Sarah's POV
I woke to the sound of muffled voices, their sharp edges cutting through the thick silence of the Blackwood Mansion. The clock on the nightstand read 3:14 AM. Eren's side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold to the touch.
A chill swept over me as I rose, slipping on my robe. My instincts told me to stay in bed, to pretend I hadn't heard anything. But the voices grew louder, their tension undeniable, and curiosity clawed at me.
The hallways were dark, save for the faint glow of a light coming from the study. As I approached, I could make out two voices—Eren's and someone else's, low but heated.
I paused just outside the door, my heart hammering in my chest.
"You were supposed to handle it," Eren hissed, his voice colder than I'd ever heard it.
"I'm trying," came another voice, one I recognized as Luke's. "But Axel's onto something. If he finds out—"
"He won't," Eren snapped. "He's always been a problem, but I'll deal with him. Just keep your mouth shut and do your job."
Luke mumbled something I couldn't make out, and the next thing I heard was the sound of footsteps. I barely had time to dart into the shadows before Luke stormed past, his face pale and set with grim determination.
I turned back toward the study, my hands trembling as I pushed the door open a crack.
Eren was standing by the fireplace, his back to me. His shoulders were tense, his hand gripping the edge of the mantel as though he were trying to steady himself.
"Who are you?" I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
He spun around, his eyes wide with shock, quickly replaced by something else—guilt.
"Sarah," he said, his tone softening. "What are you doing up?"
I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me. "I could ask you the same thing. What's going on, Eren? What are you hiding?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's nothing for you to worry about."
"Don't patronize me," I said, my voice rising. "I heard you. You and Luke. You're hiding something, and it's not nothing."
His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "Sarah, drop it."
"No," I said, taking a step closer. "Not this time. You've been keeping secrets from me, Eren. I can feel it. And Axel—"
"Axel," he interrupted, his tone laced with venom. "Of course, he'd worm his way into this."
"This isn't about Axel," I shot back. "This is about us. About the fact that I don't even know who you are anymore."
Eren closed the distance between us in two quick strides, his hands gripping my arms. "You know exactly who I am," he said, his voice low and intense. "I'm the man who loves you. The man who married you. The man who would do anything to protect you."
"Protect me?" I echoed, my voice trembling. "From what?"
He didn't answer, his eyes searching mine as though he were trying to decide how much to tell me.
"Eren, please," I whispered. "If you love me, tell me the truth."
For a moment, I thought he might. His grip on my arms loosened, and his shoulders sagged under the weight of whatever secret he was carrying.
But then his expression hardened, and he let go, stepping back. "Some truths are better left buried," he said, his tone final. "For both our sakes."
---
The next morning, the tension between Eren and me was worse, but we avoided each other, both pretending that nothing had changed.
I spent the day wandering the mansion, my mind a whirlwind of questions. Eren's cryptic words had done nothing to quell my fears; if anything, they'd only deepened them.
By late afternoon, I found myself in the west wing—a part of the mansion I hadn't explored yet. The air here was colder, the corridors darker, as though the walls themselves held secrets.
One door, in particular, caught my attention. It was heavy and wooden, with intricate carvings that seemed to twist and writhe like living things.
I hesitated before turning the handle, my breath catching as the door creaked open.
The room beyond was a study, but unlike Eren's, it was old, its furniture covered in a thin layer of dust. Papers were scattered across the desk, yellowed with age, and the faint scent of mildew hung in the air.
I approached the desk, my fingers brushing against the papers. Most of them were letters, written in a looping, elegant script that was difficult to decipher. But one, in particular, caught my eye.
It was addressed to Eren.
My heart pounded as I unfolded the letter, the words jumping out at me like a slap.
"Eren, you cannot build a future on lies. The truth will come out eventually, and when it does, everything you've worked for will crumble. Is she worth it? Is it worth risking everything?"
The paper slipped from my fingers, my knees threatening to buckle.
"Sarah."
I spun around, the blood draining from my face as I saw Axel standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice shaking.
I stepped back as he approached, my mind racing. "Did you know about this?" I asked, my voice rising. "About Eren's lies?"
Axel sighed, his expression heavy with something that looked like regret. "I've known for a long time, Sarah. But it's not my truth to tell."
"Then why are you here?" I demanded. "Why do you keep trying to insert yourself into this?"
"Because I care about you," he said, his voice raw. "More than you realize. And I can't stand by and watch him destroy you."
"Destroy me?" I echoed, shaking my head. "What are you talking about?"
Axel hesitated, his eyes searching mine. "Sarah, there's so much you don't know. So much he's kept from you."
"Then tell me," I pleaded, tears pricking at my eyes. "If you care about me, tell me the truth."
Axel reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek. "I can't," he said softly. "Not yet. But I promise you, when the time comes, I'll make sure you know everything."
Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing against my forehead in a gesture that felt both comforting and devastating.
And then he was gone, leaving me alone in the room with the weight of a truth I couldn't yet grasp.
Eren's POV
I stood in the shadows, watching as Axel left the west wing. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, rage simmering beneath the surface.
He was pushing too far, getting too close to Sarah. If he kept this up, everything I'd worked so hard to protect would unravel.
I couldn't let that happen.
Not now.
Not ever.