Chapter 76

As far as she could remember, Carina's first mistake was to think her mother was kind. It was followed closely by trusting Thomas, agreeing to get married, deciding to stay in the godforsaken Belle mansion after everything and, thinking she was strong. But. None of the mistakes in her tiring list could ever come close to the recent one, she realizes, laying in her bed shivering through the sleepless night. The morning sun rays hit her like a slap. She didn't even have the energy to recall last night's events.

"You're stupid", she tells herself, head filled with voices chanting different languages. But all of them carried the weight of one truth. Carina's eyes widen in horror. Yes she had heard plentiful things she was never meant to know but one stood alone. Her heart drummed in anxiety. Who was she supposed to trust?

"I've read somewhere that women who frown all the time are more likely to get wrinkles sooner." Carina whips her head at the sound of the unknown voice, sitting up abruptly. Her shock is met with a tall man in rather inexpensive clothes, leaning on the wall across her bed. She gets ready to scream when a hand clamps down her mouth. Said man moves in Godspeed to stop her screaming, pining her on the bed. "If you scream, I slit your throat, got it?" He casually plays with a pocket knife, spinning it in his fingers like a toy. Carina's mind goes blank, her heart heavy with fear, eyes tearing up. The man sighs, "I am not going to hurt you or harm you. My only wish is to talk." He loosens his hand on her mouth, "Do not scream if you value your life." Carina vigorously nods. She chokes on her own breath when he lets go, tears running down her cheeks.

"Where were you last night?" His question baffles her. "Now now don't play silly, use your voice woman." He motions for her to hurry up, taking a seat at the bedside table.

"Who are you, invading my room, asking me private questions?" Her voice comes out hoarse, small, teriffied.

"My identity isn't important here, neither my purpose but I'll be generous and tell you this : I'm an acquaintance of your brother-in-law." Carina gulped as her feet turned cold. Her instant panic at the mere mention of Nathan didn't go unnoticed by the stranger. "You better start speaking though, I'm running out of patience." He spat out, a lethal glimmer in his auburn eyes. Carina sat up straighter, contemplating whether to lie or live. She chose the latter.

"I was with Nathan."

The man appears unfazed and unmoving. He was totally unreadable and it frustrated her.

"Doing what?" He casually picks up an apple from the table, biting into it harshly. Carina feels like vomiting.

"Just talking." She wasn't entirely lying. She had gone to him with the sole intention of having an honest conversation. What transpired as the night unfolded was unplanned. The man hums, unceremoniously placing the half eaten apple back in it's place.

"I must warn you though. You're getting yourself into deep trouble. I have a hard time figuring out how you have lasted this long but take my word, this time, you're going to end up laying in a casket."

Carina can only stare at him dumbfounded as he gets up and dusts his pants. "What?" Is all she can croak out.

"Stay away from Nathaniel. Keep to yourself. And please, go back to where you came from. Where you belong." He disappears as abruptly as expected. And for the first time, Carina dreads her death.