CHAPTER FIVE

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lucian standing across the dining table.

His eyes. His voice.

The way he had looked at me when my mother called us family. I turned beneath the sheets and groaned.

This was ridiculous.

I couldn't spend the rest of my life jumping every time I heard his name.

My phone sat on the nightstand. I stared at it.

I still hadn't replied.

A knock sounded at my door. I sat up.

“Nyla? Breakfast.”

My mother's voice. I glanced at the time. Seven thirty.

“I'll be down soon.”

“Don't take too long." Her footsteps faded.

I dragged myself out of bed and stood in front of the mirror. I looked terrible. Dark circles sat beneath my eyes, and my hair was a mess.

I quickly showered, dressed, and headed downstairs.

I could perceive the smell of coffee when I entered the dining room. My mother was already seated beside Xavier.

I smiled faintly.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, darling.” Mom pulled out the chair beside her. I sat down.

Then I noticed the empty chair directly across from me.

My stomach tightened.

A few seconds later, footsteps sounded from the hallway.

I froze.

Lucian walked into the dining room.

He was dressed in a dark suit, his hair neatly styled, a watch strapped around his wrist.

His gaze found mine almost immediately. Neither of us looked away.

“Nyla.”

His voice was calm.

“Lucian.”

My mother looked between us and smiled.

“I'm glad you're both getting along already.”

I nearly choked on my coffee.

Lucian's lips twitched.

“Of course.”

I shot him a warning look.

He ignored it.

Xavier folded his newspaper.

“Lucian, you have the meeting with the board at ten.”

“I know.”

“And the acquisition?”

“I'm handling it.”

“You're always handling something.”

Lucian reached for his coffee.

Xavier gave him an unimpressed look.

My mother laughed.

“You two are exactly alike.”

I lowered my eyes to my plate.

Please don't compare them.

Not today.

Not when my nerves were already hanging by a thread.

“Nyla,” Mom said.

I looked up.

“You're awfully quiet.”

“I'm tired.”

“Did you sleep well?”

I hesitated.

Across the table, Lucian took a slow sip of his coffee.

“No,” I answered.

His eyes flickered toward me, I immediately looked away.

Mom frowned.

“Are you feeling sick?”

“No. I'm fine.”

Lucian placed his cup down.

“She probably needs time to adjust.”

I looked at him.

Our eyes met again.

There was something in his expression.

Something almost amused.

I hated it.

“I can speak for myself.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“I know.”

My mother smiled, completely oblivious.

“Good. Then after breakfast, you can show Nyla around.”

I stopped eating.

Lucian looked at Mom.

“Me?”

“Yes. You know the house better than anyone.”

“I have work.”

“Then show her before you leave.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“I suppose I can spare a few minutes.”

My fingers tightened around my fork.

“I don't need a tour.”

Mom shook her head.

“Don't be stubborn.”

“I've already seen the house.”

“Not all of it.”

Xavier folded his newspaper.

“Lucian can show you the rest.”

I stared at my plate.

There was no escape.

“Fine.”

Lucian's mouth curved slightly.

“Fine.”

I immediately regretted agreeing.

Breakfast couldn't end fast enough.

The moment my mother and Xavier left the dining room, I stood.

“I'll see you later.”

“Nyla.”

I stopped.

Lucian was still seated.

“We need to talk.”

My heart began pounding.

“I don't think we do.”

He stood.

“Yes, we do.”

“I already told you what I think.”

“And I heard you.”

“Then what's there to talk about?”

He walked closer.

Not too close.

Just close enough to make me uncomfortable.

“I wanted to know if you were serious.”

“About what?”

“Staying away from me.”

I swallowed.

“Yes.”

He studied my face.

“For how long?”

“As long as necessary.”

His jaw tightened.

“You're making this harder than it needs to be.”

I almost laughed.

“I'm making this harder?”

“You're the one pretending last night didn't happen.”

“I am not pretending.”

“Then look at me.”

I did.

The second our eyes met, my confidence weakened.

His expression softened.

“I remember everything.”

My breath caught.

“I don't want to talk about it.”

“Why?”

“Because there's nothing to talk about.”

He stepped closer.

I stepped back.

His eyes followed the movement.

“That's not what your eyes are saying.”

My heart hammered.

“You don't know what my eyes are saying.”

“I know exactly what they're saying.”

“Lucian.”

His name came out softer than I intended.

Something changed in his expression.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

I shook my head.

“This can't happen.”

He didn't answer.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He looked at me for another second.

Then he nodded.

“I understand.”

I let out a breath.

Finally.

He turned toward the door.

“Come on.”

I frowned.

“Where?”

“You wanted distance.”

“Yes.”

“Then I'll give it to you.”

He opened the door.

“But first, I have to show you the house.”

I stared at him.

“You're impossible.”

A faint smile appeared.

“So I've been told.”

I followed him reluctantly.

We walked through the hallway in silence.

He showed me the library, the indoor gym, and a large glass door leading to the garden.

I barely listened.

My mind kept returning to our conversation.

When we reached the garden, I stopped.

“This is enough.”

He turned.

“You don't like gardens?”

“I like them.”

“Then why stop?”

“Because I don't want to spend time alone with you.”

His expression became unreadable.

“You're afraid of me?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

I looked away.

“I'm afraid of myself.”

For once, he didn't have an immediate answer.

The silence stretched between us.

A breeze moved through the trees.

Then his voice came quietly.

“I understand.”

I looked at him.

He wasn't smiling anymore.

“I don't want you to regret anything,” he said.

My chest tightened.

“Then leave me alone.”

His eyes held mine.

“If that's what you really want.”

“It is.”

He nodded.

“Then I'll respect it.”

He walked away.

I stood there watching him disappear through the doors.

I should have felt relieved.

Instead, I felt strangely empty.

I hated that.

I turned toward the garden.

“Get yourself together, Nyla.”

“Talking to yourself now?”

I jumped.

I spun around.

Audrey stood near the entrance, holding her phone.

“What are you doing here?”

She grinned.

“Your mother gave me the address. I came to check on you.”

I sighed.

“Of course she did.”

Audrey walked toward me.

“Okay, now tell me what happened last night.”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You've been ignoring my messages.”

“I was tired.”

“You're lying.” I looked away.

Audrey stepped closer.

“Girl, I know that face.”

“What face?”

“The face you make when something is seriously wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong.”

“Then why do you look like you haven't slept?”

I folded my arms.

“I just had a lot on my mind.”

She stared at me.

“Does this have anything to do with the guy from the party?”

My heart stopped.

“What guy?”

“The hot guy you kissed.”

I looked around quickly.

“Keep your voice down.”

Her eyes widened.

“Oh, my God.”

“What?”

“You actually remember him.”

“Of course I remember him.”

She grinned.

“So what happened?” I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.

How was I supposed to say it?

The man I slept with is my stepbrother.

It sounded insane even inside my head.

Audrey's smile faded.

“Nyla?”

“It's complicated.” She stared at me.

“How complicated?” I took a breath.

“Very.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Your face says otherwise.”

I forced a smile.

“Let's go inside.”

As we walked toward the house, I glanced back.

Lucian stood upstairs by the window.

Watching us. Our eyes met. He didn't look away.

Neither did I.

Then he disappeared from the window. I swallowed.

I had spent the entire morning convincing myself that I could keep my distance.

But one thing was becoming painfully clear.

Avoiding Lucian wasn't going to be as easy as I had hoped.

Not when we lived under the same roof. Not when my heart refused to cooperate.

And definitely not when Lucian seemed determined to make me remember exactly why staying away from him was going to be so difficult.