Chapter 18

~ LENA ~

I woke slowly to the warmth of the morning sun brushing against my eyelids. At first, it felt like a dream—warm, gentle, and quiet. The kind of morning where everything seemed wrapped in a calm I hadn’t felt in a long time.

For a brief moment, I lingered in that tranquility, caught somewhere between sleep and consciousness.

Then slowly, my eyes opened, and the first thing they met was the golden light streaming in through the tall curtains. It spilled across the bed, and the white sheets tangled around my legs.

My brain was foggy as I lay there, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling.

Then everything came rushing back in a flash. I remembered the wedding. Last night. Nathan.

My heart jolted, and I sat up abruptly, holding the sheets to my naked chest. I was alone in the room. Everywhere was quiet and neat. My wedding dress lay carefully draped over a chair. My shoes were next to it.

Instantly, my eyes flew to the clock. Eight forty-two, it read.

“What—?”

I blinked at it, certain I must have read it wrong.

I looked again. Eight forty-two. It didn’t change.

A soft groan escaped me as I ran a hand through my tousled hair. I never woke up this late. Even on my most exhausting workdays, I was always awake before seven. My body had learnt to function that way.

But nothing about the past week was normal. The wedding alone had been overwhelming. Pretending to be someone else every minute of it had been more stressful. And then… last night.

Heat crept slowly up my neck. I pressed my palms against my face, embarrassed even though there was no one else in the room with me.

Nathan.

The memory returned in flashes. His voice softly calling me ‘angel’. His mouth and hands on my body, touching me in ways that had driven me insane. The way he had looked at me, like I mattered… like I was something so precious to him.

My stomach fluttered. I bit my lower lip, smiling to myself. I had never imagined it could feel like that, especially with a man who, only a short time ago, had been a total stranger to me.

He’d been so gentle… So patient.

He’d moved slowly, watching me carefully the entire time, like my comfort mattered more to him than anything else. Like he was willing to stop if I asked at any moment.

A small breath slipped from my lips. I closed my eyes, my cheeks burning again as I remembered the way my body had totally surrendered to him, responding with wanton desire I hadn’t known I possessed.

Somewhere along the line last night, the guilt and shame had been buried beneath everything else. I had felt like someone else entirely—reckless and completely unguarded. The memory made my cheeks burn now as I thought about facing Nathan this morning after the passionate night we had shared.

Where was he? I wondered. The other side of the bed was empty. The sheets were cold. He must have been awake for hours now.

For some reason I couldn’t quite understand, a strange little pang settled in my chest. But it was quickly pushed aside as another thought crashed into my mind like a warning bell, ringing a single word. Pregnancy.

It hit me like a splash of cold water, my eyes flying open.

No. That couldn’t happen. Not now. Not ever. At least, not while I was living someone else’s life.

My heart sped up as I scrambled to my feet, wrapping the sheet securely around my body before hurrying towards the walk-in closet.

The door opened into a space that still felt surreal every time I stepped inside.

Soft lights illuminated rows of perfectly arranged clothing. The closet was large. It felt more like a private dressing room than a closet.

Nathan’s side was immaculate. Dark suits hung in neat rows beside crisp white shirts and expensive jackets. Everything was arranged with careful precision.

My side looked just as perfect. Rosa had unpacked all my things the day before the wedding. She’d arranged my dresses, jewelry, handbags, and shoes carefully on the shelves like pieces displayed in a luxury boutique.

Even now, it still didn’t feel entirely real. My life had changed overnight. Or at least… the life I was pretending to live had.

My eyes quickly searched for the particular handbag I was looking for, hidden carefully on one of the shelves. Relief flooded me as I found it. Immediately, I grabbed it and opened the zipper. The small packet of pills was exactly where I had left it.

I slipped one out quickly, then hurried into the bathroom.

The space was just as wide and luxurious as the rest of the house. White marble floors gleamed beneath my feet. A wide glass shower stood to one side, and a deep soaking tub rested beneath the large window.

The floor felt cold beneath my bare feet as I filled a glass with water by the long marble counter and swallowed the pill. Only after I had downed it did I release a quiet sigh of relief.

I would have to remember to take one every morning, I thought, catching my tousled reflection in the round mirrors above the sink. Usually, I wasn’t on birth control. But now…

Now things were different, and pregnancy was the last thing I wanted.

Nathan loved children. I already knew this. Julian had mentioned it once while we were talking about his cousin. And somehow, I was certain Nathan and Kimberly must have talked about it before.

If Nathan ever saw these pills…

My stomach clenched at the thought.

That would be trouble. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that.

Carefully, I tucked the packet back inside my bag, hiding it well before stepping under the shower.

I stood under the warm jet of water for minutes as it cascaded over my shoulders, instantly easing the tension in my body. But it didn’t quiet my thoughts. Once again, my mind drifted back to last night.

Little flashes returned without warning—Nathan’s voice murmuring softly against my ear, the warmth of his breath against my skin, his fingers intertwined with mine beside my head as his body moved against me.

I closed my eyes, embarrassed even though I was alone. Standing there beneath the warm water, remembering everything we had done together… It brought a soft flush to my face.

And yet, there was something else, too. Something softer. A strange warmth. Something strangely comforting about the memory.

 A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

Eventually, I turned off the water and wrapped myself in one of the large white towels from the neatly folded stack.

The bedroom was still empty when I stepped out. There was still no sign of Nathan. No indication that he had come in while I was in the shower. Now the silence was beginning to feel strange.

As much as it bothered me wondering where he could be, I ignored it. I returned to the closet instead, scanning the rows of clothing for what to wear.

Before long, my gaze settled on a dress that instantly felt right. A delicate floral print sundress with tiny pink flowers scattered across the fabric like they had been painted there.

The straps were thin, the neckline flattering, and the skirt flowed softly, ending just above my knees.

It felt light. The kind of dress someone wore on a peaceful morning when they didn’t need to be anywhere.

I slipped it on, then quickly combed my hair and swept it up into a messy bun. Putting on a pair of simple flats, I stepped out of the bedroom.

The hallway was quiet, almost eerily so. As I walked towards the staircase, my eyes wandered over the walls.

Nathan clearly loved art. Large paintings hung in elegant frames, some bold with color and texture, others classical landscapes that looked like they belonged in museums.

Every detail of the house spoke of quiet wealth. My fingers trailed lightly along the polished wooden railing as I descended the staircase.

“Nate?” I called, my voice echoing softly through the vast space as I peeped into the empty living room.

There was no answer. A faint crease formed between my brows. While walking down the hallway and descending the stairs, I’d expected to see a maid or someone else, but I hadn’t.

Where was everyone?

I paused, frowning. Normally, the staff would already be moving around the house by now. But the entire place felt strangely empty.

I was beginning to get worried when I smelled it. Food. The scent drifted from the direction of the kitchen. Someone was definitely in there. Curious now, I followed the scent.

The closer I got, the stronger the aroma became. I could smell eggs, coffee, and something sweet.

My stomach growled quietly, reminding me that I had barely eaten anything at the wedding. Anxiety had stolen my appetite then, but the smell of freshly brewed coffee now made the hunger come rushing back.

When I reached the kitchen, I pushed the door open. The moment I looked inside, I froze.