When Thea opened her eyes, she found Lucian sitting by her side again this time looking into his phone. He looked up at her and smiled.“You’re finally awake,” he said reaching out to touch her hand, “How are you feeling?”“Groggy and a bit confused, did I faint on you?” She asked and he nodded.“The doctor said that it was a normal concussion symptom and that we should look out for it. But it was possible that the lack of sleep and malnutrition caused it too.” Lucian said and she groaned.“I should have known that I was overdoing it. I was being as stubborn as a five-year-old child,” She admitted and he chuckled.“Glad to hear you admit it. I was about ready to force you into a healthy schedule if you kept insisting on going on like that,” Lucian said with a smile and Thea chuckled.“I deserve that. Sorry for worrying you,” She admitted softly and he nodded leaning forward to pat her head and press a kiss against her forehead.“It’s okay. I’m just glad that you’re okay sweetheart,” H
“Hello, young master. Good to see that you’re still a late riser like always,” Said the sharp older woman who looked like she was in her early fifties.Thea watched as Lucian rubbed the back of his head and looked at the woman uncomfortable.“Good to see you too, Mrs Kyle. You seem to be in good health,” He mumbled as he stood in the den in his pajama bottoms and nothing on top. Yupp, some eye candy so early in the morning for her. But probably not the best attire to greet their new housekeeper…The older woman looked at him intently for a moment before sighing and turning toward Thea who was still standing beside the door because Mrs Kyle had yet to step into the house.“Nice to meet you, you must be Miss Thea. Mr Salvator told me everything about you. How are you feeling?” Mrs Kyle asked with the same stern expression on her face making Thea somehow feel the contradiction between her warm words and her cold expression.“Nice to meet you. I am feeling much better, thank you. Would yo
As Lucian pulled Thea into the room, he closed the door behind them and made his way into the bathroom not letting go of her hand. When they reached the bathroom, he picked her up around the waist and put her on the counter.“Woah! What are you doing?” She asked surprised.“Making sure you won’t run away,” He said coming up to stand between her legs.“Why would I want to run away?” She asked tilting her head to the side and Lucian smiled reaching for the bathroom door and closing it.“Nothing, I just wanted to do this since the moment I saw you sitting in the kitchen,” He said with a smile and she sighed.Sometimes. Lucian could be an unpredictable flirt.“More importantly, Why am I hearing about some bridal lessons for the first time?” Thea asked wondering why Lucian hadn’t told her about them from the start.“Because there are no bridal lessons. It was just a lir Grandma created for mother in hopes that the lessons would help her become a better mother and wife. But it didn’t work,”
“So she’s staying with you until you completely recover,” Pen trailed off and Thea nodded.“Although I don’t like the idea much but I don’t really have a choice. Besides, the woman is beyond helpful. It’s like she’s a mind reader/ robot. She has everything ready and on time. My house had never been this clean and orderly, and after that first incident, she barely ever stepped out of line. She is a bit strict about our diet and having breakfast every morning, it’s like a religion for her. But I feel like I’m much healthier thanks to that,” Thea explained as Pen leaned on her elbow listening to her with a blank expression.“That sounds like an extremely happy problem to have,” she said giving her a judging stare and Thea rolled her eyes.“Come on! Stop being like that! It’s not like you would have some stranger in your house twenty-four/ seven and wouldn’t complain about it. Put yourself in my place,” Thea complained and Pen sighed.“Alright. I can see where this can be annoying. What d
“This is going to be all for today,” Thea said as she adjoined the meeting and people were starting to exit the meeting room.Pen came to stand beside her busy looking into her notes and said,“Well, they can’t help but stare at the future mistress of their company. They can’t help but wonder if you would be coming back at their boss in the future,”“Come on, this is just a briefing with the employees there is no need for rumors to start spreading already,” She said with a smile and Pen sighed.“You don’t get it. Those looks, calculating and appraising every bit of you. They were more concerned with your size than they were concerned with the ongoing research,” Pen said.Thea rolled her eyes at her friend and turned to a group of employees coming up to greet her and give her some questions.Just as they were done with their conversation, Lucian made his way into the meeting room causing the remaining employees to disperse with a hard look closing the door behind them.“What going on?”
