His intentions

“That can’t be!” I screamed as I got up from my seat.

“Unfortunately, it’s true…I had the same reaction when I found out,” Lucien responded softly as he heaved a heavy sigh.

“I studied so many news articles covering my mother’s death. It was very big news at the time…nothing about a murder was mentioned at all. It can’t be,” I said.

I remember cutting up newspapers to collect all articles about my mother’s accident so that I would learn more details about her death since no one would tell me anything. None of those articles mentioned anything about suspected foul play. Everyone was sure that it was an accident.

Just as when Lucien and my mother got married, her unfortunate death in an accident less than one year after the wedding caused a huge uproar. Everyone seemed to have something to say about their wedding and those people had a lot to say about my mother’s death as well. People who expressed genuine sympathy and grief were rarer than diamonds. Most people faked it while they honestly were thankful or even glad that my mother was gone from the Rosenhall family.

But…an unfortunate accident is just that…an accident.

“It’s actually common knowledge for senior family members of the family and the Elders that she was killed. The Elders invested a lot of money in keeping the truth under wraps. Of course, paying off the media was one of the many things that they did. We also decided to keep the truth from you, until you were older…or forever, in the case of the Elders. They didn’t want you to find out…at all,” Lucien stated as he frowned.

What he had just done was clearly in violation of the Elder’s wishes and verdict.

“Who killed my mother? And why?! My mother didn’t do anything…why did she have to die?!” I cried out in frustration and pain.

“We honestly don’t know…” Lucien replied truthfully.

“Then…how did you guys know that it wasn’t just an honest accident?” I asked, refusing to back down now that the truth was so close.

“The car was shot…that much was evident at the scene,” Lucien stated simply.

If we were in a drama, which I truly wished we were, this would be the moment that I would feel dizzy and faint from shock. Fainting right now to escape the pain and shock would be the solution that I most preferred. However, I knew I was no where close to fainting.

Why was my mother killed? Was it because she married Lucien and made numerous enemies as a result?

“I’m sorry, Natalia. I couldn’t protect your mother,” Lucien stated clearly.

It was clear that Lucien felt responsible for my mother’s death. Had he been living with this pain and regret all this time? I knew my mother’s death weighed heavily on his mind and heart, but I had always assumed that was because he loved her so much. Apparently, that was not the reason why.

“Natalia, I will keep you safe. Just like I’ve done for the past ten years. Even if I must be tied to this family forever, I will do it to keep you safe,” Lucien said passionately as he squeezed my hands in his.

“I don’t want things to be like this!” I cried out without thinking. Life is so unfair. I didn’t want things to be like this. Not for me…and not for Lucien.

“I’ve always done exactly as the family and the Elders wanted. In exchange, they will keep you safe.

One day, I will become an Elder myself and I will be able to protect you myself. No matter what other people may say, your safety is my top priority. I love you…and I will not lose you like I lost your mother,”

Lucien said very seriously. I have never seen Lucien so determined and serious.

I didn’t know how to respond. The reason Lucien had been acting overly protective and possessive must have something to do with his fear of losing me. He believed that I could get hurt…or worst. He’s made so many sacrifices for my mother and I, hasn’t he? But why…

‘I’ll never regret it. I have things worth protecting you see…we both have something we want to protect and a promise that we have sworn to keep’ Lucien’s words came back to me.

What promise did he make and with who?

“Lucien…I…” I started to speak; however, I wasn’t sure what I could say to him in this situation.

“You are going to stay with me forever. If I cannot trust that you will be happy and safe; I will not allow you to leave my side. That is final,” Lucien declared, and it was extremely clear that there was no room left for discussions or negotiations.

--To be continued...