The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from a single lamp on the far corner of the study. The curtains were drawn shut, sealing the space from the outside world. Catherine sat on a velvet chair, one leg crossed over the other, her fingers lazily tracing the rim of a porcelain teacup.
Steam rose gently from the tea, but she hadn't taken a sip. Her thoughts were elsewhere on someone.
Sebastian.
His name alone brought a faint smile to her lips. It was soft, almost affectionate, yet there was something unsettling in the way her eyes gleamed.
"Always running around with that fool," she muttered under her breath. "As if he's more important than anyone else."
Her expression darkened slightly.
Julian.
Even the thought of him irritated her. That arrogant, loud, self-righteous bastard. Always by Sebastian's side. Always stealing his attention. Always standing where she should have been.
Catherine had known Sebastian first. Long before Julian ever stepped into the picture. Long before their little trio had formed. Back then, it had just been the two of them—simple, quiet, peaceful.
But then Julian came and everything changed.
A soft knock echoed through the room.
Catherine didn't look up. "Come in."
The door opened slowly, and Lilith stepped inside. She moved gracefully, closing the door behind her before approaching Catherine. Her expression was calm, almost indifferent, but there was a faint tension in her posture.
"They've taken the bait," Lilith said.
Catherine's fingers stopped moving."Oh?"
"The detectives. Sebastian, Julian, and the journalist. They went to the brothel."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Catherine's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"That's good," she said softly. "They're walking right into my trap."
Lilith watched her carefully. "Everything is going as you planned."
Catherine leaned back in her chair, her eyes half-lidded. "Yes… but you see, this isn't very fun."
Lilith tilted her head slightly. "What do you mean?"
Catherine let out a small sigh, almost like a bored child. "They're just following clues. Running from one place to another. It's predictable and dull."
Her eyes sharpened.
"How about we make it more fun?"
Lilith's gaze darkened slightly. "What do you want to do, Cath?"
Catherine stood up slowly, setting the teacup down on the table. She walked toward the window, her reflection faintly visible in the glass.
Outside, the night stretched endlessly, the city lights flickering like distant stars.
She spoke without turning around.
"Kill that child's mother."
Lilith's eyes widened ever so slightly. "Are you sure about that?"
Catherine finally turned, her smile cold and twisted.
"Of course," she said. "I want to see that bastard Julian scared to death."
Her fingers curled slightly, as if grasping an invisible thread.
"Since he lost his mother that way… it should bring back some memories, shouldn't it?"
Lilith didn't respond immediately. She studied Catherine's face, trying to read the emotion behind her words.
There was no hesitation,
no doubt,
only obsession.
"And Sebastian?" Lilith asked carefully. "What about him?"
At the mention of his name, Catherine's expression softened instantly. It was almost frightening how quickly the change occurred.
"Sebastian…" she murmured. "He'll be there, won't he?"
Her smile returned, but this time it was gentle, almost dreamy.
"He'll try to protect everyone. He always does. That's just who he is."
Her eyes drifted downward, lost in her thoughts.
"He used to look at me like that too. Like I mattered. Like I was the most important person in the world."
Her voice grew quieter.
"But now… it's always Julian. Julian this, Julian that. Always running after him. Always worrying about him."
Her smile trembled slightly."I hate that."
Lilith remained silent.
Catherine's gaze hardened again.
"So this time, I'll make sure he remembers what real fear feels like. I'll make him see what happens when he chooses the wrong person to protect."
She stepped closer to Lilith.
"And when Julian breaks… when he collapses… when he realizes he couldn't save his own mother…"
Her voice dropped into a whisper."Sebastian will finally look at me again."
Lilith frowned. "That's… risky. The police are already involved. If this goes wrong—"
"It won't," Catherine interrupted.
Her tone was calm, but absolute.
"I've planned everything. They're too busy chasing the brothel case. They won't expect something like this."
She walked back to her chair and picked up her teacup, finally taking a sip.
The tea had already gone cold.
Still, she didn't seem to care.
"This is my move for this time," she said quietly.
Lilith hesitated. "And the child?"
Catherine shrugged. "Irrelevant."
"she's just bait."
The words were spoken so casually that it sent a chill through the room.
Lilith looked away for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Understood."
She turned toward the door."I'll handle it."
Catherine nodded. "Make it clean. And make sure Julian sees the body."
Lilith paused.
"…As you wish."
The door closed softly behind her, leaving Catherine alone once more.
For a long moment, she stood there in silence.
Then she let out a soft laugh.
"Now this… this will be interesting."
She walked back toward the window, pressing her palm lightly against the cold glass.
"Sebastian," she whispered, her voice almost affectionate. "Don't worry. I'll fix everything."
Her smile widened.
"I'll make sure you never look away from me again."