CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

ELENA

I woke up feeling… weird.

Like my brain was in a foggy mix of embarrassment, denial, and pure delusion. Last night’s memory slammed into me at full force the second I opened my eyes.

Oh God.

I watched Lucian have sex. I touched myself because of it. I moaned his name.

I flung my pillow over my face.

“Maybe I should just move to another country,” I groaned.

But the smell of food drifted into my room, and my stomach betrayed me like the traitor it is. Breakfast. Right. People in this mansion exist. Life goes on. Even when your dignity has permanently left the chat.

I forced myself out of bed, changed into something decent, and headed downstairs.

Bad idea number one of the day.

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, I stopped dead in the doorway.

There. By the stove. Stirring something like she owned the entire world…

Her.

The girl from last night.

Vanessa.

Wearing one of Lucian’s shirts.

Bare legs. Long silky hair. Perfect everything.

And standing right beside her?

Lucian.

Leaning against the counter, arms crossed, expression unreadable… in joggers and a loose black shirt that did terrible things to my self-control.

Vanessa giggled at something he said, then leaned up and pressed a kiss to his jaw.

I swear I saw red.

The temperature in the room went up by 5000 degrees. Was I angry? Jealous? Both? Yes.

But did I show it?

Nope.

Because I am a classy, composed, emotionally stable young woman (lies).

“Good morning,” I said, voice calm, smile soft, mask ON.

Vanessa turned, gave me a once-over, then smiled sweetly.

Sweetly… but with that type of smile girls use when they’re about to ruin your life.

“Oh! You must be Elena,” she said, pretending to be surprised. “Lucian told me about you.”

My eyes flicked to him.

He said NOTHING.

Lucian didn’t react. Didn’t deny. Didn’t confirm. Just… stone-faced.

“Good morning,” he said simply, eyes flicking to mine for half a second.

Why did that tiny glance make my stomach flip?

“Morning,” I replied. I pulled out a stool and sat at the kitchen island.

Vanessa turned back to the stove, humming. “I hope you don’t mind—Lucian said I could make him breakfast. He likes when I cook for him.”

She looked at me as she said it.

Translation: I know him better than you. Stay in your lane.

I kept my polite smile. “That’s nice.”

She plated pancakes like she was on MasterChef and placed them in front of him, leaning in to kiss his lips this time.

I almost choked on air.

She sat on the counter next to him—too close—and crossed her legs, one brushing his thigh. “Eat before it gets cold,” she purred.

Lucian picked up his fork, unfazed… but he didn’t kiss her back.

Good. Small victory. I’ll take it.

Vanessa looked at me, tilting her head. “You look tired. Did you sleep okay?”

Oh? We’re doing this?

“I slept fine,” I said smoothly. “Did you?”

She smirked. “Very.”

I bet you did, witch.

She leaned closer to Lucian, hand sliding along his chest. “Although…” she giggled, “someone kept me up all night.”

My eye twitched.

STOP. TALKING.

Lucian’s eyes slid to her hand, then to her face—cold, unimpressed. “Eat,” he said flatly.

Oop.

She bit her lip and pouted. “You’re so serious in the morning.”

I nearly smiled.

She turned back to me, eyes sharp. “So, Elena… what exactly do you do around here?”

She said it like I was a stray cat Lucian picked up.

I blinked innocently. “Breathe. Eat. Exist. You know, basic human functions.”

Lucian’s lips twitched.

OH. DID I JUST ALMOST MAKE HIM LAUGH?

Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “Lucian’s so generous, letting you stay here. He’s always had a soft heart… even for strays.”

Strays.

STRAYS.

“True,” I said sweetly. “He really does have a soft spot… for people who don’t know when to leave.”

Lucian put his fork down.

The air got ice cold.

Vanessa opened her mouth—then froze.

Because Lucian looked at her.

Just a look.

Sharp. Warning. Lethal.

Instant silence.

She shut her mouth and smiled… but it was tight. Humiliated. Angry.

Good.

She slid off the counter and tried to recover. “I’ll get you coffee, babe.”

Babe? Ew.

Lucian didn’t respond.

She moved around him, brushing her hand down his arm like she still owned him.

I kept my face neutral. But inside?

I wanted to rip the entire kitchen apart.

Why did it bother me this much?

Why did seeing him with her feel like someone twisting a knife in my stomach?

Why did it feel… personal?

I looked at him.

He was eating calmly, unbothered, not even sparing her a glance.

Was this normal for him? Was she… just another girl?

Or… was she something more?

Vanessa returned with a mug, pressing another kiss to his shoulder.

My jaw clenched.

I couldn’t sit here anymore.

I stood, chair scraping back.

“I’m done,” I said. “Thanks for the show.”

Vanessa blinked. “Show?”

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

I shrugged. “Breakfast. PDA. Whatever.”

Vanessa fake-laughed. “Not everyone can handle passion, sweetie.”

I gave her a dead-eyed stare. “Not everyone has dignity either, but here we are.”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” Vanessa snapped, offended.

Lucian slowly turned his head and stared at her.

She shut up instantly.

His gaze shifted to me.

Firm. Commanding. Direct.

“Get ready,” he said. “We’re going out in an hour.”

I blinked. “We?”

“Yes.”

“…Where?”

He didn’t answer. He just went back to eating like he owned me.

Vanessa scoffed. “Uh, why is she going?”

Lucian didn’t look at her. “Because I said so.”

Vanessa glared at me.

I smiled sweetly.

Victory.

I nodded. “Fine.”

And I turned and walked away before my emotions exploded out of me.

By the time I reached the hallway, my hands were shaking.

Anger… jealousy… confusion…

I hated this.

I hated how he affected me.

I hated how she touched him.

I hated how much it bothered me.

But most of all…

I hated that I wanted him to look at me the way he never even bothered to look at her.

I closed my bedroom door behind me.

Heart pounding.

Mind racing.

Lucian.

We’re going out.

Together.

And I had no idea what that meant.

But I knew one thing:

Vanessa was not done.

And neither was I