“I’ve been thinking about this non-stop, to be honest. Anthony, where is he?” I asked a I cocked my head to the side slightly to show my curiosity in an exaggerated way.
Where is Anthony?
Does he even know that I’m locked up in this place?
Does he know that Bradon took his place and married me instead?
Is he fine with it?
I stared at Bradon as I kept a curious look on my face as I waited for his response. It felt like a storm was coming and I could feel it although I couldn’t see it. It was just a feeling, but I knew that I had struck a chord within him. Although his face still betrayed absolutely no emotions, I could tell that I had willingly wandered into forbidden territory.
“Where is Antony? I’ve been meaning to ask since I didn’t end up marrying him and he definitely wasn’t at our wedding or the reception after...” I asked while trying to sound completely innocent.
Bradon just stared at me as if he could literally see through my face. Perhaps in his mind, I had already become transparent just like air. My eyes narrowed slightly as I took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. The nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I had felt suddenly felt so real and it was telling me that Bradon was hiding something about Anthony from me. Something important.
“Does Anthony even know that I’m here and that you’re keeping me locked up in here like this? Does he even know that you took his place at the wedding?” I asked while struggling not to lose my composure.
What if Anthony doesn’t know anything about this?
“He doesn’t know anything about this, does he? You’re tricking him. You lied to him, didn’t you?” I asked accusingly.
That would explain it all. Even though Anthony wasn’t in love with me, I was sure that he would keep the promise that he made and marry the heir of our family even if it wasn’t my sister. We could have just gotten married in name while he waited for my sister to come back. At least, that was what should have happened. If only Bradon hadn’t butt in to ruin it all.
Despite everything that I was saying, Bradon did not react at all. He didn’t say anything, and he did not look away from my face. I didn’t know how to take his lack of reaction, but I did know how to take his silence. If he wasn’t denying it, then what I was saying had to be true. There was simply no other explanation, and I couldn’t imagine Anthony just leaving me here like this if he knew that I was here.
“Why won’t you say anything?!” I yelled as I stood up from my seat and leaned across the table.
“You can think whatever you want,” he replied casually.
...What?
“I’m sick of this! Why can’t you let me go out? Listen, I’m not going to cause you or anyone any trouble. I’m Diana Alnault now. Diana never causes any trouble,” I explained desperately as I pressed my hand flat against my heaving chest.
“You’re Diana Alnault Vulkan now,” he corrected as he glared at me.
I felt my entire body tremble from anger as I realized the hidden message behind his words. My hands clenched at my clothes so tightly as I tried to curb my urges to reach out and destroy whatever was closest.
“Anthony would never do something like this to me. He would never keep me locked up like this!” I screamed loudly.
If he knew what was happening to me, I was certain that Anthony would show up to save me. There was no reason why I had to stay locked up like this even if I now carried the Vulkan last name. My head started to throb painfully, and my vision started to blur.
“Where is Anthony? Tell me right now. Where is Anthony? Where is he right now?” I demanded to know as my voice cracked.
Getting emotional wasn’t like me, but then again, the situation and the person that I was dealing with was far from normal. I hated myself even more when I realized that I had started to sob. The tears that welled up in my eyes were the result of my own frustrations at my own helplessness.
“If he knows...what you’re doing to me, he wouldn’t leave things like this. He’ll definitely...definitely come and save me...” I stated slowly and clearly as I tried to controlled my emotions.
“I’m not Anthony. Anthony isn’t going to come for you,” Bradon stated factually.
“Where is he? Does he even know that I’m stuck in here? Does he know what you’re doing to me?” I repeated my questions again because I didn’t know what else to say.
My parents must have lied to me when they told me that they told Anthony about my return. I should have known that something fishy was going on when Anthony refused to see me before the wedding. It was all making sense to me now. They all lied to me just to make sure that I end up marrying Bradon instead. In that moment, with all the hatred boiling in my chest, I swore to get back at them for all that they’d done to me.
“Why wasn’t he there? Why wasn’t Anthony there at the wedding? Why didn’t he marry me?!” I cried out loudly.
Why did I end up marrying Bradon instead?
I hate them all. I hate him...and I hate myself!
“Why am I still here? I’m just talking to myself...” I muttered darkly.
I heard a self-depreciating laugh escape my lips and had to admit that I sounded like a crazy delusional woman that had just completely lost her mind. I sniffed and snorted as I felt tears running down my face. It had become painfully clear that I wouldn’t be getting any answers even if I stayed and made a fool out of myself in front of him.
--To be continued...