CHAPTER SIX

Lucian's pov.

Her eyes met mine as I walked back into the study.

I opened my laptop to join the conference meeting, but I couldn't focus.

She told me to stay away from her, but how was I supposed to do that when she was the girl I had crushed on and had loved secretly for three years?

I sat unfazed during the conference meeting, my mind replaying our conversation in the garden.

I dragged a hand down my face and exhaled slowly.

I had kept my expression blank throughout breakfast, my voice bored. None of this was easy; every time our eyes met, that night surged through the present.

The way she walked up to me that night, she looked at me, even the way her breath sounded that night.

And now she's living under the same roof as me. How was I supposed to pretend nothing ever happened? I inhaled as I leaned forward.

“Sir, what would you say about the market potential flop at hand?” My assistant's voice jolted me from my thoughts.

“Send it to the PR team and advertising team to solve it; an additional bonus if it goes well. The meeting is over for today,” I added while closing my laptop

A knock sounded gently on my door.

“Come in”

Sir, the food is ready. I was instructed to call you downstairs to join.” The housekeeper bowed while speaking.

“I'll join shortly.”

I sat across from her and kept my face blank while my mother smiled between us like she had solved something.

“I’m glad you’re both getting along already,” she said.

Nyla nearly choked on her food. I felt the corner of my mouth twitch and forced it still.

“Of course,” I answered.

She shot me a warning look.

My dad placed his phone down. “Lucian, you have a meeting tomorrow at 11 am with the board.”

“ I know,” I said without hesitation.

“How is the sourcing for the material? Have you found the exact material that'll be suitable for the exhibition?”

“I have found it. I've contacted the seller for it.” I replied.

“You two are alike,” my stepmom interrupted while smiling.

Nyla sat quietly, her eyes on her plate as she swallowed without stopping. I could see the tension in her shoulders.

“Did you have a bad day today, Nyla?”

“No, Mom, I'm fine.” she replied her eyes meeting mine

“Perhaps she’s just tired,” my father said, returning to his meal. “Moving into a new house can be overwhelming.”

“I'm not tired,” Nyla replied quickly.

I raised my glass to my lips, hiding the faint smile threatening to escape.

She was terrible at lying.

Nyla's fork stopped halfway to her mouth.

I slowly lowered my glass

“ok, darling. Lucian doesn't have to go to the office until the afternoon. Besides, you two should spend some time together

“I have work to do tomorrow,” I said, pushing my chair back. “If you'll excuse me.”

“Lucian, you haven't finished your meal.”

“I'm not hungry.”

I didn't wait for a response before leaving the dining room.

I needed air, or a drink, preferably both.

I was halfway up the stairs when I heard footsteps behind me.

“Lucian, wait.”

I stopped.

I turned slowly and found Nyla standing a few steps away, her arms folded across her chest.

She looked beautiful, Annoyingly beautiful.

Even with the irritation written all over her face, I couldn't stop noticing the little things. The way her lips pressed together whenever she was trying to find the right words.

Three years of secretly watching her from a distance had taught me far too much about her.

And now, having her this close was slowly destroying every ounce of self control I'd spent years building.

“What is it?” I asked.

She glanced toward the dining room before looking back at me.

“Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Pretend you weren't affected by any of this.”

I stared at her.

Then I laughed under my breath.

“That's what you want to talk about?”

“Yes.”

Her brows drew together. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“It means you're the one who asked me to stay away from you, Nyla. Now you're following me upstairs because you don't like the way I'm behaving?”

“That's not what I”

“Then what is it?”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

I stepped closer, stopping when I noticed her shoulders stiffen.

There it was again.

That invisible line she kept drawing between us.

The same line I'd promised myself I wouldn't cross without her permission.

“Listen to me,” I said, lowering my voice. “I can pretend nothing happened if that's what you want. I can sit at that table, smile at our parents, and act like you're just another person living in this house.”

Her eyes searched mine.

“But don't stand here and ask me why I'm pretending when you're the one who demanded it.”

Her lips parted slightly.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she whispered, “You make everything so difficult.”

I almost smiled.

“You have no idea.”

She looked away, shaking her head.

“I don't want any trouble, Lucian. My mother is happy. Your father is happy. Everything is finally falling into place for them, and I won't be the reason that changes.”

“And what about you?”

She looked back at me.

“What about me?”

“Are you happy?”

The question seemed to catch her off guard.

She stared at me for several seconds before answering.

“That's none of your business.”

“Fine.”

I stepped aside, giving her room to leave.

She hesitated.

“Goodnight, Nyla.”

I turned toward my room, but her voice stopped me.

“Did you know?”

I looked over my shoulder.

“Know what?”

“That your father was marrying my mother.”

The question landed harder than I expected.

“No.”

She studied my face, perhaps searching for a lie.

“I found out when you walked into that dining room,” I continued. “Believe me, if I'd known, I would have handled things differently.”

“How?”

I held her gaze.

“I don't know.”

It was the truth, and I hated how little it offered her.

She nodded slowly, as though she regretted asking.

“Goodnight, Lucian.”

She walked away before I could say anything else.

I watched until she disappeared around the corner.

Then I entered my room and shut the door.

For three years, I'd convinced myself that keeping my distance was the right thing to do.

I'd watched her from afar, swallowed every word I wanted to say, and buried every feeling that threatened to expose me.

I'd told myself that someday, when the time was right, I'd find a way to tell her.

Now she was sleeping under the same roof as me.

And the one thing she wanted was for me to forget her.

I loosened my collar and walked toward the window.

That wasn't going to happen.

But I could give her space.

I could respect her boundaries.

What I couldn't do was pretend that my feelings had disappeared simply because our parents had decided to become a family.

My phone vibrated on the bedside table.

I glanced at the screen.

An unfamiliar number.

I almost ignored it, but a message appeared before I could put the phone down.

Unknown Number: You should have told Nyla the truth before she moved into your house.

My body went still.

I read the message again.

Then another one arrived.

Unknown Number: Three years is a long time to keep a secret, Lucian.

My grip tightened around the phone.

I typed a reply.

Me: Who is this?

The response came almost immediately.

Another message appeared.

Unknown Number: And if you think Nyla is going to forgive you when she discovers what you've been hiding, you're more foolish than I thought.

I stared at the screen, my pulse suddenly hammering.

What the hell was this?

Before I could respond, my phone rang.

The same unfamiliar number.

I answered.

“Who are you?”

A quiet laugh came through the speaker.

Then a voice I hadn't heard in years said, “Hello, Lucian. Miss me?”

My blood ran cold.

I knew that voice.