Forbidden Heat novel Chapter 186

**cough cough cough**

I coughed multiple times as I batted away the dust in the air in front of my face with the palm of my hand. This place smelled damp and moldy…and ewwww.

Judging from the thick layers of dust, this place must have remained closed for years. I silently prayed that there were no dangerous animals lurking around like snakes, for example.

Edward began walking around as if he was searching for something as we ventured deeper into the building into what must have been the lobby of this building. The ceiling was high and had decorative glass panes that let in the light from the outside.

“What are you searching for? Can I help? You know, anything that can make us leave this place faster…” I offered my help in a shaky voice.

“Sorry, hang on for a bit. I haven’t been here for a long time…” Edward apologized softly as he continued whatever it was, he was doing.

Suddenly, I heard a clicking sound and then a loud mechanical sound. Edward quickly pulled me to stand behind him moments before the ground that had been in front of us slowly collapsed to reveal a hidden staircase.

When the sounds and movements have stopped, I stared in shock and amazement at the hidden winding staircase that led downwards into the darkness below. Why do these spooky things even exist?

“Let’s go,” Edward said as he pulled me along once again.

“No…we’re not. I’m not going down that hole,” I protested as I tried to pull back.

“Come on or I’ll leave you behind,” Edward threatened, refusing to let go of my arm.

“It’s so dark…and god knows where it’ll lead us,” I continued to protest.

“Don’t worry. Not only God knows where it’ll lead us because I also know, ok?” Edward continued to tease me as he began laughing.

“You’ve been here before?” I asked incredulously as I pointed down into the deep dark hole.

Wordlessly, Edward led me by the hand down the stairs. It got darker and darker as we descended deeper and further away from the surface. My legs shook with every downward step that I took and I hated every single moment.

“There should be a light switch somewhere around here…” Edward said as if to himself as he felt long the wall with his hand.

“I doubt there’s still electricity here though…” I mumbled back. I hated how pessimistic I sounded so let me just say that I felt more like a realist at the time.

“There is,” Edward stated firmly.

In the next instance, the lights flickered on just as he had said. There was a switch on the wall and there was electricity. The light lit up the dark staircase and I saw that unlike the messy surface, the staircase was decently clean.

“I guess you’re right…” I mumbled as we continued to descend the winding stairs.

“Of course, I’m right,” Edward replied casually.

After a few minutes of descending the stairs, we finally reached the bottom of the stairs. What is this place? I asked in my mind for the hundredth time since entering the building. What I saw before me didn’t make any sense at all.

“Yes. He told me who my father is and that he had asked Lucien to protect mum and me,” I replied.

“I see. ‘If I die, promise me that you will protect what is inside this envelop.’ That’s what your father said to me and probably to Lucien as well when he gave us this,” Edward said.

Turning around to face me once more, Edward removed a familiar black envelop from the inner pocket of his suit. His eyes lingered on the envelop for a moment before his eyes met mine.

“Lucien showed me a blank envelop like that and there was a family photo of father, mother and I inside. Although, I always thought that he was just my mum’s friend before,” I said as my mind struggled to process why Edward would have the same envelop.

Edward has a black envelop from my father just like Lucien. What does this mean? What was Edward’s relationship with my father?

“Lucien told you the identity of your father, but I doubt he told you who you father really was, did he?” Edward surmised and quite accurately.

“No…he didn’t tell me anything beyond my father’s identity in the photograph,” I said as I nodded.

“Yeah…Lucien tends to leave all the hard work to me, unfortunately,” Edward replied before letting out a loud sigh.

“You knew my father?” I asked what was on my mind.

--To be continued…