Chapter 43

Scarlett The silence on the line felt heavier each time I hit redial. I stood in the corner of the study, phone pressed again on my ear, listening to the hollow ringing. No answer. Again. I lowered my phone, staring at the darkened screen like it might give me an explanation if I glared it hard enough. This is new to me. Normally, he would answer right away if I call since I won’t call him if I didn’t need his help for anything. Did something happen on his end? I could’t help but feel worried. After all, he wasn’t the type to ignore calls without reason. I dialled again. One ring. Two. Three. Still nothing. I sighed, exhaling slowly through my nose and resisted the temptation of throwing the phone on the desk. “Still nothing?” a voice asked from the door way. Lucien. None other him. Who else would come to this room if it’s not him or Kathleen? I looked up at him. His frame filling the entrance like a living shadow, a bundle of parchment envelopes tucked under his arms–it seemed that he