MasukCHAPTER FIFTEENRAIN’S POVI went straight to my room after Evelyn showed up. My legs felt shaky the whole way up the stairs, and I didn’t even bother changing out of the mini skirt. I just crawled under the covers, and tried to shut my brain off. The image of Lucien’s thigh pressed against mine on that couch kept replaying, along with the low sound of his voice asking if there was someone I wanted to try the blindfold thing with. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter. Gideon was my boyfriend now. I had said yes in front of half the school. That should have made things simpler. It didn’t.Sleep took forever to come, but when it did, it was deep. I woke up crazy early, before the sun was even properly up. The house was still quiet. I figured I might as well do something useful instead of lying there overthinking everything. So I padded downstairs in my pajamas and started pulling things out for breakfast. Eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, the good coffee Lucien liked. I was cracking eggs into a bowl
CHAPTER FOURTEENRAIN’S POVAfter my first class ended, I slipped away to the library instead of heading straight to the cafeteria. My head was still buzzing from the lecture, but honestly, I just needed a quiet corner to breathe. I found my usual spot near the back, dropped my bag, and pulled out my sketchbook. Before I knew what I was doing, my pencil was moving across the page.Lucien. Shirtless. The way I remembered him from that night he carried me, muscles shifting under smooth skin, that tattoo peeking out. I shaded the lines of his shoulders, the dip of his waist. My cheeks heated up. God, what was wrong with me? He was my guardian. He was getting married. Or... not anymore, apparently. Still. This was dangerous.I was so lost in it that when a warm breath brushed my ear and a low voice whispered, “Drawing something interesting, Rain?” I nearly jumped out of my skin. My hand slapped the sketchbook shut so fast the pencil flew off the table.Gideon stood there, grinning like he
CHAPTER THIRTEEN RAIN’S POV Three days passed quietly. Thelma called the morning after everything and said she was staying with her maternal cousin for a bit. “I just need some fresh air and cousin time,” she told me. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. Tell Uncle Lucien I said hi.” Lucien had left for a business trip two days ago. The house felt too big without them. I kept myself busy with schoolwork, but my mind kept drifting back to that hug, the way he called me “angel,” and how safe I felt in his arms even when I knew I shouldn’t. On the evening he was supposed to return, I decided to do something nice. I went into the kitchen and made his favorite — that grilled salmon with the lemon-herb sauce and roasted vegetables on the side. I set the dining table properly, lit two candles, opened a good bottle of red wine, and poured two glasses. Then I waited. At 8:15 pm, I heard his car pull into the driveway. My stomach did a little flip. I went to the door and opened it before
CHAPTER TWELVE RAIN’S POV Note: Rain does not recall any event from the kiss the previous night. I woke up with the worst headache of my life. My eyes cracked open slowly and I realized I wasn’t in my own bed. Green silk sheets. Lucien’s bed. I sat up fast, heart pounding. “How did I get here?” I whispered, looking around the empty room. “What the fuck happened last night?” I had zero memory after drinking that weird beer at the club. Everything was just… gone. I touched my head and groaned. I needed to get out of here before he came back. I slipped out of his oversized t-shirt, quickly went to my room, and took a long shower. The hot water helped my head a little. I threw on a simple white top and one of my favorite short flare skirts — the black one that swished when I walked. I brushed my hair, trying to look like a normal human being again. That’s when I started hearing raised voices downstairs. I walked out of my room and stood at the top of the stairs, listening.
CHAPTER ELEVENRAIN’S POV I cried myself to sleep that night, face buried in the pillow so no one would hear me. The tears wouldn’t stop. Lucien was getting married in five days and I had to hear it from Evelyn like some outsider. It hurt more than it should have.The next day I didn’t leave my room. I stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, ignoring Thelma when she knocked.“Rain? You okay in there?” she called softly.“I’m fine. Just tired.”She left me alone after that.The day after, I finally came downstairs for breakfast. My eyes were puffy, but I tried to act normal. Thelma was already at the table scrolling on her phone. Helen was wiping the kitchen counter.“Morning, Thelma,” I said quietly.“Morning, babe.” She smiled. “You look like you need coffee.”Lucien walked in right then, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked unfairly good, as always.“Morning, Rain,” he said, voice low.I didn’t answer. I just sat down and reached for the toast.He tri
CHAPTER TENRAIN’S POV The next day at school dragged. By the time my third class ended, I was already tired and ready to go home. I stepped out of the building and froze when I saw Gideon’s car parked right in front. He got out quickly, looking nervous.“Rain, wait. Please.”I kept walking toward the gate without answering.He jogged after me. “I’m so sorry about last night. My nephew got really sick suddenly. I had to rush him to the hospital and my phone died. I couldn’t even text you. I felt terrible the whole time.”I stopped and turned around. He looked genuinely sorry, eyes wide and pleading.“You could’ve called from the hospital or something,” I said quietly.“I know. I messed up. Let me make it up to you. At least let me drive you home today?”I hesitated. Part of me wanted to stay mad, but another part was tired of being angry. “Fine. But don’t do that again.”He smiled in relief and opened the passenger door for me. “Thank you. I won’t.”The drive started quiet. Then he s







