Bound by lies, Trapped by Desire - Chapter 103: Chapter 103

Elena’s POV:
A faint blush bloomed on Mielle’s cheeks as she nodded, her dark eyes softening with a distant, wistful look. “Actually, my brother has an amputated leg. He used to love driving, lived for it, but then he got into an accident at twenty-three, and it’s been five years since he’s driven.” Her voice dropped to a soft, almost reverent murmur. “I wish I could one day design that car and gift it to him.” The sheer, selfless devotion in her tone was like a physical squeeze in my chest.
My own gaze softened. "I'm so sorry about your brother," I said, leaning forward slightly. "That's… that's truly awful." The reality of her dream, born from such personal hardship. "But hey, maybe if I do manage to make that car, I could ask your brother to test drive it for me." I winked, a playful gesture, hoping to inject a little lightness into the heavy topic.
She laughed then, a genuine, bell-like sound that seemed to chase away some of the shadows in her eyes. She pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, giving me a clearer, unobstructed view of her features. Her dark brown eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, held a depth that belied her youthful shyness. She really was beautiful, in a quiet, unassuming way.
My phone buzzed, pulling me momentarily from the conversation. I glanced down at the screen, but before I could register the notification, a sudden, impulsive thought left my lips. "You're really pretty, you know?" The words were out before I could censor them.
She chuckled. "That's funny coming from you."
I frowned, genuinely puzzled. "Why?" I tilted my head, waiting for an explanation.
She looked at me with a hooked brow, a hint of genuine surprise and amusement dancing in her eyes. "Have you looked in the mirror?" Her voice was laced with an incredulous tone, as if I had uttered the most obvious statement. "You look like a fashion model. Have you heard of Aishwarya? The Indian actress?" she asked, her voice brimming with a kind of awe.
My eyes widened. Aishwarya Rai? The thought was absurd. "Yeah—wait, you're comparing me to her?" My phone buzzed again, more insistently this time, pulling my attention back to the screen.
She nodded frantically, her head bobbing in emphatic agreement. "Yes! Absolutely! I mean…when she was young in her twenties."
I glanced down at my phone again, a frown creasing my forehead. The email subject line was a jumble of words, half-seen, half-ignored. I didn't register what it said at first, my mind still grappling with Mielle’s unexpected comparison.
I looked up, ready to continue our conversation, a self-deprecating retort already forming on my tongue. "You're flattering me. I'm really not—"
I cut myself off mid-sentence, my eyes widening, flitting back to my phone screen. My heart, which had been beating a steady rhythm, suddenly lurched, then hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
The words in the email headline finally registered.
I shot my head down, my fingers fumbling with a sudden, frantic urgency as I quickly opened the email. My gaze, wide and disbelieving, devoured the text. The words blurred, then sharpened, then blurred again as my mind tried to process the impossible.
"Oh my god!" I gasped. My hand flew to my mouth, covering the sudden, uncontrollable grin that threatened to break free.
"What happened?" Mielle asked, her voice laced with surprise, her eyes wide as she watched my dramatic shift from casual conversation to stunned silence.
I looked up at her, my vision swimming, like something had exploded inside me, sending a shower of glittering particles through my veins. "I—I—I got accepted into Legacy!" The words tumbled out, breathless and disbelieving. "As an intern!"
Mielle’s eyes went impossibly wide. She had been in the middle of sipping her matcha latte, and at my outburst, she coughed, a small, comical spray. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, clapping a hand over her mouth, her eyes gleaming with genuine shock and delight. "THE Legacy?! They have an acceptance rate of below 0.5%. Oh my god, that's amazing! Congratulations!" She launched herself out of her chair, and pulled me up into a sudden, crushing hug. I was too surprised, too overwhelmed by the sheer, unadulterated happiness to even notice the curious gazes that had turned our way, drawn by Mielle’s joyous shout.
I allowed myself to simply bask in the pure, unburdened joy of it. This was real. This was mine. A lifeline. The email had promised a generous salary, a significant amount that made my head spin. $9,500 a month. It felt like I was on cloud nine.
This was enough. More than enough. Enough to save myself. Enough to make a different choice. A real chance at independence, at security. My heart soared.
But then, all of a sudden, Mielle froze in my arms. Her muscles tensed, and she pulled back abruptly, her smile crumbling instantly, replaced by a deep frown. My heart throbbed, a cold premonition, as her joyful expression withered.
