THIRD PERSON POV Luke was tired. Tired of forcing smiles and empty pleasantries. The fashion week had worn him out and he couldn't wait to return to New York. “Your bitch face is showing.” Veronica teased him, noticing that he had already drained his social battery. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing.” He sighed, looking down at his watch. For how much longer did he have to be here? Luke looked over his shoulders, his eyes searching for Aurelia. His jaw clenched as Ezekiel came up beside her. He watches Aurelia’s face brighten up on his arrival, and Luke’s brows furrowed, his chest burning with jealousy. “You guys are so typical.” Veronica rolled her eyes, following his line of sight. “It’s boring to watch the same thing happen again.”Luke clicks his tongue in annoyance, facing forward. “Then why did you insist on coming along?”“Isn’t it obvious?” Veronica smirked as watched Ezekiel and Aurelia. “I also made a bet on who would win, and I’ll be damned not to see it for myself.”“Tch.”
Ezekiel was in high spirits. The final event of the Fashion Week had ended at the crack of dawn but he wasn’t the least bit tired. After escorting Aurelia to her hotel room and bidding her goodbye, he skipped happily to the hotel bar to get himself a drink. Now that he knew he had genuine feelings for Aurelia, his constant struggle with denial was over, lifting a load off his chest. He was as chirpy as a schoolboy in love. “Oh?” On spotting a familiar face, Ezekiel stopped at the entrance of the bar, a mocking smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against the door frame. “Who do we have here?” Luke ignored him, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. They were the only ones in the bar. “Mind if I join you for a drink?” Ezekiel straightened up, and Luke side glanced at him, his gaze sharp. But he remained silent. Taking his silence as a go-ahead, Ezekiel sighed in contentment as he slipped onto a stool beside Luke, signaling for the bartender to serve him a drink.
“Here.”Aurelia hesitated before taking the cup of water from Veronica, staring at it like it would come alive and bite her. “I didn't poison it if that's what you're thinking.” Veronica mused, sarcasm dripping in her tone. Giving the cup one last wary stare, Aurelia accepted it, and Veronica flopped on the sofa beside her. They were in Veronica's hotel room, and the supermodel had taken it upon herself to tend to Aurelia's wound, taking responsibility for her fall. Veronica observed Aurelia's scraped knee, then she moved to her closet, returning with a tube of ointment. Aurelia silently watched as she squeezed the open cut, her fingers spreading it against her skin. “That will do.” Veronica nodded as she sealed the cap on the ointment, letting out a small yawn as she straightened up. “Thank you.” Aurelia kept her head low, spacing out as she looked down at her feet. “Now that's out of the way, shall we begin?” Veronica suggested, leaning back in her seat as she crossed her legs
Aurelia didn't sleep a wink. Dragging herself out of bed, she sat up and just stared. Her mind was blank, the events of the previous day dawning on her. Ezekiel’s confession. Luke’s rejection. And Veronica’s……Aurelia winced as she recalled the kiss, her fingers absentmindedly skimming over her lips.‘I prefer women.’Aurelia squeezed her eyes shut, then she opened them. She slapped herself out of her daze, hoping to dispel the warmth that tickled her cheeks. That damned Veronica, she thought, recalling the satisfied smirk on the model’s face. The boldness of that woman. Kissing her out of the blue like that. It was the biggest plot twist in her mangled story, one that she had never seen coming. A subtle knock on the door cut through Aurelia’s thoughts. Her brows furrowed. She didn’t order room service, so who could be knocking at her door at this time? Wait…she paused. What time was it? Aurelia’s lazy gaze searched the walls for the clock, and when she spotted it, a gasp esca
“Do you have feelings for me?”The question cut deep, reopening the wound from last night. She had slapped a bandage on it to face him, and here was, mercilessly ripping off the fragile bandage. Luke wet his lips, his expression grace. Aurelia didn’t know which was worse, was it the expression on his face or the coldness in his tone? She didn’t want to remember that he despised the thought of her. She didn’t want him to say it openly, to reject her officially.But was she hoping for? Aurelia knew the complication of her feelings, she knew it would break the final thread that held them together. Yet her heart ached. Her despair was determined from the moment he came into her life, like a rippling tornado, fast and powerful, shattering the beliefs she’d believed in and leaving just as quickly as it came. She hasn’t forgotten how he’d acted throughout the week. While she yearned for him, even after their fallout, he ignored her like the plague. Aurelia wanted to laugh at her foolish,
Aurelia huffed as she looked down at her watch. 6 am. The airport was filled even at such an early time, and as she made her way through the crowd, her mind drifted off to the night before.She had taken a bold step, confessing her feelings to get out of the contract with the CEO. It was out of impulse. His words stabbed her more than his reaction, and she wasn't strong enough to just sit and bear the pain. She was done feeding into his ego, dancing on his palm like a puppet. Luke had talked about owning her fully, and it was nothing but an insult. Maybe it was her mistake for falling for him, for setting herself up for heartbreak, but she had enough. Although she was somewhat satisfied, seeing the shocked expression on his face was like a soothing balm to her wound. She had completely caught him off guard, and among her bountiful losses, this was a fair win. She left the restaurant without looking back or waiting for a reply. Luke didn’t stop her, and she was grateful for that. If
