Once, my paranoid love

Paul methodically wiped away any evidence of his presence, ensuring that nothing would connect him to the events of that night. Paul even placed a wine bottle and a glass in the room, creating an illusion that William had been drinking.

As Paul prepared to make his exit, he couldn’t help but glance back at Anne, his mother, one last time.

Paul’s abrupt departure from the room, leaping out of the window, was a stark contrast to the dark and sinister atmosphere he had left behind. His words of love for his mother, “I love you, Mom, and I’ll miss you forever,” were a haunting echo in the air, a poignant reminder of the complex and troubled relationship they had shared.From NôvelDrama.Org.

After his daring escape, Paul sought refuge in the solace of a lengthy bath, as if trying to wash away the guilt and turmoil that had taken root within him. The steam enveloped him, providing a brief respite from the darkness of his actions. Yet, as he stood in front of the mirror, his reflection told a different story.

His chest and back bore the physical wounds of Derek’s and his conflict. His fingers traced the scars, a physical manifestation of the pain he had inflicted on himself in the past. As he moved his hand over the evidence of his self-inflicted pain, he muttered in a hushed voice, “Didn’t I do this to my Elena? I hurt you a lot.”

The weight of his past mistakes and regrets hung heavy in the air.

In an unexpected twist, Paul’s self-reflection took a darker turn. He checked the bruises on his left hand and, driven by a surge of inner turmoil, he cut his hand with a knife. The sharp pain seemed to offer a release, a physical manifestation of the emotional anguish that had gripped his soul.

“Aah!” The cry of pain escaped his lips as he watched the blood welling from the fresh wound on his hand. Paul’s actions were symbolic, a form of self-punishment, and an attempt to reconcile with the pain he had caused to those he loved.

With a sense of urgency, Paul bandaged his hand, attempting to regain some semblance of control over his actions. He had taken sleeping pills, perhaps seeking an escape from the torment that consumed him. As he lay down in bed, his mind was a battlefield of conflicting emotions and the madness that had taken root in his soul continued to torment him.

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a soft, warm glow in the room where Elena and Derek sat, their faces etched with concern and unease. The weight of unspoken words hung heavily in the air, as Elena finally broke the silence.

“Did you find anything, Derek? Did you contact my dad?” Elena’s voice held a mix of hope and apprehension. “After I came here, he didn’t even try to contact me. I also did the same, but I was angry with him.”

Derek’s gaze bore into Elena’s, his eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and uncertainty. He had been dreading this moment, the moment when he would have to deliver the painful news about Elena’s father.

“I’m trying, honey,” Derek replied, his voice gentle and soothing. “But his phone is switched off.” He wanted to offer reassurance, but the harsh reality of the situation hung over them like a dark cloud.

Elena’s brows furrowed as she contemplated the situation. “I think we should go check it out, Derek. Pom also mentioned that Anne had called here yesterday.” Her words were laced with a sense of urgency and confusion.

Derek’s voice was calm and reassuring as he spoke to Elena. “Calm down, sweetie, I’ll check it out,” he said, offering a reassuring touch to her cheek. The concern in Elena’s eyes was palpable, but Derek was determined to shield her from any unnecessary distress.

“Derek, I’d want to go there as well,” Elena asserted, her desire to be with her father evident in her voice.

But Derek was quick to intervene. “No, you’re not feeling well,” he insisted, cupping her cheek gently. “When I locate your father, I’ll bring him here, okay?” His gaze held a mix of reassurance and protectiveness, and Elena nodded in agreement.

With a sense of reluctance, Elena allowed herself to be convinced. Her father’s well-being was paramount, and she trusted Derek to handle the situation with care. She nodded and accepted Derek’s decision, hoping that he would find her father safe and sound.

Just as Elena phone rang and she reached for the ringing phone, Derek swiftly picked it up, answering the call. His demeanor had shifted in an instant, his voice taking on a tone that raised a sense of unease in Elena. It was a marked contrast to the reassuring presence he had offered just moments before.

Elena couldn’t help but notice the change in Derek’s behavior, especially since the previous night.

“Hello,” Derek said as he glanced at Elena. His face was etched with a mixture of anxiety and turmoil. He didn’t say anything at all.

Elena’s breath caught in her throat as Derek abruptly hung up the phone without uttering a single word. Her eyes widened with alarm, and a sense of dread settled over her. “Derek, what’s the matter? Is everything all right?” she asked, her voice trembling with concern.

She observed the strained expression on his face, a look of profound distress that was impossible to ignore.

‘What am I going to say now?’ Derek thought as he looked at Elena. The weight of his silence bore down on him, and he realized that he could no longer keep the truth concealed. Elena deserved to know the reality of her family’s circumstances, no matter how painful it might be.

Derek called Elena’s name, his voice carrying a weight of grave news. “Elena,” he said, his voice trembling, and she responded with a sense of growing unease.

“Yes,” Elena replied, her heart racing. She could feel that something had happened, something that would alter the course of her life. Derek took her hand in his, his touch offering a semblance of comfort, as he murmured the painful truth.

“Elena, Paul’s mother passed away last night.”

Elena’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her voice wavered with shock. “What?” Her world seemed to unravel in an instant, and her mind struggled to comprehend the gravity of the news. “How? It’s impossible, right?”

Derek’s words were heavy with sorrow and a somber truth. “Her boyfriend killed her,” he said, his voice filled with the weight of the revelation.

The mention of Paul’s mother’s boyfriend sent a shiver down Elena’s spine, and a sense of foreboding settled over her. But her immediate concern turned to her own father, the uncertainty of his whereabouts, and the fear of what might have transpired.

“Boyfriend? So, what about my father? What happened to him?” Elena’s voice quivered with anxiety, her heart pounding with fear.

“Where is my father, Derek? Please speak up. We must immediately leave!” Elena exclaimed in a panic, the urgency of the situation pressing down on her. Her life had taken an unexpected and harrowing turn, and she was determined to find her father and confront the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

Derek’s voice was a steady anchor in the midst of Elena’s growing panic. “Elena, take a deep breath and relax. Your father is secure,” he reassured her, trying to ease her escalating anxiety.

Elena’s voice trembled with worry as she persisted, “So, why aren’t we able to reach him? What happened to him?” She desperately sought answers and assurance, but Derek remained conspicuously silent.

Tears welled up in Elena’s eyes, the frustration and fear building inside her as Derek’s silence continued to gnaw at her. She implored, “I’m sure you’re aware of something. Please let me know where he is.”

Derek finally relented, his voice carrying the weight of an unpleasant truth. “He’s in the hospital,” he disclosed, and Elena came to a sudden halt. The news struck her like a bolt of lightning, and she was momentarily speechless.

“What?” Elena finally managed to utter, her voice trembling with a mixture of relief and concern. Derek embraced her, providing a comforting touch, as he consoled her. “Calm down, Elena.”

“Is he all right?” Elena asked, her voice filled with fear, her heart pounding as she grappled with the uncertainty of her father’s condition. Her world had been upended, and she needed reassurance that her father was safe.

Derek, however, urged her to listen to him, diverting her attention. “You must first listen to me,” he added, his voice carrying an air of urgency. But in her state of panic and confusion, Elena struggled to comprehend his words.

“Elena,” Derek said softly as he drew her close, enfolding her in a comforting embrace. He sensed her anxiety and sought to provide solace in this tumultuous moment. Elena’s eyes shut, her mind overwhelmed by the emotional storm that had engulfed her.