That Day

I watched Edward’s tired and sleep-deprived face a bit before speaking up.

“Reiner…he’s not ever coming back, right?” I asked, sounding braver than I felt inside.

“I don’t know…but he clearly doesn’t want to be found,” Edward replied solemnly.

“I see…” I replied, clearly saddened and disappointed.

“Natalia…I don’t want you to think too badly of Reiner. It’s true that he took your mother’s life, but he’s felt guilty about it all this time. He probably didn’t phrase it like this, but he did join the Rosenhall household to find you and to find a way to save you just as your mother asked,” Edward said seriously.

I didn’t believe that Reiner was the villain he made himself out to be. However, everyone agreed that Reiner did kill my mother, but the real question was…who ordered him to do it and why?

“No one actually knows much about Reiner. Even I don’t know the real him. As he’s told you, Reiner isn’t his real name. Other information provided were all fake as well. His name, nationality, birthdate, and everything else. You might think it’s selfish for him to disclose nothing to you but perhaps this is the best way for him to keep you safe,” Edward explained.

“You might not believe this but…I guessed as much…” I said trying to tease him. I appreciate Edward’s effort to defend Reiner, but I figured as much.

This was the real reason why he didn’t tell me anything about this private life and evaded all of my questions. He probably thought that it was better to not answer me at all instead of feeding me with loads of lies. I understood that he didn’t want to lie to me but in the end, I didn’t know anything about Reiner at all.

“You know what really happened that day, don’t you?” I asked Edward with pleading eyes. I really wanted him to tell me the truth.

“I do. However, I’m not the right person to tell you what happened,” Edward stated firmly.

“Then who should I ask? Who will tell me?” I asked in frustration.

“Relax. Don’t overexert yourself. I’ll take you home soon…and you can ask Lucien when you get home,” Edward replied with a tight smile.

“Lucien?” I said curiously. There are still things Lucien hasn’t told me even after all this time?

…

After the results of my check-ups returned, the doctor decided that I was healthy enough to return home. With Edward making a fuss out of everything, we rode home together in an ambulance. I felt so embarrassed to be lying down in an ambulance on the way home when I was perfectly fine. I sucked it up and didn’t complain just to please Edward. It was the least I could do considering the effort that he’d put in while taking care of me these past few days.

Later that day, Laura popped into my bedroom to announce that Lucien was home and that he would be visiting me soon.

“Thank you, Laura,” I said as I smiled sweetly at her.

“It’s late so Master Lucien has already eaten as well. Do let me know if you want some snacks later in the night,” Laura said before she disappeared through the door.

I waited patiently for Lucien to arrive. I pondered how I would start the conversation with him and what I wanted to ask him. The truth of the day my mother died that had stayed hidden for so long was about to be revealed.

“Natalia. Sorry, I’m late. How are you feeling?” Lucien said the moment he stepped into my room and headed for the bed.

“I’m ok. The doctor said I just needed to rest. That’s all. Nothing serious and now I’m as good as new,” I replied cheerfully.

“I see. I heard…about what was going on from Edward,” Lucien said as he sat down on the chair next to my bed.

“Reiner…he said that he killed my mother…” I said softly with my eyes casted downwards. I watched as my fingers played with each other awkwardly.

“He’s right. He killed your mother,” Lucien stated bluntly.

“Isn’t there something more to it?” I asked as I looked up at Lucien’s magnificent green eyes.

“So, Edward did say some stuff. I’ll tell you if you promise me one thing,” Lucien said as he looked down at me.

“What is it?” I asked a little suspiciously.

“Promise me that you will never go looking for Reiner. You won’t be able to find him and neither do I want you to. It’s ok if you can’t let anything or anyone go…but you need to let that man go,” Lucien stated his condition sternly. His warning was clear.

It might be hard for Lucien or Edward to believe but I had always intended to let Reiner go. Never once since he had left had I thought about following him. I merely wanted to know that he was safe and doing well. That was all I truly wanted.

“I promise,” I said with resolution.

“Deal, I’ll tell you…that day…” Lucien began telling me his version of the story that was more than ten years overdue.

…

“Are you coming over to see me later tonight?” Edward spoke through the phone.

“I will. I already told you. The documents are strictly confidential and important, so I’ll be handing them over to you myself,” Lucien answered his brother reassuringly.

Looking down at the files of paper in his hand, Lucien grimaced with pure disgust. He couldn’t believe that the long-lost files from David’s time performing illegal human trials were now in his hands. Lucien didn’t want to remember the extensive effort, time and money that went into retrieving these files after the death of his friend and mentor. Finally, he had it.

With Edward’s help, they would together uncover the ugly truth behind the Rosenhall’s company rise to fortune and destroy the company and this cursed family, hopefully, once and for all.

“I’ll see you later. I’m taking the files out of the country tonight for safe keeping. You better turn up on time,” Edward said sternly.

“It’s not a habit of mine to turn up late. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up,” Lucien said before hanging up.

Of all the places that Edward wanted him to deliver the files, he had chosen the old lab hidden on top of the hill where David used to perform those taboo trials. Lucien took out some medicine and gulped them down with water in hope that it would cure him of his fever. This was not the time to be sick.

--To be continued…

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