(Lorei's POV)"The Hartwell Gala's tomorrow night," Richard says over breakfast, buttering his toast like he's announcing the weather. "Full family attendance. It's important, half the board will be there."I feel Elias's eyes on me before I even look up. I haven't been alone with him since the study three nights ago, I've made sure of it, skipping breakfast twice, taking the back staircase, locking my door the second I'm in my room. I don't say a word, just keep my eyes on my plate. Fucking perv.I've decided I'm done letting my body run this show. I need to figure out what he meant about the marina, and I can't do that if I turn into a mess every time he's in the same room as me. Distance, that's the plan. Careful conversation, careful watching, and absolutely nothing else. I still feel disgusted thinking about what I did in that study, touching myself while I watched him on a call, like some kind of pathetic teenager with no self-control. I did that. Nobody made me do that part. T
Last Updated : 2026-09-22 Read more