Chapter 2 False Confession

Minute by minute, the food on the plate disappeared. After I drank, my throat felt a little better, though the tightness in my chest did not fade.

Suddenly, Rafael’s hand reached out, brushing away the remaining moisture on my lips.

I stiffened instantly.

The touch was so light, almost gentle, and that was exactly why my body froze.

My skin prickled, my breath caught. Without realizing it, I looked at him, and Rafael leaned closer instead. Our gazes met and locked. Neither of us looked away.

I could see my own reflection in his eyes, weak, bound, completely under his control.

“If you behave obediently and properly,” he said softly, his voice low and calm, “I will allow you to sleep on the bed.”

His tone sounded as if he were offering a reward, not laying down a condition.

“So from the beginning you really intended to make me sleep like this?” I protested bitterly.

“There is no other choice,” he replied evenly. “You are a captive.”

That word pierced deeper than the ropes around my wrists.

I clicked my tongue in frustration and scanned my surroundings. The warehouse was dark and damp, the air thick with the smell of old iron and rotting wood. Broken, filthy items lay scattered without order.

“Where is this place? I am still in the country, right?”

Rafael only gave a thin smile. “I cannot answer that.”

He picked up the dirty plate and glass. Just as he was about to leave, he stopped. He turned and looked at me once more, his gaze sharp but controlled.

“I hope you can cooperate well,” he said, “so that you will be safe by my side.”

After that, he left, abandoning me to a silence that felt more suffocating than any noise.

I sat there in silence, left alone with the questions that flooded my mind again.

Night fell.

Rafael returned. Without much conversation, he began to loosen the restraints on my arms. I winced when he pulled me a little too hard because I did not immediately comply.

For a brief moment, I saw his eyes fall on my wrists, red and scraped raw from the ropes rubbing against my skin.

“I already told you to cooperate, Lady,” he said with emphasis, as if my fault outweighed his violence.

“I will cooperate if you answer all my questions.” I lifted my chin and looked at him boldly, a courage that surprised even me. I stepped closer until there was almost no space between us. “And of course, without hiding anything.”

“And what will you do if I do not want to answer?” he asked.

His hand slid to my waist, gripping carefully but firmly enough to remind me of my position. My heart pounded, but I refused to show fear.

“Maybe something bad will happen to you.”

He chuckled softly. “Unfortunately, something bad already happened to me years ago,” he said, “when your father took what belonged to me.”

My expression hardened. “What was it? What did my father take from you?”

“Are you sure you want to know?” His grip tightened, pulling me closer. His breath brushed against my face. “There is a price you must pay.”

“Whatever it is, I can pay it. My father will definitely give it.”

“You are very confident,” he said quietly. “But it is not money.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“A life,” he said. “The price is a life, Lady.”

A chill ran up my spine. My heart beat wildly. The word hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Was it really that serious that a life was at stake?

“It is late. You need to sleep.”

He pulled me along. I used the moment to observe my surroundings. Trees. So many trees. Dark, dense, and silent.

A forest.

And not an ordinary forest, too quiet, too hidden. There was barely any security. This was clearly not a place that could be found easily.

“I know you will not be able to sleep in an unfamiliar place,” Rafael said. “So I prepared this specially.”

I froze when I stepped into a room.

“This is… my room?”

“Yes. Do you like it?”

I stared at him flatly. “You are terrifying.”

Rafael chuckled instead. “I am giving you freedom here. But if you try to run, I will find you easily.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

I lay down on the bed immediately and closed my eyes, hoping exhaustion would drag me under. But suddenly my arm was held.

“What are you doing?” I asked sharply, trying to pull away.

“This needs to be treated.”

He applied ointment to the wounds on my arm. I fell silent, frozen. My eyes followed his fingers as they moved slowly, carefully, as if he truly cared.

For a moment… I thought I saw the old Rafael again.

“Let me remind you once more,” he said. “This forest is dangerous. Without knowing the paths, you will get lost. Because you are smart, I am sure you will choose wisely.”

He finished and left. I continued staring at the closed door.

I clicked my tongue quietly. He knew exactly what choice I would make. Annoying.

I looked up at the ceiling. Even the star decorations above felt far too familiar.

“Why would he even bother putting all of this up?”

My thoughts were a mess. Father… was he looking for me? And what Rafael said earlier… somehow I felt that my father would not choose to save me.

Slowly, drowsiness crept in, and without realizing it, I fell asleep.

The sound of a door opening woke me. My eyes immediately caught Rafael standing there, his hair wet, his body wrapped in a bathrobe.

Had he not just left earlier? And how had he already showered so quickly? No. More importantly, why was he coming here dressed like that?

“Lady,” he said. “There is something I want to tell you.”

I sat up. My heart began to race again as he walked closer.

“I want to confess something.”

He climbed onto the bed. His hand held my leg. My body went rigid, every instinct screaming danger.

“Lady… forgive me.”

He was so close. Too close. I could not move, my tongue tied.

“Lady,” he whispered, “I love you.”

My chest shook. I stared at him in disbelief.

“I love you very much… forgive me.”

He pulled me into a tight embrace. My chest burned. Tears almost fell, whether from pain, confusion, or the remnants of foolish feelings that had not yet died.

He released me. His eyes were wet with tears.

“Forgive me…”

I shook my head slowly. “You don’t need to-” My words stopped when I felt my hand touch something sticky on my stomach.

I froze.

When I looked down, I saw it. A knife buried in my abdomen. Blood poured out. Rafael, he had stabbed me.

“Tsk, annoying.”

I jerked in shock, then looked up at Rafael.

His expression had turned cold and empty. His gaze pierced through me, as if I were nothing more than an insect that deserved to be crushed.

“W-Why…?” My voice was barely audible.

Rafael smiled faintly. “You should have given your life to me. Did you not love me, Lady?”