Was she maybe jealous? The thought flickered through my mind, a fleeting possibility. I mean, what even was her major? What were her aspirations? I didn’t know. We hadn’t talked about it. But then I noticed her looking down, her gaze fixed on the floor, as though avoiding to look up, her shoulders slumping. Her body language screamed something far more primal than envy. A chill traced its way down my spine. I frowned, turning my head sharply, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach, just to make sure she hadn’t seen a ghost.
Only to find two men sitting at a table beyond us, nestled in a booth by the far wall. Dmitri and Lazar. My jaw clenched so tight I felt my teeth ache.
"God fucking damn it," I cursed under my breath, the words a guttural snarl that barely escaped my lips. Why was it always those two?
It would have been fine had they been minding their own business, buried in their phones or a conversation. But they weren't. They were staring over, their gazes like hawks, predatory and unnervingly still.
And I was annoyed. Beyond annoyed. There was just this strange, insidious wrongness in their gaze that made my skin crawl. It made me feel… disgusted.
I grabbed Mielle’s wrist. "Do you want to drink or get something else?" I asked.
She shook her head mutely, her eyes still fixed on the floor. "I'm full," she mumbled, her voice faint.
"Then grab your bag," I ordered, my tone sharper than intended, but I couldn't help it. "We're leaving." I didn't wait for her response, already pulling her towards the stairs. She nodded, a small, almost robotic movement, following my direction without question.
We made our way down the stairs. I paid the bill quickly, my fingers fumbling with my card, eager to escape the suffocating presence of Dmitri and Lazar. My gaze darted around, making sure they weren't following, the hairs on my neck prickling.
After that, we made our way out of the cafeteria, stepping back onto the crowded pavement. Mielle exhaled sharply, a small sigh of relief that seemed to deflate some of the tension in her.
"I'm sorry, Elena," she said, her voice small, almost apologetic. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes still a little wary. "I'm really happy for you, though. I… I ruined the moment, didn't I?"
I shook my head, my lips twisting into a bitter smile. "If I'd seen their faces, I'd react the same way." I scoffed, the sound a low, derisive noise. They were just that type, sucking the joy out of everything.
"By the way," I said, changing the subject, genuinely curious about her. "What do you study?"
Mielle visibly brightened, her earlier anxiety fading somewhat as she spoke about her passion. "Oh, I'm actually in Biomedical Engineering," she explained, her voice gaining a newfound confidence. "My dream is to work for Nexus BioTech full time. Since I did an internship last summer. They're doing some incredible work with advanced prosthetic limbs and assistive devices. Especially with the new neuro-integrated designs… it's revolutionary." Her eyes lit up as she spoke, a genuine enthusiasm radiating from her. "My brother… he inspires me. I want to contribute to something that can truly change lives, give people back their independence." Her gaze drifted to her hands, a shy, almost self-conscious smile on her lips.
"Oh, alright," I said, genuinely impressed. Her dream was noble. "That's an amazing field, Mielle. And Nexus BioTech is top-tier. I wish you all the best with that." I smiled, a soft, encouraging gesture. "And thank you for joining me. It's been a while since I've hung out with friends." I scoffed, a dry, humorless sound. It was true.
Mielle stopped me then, just as I was about to turn and continue our walk, her hand lightly touching my arm. "Wait, Elena," she said, her voice hesitant. "Could I… could I have your number? I'd really like it if we hung out again. I… I had fun today too." Her eyes were earnest, hopeful. She was like a little porcupine, wasn't she? Cute and small, very scared and bristly on the outside, but soft and yearning for connection on the inside.
I wanted to laugh at the absurd, apt comparison, but I smiled instead, a genuine, warm smile that reached my eyes. "Of course," I said, pulling out my phone. "I'd like that too." I quickly typed my number into her phone, and she saved it. "I look forward to hanging out again, Mielle."
"Me too!" she chirped, a genuine brightness returning to her face. She tucked her phone into her pocket, then her expression shifted. "Oh. By the way. Where are you gonna do your internship? Which branch?" she asked.
"Obviously Velhaven, right…?" I trailed off, my smile fading into a frown.
All of a sudden a sickening dread began to unfurl in my stomach. I quickly pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I unlocked the screen and scrolled back to the email. I had been so overwhelmed by the sheer fact of acceptance, by the relief of the salary, that I hadn't truly processed the details.
I started reading the email again, only for my heart to drop like a stone into a bottomless well as I reread it.
"No…" The word escaped my lips in a soft whisper.