FAZER LOGINChapter 10Rhea’s POVI don’t know how long I slept or if I even slept at all, but a knock on the door snapped my eyes open. I stretched lazily, then caught myself and went straight to the mirror. I knew it would be him coming to check on me. I ran my fingers quickly through my hair, smoothed down my clothes, and headed for the door with my heart already doing too much.I opened it.The excitement in my chest died on the spot.Standing before me was a young, bubbly girl around my age, grinning from ear to ear like she had been waiting all morning for this exact moment.“Oh, you must be Mrs Langston!” She said, already stepping into the room before I could even think about inviting her in.It felt weird being called that. But more than that, who the hell was she?“And you are?” I asked, turning toward her.“Forgive my rudeness. Hi, I’m Zoe, your nanny, personal stylist, I can be anything really, and Mr. Langston sent me to take you home.” She said all of this in one breath, the wide s
Rhea’s POVI breathed in sharply, then turned the doorknob again. Locked.I had been locked in.I quickly reached for the chair close by and sat down, trying to think. My phone — I had given it to Lyra. Of course, I had.“Damn it.” I grabbed my purse and flung it across the room.Then the lights went out.My throat went dry instantly. I pressed my back against the chair and squeezed my eyes shut, lips moving around the mantra my therapist had taught me, the one I learned after my father’s girlfriend locked me in the basement for an entire afternoon. Breathe in. Breathe out. You are safe. You are not there.But it wasn’t working. Anxiety had its hands around my chest and it was squeezing.Just when I thought my legs would give out, the door opened.And there he was.I didn’t think, I just moved, sprang to my feet, and rushed straight into him, tears already burning my eyes. Mr. Rowan’s arms came around me without hesitation, strong and steady, and he let me cry it all out. When the sob
Rhea’s POVThe sunlight hitting my face was the first thing I felt. I groaned softly, rubbing my eyes as I slowly opened them.For a moment, everything felt hazy, as if my mind were still floating somewhere between sleep and reality. I blinked, squinting at the unfamiliar ceiling above me.This… wasn’t my room.Confusion crept in as I pushed myself up slightly and looked around the large, elegant bedroom.Then I realized something was else. I was only wearing my underwear.My heart skipped violently in my chest, and I felt like I was suffocating. Memories from the previous night rushed back all at once: music, drinks, dancing, laughter… Rowan.My stomach twisted as panic began to rise.Just then the bathroom door opened.I froze.Rowan stepped out, a white towel hanging loosely around his waist, droplets of water sliding down his chest.My eyes widened before I could stop myself.My gaze traveled up his broad chest, lingering for half a second too long before I quickly looked away.
AUTHOR’S POV After the disastrous dinner, Rowan apologized several times to Rhea.Rhea kept assuring him it was fine, even though her night had been completely ruined. Still… the image of Rowan standing up for her replayed in her mind again and again, vivid as if it had just happened.But days passed, yet she never caught a glimpse of Rowan.The only place she could see him now was on his socials.Every day after school, Rhea would linger by the gate longer than necessary, pretending to adjust her bag while secretly scanning the road. If a car slowed near the curb, her heart leapt instantly. Maybe it was Rowan.But each time, the car drove past. It wasn’t him. The small burst of excitement in her chest would quietly fade, leaving disappointment curling in its place.Had he changed his mind?Or maybe his stepmother’s words had finally gotten to him.He hadn’t mentioned the wedding again, and neither had her father. Everything felt strangely cold, and it made her uneasy.More than on
AUTHOR’S POV The next morning Rhea woke up feeling exhausted but strangely excited.She had dreamed about Rowan again.Blushing slightly, she hurried to get dressed for school. She found Lyra by the lockers and pulled her aside by the elbow.“I have to tell you something.”Lyra gave her the look. “You’re doing the face.”“What face?” Rhea asked trying to hide her excitement. “The face you make when something either very good or very stupid happened,” Lyra replied. Rhea took a shaky breath. “I’m going to be his bride,” she said.For a moment, the noise around them faded.Lyra froze. Her eyes widened slowly. “Whose bride?”“Rowan’s. Mr. Rowan,” Rhea said, the excitement spilling out of her voice.Lyra stared at her as she had just spoken madness. “Rhea.”“I know how it sounds,” Rhea said quickly.Lyra shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. “You need sleep.”Rhea said nothing more. She simply lifted the card and held it out to her.Lyra took the card carefully, as if it
AUTHOR’S POV“Erhm… nothing,” Rhea replied quickly, trying to keep her eyes from drifting to the pillow.“I sure heard something,” Mr. Rowan said as he stepped fully into the room, his eyes darting around curiously.Rhea’s stomach dropped. “I don’t… I don’t hear anything.”Rowan began walking closer.Each step felt like a countdown to humiliation.Please don’t look under the pillow. Please don’t look under the pillow.Rowan stopped beside the bed, tilting his head slightly as he listened.“It sounds like it is coming from there,” he said calmly. Rhea swallowed hard, heat rushing to her face. Rhea nearly collapsed with relief.The tension that had been squeezing her lungs finally loosened as she let out a quiet breath. She clutched the towel tightly around herself while trying to appear normal.Rowan straightened slowly and turned his attention to her father.“It is alright,” he replied calmly.His gaze drifted back to the bed, then to the pillow, before finally landing on Rhea. Their







