My father stood in the doorway.
His eyes moved from my face to the small bag in my hand.
Then he smiled.
"Going somewhere?"
My fingers tightened around the handle.
I couldn't speak.
He stepped into the room and quietly closed the door behind him.
"At this hour?"
"I was…"
My voice failed me.
"Running away?" he finished.
I looked down.
He walked toward me slowly.
"You've been making mistakes lately."
I swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
He gave a quiet laugh.
"Do you think that word can fix everything?"
I shook my head.
He reached for the bag and took it from my hand.
He opened it.
A few clothes.
My passport.
Some cash.
My phone charger.
He looked at everything before placing the bag on the bed.
"You were planning carefully."
I said nothing.
"Where were you going?"
"I don't know."
"To Adrian?"
My heart jumped.
"No."
He stared at me.
I could tell he didn't believe me.
Then he sat on the edge of the bed.
"You still love him."
It wasn't a question.
I looked away.
My father sighed.
"Love has made you foolish."
"I never wanted to hurt you."
"You already did."
His voice became colder.
"You chose my enemy's son over your own family."
"I chose someone who loves me."
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said something that frightened me more than shouting ever could.
"Perhaps you don't understand what I've been protecting you from."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
He stood.
"One day, you'll understand."
"Tell me now."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you're not ready."
He walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned.
"Your wedding is in five weeks."
My stomach dropped.
"And until then, you will remain in this house."
He opened the door.
"Father."
He stopped.
"What happened to Adrian?"
Silence.
My heart pounded.
He slowly turned his head.
"You should stop asking questions about that boy."
"Is he alive?"
My father stared at me.
Then he smiled.
"That's something you'll have to discover yourself."
He walked out.
The door closed.
I stood frozen.
You'll have to discover yourself.
What did that mean?
I immediately grabbed my phone.
There was no message from Adrian.
I called him.
The number was unreachable.
Again.
Nothing.
I sat on my bed and began crying.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
One message.
He's alive. But you shouldn't try to find him.
I stared at the words.
Another message followed.
Your father isn't the only person you should be afraid of.
I looked toward the bedroom door.
Suddenly, I understood something.
My father's house wasn't the only prison surrounding me.
There were secrets inside it.
And someone was making sure I never discovered them.