Aurelia hunched over the sink, her throat dry from puking her breakfast. “Did you eat something bad?” Olivia's brows knitted in worry as she rubbed Aurelia’s back. “No.” Aurelia coughed out. She filled her hand with water and splashed it against her face. It helped calm the burning sensations on her skin. “It’s probably jet lag. The flight back to New York was long.”“Hmm. All the more reason why you shouldn’t have resumed work immediately after getting back.” Olivia scolded her. Aurelia straightened up, forcing a smile to persuade her friend. Oh if only Olivia knew why she couldn’t possibly sit idle in her apartment. Her brooding thoughts would not let her rest and she’d thought of reaching out to the CEO multiple times. It drove her crazy. Although she had gotten a two-week break off work, she returned three days after arriving in New York. Work helped get her mind off things—off him. And that was what she desperately needed at the moment. A distraction.Aurelia wanted to slowl
“P-pregnant?” Aurelia gaped, her jaw scraping the floor. Ezekiel nodded solemnly, shifting on the hospital bed so he could take her hand. “The doctor said you're two months gone.”Aurelia looked down at her stomach, unable to believe a baby was growing inside her. Her baby. Luke's baby.Her vision blurred, and she felt like she was floating outside her body. She heard Ezekiel's concerned voice, but it sounded distant, muffled. The hospital room spun around her, a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds.Luke's baby.The words echoed in her mind, refusing to sink in. “This…” she suddenly felt dizzy again. “This can't be real.”She must be dreaming. It can't be possible.Because she can't……she can't get pregnant. A few years back, Aurelia had discovered she couldn't conceive during a mandatory check-up for college. Her ovarian reserve was low, so there was a 0.9% percent chance her eggs would fertilize to bear a child. It didn't mean much to her then, because she was devoted to her studie
Luke waited in the room for Seraphina to wake up, the doctor who had examined her said she passed out from exhaustion, but her situation was stable for now. It made him wonder how many times she had pushed herself so hard. He hadn’t even found out until later, so it only meant that she had been hiding it for a long while now. Enduring the pain in silence and forcing smiles. Maybe that would explain her impulsive mood swings. Luke glanced at her, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. Her hair bun was still in place, and even in slumber, she looked beautiful. He subconsciously leaned in, taking in every detail and curve of her face, from the freckles on her nose to the little scar on her left brow. His gaze flickered to her lips and lingered there. They were painted hot red with lipstick, adding a dangerous allure to her soft features. Luke flinched as her eyes fluttered. Startled, he straightened up, clearing his throat to regain his composure, but his cheeks were flushed with
Seraphina was discharged from the hospital two weeks later, and during the time she was hospitalized, Luke visited her often, but Seraphina never allowed him in. It hurt him deeply, especially when Ezekiel was allowed to see her. The bet between them was still active and Luke feared he might have made a grave mistake. He still watched her from afar to protect her, because now that he knew about her illness he couldn’t afford to slack off. Soon the annual banquet was held as a way for the heirs of influential families to make their debut, and this year, it was held by Montauge’s, Veronica’s family. The night was in full bloom, and both Luke and Seraphina had received an invitation. Luke saw this as the perfect opportunity to finally talk to her, and he looked forward to taking her, but his plans were thwarted the moment Ezekiel came to pick her up instead. Of course, he also got an invitation. Ezekiel stepped out of his sleek BMW, dressed in a tailored white suit and crimson
Veronica planned to make Seraphina jealous, so she accompanied him to an exclusive club in the heart of the city, one that could only be accessible to elite members. Veronica was his date for the evening, and as they reached the location, he began to regret his decision. “How is this going to help again?” He grumbled as they stepped out of his car. Veronica held his arm, dressed in a hot red dress that left little to the imagination, while he wore a black dress shirt and pants to match. Veronica rolled her eyes at his hesitance. “Just follow my lead dumbass.” The club was as sophisticated yet wild at the same time, and Luke was surprised to see Seraphina and Ezekiel making out in the VIP section. Luke’s jaw clenched at the sight, but Veronica tapped his jaw to get his attention. “Don’t look at her.” She scolded him, dragging him to the dance floor. “If not it won’t work.” Luke took a deep breath, stealing one last glance at them before moving on. As they stepped onto
Third Person POVWeeks later…Luke moaned as he felt her palm against him. He grabbed her hand to stop her, pulling back from the kiss with a dazed expression. “We can’t do that here.” He muttered, his wary gaze darting around the library. Seraphina blinked at him, her brows slightly furrowed in frustration. “Just shut up and kiss me.” And with that she crashed her lips against his, angling her head as she deepened the kiss.Luke gave him, feeling himself get hotter with each passing minute. His hands tightened on her waist, wanting to wander. But he couldn’t because she hadn’t permitted him yet. Seraphina spread her legs, letting him grind against her at least, her back pressed against the wall as Luke's tongue danced with hers. The air between them was hot, and Luke groaned, feeling his erection straining against his pants. Seraphina pulled back from the kiss with a smirk, her fingers combing through his hair.“Beg me.” She demanded, and he gulped his spit, wavering for a bit. L
Luke’s POV “A date?” I was in the gym of the mansion when Seraphina skipped in and started going on about her date with Ezekiel. The topic was none of my business, but she wanted me to tell her more about Ezekiel.“Ask him yourself.” I tightened the bandages on my wrists and swung at the punching bag, my brows furrowed in irritation. That bitter feeling was stirring in my chest again. Ever since they met, Seraphina’s attention was fixated on Ezekiel, and Ezekiel, he was milking the situation with his God damned charm. I raised my hands to deliver another punch, then Seraphina blocked my view. It was a good thing I managed to stop my fist before it made contact with her face.“Careful,” I warned her, already growing tired of the conversation.“Tell me.” She insisted. “I want to know what kind of guy he is.”A dry chuckle escaped my lips. “He’s a man whore.” I say simply. “And you are nothing but another fling to him, so you better stay away.” Seraphina tilted her head to the side.
