CHAPTER 59: A LURE

Erisia stood by the car, watching as the driver lifted her suitcase into the trunk with ease. The lid shut with a dull thud, and he moved to pull the back door open for her. She paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on the grand silhouette of the Wrenford mansion. The morning air was cool, carrying the faint scent of trimmed grass and wet stone. Only after another breath did she slip into the back seat, smoothing her dress across her lap.

The driver slid into the front, started the engine, and the car eased forward, gliding down the familiar road. Erisia leaned lightly against the window, her eyes fixed on the gates slowly drawing away behind them—until the murmur of voices caught her attention.

Across the street, a cluster of women—neighbours on their morning stroll—walked together, one of them tugging along a lively terrier. Their tones were animated, brimming with gossip.

"Did you guys see it earlier? Sierra being hauled out? Those men in scrubs practically dragged her."

"What are you talking about, Anna?"

"This morning when I was out jogging, I heard sounds coming from the Wrenford compound. The gate was open, and I saw Sierra being strapped in with all those things they use to restrain patients in hospitals—you know, psychiatric hospitals. She was trapped in it, and they were practically hauling her into an ambulance. At least, I think it was an ambulance. I’m not sure. But the men were tall, and honestly, it looked like something straight out of a movie where the characters are being taken to a psych ward."

"Really?!" one of them gasped.

"Yes, really! I’m telling you. She was being dragged!"

The others exchanged doubtful looks.

"Dragged?" another scoffed. "Please. You make it sound like she’s some patient from an asylum."

"Well, if you’d seen it, you’d think the same! She was strapped so tightly, crying, kicking... If that wasn’t a hospital bus, then what was it? Looked dangerously close to a psych ward pick-up to me."

The rest burst out laughing.

"As if! The daughter of the Wrenfords? In an asylum? Be serious."

"I never said she was actually taken to one," the first insisted, her tone prickly. "But tell me—why else would they restrain her like that? I saw it with my own eyes. Around seven, maybe half past."

Their chatter dwindled as the car moved further along the road, the voices fading into the morning breeze until they became nothing more than a faint hum.

Exhaling slowly, Erisia leaned back into the seat, her cheek against the window, watching the houses blur past. A strange calm filled her chest—part relief, part weariness.

Finally, Sierra got the punishment she deserved.

She hoped the Author of /When Spring Sings Again/ sees this and learns how to write a story.

Nearly an hour later, the car rolled to a stop in front of Rita’s apartment building. Erisia stepped out just as Rita hurried toward her, arms outstretched. The hug was warm and short. The driver retrieved the suitcases and followed them inside.

In the elevator, Rita looked at her with bright eyes. "Have you eaten?"

Erisia shook her head. "Not yet."

"Perfect. I already cooked something special—you’ll love it. Don’t even worry." Rita’s grin widened. "And this time you’re not escaping until you’re full."

Erisia laughed softly, the tension in her shoulders easing as the elevator chimed and they stepped out onto the floor.

Inside the apartment, Rita helped her unpack, chatting all the while. "Oh my gosh, finally I have a roommate. Honestly, I’ve been imagining this for a long time. A friend I can live with, share things with—" she clasped a blouse to her chest dramatically, "—it’s like a dream come true! I was even plotting how to persuade you to move in, but look at fate working. And Rein—oh, she’s missed you so much!"

With that, Rita abandoned the clothes on the bed and dashed out of the room. Seconds later, she returned, holding Rein in her arms.

The moment Rein spotted Erisia, she wriggled free with a soft, high-pitched purr and leapt straight into Erisia’s embrace.

Erisia’s smile bloomed, her voice tender as she pressed her face to the cat’s fur. "Aw, that’s my girl. I missed you so much. Mwah!"

Rein purred louder, her fluffy body vibrating happily as Erisia stroked her one last time before setting her down gently on the bed. The cat circled twice, then settled into the comforter.

