Chapter 15: Adorable Friend
Natalie~
The door clicked shut, and the cold, quiet room closed in around me. My knees buckled, and I sank onto the bed, hugging my arms tightly around my body. The gravity of my situation wrapped around my chest like a cold snake. Zane's accusations, his icy glare, and the sharpness of his words all replayed in the back of my mind like a haunting lullaby, one that wasn't meant for sleeping.
I couldn't hold back my tears any longer as they spilled over, hot and heavy, streaming down my cheeks as I buried my face in my hands.
Why me? Why was the goddess doing this to me? What wrong did I do? My crying filled the room, raw and unstoppable, bouncing against the walls like tennis balls.
I think hours passed—or maybe it was minutes; I couldn't tell; time felt meaningless to me. My throat ached from crying, and my eyes burned, but my tears wouldn't stop falling. Every attempt to collect myself, to think straight, it all failed, and the fear gnawed at me relentlessly.
The sound of a key turning in the lock of the bedroom door startled me. My head snapped up in the direction as the door creaked open, revealing Zane's mother, Nora. She stepped inside carefully, carrying a silver tray filled to the brim with food. The aroma hit me immediately—roasted chicken glistening with golden skin, creamy mashed potatoes drizzled with gravy, vegetables, and a slice of fresh-baked bread still steaming. A glass of sparkling water completed the spread.
Nora placed the tray on a small table near the bed and gave me a tentative smile, her eyes soft but sad. "I brought you something to eat," she said, her voice gentle but firm.
I barely glanced at the food. "Please," I begged, my voice cracking. "Let me go. I swear I've done nothing wrong. You have to believe me!"
Her expression faltered, and for a moment, I thought she might relent. But she shook her head, the sadness deepening in her gaze. "I can't," she whispered. "Zane hasn't given the order. I'm sorry."
"Please," I tried again, desperation clawing at my voice. "You seem kind. You must know I'm innocent!"
Nora looked away, avoiding my gaze. "It's not my place," she murmured. "I can't help you."