Forbidden Heat



First Question

We sat down at the table arranged for our dinner. It was very thoughtful of Edward to arrange a romantic candle- lit dinner for us here where we could dine in the presence of the stars above. However, the atmosphere was filled with tension and dread. It was hard to believe that just a while ago we were having fun dressing each other up like a couple would. Reality is harsh, huh?

*You should eat before we talk. Please try to eat a lot so old Ralph will not cry in his sleep tonight," Edward joked as he prompted me to eat.

"Ok..." I replied softly as I started eating. The food was probably good. I said probably because I couldn't taste anything anymore at that point in time.

Thinking of dear old Ralph and his smiling face, I tried to stuff as much food into me as I could. I'm sure that old man put his heart and soul into prepping this romantic dinner setting and meal so the least I could do is show my appreciation by eating as much as I could.

Ralph and some maids helped to clear away the dishes from the table after we were done. Soon, Edward and I were left alone again once more, and the wind suddenly felt much colder than before.

"Want to just start? As promised, since you won the game, you get to ask me three questions and I'll answer them truthfully," Edward broke the awkward silence with his low and serious voice.

During the game I looked forward to this moment so much. The moment where I would finally learn the truth from Edward. However, now that the moment had arrived, I felt so much dread and fear. Am I making the right decision? How much more of what was left of my current world would crumble down at his words?

"Ok. Firstly, I want you to tell me the truth about the event behind my dream including the identify of the person who saved me," I stated slowly. I was surprised at how little my voice shook compared to the turmoil and uncertainty that I was feeling inside.

"What do you think you know about the incident and the identity of the man who saved you?" Edward asked me back patiently.

"What I've figured out by myself is that the event really took place. It must have happened soon after my mother passed away and I was living alone with Lucien and therefore, the man who saved me must have been... Lucien as well," I replied flatly.

"I see..." Edward replied without any emotions.

*Edward, please tell me the truth. I know you said that I wouldn't believe you even if you told me...but I'm willing to try..." I pleaded as I tried not to raise my voice.

Edward sighed loudly.

"Listen to me carefully. I'm only going to tell you this once. You've got everything all wrong except for the fact that the incident was real. The incident really did happen. However, it didn't happen a while after your mother died. The incident actually took place roughly a year before your mother married Lucien. In other words, when the event took place, you have never met Lucien before. Consequently, Lucien wasn't the one who saved you on that day," Edward explained slowly and logically.

"It can't be...that's not how I remember it at all," I replied in shock and confusion.

"I don't blame you. As I said, you wouldn't believe me no matter what I said," Edward replied with a shrug as if he didn't care and that I could take it or leave it.

"How do you know about this? Do you have some proof that your version of the story is true?" I asked seriously. "Lucien didn't save you, Natalia. He has never saved you..." Edward said as he locked eyes with me.

"That's not true! Lucien saved me," I shouted back. Lucien had always been there for me.

"Did he tell you that? When you asked him if he saved you that day...did he tell you that he did?" Edward asked back.

Well, he...

You must be thankful to that man who saved your life. Do you know him? What does he look like? He sounds like a truly wonderful person...doesn't he?'

Lucien's words came back to me...

"He didn't say it. My brother is sadly and respectfully a man with clear principles of his own. He would never explicitly say that he saved you when he didn't. Therefore, I am very sure that he never said it. Are you sure that you weren't just hearing what you wanted to hear from him?" Edward said slowly and empathetically.

"How do you know this?!" I screamed at Edward. Enough with his theories. Why can't he just tell me straight.

*Natalia. Lucien didn't save you...I know it best..." Edward spoke in a gentle voice.

"How?" I asked.

"Because I did," Edward stated clearly and bluntly.

"What?!" I cried out. Edward saved me? Impossible...

"Sorry to disappoint you after all this time. The truth is Lucien never saved you because the one who saved you that day was me. It has always been me," Edward explained again slowly to drive his point home.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

"Impossible..." I said without hiding my confusion and shock.

"Don't blame yourself for getting it all wrong. Just think about it, it was dark, and you were scared and all you could remember were the green eyes of your savior. You held on to that image without remember the identity of the man....and then, just like magic, less than a year later your mother introduced you to a man who had the same green eyes that you remembered. Not just his eyes, his hair, his face and perhaps even his build was very similar to your savior. In that moment, you must have believed that the man standing before you was your savior, right?" Edward persuaded me.

*... Then when your mother passed away and you were alone with Lucien, your mind twisted your memories even further so that you believed that the incident happened after you were living with Lucien. Why? Because your mind wanted to reconcile its wishes and desires with reality. Your mind wished to find your savior and changing the sequence of your memory of the event could achieve exactly that. Suddenly, your desires aligned with reality and Lucien became the hero you desired. It's a happy ending, right?" Edward stated his theory with a sad smile.

I didn't say anything. I was too overwhelmed by how convincing his theory was, and I didn't have anything to say. Noticing that I didn't have a response, Edward continued...

-To be continued...