AUTHOR’S NOTE Okay… so they kissed. Again. But this time felt different, didn’t it? Like something sacred cracked open? Writing this chapter was like stirring old memories—warm, a little burnt around the edges, but so full of heart. Have you ever had a meal that tasted like your childhood? Or pulled away from someone just to want them closer again? Tell me your favourite part of this chapter in the comments—and what do you think Lucien’s mother was like? I’m dying to know your theories… — Zera
NIRELLEWe walk around the house, and he has more rooms than he could use. If he had twelve children, the house would be quite sufficient to house them without any child feeling cheated. The thoughts of children made my cheeks redden with embarrassment. I had been so adamant about not having any children, and now I was thinking of it? What kind of double-minded person was I?"You are blushing a whole lot; do you like the house that much?" Lucien asked, and I looked away because I was not expecting him to notice. How did he notice that?"I am not," I lie, the lie rolling off my tongue easily."If you say so," he says, and I nod. We walk through the house, and then once we are done with the accessible floors, I am ready to get back to my room for the day."I am sorry to have pulled you away from your busy day to give me a tour," I say, stopping at my door."Why do you seem eager to get rid of me?" he asked, and I wish I could tell him that I did not want this moment to end, but I did no
NIRELLEI had come in to cook to take my mind off going back to the kiss I had shared with Lucien, but he had waltzed into this place to kiss me once again. How was I to survive? It would be replaying for days on end in my head. He tugs on my lower lip as though it were something that was giving him some kind of strength. His hand drops from my wrist and circles my waist. My brain is screaming at me; we should not be doing this here, in the kitchen, where anyone can walk in and see.I pull away at the thought of that, and he looks at me, breathless, with his eyebrow going up. "Why?" he raps gently. I saw his chest heaving as he spoke."Anyone can walk in and see us," I respond, almost not believing that he was asking me that. Why did I pull away? I don't remember giving him such a freeway with kisses that he had gotten so bold as to do them twice a day."In my house?" he asked, and it clicked. This was his house. "I can do whatever I want, whenever I want in your house," he adds, and
LUCIEN"And you are telling me that you told her that your name was Timothy Verlice because...?" Theo sounded more uninterested than I would have thought him to be, which was strange."I did not want you to be shiced when you come home to her calling me Timothy," I replied, smacking my lips joyfully. She had been the one to pull away from the kiss, and when she walked away, even though it was quickly, I could tell she was just overwhelmed and did not mean to escape."And you had to call me over at work because?" He asked, taking his earlier tone, and I am confused. "I mean, you could have waited for me to get back first, he added, and I can imagine him rolling his eyes."I just wanted you to know," I add lowly and slowly. Why was he reacting this way? Wasn't he the one who had been pushing for us to end up together? What then was this again?"Okay, got it," he was snappy as if something had happened. He wanted to talk, but it was almost as if he was holding himself back."Theo," I cal
NIRELLEAfter breakfast I make my way to Lucien's study; with one knock I let myself into the room, and he lights up upon seeing me as if we had not just parted a few moments ago."What are you doing here?" he asked, shocked to see me."I am here to see Mr. Vexley. Is he in?" I ask, and he tilts his head, squeezing his face as if he were thinking about what I had just asked. "If he isn't in, then I can just come back another time.""Well, if you are here for Mr. Vexley, then I am afraid you might just have to come back another time, but if you want to see Lucien, then I can assure you that he is in here," he said. I did not even think of him responding that way when I asked the question, but I liked it."Are you okay?" I walk to the table and stand on the other side of it."I know that Cassian will be coming for us soon, and I am not sure if I know the way to protect you.""Remember I told you this just a few days ago." I pause and tap on the table gently. "Side by side""Sure," he lea
NIRELLEWaking up to numerous calls from Yvette, Cory, and Enoch was not what I expected after pissing Cassian off yesterday, but maybe it was a valid reaction from them."How dare you do this to us?" Enoch was screaming over the phone when I called Yvette back. He was not on the phone, but I could hear his thunderous screams around the house. "What do you think you are doing? Do you suddenly think you are on your own now that you are married?""How can you call me first thing in the morning and begin to yell?" I ask, rubbing the sleep off my eyes."Nirelle, what did you do?" Yvette asked. Compared to Enoch's raging voice, she was much calmer."I should be asking you that because I don't understand why you'd call me and begin to scream at me.""What did you do to Cassian?" she asked, and things clicked. They must have had a falling out with Cassian. Did he already take revenge? He was quick, but why would anything he did to Lucien affect them? Why did they seem more pressed than they s
NIRELLEOnce I am done with the pictures, I find my mom in the crowd and meet her. I have to make sure to get out of there before I have to talk to Cassian because I know what they could do."Mom""Honey, say hello to my friends. This is...""I have to go," I say, stopping her. I have smiled for the camera; now they have to do what I want them to, and that is to let me go before I cause a scene at their precious party."Honey," she was startled by my reaction but tried to mask it with a smile. "So soon? The party only started," she added, biting her lips so that they stained the bottom part of her teeth red."Lucien wants me home now," I add, and she nods, turning to her friends and laughing nervously."He is so smitten by her that he can't even be away from her for a moment," she lied because she wanted them to think I had some sort of control over Luien."Oh, I see," they murmured, liking whatever story she was spinning."But I thought he agreed to let you stay for the party," she s