Luke's POV “Father?” I knew when Father gave an order, no one would dare to go against him, but this….this was too much. “Please can you reconsider?” I can not imagine why he would reduce me to a mere bodyguard, was that all I was useful for in his eyes? Father remained silent, but his dark gaze caused me to flinch in my spot, and I quickly regretted my actions. I regained my composure, my head hung low as my jaw tightened in frustration. From my peripheral vision, I saw her smile, and I couldn't help but feel like she was mocking me. Anger bubbled in my chest, but my hands were tied, and not even my brothers bothered to step in. Dinner was dismissed soon after, and as I stood to make my way to my room, her voice caused my steps to falter. “Why do you hate me so much?” There was no curiosity in her tone, but rather there was a hint of smugness that caused the last thread of my patience to snap. I turned slowly to face her, my hands balled into fists at my sides. “I would app
Six years ago…..The room was dimly lit, and the cries of agony filled the small space, followed by the smell of fresh blood.Luke's eyes narrowed as he glared at the trembling spy before him. "Not ready to talk? You only have two toenails left though."The spy, a scrawny man with a scruffy beard, sat limb in the chair he was strapped to, tired from the endless hours of torture. “I…” he struggled to speak… “I don’t know anything.”“Hmm?” Luke tilted his head to the side, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. “What you shouldn’t want to know is what will happen to you if you tell another lie.”“I swear….” The man sobbed like a newborn baby, “I was framed! You have to believe me, young master!”Luke's gaze never wavered. "Framed you say." he fiddled with the blood-stained plier, a sickening smile on his face. “Looks like I have to cut off your toes instead.” “No please!” The spy's eyes darted around the dimly lit room, no doubt searching for an escape route. But he was trapped, and h
Aurelia coughed out, feeling a burning sensation on her wrists. Her eyes cracked open, gauging her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was getting a taxi and then….Aurelia gasped, her heart thundering against her chest. She was kidnapped. Dread filled her body, the revelation sending shivers down her spine.She tried to get up, but a rope bound her hand and legs. Her back was pressed against the cold floor, and she looked up at the ceiling that seemed too far, she wondered how she got into this situation.For what reason would anyone have to kidnap her? Aurelia felt tears sting her eyes, but instead of crying, she tried to sit up.The room was dark, the only source of light coming from the holes in the ceiling. It was still daytime, she noted, her gaze bouncing around the room.Old boxes littered the grounds, and huge machines gathered dust in the corner of the room. This was an old warehouse, an abandoned one, judging from its shabby state. This made it serve as the perfect
“P-pregnant?” Aurelia gaped, her jaw scraping the floor. Ezekiel nodded solemnly, shifting on the hospital bed so he could take her hand. “The doctor said you're two months gone.”Aurelia looked down at her stomach, unable to believe a baby was growing inside her. Her baby. Luke's baby.Her vision blurred, and she felt like she was floating outside her body. She heard Ezekiel's concerned voice, but it sounded distant, muffled. The hospital room spun around her, a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds.Luke's baby.The words echoed in her mind, refusing to sink in. “This…” she suddenly felt dizzy again. “This can't be real.”She must be dreaming. It can't be possible.Because she can't……she can't get pregnant. A few years back, Aurelia had discovered she couldn't conceive during a mandatory check-up for college. Her ovarian reserve was low, so there was a 0.9% percent chance her eggs would fertilize to bear a child. It didn't mean much to her then, because she was devoted to her studie