CHAPTER 6 - HIDDEN

Natalie’s POV

There was no way I could duck and hide because he was already close enough, he could hear my breathing get heavy, my heart drummed in my chest as I stood still thinking of what excuse to tell him.

“Natalie why are you going through my stuff?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t see anything I’ll be coming out now” I finally blared out before running out of the room

“Why did you go in there Natty?” he asked staring at me angrily, I didn’t know what to respond because I was just caught red handed and I don’t think he would believe anything I said.

“My earring fell and rolled back there so I went to get” I prayed to whatever gods were listening that he would believe that… He stared at me for a very long moment before finally responding back to me.

“Ok” thank goodness he didn’t suspect me or anything, He walked slowly behind me, then shut the door of the hidden room slowly “Your room has been cleaned, I’ll call someone later today to fix your window, you can go back to your room”

“Are you sure it’s safe now for me to stay there alone?”

“It is, I’ll keep an eye on your room to make sure this doesn’t happen again”

“How will you watch my room, when yours is down here?”

“I will, through my…” He paused like he was thinking of a response “My men will watch over you, it is 100% safe, I promise” He sounded assertive, so I nodded and went back to my room, I looked around for anything suspicious but there was nothing, so I just laid on my bed and fell asleep, I’ve had enough stress for the morning anyway.

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Lucien’s POV

Peaceful and yet so troublesome… I installed a camera in her room a year ago to watch her and always make sure she’s safe, that’s how I was able to save her on time before the bullet hit her, it’s never safe around here and she’s my biggest priority, but not as a younger sister but as something more extreme, she meant the world to me but I couldn’t be part of hers so all I can do is be her protector and it’s driving me insane… I watched her sleep every night, watch her get angry over my little jokes on her, both serious and unserious ones.

I know dad had something to do with her mother’s death, but I don’t want to be too sure about it, still doing some digging.

“Lucien?”

“Yes father?”

“What’s keeping you awake?”

“Nothing” I shrugged before shutting the systems down, so he doesn’t see I was watching my supposed stepsister through a camera lens.

“Are you busy?”

“No… any problem?”

“No, it’s nothing just checking on you” The way his reply sounded so controlled made me wonder, my dad has always been one to have whatever he wants, what’s he cooking up now, he’s been so nervous since the day Natalie’s mother died and I don’t know why.

“O…K I’m good, need anything?”

“No, I’ll be taking my leave”

“Alright then”

I watched him leave slowly and shut the door behind him, I opened the camera one more time to see if Natalie was still in bed.

She was seated up, looking uneasy as the morning sun hit her skin through the curtains. I just stared harder into the camera feed.

She finally pushed the covers aside and stood up, she walked over to her wardrobe and fumbled through her things, when she turns back, she was holding onto something in her hand firmly… I looked closely… she stepped back to her bed, my breath hitching in my throat as I watched her.

I could hear the faint, sharp, sound of her breathing over the audio feed but then she threw her head back and let out a broken, needy moan, whispering my name -Lucien-

The way she called out my name made it feel like someone had just ripped the air out of my lungs.

My hands flew to the edge of my desk, my knuckles turning white as I tried to straighten myself against the sudden, violent surge of urge and desire. The feeling was a physical ache, a heavy, throbbing pressure that felt like it would tear me apart if I didn't get to her right now.

I wasn’t just watching her; I was living the moment with her, feeling the echoes of her voice in the very marrow of my bones.

I was done waiting. I was done watching from the shadows of my own room. The restraint I’d been holding onto for days just... snapped. I didn't even realize I was moving until I was halfway across the hallway, my footsteps heavy and urgent on the hardwood.

I reached her door, and I didn't bother to knock. I didn't bother to wait. I just pushed the door open.

“Why would you torture yourself like that natty? when you could just get the real thing”

She jumped, her breath catching in her throat, but when she saw it was me, the fear melted into something far more dangerous.

I walked across the room in two strides, my presence consuming the small space. I stretched my hand out, my fingers tracing the line of her collarbone, feeling the rapid, erratic beat of her pulse beneath my touch. She let out a soft, involuntary sound, leaning into my hand as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded.

Just as I leaned in, prepared to bridge the final gap between us, a sharp rap echoed at the bedroom door.

"Natalie? Are you awake?"

The voice was muffled, coming from the hallway. It was the maid.

My heart didn't just race, it turned to stone. The absolute audacity of the timing sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through me. I didn't step. Instead, I slipped under the heavy duvet beside her, pulling the fabric up to hide our silhouettes just as the door handle began to turn.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Miss," the maid called out, her voice closer now. "But there’s someone downstairs to see you. They’re insisting it’s an urgent matter"

Natalie’s hand gripped my arm beneath the covers, her nails digging into my skin, her breath hitching in a perfect, terrified silence.

We laid there frozen, inches apart in the dark, caught in the suffocating tension of being discovered, I wasn't supposed to be here, beneath my stepsister’s duvet.

“What the fuck was I thinking? shit”. I muttered underneath