Chapter 15: Chapter 15

KIARA’S POV

Risha’s terrified face kept flashing in my mind as I dragged myself to the lake. I should have stayed back for her but I couldn’t let Nivaan down either.

“Are you hurt?” Nivaan’s anxious voice sounded drawing me out of the trance.

Sensing his gaze on my mouth, my hands flew to my lips reflexively. “Oh, this… this is not mine…”

“What exactly did you do sis?” Nivaan asked wiping my mouth with his handkerchief.

My heart felt heavy when I thought about killing those two men. I didn’t want to talk about it at present. Clearing my throat I said, “I will tell you all about it later on. We must focus on saving mom and dad…”

“Yes, mom is alone at the cottage. It will be a good time to talk to her.” Valence said appearing suddenly.

I cupped my mouth and exhaled deeply. This had to work. Nivaan grasped my hand and said, “Executing the plan is important but you must take care of yourself too…”

My lips pursed into a thin line as I nodded my head. Once NIvaan handed me the Golden Box, Valence transported me to her cottage.

“What the hell! How dare you bring this creep here!” Ariana’s voice boomed as she saw us appear in front of her.

“Mom, I was just helping… she has found the Golden Box… I didn’t want it to fall into wrong hands…”

Ariana cleared her throat and said, “Okay… okay… you can leave now… I will deal with this creep…”

Valence shot me a concerned glance before disappearing.

Ariana’s eyes glittered with greed as she stretched her hand towards me and said, “Give the box to me…”

Not so easy b*****! I had betrayed my mate for this. I had to make it count. I hugged it close to my chest and said, “First I want to see my mom and dad…”

“You are so funny, Kiara…” She said, bursting into dry laughter.

“I mean it, Ariana. I won’t give it to you unless I can see my mom and dad!”

Shaking her head, she waved her hand. An invisible force tugged at the box. I tried to hold onto it with all my might but how could my physical strength compare against her magic?

Within a few moments, the box was in her hands. She waved the box in front of me before opening it.

Her face contorted with fury. She glared at me and threw the box on the ground roaring, “This is bloody empty!”

I shrugged my shoulders and said, “The contents are with Nivaan. He won’t hand it over unless you take me to visit mom and dad.”

Her eyes widened and she disappeared only to reappear after a few moments. She was literally shaking with anger. “Where the hell is your brother?”

I crossed my arms and said, “Somewhere safe…”

Clenching her teeth, she grabbed me by my neck. I gasped as the air left my lungs. Just when I thought I would die without meeting my parents, her phone rang.

She released me to check her mobile. Her lips twitched slightly but then she regained her stoic expression. She grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes.

I used every ounce of my willpower to keep my gaze fixed on her. I couldn’t show weakness at such a critical moment.

“Fine… I will take you to see your parents…” She said grabbing my hand. I didn’t know what made her change her mind. I was just glad that I would see my parents after two years.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as we emerged in a cemetery. Was there a secret dungeon or cellar here?

She grabbed me by my shoulders and spun me around so that I was facing two tombstones. The names stated ‘Amor  Lovelock and Daniel Lovelock.’

There are moments in your life when you know what the truth is deep inside but your heart is not ready to accept the truth. Even after Ariana showed me the tombs of my parents, I was not ready to accept the truth.

“Ariana, don’t play tricks on me… NIvaan will not hand you over the contents of the box unless you let me meet my parents….”

She ran her index finger along my face and said, “I can send you to meet your parents but you haven’t completed your task yet…”

My heart pounded against my ribs. She was lying… I just had to force the truth out of her.

I crossed my arms and said in a firm tone, “Now that my parents are dead… what leverage do you have against me… I am free to do as I please…”

“Do you want your brother to join your parents too?”

“Let me tell you a secret… Your daughter Valence is in love with Nivaan… she will never let you get to him…”

Her eyes widened in shock when she heard my statement. The next moment she vanished probably to look for Valence and Nivaan.

The date on the tombstone caught my eye. Wasn’t that the same day when there was a fire in our estate?

My hands shook as I fished out my phone from my pocket. Drawing in a deep breath I keyed in the words, ‘List of people who died in the fire on Lovelock Estate’

Biting my lower lip, I tapped the search button. I had to find the truth no matter how bad it was.

With trembling hands, I scrolled through the names of people who had died. I heaved a sigh of relief when I had read 100 out of 120 names.

Now only a single page was left. I tapped my foot as I waited for the page to load. The names ‘Mr. and Mrs. Lovelock.’ Stared at me right at the top of the page.

“I am so sorry, Kiara… I am really sorry…” Nivaan’s voice sounded behind me. Why did he sound so guilty?

Tears flowed down my cheeks as I stated, “You already knew…”

He placed his hand on my shoulders but I shrugged it off.

“Little cuckoo… please listen to me… I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you the truth… I…”

“No…. you are not Nivaan… the brother I knew would never lie to me… He would never betray me…” I turned and ran out of the cemetery as fast as my legs would carry.

My whole life seemed like a lie. I betrayed my mate just so that I could save mom and dad. They had f*****G died two years ago… My own brother had been lying to me.

The pain of betrayal was so intense. I didn’t want Kevin to suffer like me. I would tell him the whole truth tonight…