Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

Elias Ward“Thank you for coming, Mr. Ward,” Mia chirped brightly. “We’ll take good care of it.”“I know you will,” I replied, though my eyes secretly lingered on Lucy.She met my gaze only briefly, her fingers curling against the counter nervously. There was something unsettled about her today.A bit distracted, as if she had a question she hadn’t yet decided to ask.“We’ll contact you as soon as it's done,” she noted softly.“I’ll be waiting, Miss Lucy.”I nodded, deliberately walked out.The bell chimed behind me lightly, my mind already fled on the plan for today.I had barely taken a few steps when hurried footsteps followed.“Sir Elias!”I stopped immediately.Lucy stood just outside the boutique, breath faintly uneven, strands of hair catching the afternoon light. The sight of her coming after me sent an unexpected warmth through my chest, followed closely by concern.“Is something wrong?” I asked, already stepping closer.She hesitated, then looked up at me, eyes searching.

Elias WardThe car moved through the night similar to a quiet confession, tires whispering against the road as if afraid to disturb her.Lucy was on my lap.Her small body curled against me as if letting go would cost her a price she couldn’t afford to lose.Her arms were wrapped tightly around my waist, fingers curled into my coat, refusing to let go even in sleep. Each breath she took brushed softly against my chest, uneven at first, before gradually calming.As if my heartbeat had become a lead she trusted enough to follow.I sat perfectly still in the backseat, afraid that even the smallest movement might break whatever thin thread was holding her together.The image of the fire still lingered behind my eyes, but stronger than the flames was the memory of her crying.She had cried until her voice broke, her body trembling itself empty. And when the strength finally left her, she had sagged against me, weightless.Her forehead resting against my collarbone as sleep claimed her whe

Elias WardThe garden was quiet in a way that felt serene, as if the world itself had decided to lower its voice.I sat beneath the open pavilion, porcelain teacup resting untouched on the small table beside me. The roof above filtered the sunlight just enough to keep the air cool.The breeze carried the faint scent of floral and freshly cut grass. It wasn’t hot nor cold. It was one of those rare moments where everything felt balanced, too good to be true.Before footsteps approached from the stone path. I looked up instinctively, and instantly, my breath caught before I could control it.Lucy walked toward me, guided by my butler, her steps careful yet graceful. Mrs Stone had dressed her in something simple, a light colored dress, modest in cut. There was nothing extravagant about it, and yet on her, it looked breathtaking. The dress moved with the breeze, brushing gently against her skin, and the sunlight clung to her as though it recognized her.Ethereal.That was the word t

Elias WardI watched her carefully on the dining table, though she sat close enough that I could feel the faint warmth of her presence.Lucy had gone quiet.Not the polite kind of silence that filled the space comfortably.It was the quiet of someone rearranging their entire world inside their mind.Her fingers rested near her plate, untouched steak slowly cooling. Her gaze was unfocused, as if she were staring at the pieces of memories only she could see.And possibly fears.She had begun asking about the photos, which meant she was ready.And the moment she was ready, I swore to myself I would not hold back anymore.I would answer whatever she asked and tell her everything she wanted to know.I wont ever keep her in the dark, it was the thing that led her to death before.And whatever storm followed, I would stand beside her through it.Even if she never understood why I cared this much.Even if she never chose me in the end.My lips thinned as my fingers tightened on the utensils

Lucy Hale“Mia, it’s still under construction,” I sighed for what felt like the third time.My phone between my shoulder and ear while flipping through the remaining stock list. “There’s dust everywhere, and the shelves aren’t even installed yet.”“That’s exactly why I want to see it!” Mia’s voice came through brightly. “Come on, Lucy.”Even though the reconstruction had started quickly, with more resources than I expected, I still hadn’t fully processed it.“It’s messy,” I tried again weakly.“So? We’ll wear sneakers,” she laughed. “I’m picking you up in twenty minutes.”Before I could argue further, she hung up the phone.All I could do was stare at my phone and sighed.Two weeks.It had been two weeks since I returned from the Ward estate. And somehow, in those two weeks, my thoughts had grown louder instead of quieter.When Mia and I arrived at the boutique site, the scent of wood and paint filled the air. The charred remains had been cleared and the new beams framed the space.