CHAPTER 13

CARING IS WEAKNESS

Abigail didn’t move for a long time. The blanket felt heavy on her lap, like an accusation. Her chest tightened with every breath, the weight of his words still hanging in the air.

I don’t. Get yourself together. She muttered…seeming incoherent

That was it. No explanation, no soft landing, just Luke being Luke. Cold, calculated, untouchable, like the last few minutes in the dark hadn’t happened at all.

She stared at the door he had just walked through, her hands curled into fists under the blanket like she could do something. The storm outside still raged, but it wasn’t as loud as the pounding in her ears.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered to herself.

For one second, just one damn second, she thought maybe he was human after all. That maybe there was a sliver of warmth buried under all that arrogance and control. But she should’ve known better. People like Luke didn’t change. They didn’t bend, they didn’t break. They built walls so high, even their own shadows couldn’t climb them which made it so complicated.

Abigail stood abruptly, tossing the blanket aside. Her bare feet touched the cold marble floor, and the chill shot through her bones. She didn’t care. All she cared about was getting out of that room before she lost her mind completely putting on her shoes then left the lounge.

The hall was still dim, emergency lights casting eerie red glows on the walls. People whispered in small clusters, their voices low but filled with nerves. Some guests were on their phones, others pacing. Abigail ignored them all. She walked straight to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

She gripped the sink and stared at her reflection in the faint light. Her mascara was smudged, her eyes rimmed with tears she hadn’t even noticed falling.

“Pathetic,” she whispered, wiping the back of her hand across her cheek.

The memory of his arms around her burned like fire. The way his voice softened, the way he listened without judgment. It wasn’t fake. She knew fake. She’d grown up swimming in it like it was a so normal thing. That moment had been real. Which made his sudden switch back to the ice king even harder to swallow.

Abigail splashed water on her face, trying to erase everything the fear, the tears, and whatever the hell she was starting to feel for Luke Vandell. She wasn’t about to be another one of his possessions. She wasn’t about to let him break her like glass, just like her dad and the world had did she wasn't going to let anyone else treat her like she didn't matter .

By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, the lights were back on. The storm hadn’t eased, but the hum of generators filled the building, drowning out some of the chaos outside.

She scanned the lounge for Luke, but he wasn’t there. Not by the couch, not near the bar, not anywhere. A sudden panic clawed at her chest before she crushed it down.

“Not your problem,” she muttered under her breath. “Not anymore.”she was starting to hate this sudden feeling.

She walked toward the main area where the other guests were gathering. Voices rose now, mixed with relief and frustration. Some people cheered about the power coming back; others were complaining about the storm ruining their plans. Abigail pushed past them, heading for the nearest exit, but one of Luke’s men she recognized him from earlier stepped in front of her.

“Ma’am, Mr. Vandell asked that you wait inside until the roads clear.”

Abigail tilted her head, her jaw tightening.

“Tell Mr. Vandell I’m done waiting.”

The guard shifted uncomfortably. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, ma’am.”

Something in his tone, the quiet steel made her realize this wasn’t a request. She wasn’t going anywhere. Not without causing a scene big enough to make headlines. And that was the last thing she needed.atleast not at this moment.

“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’ll stay. But not because he told me to.”

She spun on her heel and walked away, heading toward a quieter corner. She needed air, space anything that wasn’t Luke.

Except Luke was already there.

He stood near one of the tall glass windows, his hands in his pockets, staring out at the storm like it held answers to questions only he knew how to ask. His shirt was still unbuttoned at the top, his hair slightly messy from running his fingers through it. The picture of calm chaos. she can't believe she was the one thinking about him in this manner.

For a split second, Abigail considered turning around. Pretending she didn’t see him. But something in her anger, maybe pride, maybe something she didn’t want to name maybe something she couldn't even really tell what it was pushed her forward.

“You know,” she said, her voice cutting through the hum of conversations around them, “you’re really good at pretending.”

Luke turned slowly, his eyes landing on her. They were unreadable, the way they always were, but there was a flicker there brief, almost imperceptible.

“Pretending what?” he asked.

“That you don’t feel anything.” Her words came out sharper than she intended, slicing the space between them.

He didn’t flinch. or move. He just studied her like she was a puzzle he wasn’t sure he wanted to solve.

“And what makes you think I do?”

Abigail laughed bitterly. “Because I’ve seen it. Tonight. For a moment, you were… different.” She stepped closer, lowering her voice so only he could hear. “And then you shut it down like it never happened like it was only an illusion “.

Luke’s jaw tightened, but his expression stayed cool. “You think you know me because of a few minutes in the dark?”

“I don’t want to know you,” she shot back. “God, I don’t even like you. But I’m not stupid, Luke. People don’t just hold someone like that if they don’t care at all.”

The air between them crackled, heavy with unspoken things. Luke took a slow breath, his eyes locking on hers with an intensity that made her stomach flip.

“You’re wrong,” he said finally, his voice low, dangerous. “Caring is a weakness. And I don’t have weaknesses.”

Abigail’s throat went dry, but she refused to back down. “Keep telling yourself that…just keep lying to yourself Mr no weakness”she said it like it was something that she just needed to say but took her a will

She turned to leave, her pulse racing, but before she could take two steps, his hand closed around her wrist firm, unyielding. She froze.

“Don’t walk away from me,” he said, his voice like velvet over steel.

“Then give me one reason to stay.”she said looking at him intense

Luke stared at her for a long moment, his grip loosening but not letting go entirely. His mouth opened like he was about to speak, but then...

The lights flickered again. The generator hummed louder. And somewhere in the distance, a window shattered from the force of the wind. Gasps rippled through the room.

Luke’s hand tightened on her wrist. His eyes were stormy, like the chaos outside had seeped into him.

“Stay,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “Because the night’s not over.”

And for reasons she couldn’t explain, Abigail didn’t pull away.