“Hmm,” Rosa mused. “Not terrible, but not acceptable either. Back straight, eyes forward. Again.”I repeated the motion, focusing on her instructions.“Better. Now, let’s practice addressing a gentleman.”Elijah stepped forward. “Good morning, Agnes.”“Good morning, Elijah,” I said, trying to mainta
AgnesI wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting golden rays across the ballroom floor. We had been at this for hours, and still, the feather kept fluttering to the ground like a mocking little bird.“Again,” Rosa commanded sharply, tapping her foot impatien
“Impressive,” he commented as I executed a particularly tricky turn.“Don’t sound so surprised,” I replied lightly.“Not surprised, just... delighted.”My heart fluttered at his words, but I focused on the rhythm, allowing myself to be fully present in the moment. The fabric of his shirt brushed aga
AgnesThe next morning dawned bright and clear, and I found myself once again heading toward the parlor for another etiquette lesson with Rosa. Elijah was busy today, so he wouldn’t be attending. I was a bit relieved not to have to interact with him, but I did wonder what Rosa had in store for me.A
AgnesI stood outside Elijah’s office door the next morning, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly. The muffled sounds of conversation ceased, and his deep voice called out, “Come in.”Pushing the door open, I found him seated behind his massive mahogany desk, papers strewn about. He looked u
Was it possible… that Elijah was the man I had slept with all those years ago?The thought made my heart pound for reasons I wasn’t quite willing to admit. But I pushed those thoughts away, instead focusing on the present.Retracing my steps, I headed back toward the shopping center and made my way
AgnesI stared down at the book in my hands, feeling like my face was on fire. “I-I didn’t realize what it was,” I blurted out, desperately trying to cover up my embarrassment. “I-I must have grabbed it by mistake.”Elijah glanced over at me. To my surprise, there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Agnes, it’s alright. Remember your Luna lesson: you don’t have to explain yourself.”I fiddled with the edge of the book’s glossy cover. My cheeks heated even more at the sight of the shirtless model on the front. “But I’m telling the truth. I don’t usually read... this sort of thing.”He shrugged, his eyes returning to the road ahead. The light turned green, and he accelerated, the city turning into a blur around us. “And so what if you did? There’s nothing wrong with that.”I shot him a sidelong glance, surprised. “You mean, you don’t mind?”“Why would I?” he asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “It’s still a book just like any other. Who cares if it has... ero
And although I didn’t want to let myself consider this as an option, I thought back to the possibilities surrounding the DNA test—if Elijah was somehow the man I had hooked up with all those years ago, then…Maybe he wasn’t the worst choice in a one night stand, if this was his mentality surrounding more… intimate matters.By the time we finally pulled up to the house, however, I was dying to get away. I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to him briefly, my face still red from our encounter. “Thank you for the ride.”“Anytime,” he replied as he cut the engine.I hurried inside before he could follow me, clutching the book tightly. Once in my room, I slipped it under the mattress, planning to dispose of it discreetly the next time I went out. No matter what Elijah said, this genre wasn’t really my cup of tea.But that night, sleep evaded me. I tossed and turned, unable to stop thinking about the DNA test. What if the first test had been a mistake? What if Thea really was my missing daugh
Agnes The touch on my back startled me, and I nearly spilled my drink as I jolted upright. But when I turned, it was just Elijah who was standing behind me. His hand was resting lightly on my shoulder blade, and he was staring at my back. “You’re sunburnt,” he said simply before I could ask what
Agnes The sun reflected off the clear blue water, the ripples shimmering like liquid glass in the late afternoon light as Thea splashed in the shallow end of the pool. She shrieked with laughter, darting around like a fish while two other kids chased after her. The sound of her happiness made my c
Agnes Thea’s eyes lit up as the flashing lights and the speaker above the booth announced Elijah’s win. She rushed forward, reaching her little hands out. “Which prize would you like?” the vendor, a teenage boy with his hair hanging in his eyes, asked with a sigh. He looked like he wanted to be
Agnes The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting golden stripes across the hotel room floor. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the haze of sleep, but a faint noise drew my attention. Snoring. I turned my head toward the source of the noise, which was near the couch, and there h
I opened my mouth to argue, but Thea had already flopped onto the sofa, giggling. “This is comfy! I wanna sleep here!” Elijah smirked, clearly amused. “Looks like the decision’s been made.” I shot him a look, but his gaze was as steady and unbothered as ever. “Fine,” I muttered, grabbing my paja
Agnes Even by the time we returned to the hotel room later, I could still feel the buzz of adrenaline coursing through me. I had won. Somehow, I had won against Olivia in front of a crowd of onlookers. The thought left a strangely bittersweet taste in my mouth. Although it was mostly sweet, if I w
Agnes The casino lights pulsed around me, an endless blur of color and sound, but all I could focus on was the knot of tension coiled in my chest. My encounter with Olivia and Noah left me feeling trapped, an unwilling player caught in the crossfire of their games. I glanced at Elijah, leaning c
Elijah I didn’t have to look to know who it was—Olivia, her tone lined with that unique mix of malice and sweetness she’d perfected over the years. As I turned, I saw her standing there, arm linked with a tall, broad figure beside her. It was Noah, Alpha of the Blackridge pack. Seeing him in o
Agnes “Don’t let it get to you,” Elijah said calmly, handing back my phone. “Time will reveal the truth, Agnes. Just remember—victory belongs to the prepared.” The calmness in his voice loosened some of the tension in my shoulders. The online backlash, the disapproving looks, the whisper