Page 230 of Evil Hearts

“I find myself increasingly disillusioned with the confines of high society, yearning for a life where I can truly explore my passions without the influence of familial expectations. Regardless of the opulence and privilege, I often feel like a bird trapped in a gilded cage, longing for the freedom to soar beyond those well-manicured walls,” Amelia said. “What about you, Dimitri? What was your childhood like?”

“Different,” he answered, his gaze distant, as if looking into another time. “I come from a distant land, where traditions ran deep and fitting in was a challenge due to my unique heritage. It was not easy, and I often felt like an outsider.”

“That must have been difficult,” Amelia said gently, her heart aching for him. “But it also made you who you are today, right? I mean look at you now. You’re wealthy, successful, and live in a beautiful home.”

She watched his face grow dark as shadows of the past seemed to cloud his expression. How often had she felt trapped by her own gilded cage, yearning for a different life beyond the expectations that bound her?

“True,” Dimitri conceded. “Though there is a certain...curse that has haunted me for centuries. It’s...elusive, yet ever-present.”

A curse?The word lingered in Amelia’s awareness like a ghost. Her own fears suddenly felt trivial in comparison—could she ever truly understand his burden?

Amelia frowned. “What kind of curse?”

“Perhaps one day, I’ll tell you,” Dimitri said, his expression revealing a deep unhappiness. “For now, let’s speak of other things.”

He was always so guarded, yet every word he spoke pulled her deeper into his mystifying world. She wondered what secrets lay hidden behind those penetrating eyes.

“All right. Do you enjoy living here in Shadowfield Manor?”

“Yes, it offers a certain serenity and tranquility that I find comforting. And I suppose loneliness is a companion I’ve grown accustomed to,” he said softly, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that ignited a tingling sensation down her back.

Loneliness—a feeling she knew all too well despite being surrounded by people who claimed to care for her. Was this mansion really any different from her own prison?

“Have you ever been married, Dimitri?” She stood up and walked over to a bookcase to read the spines.

Dimitri got to his feet and joined her near the bookshelves. “Once. A very long time ago. But she passed away, and I have lived alone ever since.”

“I’m so sorry, Dimitri.” Amelia said, and then she reached out, her fingers lightly grazing his hand, sending a jolt of electricity through her.

His hand caressed her cheek gently, his thumb trailing her jawline. “You are very kind, Amelia.”

Her breath hitched, and her body responded with a rush of heat. “Dimitri,” she whispered, her voice choked with longing.

How could someone so distant make her feel so passionately alive? Every touch from him felt like an undeclared promise of something more—something forbidden.

“Yes?” he prompted, his lips curving into a tender smile.

“That locket around your neck...what does it signify?”

“This?” He touched the delicate silver locket, adorned with intricate symbols. “It holds memories of my past—a reminder of who I am and what I have lost.”

She stepped closer. Memories locked away in metal—a tangible representation of pain and history that never truly faded away.

“May I see it?” she asked, her curiosity overwhelming.

“By all means,” he said, unclasping the chain and placing the locket in her hand. “But be warned, it carries the significance of many lifetimes.”

Amelia examined the locket, feeling the cold metal against her skin. The symbols etched into it seemed to pulse with hidden meaning. She looked up at Dimitri, her green eyes shone with a merging of fascination and desire.

Could such an object really hold the key to understanding him? Or was it merely another barrier between them?

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” she said softly, handing the locket back to him.

“Anything for you, Amelia,” he replied, his voice a seductive whisper that wrapped around her like an impassioned embrace.

In that moment, she realized that in spite of all their differences—regardless of the secrets and shadows—they were both searching for something more than just existence. They were searching for meaning in the darkness that surrounded them both.

“Miss Lancaster.” Henry’s interruption cut through the intimate silence, startling Amelia.

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