Chapter 5 – The Storm Approaches

I woke to the sound of birds singing outside my window.

For a moment, I didn't know where I was.

The bed beneath me was softer than any bed I'd ever slept in. Sunlight poured through the curtains, warming the room with a golden glow.

Then I remembered.

Lucian's estate.

The police.

My father.

Everything that had happened yesterday rushed back at once.

I sat up slowly, expecting the familiar ache of fear to settle in my chest.

Instead... Nothing

There was only silence.

And the realization almost made me cry.

A gentle knock sounded.

"Miss Carter?"

Evelyn's voice.

"Yes?"

"Good morning. Breakfast will be served in thirty minutes. I brought you a few clothes. I wasn't sure what size you preferred, so I chose several options."

"Thank you."

She stepped inside carrying neatly folded outfits.

"I'll leave them here. Take your time."

After she left, I stared at the clothes spread across the bed.

A cream sweater.

A pair of light blue jeans.

A simple floral dress.

Nothing flashy.

Just warm, mutual pieces

I smiled.

Whoever had picked these...

Has my kind of taste.

After showering, I chose the sweater and jeans. They fit perfectly, as if they had been made just for me.

Downstairs, the dining room was already set.

The long table looked as though it belonged in a palace.

Yet only one place was occupied.

Lucian.

He was reading a newspaper while sipping black coffee.

He glanced up as I entered.

"Good morning." I said immediately he looked at me.

His voice was as calm as ever.

"Good morning."

I stood there not sure if I should sit down with him or I should wait for some kind of permission.

"Did you sleep well?"

The question surprised me.

I looked at him.

"I...yes."

"Good."

He folded the newspaper and set it aside.

"Please, sit."

I took the seat across from him.

A few moments later, Evelyn served breakfast.

Fresh fruit.

Eggs.

Toast.

Tea.

The delicious smell made me realize how hungry I was.

"You should eat," Lucian said.

"You barely touched your dinner last night."

I looked down, embarrassed.

"I wasn't very hungry."

"You need your strength."

For a while, we ate in comfortable silence.

It felt strange.

I'd spent years eating meals while bracing for an argument or eating in my room to prevent that.

This silence felt...unfamiliar.

Finally, I looked up.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You may." He said sipping his coffee.

"Why are you helping me?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he placed his coffee cup down carefully.

"When I was sixteen," he began, "someone helped my younger sister when she had nowhere else to go."

I listened quietly.

"I never forgot that."

His gaze drifted toward the window.

"Kindness has a way of returning when you least expect it."

Before I could respond, Adrian hurried into the dining room.

His expression was serious.

"Sir."

Lucian looked at him.

"What happened?"

"We found the car."

My heart skipped a beat.

"What car?" I asked.

Adrian's eyes met mine.

"The one that was following Miss Carter's café for the past three weeks."

The fork slipped from my hand and clattered onto my plate.

"What?"

I stared at him in horror.

"I was being followed?"

Adrian nodded grimly.

"Yes."

Lucian's expression hardened.

"But we still don't know who was inside.

My mouth went dry.

"I... I don't understand."

I looked from Adrian to Lucian.

"Why would anyone follow me?"

Adrian pulled a small notebook from his jacket.

"One of Mr. Ashford's security teams noticed the vehicle a few weeks ago. At first, we assumed it was unrelated."

"A few weeks ago?" I repeated.

"But I didn't even know Mr. Ashford then."

"You didn't," Lucian replied calmly.

"But the people around me pay attention to unusual patterns. A car sitting outside the same café every afternoon for several days is unusual."

I sat more straight looking at my jeans.

"I never noticed."

"Whoever was in the car made sure you wouldn't."

A chill crept down my spine.

My mind raced through the past month.

Had someone been watching me while I worked?

While I walked home?

While I bought groceries?

The thought made me feel sick.

Lucian studied my expression.

"Don't let fear fill in the blanks. Right now, we only know someone was watching. We don't know why."

His steady tone helped me breathe a little easier.

"Did you find the driver?" I asked.

Adrian shook his head.

"No. The car was abandoned in a warehouse district early this morning."

"So... there are no clues?"

"There are a few."

He placed a photograph on the table.

"It was rented using false identification. Whoever arranged it planned carefully."

I stared at the picture but couldn't make sense of it.

