MasukChandria’s POVI expected Aiden to say something back, but he didn’t.The moment that word slipped out of my mouth, he froze.His entire body stiffened without warning. He stepped back a little, not too far, but just enough for me to feel the distance. And worse, he couldn’t even look at me.“Aiden?” I asked quietly.I tried to meet his eyes, to at least see what he was thinking—even just a hint—but instead of looking at me, he moved farther away.His gaze stayed glued somewhere on the ground, avoiding mine like I’d suddenly become too heavy for him to face.He gave me a quick nod. “Let’s go back,” he said. “It’s getting pretty late, and I don’t want you catching cold. You need to rest.”He turned around and started walking away.I stayed there for a few seconds, stunned. My heart tightened, like something inside me had cracked. I didn’t expect him to pull back from me like that. I didn’t expect silence to be his answer.Eventually, I followed him with heavy steps.Outside, we got int
Chandria’s POVI finally finished getting ready.My hair, my makeup, even my outfit—I made sure everything was perfect.The night I had been preparing for had arrived, and I wanted to look my absolute best.Standing in front of the mirror, I ran my hands over myself, adjusting the dress one last time. It was backless, elegant, and hugged my curves in all the right places. I made sure I was satisfied with my appearance.Today, I needed to feel confident.When I stepped out of my room, the timing was perfect.Aiden was just coming out of the other room, fresh from getting ready himself. Our eyes met, and for a moment, everything froze.I could see the surprise flicker across his face, and I admit—I felt a thrill seeing it. Without a word, he walked toward me, and suddenly, his hand rested on my back.I shivered—not from fear, but from the gentle brush of his fingers against my skin. The backless dress left me vulnerable to his touch.The dress flowed down to just above my knees, sparkli
Chandria’s POVSince Aiden came back from his business trip, he’s been busy all the time.He’s always locked in his office, glued to his laptop, taking calls, attending meetings, and handling endless business matters.He’s constantly preoccupied, and it feels like there’s never a moment for me. Yet, no matter how much I try to focus on my own day, Daniel’s words keep echoing in my mind.Aiden had made an agreement with Catherine’s family. The thought alone sends a chill down my spine. But the question that won’t leave me is: what does that have to do with me?I want to ask him. Is what Daniel said real, or is he just trying to tarnish Aiden so that I come back to him? I can’t sit around not knowing. I want to hear it straight from Aiden. But every time I try to talk to him, he’s always too busy.“Aiden, can we talk?” I ask, trying to sound casual.“Not now, Chandria. I’m still busy,” he says, almost dismissive.It’s frustrating. There’s always some report to finish, some call to take,
Chandria’s POVIt felt like everything I knew about my life was built on lies.I looked at him, my heart hammering so hard I could feel it in my throat.“Please,” he whispered, gripping my arm, “tell me the truth, Chandria. I can’t afford not to know.”He looked at me, desperation and something else I couldn’t quite name in his eyes.I opened my mouth to speak, to say something, anything—but before I could, a loud commotion outside ripped through the tense air between us.“Lord Serpent is here!” shouted one of the guards.My eyes went wide.He needed to leave! “Daniel, you have to go. He’s here. Now!”But Daniel grabbed my shoulders, holding me tight, his eyes locked on mine. “Chandria, there’s no time. Just tell me the truth. I need to know.”I shook my head stubbornly.“I’m not leaving until you tell me the truth,” he said.He pressed closer, his hands firm on my shoulders. “Chandria, I’m right here.Then I heard Aiden’s voice from outside.“Chandria? Where are you?”I looked back a
Chandria’s POV“G-Get away from me!” I tried to sound confident, but my voice shook a little.I pushed him hard, putting all my strength into it, but he immediately grabbed my wrist before I could step back. His hand clamped around mine.Then he leaned his face toward me.I felt his breath hit my cheek, warm and too close. It made me freeze. Goosebumps rushed all over my arms, and my whole body tensed.“Don’t you dare make a sound,” he whispered. “If you do, you won’t like what I’ll do to you.”My heartbeat sped up instantly, pounding so hard I felt it in my throat. I hated this feeling—this helpless, cornered feeling—like I had no control over anything.He checked the door. Then he crossed the room, shut the window, and pulled the curtains together until the room felt dim and closed off.When he finally faced me again, we just stared at each other. I tried to keep my breathing steady even though my mind was full of questions I couldn’t answer fast enough.Why is he here?How did he g
Chandria’s POV“I…”“Nevermind, Lady Chandria,” he said, “Lord Serpent really does care for you. He sees you as someone special. You’re not just anyone to him. I hope you realize that.”I bit my bottom lip, trying to hide the way my emotions pushed up in my chest. I lowered my head and looked at the floor, taking a long, quiet breath to steady myself. I didn’t want him to notice how his words caught me off guard.“I care for him too,” I admitted, “And I’m always happy whenever he’s around.”I lifted my head and forced a small smile at him. “Thank you for your time. I need to go,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though I felt a little shaken inside.I turned around and walked away. Each step felt heavier than the last. My mind was swirling with thoughts I didn’t know how to sort out. My stomach twisted like it was reacting to every single thing he had said. I couldn’t even deny it.He was right. But the truth scared me a little, maybe because I didn’t know what to expect from all







