Eight

Author's POV

Summer returned to her room after breakfast, deciding to spend the entire day indoors. She had just settled into her favorite chair, enjoying the quiet, when suddenly a knock at the door startled her. The sound shattered the silence, and Summer held her breath for a moment.

"Who is it?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling.

"Lady, Alpha Luxian is waiting for you downstairs," replied the servant's voice from behind the door, polite yet firm.

Summer let out a long sigh, feeling too lazy to move. She had just wanted to relax, but it seemed her plans were about to change. "Lady?" the servant pressed, as if unwilling to leave without a clear response.

"O-okay, tell him I'll be there soon," Summer finally said, her voice heavy.

She rose from her chair with a sluggish motion, grabbing the nude-colored robe hanging behind the door. She slipped it on casually, then ran her fingers through her messy hair. Her eyes drifted to the mirror in the corner of the room, and without thinking, she picked up a lipstick from the vanity. She swiped it across her lips, adding a touch of color to avoid looking pale. But the moment she did, she caught herself.

"Why am I even bothering to dress up? What does it matter if I look messy in front of him?" she muttered in frustration, trying to convince herself that her appearance didn’t matter. Yet, for some reason, she continued to tidy herself up.

Once she felt presentable, Summer slipped on her heels and made her way downstairs. When she arrived, Luxian was busy with his laptop. His eyes were glued to the screen, his fingers dancing swiftly across the keyboard. But the moment he sensed Summer’s presence, his head turned slowly.

Summer felt her heart race as Luxian’s gaze landed on her. She tried to keep herself from looking away, but his stare was so intense, it felt as though it could pierce bore into her soul. She felt nervous but forced herself to remain composed.

Luxian, on the other hand, nearly lost his focus. His mind wandered the moment he saw Summer in that nude-colored robe. She looked so damn captivating, and without realizing it, his eyes traced every curve of her figure. He felt a thirst, a desire to keep looking at her.

Meanwhile, Summer felt Luxian’s gaze bore into her. She grew increasingly uneasy but tried not to show it. She stood straight, waiting for his next command.

After what felt like an eternity, Luxian finally spoke, his voice deep and commanding. "We’ll go horseback riding in an hour. Be ready."

"Okay," Summer nodded, trying to suppress the turmoil in her heart. She waited to see if there were further instructions, but Luxian had already turned his attention back to his laptop. She felt a little confused but decided not to ask anything more.

"Is there anything else?" Summer finally asked, breaking the silence.

Luxian looked up again, his eyes meeting hers. "No," he replied curtly.

Summer nodded once more, then prepared to leave. "I’ll go."

Luxian nodded, but suddenly he stopped her. "Wait a moment..."

She turned back, her eyes filled with awkwardness and curiosity. What else did Luxian want?

Luxian took a deep breath before speaking. "Tonight, wear an evening gown in the same color you’re wearing now."

"But Alpha..." Summer hesitated, furrowing her brows. "I only have one dress in this color. I don’t have another."

Luxian nodded, then patted the empty spot on the sofa beside him. "Sit."

Summer hesitated, but Luxian’s serious, commanding gaze made her comply. She sank onto the sofa next to him, trying not to sit too close.

Luxian navigated to a website, and soon, a variety of luxurious evening gowns appeared on the screen. Summer recognized the site immediately—it was the high-end brand her former mother-in-law always wore. She had often been sent to pick up orders from that boutique, and the prices always shocked her. Even a silk nightgown adorned with Swarovski crystals could cost fifteen thousand dollars, with only three pieces produced worldwide.

"Just pick whatever you like," Luxian said suddenly, taking Summer’s hand and placing it on the cursor.

Summer was stunned, her eyes widening. "But look at the prices..." she protested, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luxian simply smiled faintly, his eyes still fixed on her. "I’m paying for it, so why should you worry about it? Huh?" he said, his voice low but confident.

Summer felt her chest tighten. She didn’t know what to say. On one hand, she felt unworthy of such extravagance. On the other, there was something in Luxian’s gaze that made it hard to refuse. She took a deep breath, then slowly began moving the cursor, selecting the simplest gown she could find.

But Luxian stopped her. "Not that one," he said firmly. "This one." He directed the cursor to a far more extravagant gown, adorned with shimmering crystal details.

Summer felt her heart pounding. "But this is too—"

"You deserve to wear it," Luxian interrupted, his eyes never leaving hers. "And I want to see you in it tonight."

Summer felt her face flush. She didn’t know what else to say. Finally, she just nodded slowly, trying to contain the storm of emotions inside her.

Luxian smiled in satisfaction, then closed his laptop. "Now, get ready for the ride. Don’t keep me waiting too long."

Summer nodded again, then stood up from the sofa. She walked toward the door, but before leaving, she glanced back at Luxian one more time. He was already focused on his laptop screen again.