“You didn’t have to follow me into the bathroom,” Pen grumbled and Thea sighed.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to push you like that,” Thea answered as she leaned against the door stall.“I know. I was being prickly. But I’m not ready to talk about being part of a sick experiment that might or might not have tampered with my brain irrevocably,” Pen answered honestly and Thea stiffened,“For someone uncomfortable talking about it, you sure know how to explain it. I wouldn’t know when to start if I was to explain it to someone,” She trailed off and Pen looked at her.“Are you going to tell Lucian?” She asked and Thea nodded.There was no doubt in her mind about this, she was going to tell him one day. She just needed time to come up with the best way to face him with the truth. And before that, she needed to talk to his father.“Unlike you. I don’t see this as something that I should hide. In fact, if my relationship with him was as forward as yours I would have told him. It would have explained
Thea made her way down the stairs slowly lifting her dress as she walked. She didn’t know how long she had been under the care of Mrs Kyle but she was one firm believer that Mrs Kyle was a mirable maker.There was no way that Thea was going to produce the same results even if she went to the best care in the city. It felt like something she would get addicted to.She felt refreshed and light her shoulders relaxed and her skin had never been this smooth. Her hair was pulled back in a stylish updo and a few long locks slid across the skin over her shoulders reminding her that her hair was still long. It was a strange comforting feeling which she liked.The long black dress was rather simple in design but the amber motif matched with the amber jewelry and hair accessories she had on making it look even more stylish and colorful.As she stepped down on the last step, she found Lucian already standing there waiting for her holding something in his hand as he watched the street from the win
As soon as they stepped into the party venue, they were greeted by an extremely cheerful James who was grinning at them from ear to ear walking in his usual jacket draped over his shoulders.He looked much livelier and more healthy than she’d ever seen him. She felt Lucian sigh in exasperation as he put his hand on the small of her back and walked toward his father.“I’m so glad to see you here, you two. I was wondering if you weren’t going to come,” He said as he stood before them.“As expected of my daughter-in-law. You look beautiful,” He said with a smile and Thea smiled at him.“Thank you, James although I would have preferred more time to get ready for such an important event,” She retorted and he laughed.“As blunt as always. Sorry, I will make sure you have enough heads up for the wedding,” He answered and Thea shook her head hopelessly.The man didn’t even seem sorry about this.“More importantly, father. You shouldn’t be walking around like this, what did the doctor say abou
“Oh lord…” Thea mumbled as she closed her eyes looking down at the book in her hands barely seeing the words.“Did you say something?” Lucian asked as he leaned forward on the kitchen counter to look at her.“No, nothing,” she said with a smile, and he nodded, going back to preparing whatever it is that he was preparing.Thea stole another glance at him, feeling her heartbeat faster at the sight of him in his unbuttoned shirt and waistcoat hugging his muscles in a perfect fit that made her almost swoon. It had been like this since she got back from the hospital, so much that it had gotten unbearable.At first, Lucian was simply more attentive, especially since she was having trouble dealing with the pain from moving around. He had been adamant about not leaving her alone to the point of intending to sleep on the chair bestie her!In the end, he slept the whole night on the bed beside her on top of the covers when she insisted that he shouldn’t sleep on the chair. He didn’t touch her n
For a while, it was quiet. An absolute quietness that was both peaceful and disturbing. There were moments like flashes when voices would reach her sometimes calling her name and sometimes talking amongst each other. But she was never able to pull through long enough to truly know what was going on.It was by the time that her awareness grew more alert when she heard them. The two distinct voices she knew so well.“How could you let this happen?! How could you when she was right beside you?!”“When are you going to stop blaming others for your own problems? You lost Thea because you acted like you could control her. Stop trying to blame me and start trying to figure out how to redeem yourself!”These words were followed by the distinct sound of a slap. And even in her sleep, Thea would later realize what truly went on that day.“…”“Are you alright?” Another voice asked.“Yeah… can you go check on him?”The silence that followed after that was deafening. Thea tried shifting her hand a
“You didn’t answer my question,” Lucian said in the same calm tone as if this man hadn’t just threatened to violate her in front of him. “Who. Is. Behind. You” Lucian enunciated each word coming out of his mouth.Thea’s eyes moved away from the sight before her to look at Lucian’s hands. They were clenched in tight fists that she could distinguish through the darkness. She didn’t need to doubt whether or not Lucian was provoked by this man’s words. Because she could feel the rage coursing through his tight muscles ready to spring out at a moment’s notice.The man paused looking at Lucian with a blank face, the smile completely gone as he looked at him. Thea thought for a moment that he was going to turn violent when he simply asked.“Why? Are you going to pay me more than them?” He asked.Thea felt instant relief when the man said that, if he could be convinced with money, then…“If we can reach a deal,” Lucian answered, and the man smirked.Something was wrong, seriously wrong. His e
