze but failing. “Do I need a reason?”

He studied me for a moment. It made me grip my dress even tighter.

“No,” he said. “You don’t.”

A pause.

Then—“How do you feel?”

I blinked. “About what?”

“Your tummy,” he said quietly.

I wasn’t prepared for that.

He wasn’t shouting.

He wasn’t accusing.

He sounded… worried.

“I’m okay,” I said. “If that’s what you want to hear.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said softly.

I clasped my hands together, my mind racing. I was alone with him in a locked room.

Unbelievable

All I could praying for was some miracle that someone would open the door.

“You look beautiful,” I heard him say after a while.

My head whipped toward him, my eyes wide.

“I’m not lying,” he said quietly. “You look… really beautiful.”

His eyes held mine longer than they should have.

“And David?” he added, his voice tightening.

“He seems… very close.”

My breath stalled.

I remembered how he had seen us talking at the courtyard.

“Nothing seems close between David and me. He’s engaged to Andrea,” I stated.

“My point,” he said. “He’s engaged, but he doesn’t act like he is.”

I said nothing.

I didn’t want to prolong the conversation.

“You’re not saying anything,” he said, still staring at me.

“I have nothing to say about this. David and I don’t seem close.”

I hoped this ended here.

I didn’t want any of this.

He sat beside me and I focused my gaze on the door, but he wouldn’t stop looking at me.

I could hear my heartbeat so loud.

I dared not look at him—

but I failed myself, meeting his gaze.

He leaned closer, his lips almost brushing mine—

—when his phone rang.

We both jerked back.

He answered instantly, clearing his throat. “Mother.”

I didn’t hear what she said on the other end, but he replied, “I’ll be coming soon.”

He hung up and sighed.

“We need to get out of here,” he said standing. “Somehow.”

I nodded and tried standing up.

“Ah!”

A sting shot up my foot.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, holding me tightly, making my heart skip a little.

“It’s fine… it’s just my heels.”

Before I could stop him, he kneeled down, gently lifting my leg, his hands warm under my skin.

““You shouldn’t walk on this too long,” he said, removing my shoes carefully. The relief was instant, and I felt grateful.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“I’ll have someone get flats for you once we’re out,” he said, helping me up. Standing felt easier.

His grey eyes held mine—steady, unreadable, but there was something softer there now. Something that made my chest ache in the most unexpected way. I should have stepped back, said something casual, thanked him again and walked away.

But I didn’t.

Instead, my eyes dropped to his lips for a split second too long.

His hand was still on my waist, steadying me. And my heart was a mess, fluttering, stammering, fighting what I knew I shouldn’t do.

But I did it anyway.

I leaned forward, just a little at first, as if waiting for the world to stop me. It didn’t.

And before I could talk myself out of it, I kissed him.

But it lingered.

I pulled back, eyes wide, my breath catching in my throat.

“I’m sorry, I…” I whispered, panicked by my own boldness.

But he didn’t step back. He just looked at me.

And slowly, his hand slid up my back, slow, deliberate, as if he was waiting, testing if I would move away.

I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

Instead, I found myself leaning in again. This time, when our lips met, it wasn’t hesitant, it was full, warm, and devastating. His other hand cupped the side of my face, deepening the kiss, and for a moment, the world simply…quieted.

I forgot where we were. Forgot who we were.

It was just him.

The heat of his mouth, the press of his body, the sound of my own heartbeat thundering in my ears.

His thumb brushed my jaw, and I melted right there, in his arms, with nothing but my breath against his lips.

But then—

*Click.*

The door was unlocked and the doorknob turned.

We jerked back and froze, lips barely apart, our breaths ragged in the still air.

Then the door creaked open slowly.

And we turned toward it together.