The moment Estelle stepped outside, she paused and froze. A black car was parked across the street, its tinted windows were too dark to see through. Something about the car made her chest tighten and her heart skip a beat. She didn't know why, but fear ran through her veins without warning.
Her fingers gripped the strap of her bag as she forced herself to walk away, each step was quicker than the last. She tried to convince herself that it was nothing, that she was overthinking, but the uneasiness wouldn't leave. The thought pressed harder against her ribs, making it difficult to breathe.
She wondered if it was Blaise that sent someone to watch her every step, cause that was the only thing that came to her mind.
She didn't dare look back, yet she could feel it. She could feel the invisible eyes pinned on her, following her every move.
Luckily, before leaving the house she had already ordered a cab. She hadn't walked too far when relief washed over her, the car was already pulling up. Estelle rushed inside and quickly gave the driver the address.
The moment she was already settled in the cab, she looked through the rearview mirror to see if the cab was being followed, but when she didn't see the black car following them, she sighed heavily.
Maybe she was actually thinking too much.
She tilted her head backwards, her eyes closed as she tried to calm herself.
—
The black car remained parked where Estelle had saw it, its tinted glass hiding the two figures inside.
As the white cab drove off into the night, the man in the passenger seat shifted slightly, his sharp gaze lingering on the direction Estelle had gone. His lips curled up slightly as he leaned his back into his seat, finally tearing his eyes away from the road.
"You really scared the shit out of her, yunno?" Kaelith muttered, his tone somewhere between amusement and disapproval. "Why the hell would you show up directly in front of Mother's residence?"
Beside him, the man that was seated removed the black mask he had been wearing. His face came into view; his sharp jawline, flawless skin, and piercing grey eyes that seemed to glow even in the dimness of the car. There was no mistaking the quiet intensity that clung to him.
"Is she badly injured?" That was the first thing that left his lips. He said those words low and steady.
Kaelith frowned. "Huh?"
"I guess she is…" the man murmured softly, almost to himself.
His brother, whose name was Kaelith, studied him with quiet curiosity. It wasn't the first time he had seen his brother's attention snared by someone, but this time felt different. He had given Dorian everything he had dug up about Blaise; his business records, family ties, scandals. Still, Dorian had pressed him harder, asking for more, as though he wanted Kael to burn the world upside down just to unearth Blaise's very reason for existing. And now, instead of flipping through the information with his usual detached disinterest, he watched as Dorian lowered his head to his tab, his sharp grey eyes were on Blaise and Estelle's wedding picture.
To Dorian, Estelle had the most beautiful smile there, radiant in a way that was almost painful to look at. It was totally different from the smile she gave the very day she found out that Blaise was cheating on her. She had been happy, truly happy, when she took that picture. Dorian could feel it.
She must have loved Blaise so much to still be in this marriage, right?
Just the thought of it made his chest clenched painfully and that, he despised.
What happened that night had made him wonder if she was still in love with Blaise after everything he did to her, or if she was just after power and protection.
His lips pressed into a thin line. Without another word, he tossed the tablet onto Kaelith's lap, almost as if he couldn't bear to look at it any longer and yes, he couldn't bear to look at it anymore.
Kaelith's eyes were on his brother's face, studying his expression, then he averted his gaze to the picture on the tablet, before sighing. "So… what next?"
"Nothing" Dorian replied flatly.
Kaelith raised his brow.
He wanted to argue, to ask his brother why he allowed him to go through the stress of doing a thorough investigation on Blaise and all he could say was nothing. However, he decided against it, swallowing those words back. Instead, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a slim envelope. He slid a card from it and handed it to Dorian.
"There's going to be a gala this weekend. You've been invited"
"I'm not interested"
Kaelith rolled his eyes dramatically. "Yeah, yeah. I know you're not, but I'm telling you anyway, so you don't complain later that I didn't" He leaned back, tossing the envelope onto the seat between them. "I heard Blaise was also invited. But… apparently his wife will be representing him."
The air in the car stilled.
"I'll attend the gala"
Kaelith's head whipped around. His brother had lifted his eyes from his phone, his voice calm but carrying a finality that brooked no argument.
"What?" Kaelith blinked, stunned.
"Give me the invitation" Dorian said, extending his hand.
Kaelith hesitated. "Why? You never wanted to attend these things."
"I changed my mind… and the invitation is mine"
For a second, Kaelith's lips twitched, his suspicion almost slipping into a smirk. He slowly placed the envelope into Dorian's palm. "Don't tell me you're suddenly interested because of that married woman?"
Dorian didn't answer. He simply tucked the envelope aside and went back to scrolling through his phone, his face unreadable, as if the conversation had already ended.
A knowing smile tugged at his brother's lips. He leaned back against the seat, folded his arms, and with a single flick of his wrist, signaled to the driver. The engine roared softly to life, and the black car glided forward, disappearing into the night.