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Anastasia looked away from Lucas and turned on the TV, trying to focus on something else, anything else. The noise didn't fill the room, but at least it did little to ease her mind.

“So you're going to stand there all night?” she asked, her voice edged with irritation.

Lucas chuckled, but his attempt at humor fell flat. “If that makes you comfortable.”

She snapped her head towards him, anger bubbling to the surface. “Comfortable? No, I'm not. You being here doesn't make me comfortable in any way. It's disturbing and creepy, and you won't say where Victor is. But do I have a choice? No! Because he's an asshole who does whatever he wants.”

Lucas looked taken aback by her outburst. He shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to respond. “Uh... I apologize, but I'm not in any position to say a word about his work or anything right now, please understand.”

Her frustration only grew. She felt trapped by the presence of this stranger in her home, why? did Victor she was incapable of taking care