IN THE CAR

I leaned back in the leather seat, casually scrolling through my phone when a message popped up.

"Hey, it’s me, Elias

Thanks again for helping me out!

Don’t forget to save my number~"

A soft laugh escaped my lips. This guy really was... something.

I quickly typed back:

"No worries! And dw, I will haha"

I barely hit send when I felt it-that sharp side-glance from the driver’s seat.

I looked up slowly.

Dante wasn’t saying anything, but the way he peeked over, then turned his eyes back to the road a little too fast, made me raise an eyebrow.

"What?" I asked, tilting my head.

He didn’t look at me.

"You were grinning at your phone like an idiot," he said dryly.

I rolled my eyes and went back to texting Elias.

The longer I tapped away, the more I felt the temperature in the car subtly shift. Not the AC. The mood.

Dante wasn’t saying anything-but his jaw was just slightly tighter, one hand gripping the steering.

I casually looked up. "Do you want something,?"

He didn’t answer immediately. Just muttered under his breath, "If you’re done smiling, we’re almost at your place."

I blinked.

....

When we pulled up to the mansion, the guards outside looked scandalized. I could literally see their souls trying to process how their Scary boss just pulled up in the mafia fiancé’s car like it was a casual Uber ride.

I was about to say something witty when Dante unlocked the car doors and said without looking at me, "You’re home."

...That was it?

No goodbye?

He reached for the gear shift

I got outta the car

And he drove off. (Probably)

I turned toward the mansion door

When someone stepped out from the side with a bouquet in hand.

A very familiar someone.

"Miss Viella?" the voice called out.

I turned, startled.

"Elias?" I blinked.

"Wait-hot neighbor guy was YOU??"

He smiled brightly, holding out the bouquet-the very same one I’d picked earlier at the shop.

"Surprise~ What a coincidence. Looks like we’re neighbors now. Fate really likes bumping us into each other. Is this a sign?"

I froze for a second.

Oh god. He didn’t hear the ’hot neighbor’ part I mumbled earlier, did he?

Please let him be deaf in both ears.

He extended the flowers. "These are the flowers you picker for yourself haha"

Viella took the bouquet smilingly didn’t noticed how Elias gaze changed into something cold.

I sniffed the flowers. Oh damn I love how the tulip smells. They’re my favorite.

Suddenly, something itched. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

My wrist. Then my neck. Then my arms.

Uh-oh.

"Miss Viella?" Elias stepped closer, concern on his face. "Are you okay? You’re... turning red."

I tried to wave it off, scratching my arm. "Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. It’s just-probably dust or someth-"

The bouquet slipped slightly from my fingers. My vision blurred at the edges.

And then-just as I swayed slightly on my feet-

Elias caught me. "Hey are you okay!?" Wait are you aller-"

Dante appeared.

He stepped between us. Taking me from his arm

"Seriously?" he said, voice sharp but laced with that weird, soft panic I’d never heard from him before. "Are you really this dumb?"

My brows furrowed in confusion.

"You’re allergic to tulips," he said shoving the bouquet towards Elias glaring at him.

"Why would you even touch them?"

"I- I didn’t notice," I said, dizzy. "

grabbing my waist tighter as he supported me.

Elias stepped forward, awkward and confused. "I... I didn’t know. I’m sorry. She picked tulips back at the shop, I thought she like them-"

"She doesn’t," Dante said, not even sparing him a glance. "She hates tulips"

He picked me up bridal style and took me inside.

I hazily looked back at Elias still standing there outside the gate cold smirk.. mumbling something I couldn’t catch..

"You. Are. Not. V-"

And with that, everything went hazy as my legs gave out completely.

The last thing I saw?

Dante’s face-tense, worried, and a tiny bit furious-as he glared at Elias.

And then-darkness.

---

The room was dark. Too dark.

Something was wrong.

I couldn’t move my arms, my head was heavy, and the air felt too thick-like it was choking me.

I blinked, trying to adjust to the dimness.

There was someone hovering over me. A tall figure. Shadowy. Their mouth curled into a sickening smile, the kind you see in horror movies right before someone says: "Don’t scream. No one will hear you."

Except this one leaned down to my ear and whispered something way worse.

"I told you not to change the plot. If you do..."

His breath was cold.

"I will Erase You"

Suddenly-

I gasped awake.

My chest rose up, dragging in sharp gulps of air as I sat up in bed, covered in a thin layer of sweat. My skin, which was red and blotchy before, was now completely normal. Smooth. No rashes.i am still alive. Yay me?

I blinked around the room.

But before I could even take a peaceful moment to process my gaze landed on a small note beside my bed.

A single paper.

No name.

Just three words handwriting.

"You looked pretty with tulips.

-Closet Guy."

My blood froze. Was he watching me

Before I could think further, the door slammed open

I panicked and flung the note away

But it wasn’t Dante..

It was worse.

Lucian.

And... my sister? Marcella?

"What the hell are you doing here?" I croaked, my voice hoarse.

Marcella walked in looking like she was bored.

She looked around, unimpressed, and sat on my bed like she owned the place.

Lucian walked straight to my bedside, arms crossed.

"So this is your new trick?" he said flatly. "Getting yourself almost killed with allergies just to get out of maid duty?"

I blinked.

"I-what?! I didn’t do this on purpose, Lucian!"

"Just admit you were worried," Marcella sighed dramatically, inspecting her nails.

Lucian scoffed, clearly ignoring her.

"I was expecting to attend a funeral and everything," she added with a deadpan tone. "Had a black dress picked out and everything. Disappointing." She got up, gave me a pitying glance, and walked out like she just came to announce her disappointment and leave.

What a performance.

I turned to Lucian, eyebrows raised. "Did you two rehearse that?"

He just looked at me.

Cold, unreadable, deeply judgmental with a hint of Why are you like this?

"Well?" I asked, getting annoyed.

Lucian ignored me. "You better show up at the party tonight. If you don’t... Let’s just say Mother and Father will countdown of you funeral along with Marcella."

Yeah. About that.

As he turned to leave, something tugged in my memory.

The dream. The voice. The plot.

The bracelet.

"Wait," I called out. "The bracelet. When will you give it to me?"

He paused at the door, back still facing me.

"Tonight," he said without turning. "If you behave."

And just like that, he was gone.

No "get well soon," no brotherly affection. Just classic tsundere Lucian vibes.

I slumped back in bed and exhaled, finally alone.

My fingers brushed against the sheet.

Yah the bracelet. Just once I get my hands on that I am done with everything. I will straight out leave this place this country this world. I mean I will just live on Marc.

I can’t mess up with the plot anymore. Also I need to find out who the closet guy was and how he knew everything.

Elias feels sus too...

My eyes landed on the soup beside my bed and a letter beside it.

"Better drink this and get better for tonight’s party or I will personally drag your sick body"

- Dante

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TO BE CONTINUED