"It could be connected to your father's debts," Lucian said.

"Or it could be something else."

"Either way," Adrian added, "we're increasing security around the estate."

I frowned.

"You don't have to do all of this because of me."

Lucian met my eyes.

"If someone is targeting a guest under my protection, then yes, I do."

My chest loosened as those word settled.

Evelyn entered quietly with a fresh pot of tea, sensing the tension in the room.

"I thought everyone could use a refill."

She smiled gently at me before leaving again.

The simple kindness made my chest ache.

I wasn't used to people caring whether I was comfortable.

After a moment of silence, I looked at Lucian.

"What happens now?"

"For today?"

He stood from the table.

"You stay inside the estate while we learn more."

I sighed.

"I've spent years feeling trapped." I mumbled to myself.

A faint smile touched the corner of his mouth.

"Then let's make sure this doesn't feel like another cage."

Before I could ask what he meant, he turned to Adrian.

"Have the gardens opened."

"They already are, sir."

"And ask Evelyn to show Miss Carter the library."

Adrian nodded.

As Lucian walked toward the door, he paused.

"Oh, and Ava?"

It was the first time he'd called me by my first name.

I looked up.

"Yes?"

"If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable, anything at all, let me know immediately."

There was no command in his voice.

I smiled a little with a nod.

I believed him.

He walked away and Adrian followed him after giving me and light bow.

After breakfast, Evelyn found me in the hallway with a warm smile.

"Ready?" She asked.

"For what?" I asked.

She laughed softly.

" For an estate tour."

I hadn't thought much about it. Everything had happened so quickly that I'd barely noticed where I was staying.

"I'd like that, please."

She led me through the house, pointing out different rooms as we walked.

"The west wing is mostly offices," she explained. "Mr. Ashford spends a lot of time there."

"What about the east wing?"

"The family rooms."

The word family caught my attention.

"Does Mr. Ashford live here alone?"

Evelyn hesitated.

"For the most part."

There was something in her tone that told me not to press further.

We continued walking until we reached a pair of tall wooden doors.

Evelyn pushed them open.

"This is my favorite room."

I stepped inside and stopped in amazement.

Books.

Thousands of them.

Shelves stretched from the polished floor to the high ceiling, with rolling ladders resting against them. Sunlight poured through enormous windows, making the room glow.

"I've... I've never seen so many books."

Evelyn smiled.

"Mr. Ashford enjoys reading."

I ran my fingers lightly along the spine of a novel.

"My mother loved books," I said quietly.

"When I was little, she'd read to me every night."

"What was your favorite?"

I smiled at the memory.

"She always changed the endings."

Evelyn laughed.

"Why?"

"So I'd never guess what happened next."

I found myself laughing.

The sound felt strange.

But... nice.

After Evelyn excused herself, I wandered through the library alone.

A thick leather-bound book caught my eye.

As I reached for it, felt a presence behind me and another hand reached for the same book.

I gasped and quickly pulled my hand back.

"I'm sorry."

Lucian looked down at me.

"I believe you found it first."

His voice carried the same calm confidence it always did.

"I didn't know anyone else was here."

"I come here when I need to think."

He took the book from the shelf and handed it to me.

"You should read it."

I glanced at the title.

"The Count of Monte Cristo."

"My mother used to tell me about this story," I admitted.

"It's about betrayal," Lucian said.

"And second chances." I returned.

Then looked at him.

"Do you believe people deserve second chances?"

He was silent for a moment.

"Some do."

"And some don't?" I asked.

His gaze drifted toward the window.

"Some people mistake forgiveness for permission."

The words lingered in my mind.

Before I could ask what he meant, Adrian appeared in the doorway.

He looked unusually tense.

"Sir."

Lucian turned.

"What happened?"

"We've identified the abandoned car."

My heart skipped.

"The rental company recovered part of a fingerprint."

Adrian looked directly at Lucian.

"It doesn't belong to Mr. Carter."

The library was suddenly silent.

"Whose is it?" Lucian asked.

Adrian took a slow breath.

"It belongs to someone your organization has been looking for... for over three years now."

Lucian's expression hardened.

"Name?"

Adrian answered quietly.

"Victor Moretti."

The warmth drained from the room.

I didn't know who Victor Moretti was...

But the look on Lucian's face told me one thing.

Whoever that man was...

He was a threat.