Thea's head felt as if it was going to split in pain as she began to regain her consciousness. She groaned and tried to shift wondering why she was having another hangover when she didn't even remember drinking. That's when the memory of her last moment of consciousness hit her brutally like a slap.Thea opened her eyes frantically looking around her. In a panicked move that did nothing but kick her back to the concrete ground with a hard thud as her hands remained tied behind her back unable to do anything to block the impact.The air got knocked from her lungs and she gritted her teeth looking around her trying to distinguish where she was only to hear a voice from near her."Hey... It's okay, don't move abruptly,"Thea turned around and felt her eyes well up with tears as she looked into the blue eyes she had been trying so hard to avoid for more than a month."What happened?" She asked as she tried to sit up this time succeeding as she maneuvered herself up."We were kidnapped. I
"What the hell did you just do?" Thea looked back at her friend to find her looking at her with a deep frown as she held her phone in her hand mid-gesture as if she was too shocked to continue what she was doing."I asked him to leave..." Thea answered simply and Pen sighed."I know. I was there. But why would you do this? He came all the way here from his meeting and raised hell because they took you in like this,""Well. that's all pretense. We're supposed to be a loving couple after all. I just don't want him involved too much in my problems," Thea stated as she turned around intending to walk outside."Are you okay with this?" Pen asked."Of course. This is for the best," She stated feeling a pang in her chest at the words she uttered.Somehow, she could see Lucian's blue gaze as it filled with hurt when she asked him to leave. His face as he looked up at her on the stairs telling her that he wanted to be with her. "Are you sure you're okay with this? Didn't you go a bit too far
Everything was a lie… Every single thing. Every moment, every word, and every touch. Even the sincere moments of consolation that drew out her strength, and the silly fights over small things. It was all a well-orchestrated scheme to make her hopelessly fall in love. How ridiculous is that? Just how much effort did it have to take to make her believe this? A pang rang through Thea’s chest as she felt the moment of realization she had been avoiding for more than a month draw near. “Did you hear what I just said, Professor Keaton?” The detective asked and Thea looked at him a bit out of it trying to gather her thoughts. “Sorry, can you repeat that?” She asked as she looked at him. “I was asking if you knew something about the money. Your uncle keeps insisting that you used it for illegal activities and we can’t find any trace of it in your accounts,” the detective said making Thea sigh. “As I said for the fifth time. There are no unusual activities and the money went to charity,” s
"Professor... Professor Keaton!" Thea was startled as she looked back at her student who was looking at her with a worried expression on her face."Yes... Sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment there," She said with a soft smile."You seem more tired after coming from your honeymoon, Professor. Are you sure that you're okay?" She insisted and Thea smiled at the young woman and nodded."Of course, I was just thinking about something. did you want something?" She asked."Oh, yes. There was another bouquet for you from your husband. I left it in your new office, and the data from last week's tests are out," She said with a sly smile as she handed her the results printed on a document.As she looked down at it to find a little envelope on top."This is.." She began only to find her student already walking away with a grin."Came with the flowers!" She announced as she disappeared into the other side of the lab.She lifted the envelope to find her name written on it with the distinct
Lucian woke up with a start as his hand slipped from the edge of the table making him lose his equilibrium. Looking around him, he sighed when he realized that he was still sitting in the kitchen with the lights on waiting before his silent phone.He had returned home that evening from work eager to try and have dinner with Thea, knowing that she should be home before him. As he waited and waited, he realized that Thea was probably dining outside and had his meal in lonely silence mulling over how to win her over again.Walking through the house, he sighed at the unfamiliarity of the place. It was a new house even for him. A place he had been hoping to live in with her. Now that he was, he realized that just living with her was never going to be enough. Because even though she was by his side, she felt farther away than when she disappeared last month.Reaching for his phone, he took a deep breath and tapped the screen calling her phone. The call went straight to voicemail. Worry star
Thea walked into the coffee shop looking around for her friend. She waved at her from across the room, and as she was walking toward her, she could see that she wasn't alone.Thea paused giving an exasperated sigh as she glared at the grinning, other person, who wasn't supposed to be there. Instead of looking guilty or even bothered, he smiled at her and lifted his cup in greeting.Thea looked at the door ready to walk outside, but the sight of the mint tea waiting for her on the table made her hesitate. Making a split-moment decision, she gave in to temptation and sat down reaching for the cup and inhaling the fresh herbal scent."Told you that the tea would be a good bait..." Peter said with a smirk and Pen sighed."Sorry. He insisted on coming as soon as he knew that we were meeting," She said.Thea took a sip from her tea and savored it completely ignoring the two."Well, she's not answering my calls and she's never in her office when I visit. If I go to her house, Lucian will pro