Yesterday, I was too wrapped up in work. By the time I got to bed, Kathryn was already asleep.
But tonight…
I glanced at the bathroom door. Kathryn was in there, getting ready.
This time, I would make sure to grab her attention.
I adjusted my sleepwear and pulled the collar low, revealing the hard lines of my chest. After that, I took the spare blanket and chucked it into the study. No way was I letting her keep up this “separate blankets”
nonsense.
With everything set, I waited confidently for her return.
When Kathryn stepped out, her eyes briefly lingered on my exposed chest, her eyes flickered with unmistakable interest.
Got you. You like what you see, don’t you?Come on, jump into my arms already!
I smirked, confident she’d give in.
But instead of jumping into bed, she simply turned and walked over to the closet.
What?Seriously? Was that not enough for you?
“Where’s my blanket?” she murmured. “I left it here this morning.”
Suppressing my frustration, I said, “I noticed Grandma had two extra blankets on her bed earlier. She probably took them because it’s chilly. You could check there if you want.”
Kathryn considered it but quickly gave up. “Never mind.”
Taking my chance, I scooted over and gestured to the open space. “Come on. Just sleep here.”
Without a word, she slid into bed and pulled the covers over herself. Then, to my surprise, she reached over and turned off the light.
Seriously? That’s it? Lights out already?
All my carefully calculated allure went completely unnoticed!
Kathryn’s POV:
Since Grandma had taken the spare blanket, I was left with no choice but to share it with Lucian.
It’s not a big deal, I reassured myself. He won’t try anything. We’ve shared a bed before, and nothing happened.
Yet, lying there, closing my eyes, I couldn’t relax and sleep.
My body always ran cold, especially in summer. My hands and feet stayed icy, and no number of blankets seemed to help. I avoided using air conditioning, so suddenly lying in a bed warmed by Lucian’s body heat was jarring.
The scent of him was familiar and masculine, mingling with the fragrances of my shampoo and body wash wrapped around me, amplified by the warmth. Even though we weren’t touching, the atmosphere felt charged.
I shifted to the edge of the bed, my back turned to him, putting as much distance between us as possible. Lucian didn’t move; he stayed perfectly still behind me. His steady, quiet presence eventually eased my
Chapter 38
nerves. Only then did my guard slowly lower, Slowly, exhaustion pulled me under, and I fell into a restless sleep.
That night, my dreams were restless and cold, filled with memories of the past.
The bond between the Lovelace and Gandillon families began years ago when Arthur brought a young, sickly Lucian to stay at the villa near our estate.
Grandpa once mentioned that Lucian had been unwell.
The neighborhood kids knew about the strange, sickly boy who stayed at the grand villa. He was infamous for his odd temperament. His sharp gaze made it seem like he hated everyone. They feared his sharp, cold gaze and avoided him.
Parents warned their children not to bother him, claiming his illness was contagious.
But Lucian wasn’t interested in their company anyway.
But I, bold and fearless like Grandma, wasn’t one to back down; I ventured everywhere without hesitation.
One summer day, I led some friends to the beach by the villa. Someone suggested swimming, and before we knew it, we were in the ocean.
That was when disaster struck. On our way back, a rip current caught us. I managed to push my friend toward safety, but the sea pulled me under.
I had no idea how far the current had taken me. My chest felt like it was going to explode. I kicked and clawed against the pull, but my body was heavy, my movements futile. Every plea for help was swallowed by the sea; every shout brought another mouthful of water. My eyes stung, my throat burned, and I was drowning in panic.
It felt like the end.
Then, suddenly, a hand appeared. Strong and determined it gripped me tightly and pulled me forward.
Th my dream, I could still see the turbulent sea, the blurred horizon, and the boy’s eyes as he glanced back at me. Those eyes held stories untold, deep, and intense.
Lucian had been only ten. We crossed paths again in high school.
He was the handsome, untouchable star; I was the quiet, awkward girl buried in books. Despite barely interacting, he saved me twice more from cruel bullies.
The dream shifted abruptly to our wedding day. His gaze was the same, laden with mystery, but it now carried impatience.
He didn’t even remember me.
Even in my dream, I felt the sting of that truth. “Why can’t you remember me?” I muttered, my voice laced with quiet agony.
This wasn’t the life I’d imagined. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be.
Half awake, I suddenly felt the warmth of an arm wrapping around my waist.
I jerked as though electrocuted, my limbs flailing. The sensation sent a shock through me, and I instinctively fought back. My hand swung wildly, landing a sharp slap somewhere on Lucian with a loud smack.
He immediately caught my wrist, and pinned it above my head as he leaned over me. His expression calm but his tone serious. “What’s wrong?”
