The Blackwood Curse

Chapter 6

Sarah POV

The city outside pulsed with its morning rhythm, a symphony of car horns, the murmur of distant voices, and the clatter of metal as vendors prepared their stalls. Yet within the confines of our room, the world felt eerily still. I turned onto my side, my gaze falling on Eren. His dark lashes lay against his cheek, his lips slightly parted, the gentle rise and fall of his chest in sync with the steady beat of his breath.

He looked serene, but that calm exterior was a thin veil over the storm brewing beneath. Even in sleep, he was a man cloaked in shadows. My fingers itched to reach out, to trace the strong line of his jaw, to feel the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips. Yet, I hesitated, my hand hovering just above him before pulling back.

Axel’s words loomed in my mind, sharp and unrelenting. “Eren’s not who you think he is.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, as if I could will the memory away, but it was no use. His voice was a constant echo, dragging me deeper into a whirlpool of doubt. Eren had been distant lately, his moments of warmth overshadowed by an ever-present tension, a guardedness I hadn’t fully noticed until now. Was Axel telling the truth, or was he simply playing a dangerous game of manipulation? And if it was the truth, what did that make Eren? What did that make us?

---

When Eren stirred beside me, the bed shifted slightly under his weight. His arm draped lazily over my waist, his fingers brushing the curve of my hip. The intimacy of the gesture sent a shiver through me, though my body didn’t respond with the same comfort it once had.

“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep, a velvety timbre that usually sent warmth pooling in my stomach. But today, it felt different—calculated, as though he was grounding me to his reality.

“Morning,” I replied softly, forcing a smile.

He pulled me closer, his lips grazing my temple in a gesture that was both tender and possessive. “You’re quiet,” he said, his tone laced with curiosity. “Did you not sleep well?”

My throat tightened, and I shifted under his touch. I didn’t sleep because Axel’s words wouldn’t let me.

“Just a little restless,” I lied.

Eren’s eyes searched mine, his dark irises deep and probing. He was studying me, dissecting every subtle shift in my expression. “Are you sure?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

I averted my gaze, forcing a nonchalant shrug. “I’m fine. Really.”

He didn’t press further, but the faint tension in his jaw betrayed his unease. He didn’t believe me. And maybe he shouldn’t.

---

The tension lingered through breakfast. The clatter of silverware and the murmur of nearby conversations filled the air, but the silence between us was deafening. Eren moved with mechanical precision, his eyes fixed on his plate as he reached for the nearest items—a slice of toast, a small pile of berries, a cup of steaming coffee.

I picked at a croissant, the flaky crust crumbling beneath my touch, but I wasn’t hungry. My thoughts were elsewhere, fixated on the storm brewing between us.

“Sarah,” Eren said suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet.

I looked up, startled. “Yes?”

“I have a meeting today,” he said, his tone deliberately casual. “It came up last minute. Business-related.”

Something about the way he spoke—too even, too rehearsed—set off a warning in my gut. “Do you want me to come with you?” I asked, testing his reaction.

He shook his head quickly, a small, almost strained smile tugging at his lips. “No. It’s nothing exciting. Just paperwork and legalities. Boring stuff.”

He sipped his coffee, his gaze flickering to the side as if to avoid mine. “You should take the day to yourself. Maybe explore the city a bit.”

The suggestion was kind, almost considerate, but it felt like a dismissal. Like he was deliberately keeping me at arm’s length.

“Okay,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. I wasn’t going to push. Not yet.

---

The park sprawled out before me like an emerald sanctuary amidst the concrete jungle. The air was crisp, filled with the mingling scents of fresh grass and blooming flowers. Children’s laughter echoed in the distance, a stark contrast to the turmoil that churned within me.

I wandered aimlessly along the winding paths, my thoughts an endless loop of questions and half-formed fears. Every glance over my shoulder felt paranoid, but the prickle at the back of my neck refused to fade.

I wasn’t alone. I could feel it.

Eventually, I settled onto a bench beneath the sprawling limbs of an oak tree. The shade offered some solace from the midday sun, but it couldn’t quiet my racing thoughts. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to focus on the simple, grounding sounds of the park—the rustling leaves, the distant chatter, the steady rhythm of footsteps—

“Sarah.”

The voice was soft, but it cut through me like a blade. My eyes snapped open, and there he was. Axel stood before me, hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed but his gaze burning with intensity.

“Axel?” I said, my voice sharper than intended. “What are you doing here?”

He gave a half-shrug, his lips curling into a faint, familiar smirk. “Taking a walk. Same as you.”

I stood, crossing my arms in an attempt to shield myself from the magnetic pull he seemed to have. “Are you following me?”

His smirk faded, replaced by something softer, more sincere. “No. But I’m glad I found you.”

“Why?” I challenged. “So you can fill my head with more doubts about my husband?”

Axel’s jaw tightened, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. “You deserve to know the truth, Sarah.”

“Truth?” I scoffed, taking a step back. “All you’ve done is throw accusations without any proof. Why should I believe a word you say?”

His expression darkened, and for a moment, he was silent. Then he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Because I care about you. More than you realize. And I can’t stand by and watch you live a lie.”

My breath caught, the intensity of his words sending a shiver down my spine. “You’re lying,” I whispered. “Eren loves me. He’s always been honest with me.”

“Has he?” Axel’s voice was sharper now, a razor’s edge. “Think, Sarah. Has he ever told you about his past? About what he’s really done? The things he’s hiding?”

I opened my mouth to retort, but the words caught in my throat. My mind raced through the fragments of conversations, the deflections, the moments where Eren had evaded questions with charming ease. Had I been blind to it all?

Axel’s gaze softened, his tone dropping again. “You don’t have to trust me now. But when the truth comes out—and it will—you’ll understand.”

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the shadow of the oak tree, my heart pounding and my mind reeling.

The world around me felt suddenly, unbearably heavy.