꧁ • 𝗹𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲 ​​ • ꧂

✧ •​ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɴɪɴᴇ • ✧

Fractured Bonds
I was sitting at my desk, the room dimmed by the late afternoon sun casting long shadows. My mother's old, worn-out picture frame lay open beside me, her smiling face as hauntingly beautiful as ever. I needed to talk, to unravel the tangled mess that was my life, but who would listen? The pain, the loneliness, it felt like a suffocating weight pressing down on my chest."Adrien doesn't understand," I murmured to the empty room, the words drifting like whispers in the stillness. "He's too wrapped up in his own world. And Father... Father has never understood."It was strange how life could be so cruelly ironic. Here I was, talking to myself, to a photo of a mother who would never again reply, while a world of pain loomed on the horizon. My father, Gabriel Agrest, had always been a distant figure—like a cold statue in a grand hall, unmoved by the warmth of human emotion. Ever since Mother's death, his gaze had been increasingly indifferent, and I felt like a ghost, drifting in the hollow corridors of this mansion, longing for a shred of affection or acknowledgment.

the house felt unusually quiet, as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. I sat alone in my room, the familiar weight of loneliness pressing down on me. The day had been a whirlwind, but in the stillness of my room, I tried to find some solace. I let my mind wander to thoughts of my mother, her absence like a gaping hole in my heart. I remembered her gentle voice, the warmth of her embrace, and the way she used to reassure me that everything would be alright.

But life had not been kind. My father's indifference felt like an icy barrier between us. It was as if I were a ghost in my own home, seen but not truly acknowledged. My attempts to reach out to him always seemed in vain. It was as though my existence was merely a footnote in his busy life.

Nathalie's footsteps on the stairs disrupted my somber thoughts. She appeared at the door, her usual professional demeanor softened by concern. "Nova, your father called for you. He wants to see you in his study." I blinked, taken aback by the unexpected request. "My father? What does he want?"

Nathalie's gaze faltered slightly, and she shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not sure, Miss. But it seems urgent."

I nodded, pushing myself off the bed with a heavy sigh. As I made my way down the grand staircase, my heart began to pound with a growing sense of unease. What could be so important that my father would want to see me now, especially after months of ignoring me?A chill ran down my spine. What could Father want with me now? My heart pounded as I nodded, rising from the desk with a heaviness that matched the darkening sky outside. I followed Nathalie through the opulent hallways, my footsteps echoing like a foreboding drumbeat.

Entering the study was like stepping into a tomb. The room was eerily quiet, save for the ticking of an old grandfather clock in the corner. Father was seated behind his massive mahogany desk, his gaze cold and unfeeling as always. Adrien stood beside him, his usual bright demeanor replaced by an unusual sadness. 

The sight that greeted me was nothing short of a nightmare. Adrien stood in the middle of the room, tears streaming down his face. His hands were clenched into fists, and his expression was one of sheer desperation. Gabriel Agrest, my father, sat behind his imposing desk, his face a mask of impassive indifference.

"Dad, please!" Adrien's voice trembled as he pleaded. "You can't do this to her. She's just a kid!"

Gabriel's expression remained unyielding, his eyes cold and distant. "Shut up Adrien! your not involve to this!" His eyes were red-rimmed, tears brimming as he looked at me.

"Nova," Father began, his voice devoid of warmth, "we have a situation."My stomach dropped. Adrien's tears were more than enough to confirm that this was no ordinary conversation. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling.Father's eyes flicked towards Adrien before returning to me. "We've made some decisions regarding your future, Nova.""Decisions?" My heart raced. "What decisions?"Father's expression was unreadable as he continued. "You are to be handed over to a... specialist. Someone who will help you with your... unique situation."I felt like I had been struck. The words barely registered in my mind. "Handed over? To whom?"Before Father could answer, Adrien's voice broke. "Father, she's just a kid! You can't just..."The door opened, and two men in white coats entered the room. Their faces were obscured by surgical masks and their eyes were cold and clinical. One of them, taller and more imposing, carried a briefcase. They approached me with an air of detachment."Nova," Father's voice cut through my shock, "this is Dr. Lemoine. He will be taking you to a new facility where you will receive the necessary care."Care? It felt like a cruel joke. My entire body went numb. "Care?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. "What's happening to me?"The realization hit me with the force of a sledgehammer. This wasn't about care. This was about abandoning me—throwing me away like a discarded toy. My father's eyes were devoid of any sign of the man who once loved me. He was a stranger, a cold, heartless figure who was letting me slip through the cracks of his indifferent world.Adrien stepped closer, his face a mask of despair. "Please, Father. This isn't right."Father's face hardened. "It's been decided. This is for the best."As the men approached, the reality of my situation sank in. There was no escape. I felt a cold, hollow void spreading through me. My emotions turned into a distant echo. I accepted my fate with a resigned acceptance, my thoughts freezing into a numb, indifferent state.Adrien's cries and protests faded into the background as the men led me away. The mansion that had once felt like a prison now seemed like a distant memory. The world outside the study was a blur as I was guided through the darkened hallways, my mind a storm of detached resignation.When we finally reached the waiting car, I felt a cold shiver of finality. I climbed into the backseat, the white-coated men taking their places beside me. The vehicle began to move, the mansion growing smaller in the distance. The cold, clinical environment of the car contrasted sharply with the warm memories of home, and I found myself slipping into a void of apathy.As the mansion faded from view, I stared out the window, my reflection staring back at me—emotionless, hollow, and cold. I had been cast aside, my heart shattered into a million pieces, but there was nothing left to do but accept the darkness that enveloped me.For the first time, I felt truly alone...