chapter 3

Rose

I froze, my breath caught in my throat, as I stared at the man standing before me.

He wasn’t just handsome, he was devastatingly, dangerously handsome. The kind of man you would see on the cover of a luxury magazine and think, men like this don’t exist in real life.

His piercing blue eyes held me still, like they could see right through my skin, right into my soul.

The way he carried himself told me everything; this isn't just a man; this is power, money, and elegance wrapped into one breathtaking package. His suit jacket hung casually over his left shoulder, the fabric a deep charcoal that whispered expensive without needing to shout it. 

The white shirt he wore was crisp and perfectly tailored, the sleeves rolled up to reveal strong, veined forearms that looked like they belonged in a high-end cologne ad. Even the silver watch on his wrist glinted in the soft light like it was worth more than my car.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low, smooth, and edged with concern.

God. I have forgotten how to breathe. I blinked rapidly, dragging myself out of the haze his presence had wrapped me in.

“Y... yeah. I’m fine,” I stammered.

His brows drew together slightly, like he didn’t quite believe me. “But you don’t...”

“Ouch!” I gasped, cutting him off as a sharp pain shot through my ankle the moment I tried to stand. I winced, gripping the side of the treadmill.

His expression softened further. “Sorry... sit down. Let me see.”

I wanted to say no, to keep my dignity intact, but somehow, my body betrayed me. I obeyed him without a word, lowering myself onto the nearest bench.

He crouched in front of me on one knee, his hand sliding gently under my calf. His touch was warm, sending an unexpected shiver through me. I gritted my teeth as he moved my foot slightly.

“So sorry,” he murmured, his voice tender. “You have twisted it.”

I swallowed hard. Of course. Just perfect. In my head, I could already hear Lucas’s cruel voice: Fat pig can’t even walk straight. 

I braced myself for a flicker of disgust in this man’s eyes. But it never came.

Instead, those piercing blue eyes softened even more, holding me there, making my heart pound so loudly I thought it might burst. He wasn’t looking at me like I was disgusting. He was looking at me like I mattered.

“Let me take you to the main house so I can look at it properly,” he said softly, rising to his feet with an effortless grace that made me dizzy.

My mind stalled on his words. Main house?

Wait.

He’s the owner of this place?

My stomach dropped. Dear God… I hoped I hadn't just landed myself and the poor security guard into trouble.

Lucas has warned me never to come to this place. He would probably throw a party if I landed in trouble today.

“Wait… are you the owner of this place?” I asked, though my heart already knew the answer.

“Yes, I am,” he replied softly.

“Oh, my God.” My voice shook with panic. “I’m so sorry for coming here without your permission. Please, I...”

“Why are you sorry?” he cut me off, his gentle smile stealing my breath.

I froze. That smile… it was the kind that could make you forget your own name.

“I’m not angry at you,” he continued, his voice like velvet. “I’m happy someone came to use this place instead of letting it sit here, untouched.”

Then he glanced at my ankle. “Now… may I take you inside so I can look at that?”

“Uh…”

“Don’t worry, I’m a doctor,” he added quickly, probably sensing my hesitation.

I didn’t know if I could trust him, this impossibly handsome stranger. For all I knew, he could be trying to lure me in. 

I wanted to say no, God, I should have said no, but instead, I nodded like a fool.

What is wrong with me? Why am I acting like some nervous teenager with her first crush?

Before I could even stand, he bent down and scooped me up into his arms, carrying me bridal style as if I weighed nothing.

My breath hitched. I couldn’t remember the last time Lucas held me like this. He’d always complained that I was “too heavy” to even lift. But in this man’s arms, I felt weightless… precious… wanted.

His expensive cologne filled my senses, rich, warm, intoxicating. I wanted to breathe it in forever. God… if anyone saw us now, they would think we were newlyweds.

I hated myself for it, but I couldn’t stop imagining what it would feel like to have his hands linger on me… to feel his lips, those soft, pink lips claim mine. 

I shook my head. No. I am a married woman. I have a daughter. I shouldn’t be thinking like this.

But how could I stop… when he kept looking at me with those impossible blue eyes?

He carried me into the mansion beside the gym, pushing the door open effortlessly with one hand. Inside, the air smelled faintly of leather and cedarwood. 

He lowered me gently into a soft leather chair, as if I were something fragile, something precious.

“Excuse me, I’ll be right back,” he said before heading upstairs.

Only when he disappeared from view did I remember how to breathe. Still… his scent lingered around me, curling into my chest and making my heart beat faster.

A few minutes later, he returned with a small kit in his hand. He crouched down, his movements unhurried, and lifted my leg into his lap as though it were made of glass.

The first touch of his fingers on my skin sent a shiver down my spine. He opened a small jar and rubbed ointment on my ankle. The ointment cooled against my ankle, his hands moving in gentle, circular strokes. My breath caught. And then… he bent his head and blew soft, warm air over the ointment, and I thought my heart might burst right out of my chest.

“This will hurt a little,” he murmured.

But I wasn’t listening. His touch has already sent me somewhere far above the clouds.

“Ouch!” The sharp sting snapped me back to reality.

“Sorry… sorry,” he whispered, his warm breath brushing over my skin again as if to soothe it.

“Now, try moving it,” he said.

I did, and to my surprise, the pain was gone.

“All done,” he said with a smile that revealed perfect, white teeth. He handed me the ointment. “Apply it for two more days, and you’ll be fine.”

I took it, murmuring my thanks, but my heart nearly stopped when he sat onto the edge of the table in front of me, his eyes holding mine.

“Now,” he said softly, “can you tell me why a beautiful woman like you would want to hurt herself like this?”

I froze. Beautiful? Did he just… call me beautiful?

Not a fat, ugly pig. Not worthless but beautiful?

God, I didn’t even know if I wanted to cry… or fall into his arms.