Rita, meanwhile, had resumed arranging the clothes with care, still caught up with the news of Erisia living in her apartment together more than the new apartment they were going to get, humming under her breath as she slid hangers into the wardrobe. Erisia joined her again, folding the last of her dresses and stacking neatly the smaller items from the suitcase.

When the last drawer shut with a soft click, Rita dusted her hands dramatically. "Perfect. Mission accomplished."

Together they made their way to the kitchen, Rein now draped across Erisia’s arms, her head tucked contentedly against Erisia’s chest. The aroma of freshly cooked food lingered warmly in the air. Rita plated the dishes while Erisia poured drinks, and soon enough they were seated across from each other at the dining table.

It was over that meal that Erisia began to speak. Slowly at first, then steadily, she told everything that happened last night—how she’d taken Seliora’s information and used it at the perfect moment and the confrontation. She explained how the decision to send Sierra’s to an asylum came from her, how her father had agreed and the short scene that took place in the morning before Sierra was taken away.

Rita listened with rapt attention, her spoon forgotten halfway to her mouth, eyes wide like a child hearing the juiciest bedtime story. By the time Erisia finished, Rita let out a long exhale. "You’re kidding me. That’s... that’s like live-action soap opera level drama. No wonder you look like you’ve been through three seasons in one week."

Erisia gave a faint smile, poking at her food. "At least now, it’s done."

⸻

"...So she will be paying a visit within two days. Remember that she is my guest and do not act unpleasantly towards her. She is a very good girl."

"You like her," Kealith said without taking his gaze off the laptop screen, his tone detached.

Seliora narrowed her eyes at him, ready to retort, but then her expression softened as another thought surfaced.

She looked back at him and scoffed, "If your looks weren’t so good, I wouldn’t forgive you, so shut up and listen to me. Honestly, anytime I see Erisia, I always feel pleased. She is not only beautiful but strong and resilient, with good manners. Anyway, I’m sure you know all these because you’ve been collecting information about her. So, just do me this favor. Don’t act cold, don’t speak rudely—"

"Kealith! Are you even listening to me?!"

"Yes."

"Kealith?"

"No, Mom. I’m busy."

Her jaw dropped, and she marched over, snapping the laptop lid halfway closed just to get his attention. "Busy with what, exactly? Typing emails when that’s all you have been doing since you woke up? Or staring at the screen like you’re married to it?"

He finally raised his gaze to her, eyes cool and unbothered, as though her flustered energy couldn’t touch him. "If I’m married to the screen, then you’re the noisy neighbor who keeps banging on the walls."

Seliora gasped, surprised at her son’s joke. "Excuse me?!"

Kealith leaned back in his chair, lips twitching at the corner though he fought to keep his expression neutral. "You asked if I was listening. I am. I was multitasking."

Seliora crossed her arms across her chest, raising a brow. "Really? You’d make a terrible host, you know that? If you can’t even manage basic warmth, how are you supposed to treat Erisia properly like a guest?"

"I don’t treat anyone ’properly,’" he said flatly. Then, almost lazily: "She is your guest not mine, you could have hosted her at your home."

"Well, genius. There is a reason why I am hosting her here. And I need you to cooperate with me, baby."

Kealith sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, his silver hair spilling forward over his brow. "And may I ask what the reason is?"

Seliora grinned, clearly enjoying herself, as she swept her bag up from the chair. She leaned down, pressed a quick kiss against his temple, and then strolled toward the door.

Her hand lingered on the doorknob as she turned back, her smile dimming into something softer, older, almost weary. She exhaled like a woman going through a lot on her child’s behalf. "The reason? Let’s just say... I don’t want to end up an old lady with no one to accompany me. It’s better to bring the right people close now, before it’s too late."

Her eyes flicked briefly, knowingly, toward her son. "And if I leave this to you, you’ll isolate yourself until the day you die."

For once, Kealith didn’t talk back immediately. He held her gaze in silence, his expression unreadable. Only when she finally slipped out the door and shut it behind her did he finally get what she meant, his jaw tightening slightly, fingers drumming once against the desk then he chuckled.

He wondered if this ’Erisia’ knew that she was being lured into a trap.