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Chapter 43. Lady Sachel

Chapter 43: 43. Lady Sachel

The dark room was dimly lit by a single chandelier, its golden light casting long shadows across the expensive marble floor. Lady Sachel sat on a velvet armchair, her hands gripping the armrests tightly as she stared across the room. Her perfectly poised composure was cracking. Her eyes were wild, and her lips, usually painted in a perfect shade of red, quivered with unease.

Across from her, a man stood near the window, his face shrouded in darkness. His tall figure was intimidating, exuding a quiet power that unnerved even someone as calculated as Lady Sachel. His hands were clasped behind his back, his posture straight and unyielding, as he observed the city skyline from behind the heavy drapes.

"This wasn’t supposed to happen," Lady Sachel muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. "Everything we worked for, everything you promised me—it’s all falling apart."

The man didn’t turn. His silhouette remained eerily still, as if her words didn’t concern him. "And what exactly did I promise you, Lady Sachel?" His voice was calm, smooth, and chilling. "That everything would go according to plan? That your children would remain loyal to you? You should have known better."

Lady Sachel’s grip on the armchair tightened, her knuckles turning white. "They’ve turned against me. They’ve left me. Even Anshi, my own flesh and blood, abandoned me to save his own skin!" Her voice grew more frantic. "And now... now I’m the one being hunted. Do you think I don’t know that I’m next? I can feel them closing in on me. Ethan, Leclair, even that little brat Adrian—they’re all targeting me now."

The man finally turned, his face still hidden in the shadows, though the glint of his cold eyes was visible. "You let your emotions cloud your judgment. That’s why you’re losing control."

Lady Sachel scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Losing control? Do you have any idea what it’s like to watch your entire life crumble before your eyes? My children were supposed to be my legacy, and now they’re the ones tearing it apart!"

She slammed her fist on the armrest, her frustration boiling over. "And you—you with your grand schemes—none of it worked! I did everything you asked, played the perfect role, and yet here I am, on the verge of losing everything."

The man’s expression remained impassive, as if her outburst meant nothing to him. "You were warned that emotions would be your downfall. Now you’re paying the price." He stepped forward, his voice lowering into something far more menacing. "But don’t think for a second that I’m the one who failed."

Lady Sachel’s breath hitched, her heart pounding as she felt the weight of his words. She looked at him, fear creeping into her eyes. "What... what are you saying?"

The man leaned in slightly, his shadow looming over her. "I warned you before, Sachel. Do not mistake my patience for weakness. If you refuse to continue working with me, I will make sure you lose the one person you love the most."

Lady Sachel froze, her face draining of color. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps as she realized the gravity of his threat. "No..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "You wouldn’t dare."

The man’s lips curled into a cruel smile. "Wouldn’t I? Do you really want to find out?"

Lady Sachel’s mind raced. Her thoughts turned to the person she had fought so hard to protect, the one person in her life who had remained hidden from the chaos. Her heart ached at the thought of anything happening to him, and the fear of losing him overtook any shred of defiance she had left.

"Please... no," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "Don’t hurt him. I’ll do anything. Just... don’t touch him."

The man straightened, pleased with her desperation. "That’s more like it. You’ve always been more cooperative when something precious is at stake."

Lady Sachel bit her lip, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity even as her world threatened to collapse around her. "What do you want?" she asked quietly, her voice shaking with barely restrained terror.

The man’s smile faded as his expression turned serious once more. "I need you to bring Adrian Hudel to me."

Lady Sachel’s eyes widened. "Adrian? Why him? He’s just a boy. He’s... harmless."

The man stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "Harmless? Don’t be so naive, Sachel. He’s more than just a boy, and his connection to Ethan makes him dangerous. Ethan would tear the world apart to protect him, and that makes Adrian a valuable pawn. Bring him to me."

Lady Sachel shook her head, her voice rising in panic. "I can’t! Ethan will know something’s wrong if I try to get close to Adrian. He’s too protective of him."

The man’s eyes glinted with amusement. "That’s why you’ll be subtle. Get close to Adrian under any guise—an apology, a gesture of goodwill, whatever it takes. I don’t care how you do it. Just get him to come with you. Once you have him, I’ll take care of the rest."

Lady Sachel’s hands trembled as she tried to think of a way out of this. She didn’t want to be part of this any longer, didn’t want to be tangled in this web of deceit and manipulation. But the fear of losing her lover was too great, too powerful to ignore.

"I can’t..." she started, but the words died on her lips. She could feel the man’s cold, unwavering gaze piercing through her, and she knew there was no other choice. If she refused, the consequences would be far worse than she could bear.

She closed her eyes for a moment, gathering what little strength she had left, and nodded slowly. "Fine. I’ll do it."

The man smiled, satisfied with her submission. "Good. I knew you’d see reason." He turned his back on her, walking toward the window again. "Make sure you don’t fail me this time, Sachel. You won’t get another chance."

Lady Sachel remained seated, her body trembling as she processed the gravity of what she had just agreed to. Her mind raced, filled with fear, guilt, and a deep sense of dread. She had no idea how she was going to pull this off, but one thing was certain—she couldn’t let anything happen to the man she loved.

As the man disappeared into the shadows once more, Lady Sachel whispered to herself, her voice barely above a breath. "I’m sorry, Adrian..."

But her words were swallowed by the darkness, and the storm that was about to descend on them all continued to brew, unseen and unstoppable.

--

Meanwhile, far away, Ethan felt a sudden unease. Something was wrong, though he couldn’t quite place it. His hand rested on Adrian’s shoulder as they sat together in their living room, the warmth of the moment suddenly tainted by a strange feeling of foreboding. He glanced down at Adrian, who was peacefully flipping through a magazine, unaware of the storm looming on the horizon.