Chapter Nine

Upon arriving at his penthouse, Lucas carried her with ease, her body limply draped over his arms as he made his way to the bedroom. He had considered taking her to one of the many guest rooms in his house but ultimately decided against it; he couldn't afford to let a stranger wander his home without his watchful eye.

As he laid her gently on the bed, Emma emitted a soft moan, and fresh tears escaped her tightly shut eyes. Lucas carefully removed her shoes and pondered whether to also remove her dress, wanting her to be as comfortable as possible.

But he ultimately decided against it, not wanting to take advantage of her vulnerable state. He helped her into one of his shirts and a pair of shorts and then undressed himself, preparing for bed. But as he was about to enter the shower, he heard her sobbing.

Turning to face her, he could tell she was deep in a dream. He wondered how much the wound of her betrayal must have hurt for her to cry in her slumber. Gently pulling the covers up t