Ten Million Dollars Mission

c.84- The darkest secret

The seconds passed by.

Not even a shadow of Lilith stepped inside the villa. Worry flooded. Caleb, who had been waiting for the woman since the early morning, started to fidget. He clasped his hands; a frown tugged on his face. Was Lilith being delayed due to a disturbance?

Perhaps a traffic? "Young Master, the private jet is rea... Young Master?" Amara blinked in surprise when she witnessed the sight of a man walking back and forth. Anxiety was visible to see even. "Young Master, are you okay?" Confused, the woman questioned.

It was when Caleb's gaze lifted.

"Yes, I am doing fine" He lied through his teeth, veiling the anxious expression beneath a forced smile. Amara quieted down. Something was wrong. But with the personality her young master had, he would never disclose until he's suffocated by the negative thoughts.

"Everything is ready" Amara notified. Earning a nod; "Thank you"

Caleb settled down to hide his concern. He pretended to be tranquil in order to relieve the woman. "Then, please excuse me" Amara had to walk away since she knew Caleb had decided to seal his feelings once again. "Should I call her?" The man took his phone out.

But he ceased himself. This was rushed. What if she had a matter to take care of before coming here? Maybe, he needed to wait. "I hope nothing is happening" A murmur escaped between Caleb's lips. To soothe himself, he headed to his gallery, only to face her art.

Lilith's painting stood still before him.

A rush of anxiety entered. What if she ran away? What if she's suffering alone? What if she chose to leave him just like his mother? The man's brows wrinkled. "She is late" Caleb's jaw clenched. No, it can't be. She promised him to visit today; he should trust her. "Ha..." He sighed.

"What should I do?" His steps led him to the room hidden behind the painting, which portrayed a woman smiling with tears. The name tag happened to be a button for the secret door. Deep inside, a strong odor permeated into Caleb's nose, yet his expression didn't change.

He remained calm as he was used to it.

At the end of the path, a woman statue was nailed to the wall. "Mother, Lilith is not here yet" Caleb's voice echoed in the concrete room. His eyes displayed emptiness as his face twisted in fury. The so-called serene man turned out to be good at hiding his exasperation.

If you look closely, the statue seemed alive. Yes, it was made of the real dead body of Caleb's mother. Preserved body was hung there for years. That's not all.

It was not the only shocking news. Caleb stored his mother's heart in a glass jar, all because he could not let go of his mother. By seeing her in this condition and her heart, he felt as though his mother were still alive. This was the darkest secret of perfect man.

Only Caleb was aware of this.

Nobody inside the villa had a clue as the man prevented anyone from stepping near the gallery. "Ha, I cannot afford to lose her, mother. She is the vibrant color of my grey life. Without her, my life would have no meaning" Caleb eventually broke down at the spot.

He knelt on the floor as he buried his face in palms. "Can't I keep her forever?"

Stars glinted in the man's eyes as an idea crossed his mind. Even if Lilith passed away, he still could keep her with him just like how he did with his mother. "Right. Not even the gruesome death can separate us. A glorious love cannot be shattered" Caleb's lips curved up.

A genuine smile full of excitement.

The man persuaded himself to believe in the woman and wait for her. Yet, Lilith never appeared. Caleb even attempted to contact her. But she did not answer any. The current time was seven in the evening, poor Caleb was having a terrible breakdown in his study room.