CHAPTER 21

I'M NOT SOME PLAYTOY...

Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, painting pale stripes across the bed. Abigail stirred, her body sinking into the soft sheets, the faint ache in her muscles reminding her of everything that happened last night right from the moment it started with rage but turned into something between bitter sweet.

Heat flushed her cheeks at the memory of the way Luke had kissed her, the way he had looked at her like she was the only thing keeping him sane. For a few precious hours, it felt like the walls between them had cracked. Something she sub consciously wished for….that it happened.

She reached out for him instinctively.

Cold sheets.

Her heart sank. He was gone.

Sliding upright, she clutched the blanket around herself and listened. Somewhere beyond the door came faint sounds: footsteps on polished floors, the clink of cutlery, a hushed voice one of the household staff. But Luke’s voice wasn’t among them.

Abigail dressed slowly, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of her blouse, her mind spiraling. She had no idea what awaited her outside this room. Soft words or sharp edges. s

She hoped soft words would come.

When she finally stepped out, the house felt like another world. Quiet. Immaculate. Too large for the storm in her chest.

She found him in the living room, standing near the glass wall that overlooked the manicured garden. Sunlight hit his shoulders, casting him in sharp relief. He was already dressed, crisp and controlled, like last night hadn’t happened.

He didn’t turn when she approached.

“Morning,” she said softly.

“Morning.” The word dropped from his lips flat, cold, like a stone into deep water.

Abigail froze, her fragile hope cracking. She crossed the room slowly, her arms folding across her chest. “You left early.”

“I had things to handle.” His tone was clipped, businesslike.

She stopped a few feet away, her breath uneven. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say nothing else?”

Finally, he turned to face her. His eyes were calm, too calm for her to handle the kind of calm that burned hotter than anger. “What do you want me to say, Abigail?”

Her pulse spiked. “Maybe something that sounds like last night wasn’t” Her throat closed around the words. “Was it nothing to you?”

Luke’s jaw tightened. “It was what it was.”

The air left her lungs. “What does that even mean?”

He took a step closer, shadows cutting across his face. “It means don’t read into it.”

Abigail laughed a hollow, sound. “Don’t read into it? Luke, you don’t touch someone like that if it means nothing, you're not a robot or are you?”

His gaze flickered, the steel in his eyes softening for a split second then hardening again. “This isn’t up for debate, I have absolutely no time for your squirms”

She shook her head, anger burning through the ache in her chest. “You don’t get to pull me into your bed, make me feel like...like that, and then turn around and act like I’m some stranger on your payroll, like some whore you paid to satisfy your urges.”

His control snapped, just slightly. His voice dropped, sharp as a blade. “You think I planned that? You think I wanted to lose control?” He closed the distance in two strides, his presence flooding the room like heat. “That was a mistake. Can't you just overlook it like nothing happened. It was just something we both needed at that moment.”

The word hit like a slap.

Abigail stared at him, her nails digging into her palms. “A mistake,” she repeated, barely a whisper.

“No,” she said, her voice breaking. “You don’t get to pull me into your chaos, touch me like you like that and then pretend it didn’t happen.”

Silence stretched, thick and suffocating. Luke’s fists flexed at his sides, something fierce flickering in his eyes “ look Abigail let's not make this a discussion and make it seem so hard it's not like I meant you're a doll but….he stopped before he turned away.

“Pack your bag,” he said, his voice back to ice. “We’re leaving in an hour.”

Her breath hitched. “Leaving? Where? Just so you know, I'm going nowhere. I'm not some playtoy you toss around anyhow you like. I wouldn't let you turn me into one, never Luke. Don't you even think of how I feel, that you lead me into a sudden moment of pleasure without my consent and then …and then.. she stopped, her voice was choked up by tears already.

Say it. "Say everything on your mind Luke. Explain to me make me understand”.

He only shook his head like he was preventing it from falling off his neck 

“ forget about this and we’re going to somewhere safer.” He didn’t look at her. He didn't even react to her other words. It seemed like what she said was nonsense, like it made no sense at all.

“Breakfast will be sent up.”

And then he walked out, his footsteps fading into the hush of the house, leaving her standing in the wreckage of something she couldn’t even name.

Abigail stood frozen, her heart pounding like a fist against her ribs. She had never felt more exposed. Or more alone.

She hated herself at this point where she couldn't even speak up for herself, feeling just helpless. She wasn't the type to let anyone toss her around but right now she knew that she couldn't do anything. She didn't even understand the reason he wants them to go somewhere else.