28 (Lucian’s POV) Willing
Lucian
We ate breakfast in silence.
It wasn’t uncomfortable-just heavy. Like both of us were waiting for the other to speak first.
“Mara,” I said eventually, gently.
She looked up from her plate, guarded.
“I want us to spend two weeks at the beach resort.”
Her eyes widened. “Me?” she asked, confusion flickering across her face.
“Yes, you.”
She stared at me for a long moment, like she wasn’t sure if I was serious.
I reached for her hand, and she didn’t pull away-at first.
“I want to try, Mara. Really try,” I said, voice low.
That’s when she jerked her hand back.
“I’m not a fool, Lucian,” she snapped, and her voice cracked at the edges. I could hear the hurt underneath.
“I’m not with Tina,” I said quickly. “I broke up with her a week before our wedding. Those videos were old. She’s… she’s
desperate.”
She shook her head. “Stop lying. You go to her every night. Everyone knows. They all talk.”
I didn’t realize my absence had affected her that much. I didn’t know it mattered to her.
I leaned forward, trying to steady my voice.
“I don’t go to her, Mara. I leave the house. I drive around. I stay away because I know if I’m near you, I’ll want to touch you.
And I know you’re not ready for that.”
She blinked at me. Her expression softened, just a little.
“I don’t believe you,” she said quietly.
I bowed my head.
“Please,” I said. “Look at me.”
She hesitated-then looked up.
“Would I lie to you about that?”
She didn’t answer. But she didn’t look away either.
“When I came to your house, I was angry,” I said. “Martha had told me things. I was stupid. I said things I can’t take back. I hurt you. I know that. But I don’t want us to keep punishing each other. We don’t have to love each other overnight, but maybe… we can stop being miserable.”
Her face faltered.
“The office?” she asked, almost in a whisper.
“I’ve been doing overtime. I needed the money to book the resort.”
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28ucian’s POV) Willing
She relaxed just a bit, her shoulders dropping.
“As much as I’d like to go,” she said slowly, “I don’t want drama with Tina.”
I reached for her hand again, and this time, she let me hold it.
“There’s no Tina,” I told her. “No mistress. No one else.”
“I tried to tell you that day she sent the video,” I added softly, “but you didn’t let me.”
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She didn’t respond right away, but something shifted in her expression. Her guard wasn’t down-but it wasn’t all the way up anymore either.
“Okay,” she said.
It was quiet. Cautious.
But it was a yes.
And I smiled.
After breakfast, we returned to our room.
We sat together at the foot of her bed, laptop open between us, scrolling through the resort’s website. It felt strange- normal, almost. Like we were just two people planning a weekend getaway, not two strangers tied together by politics and
obligation.
“Should we book a room with double beds?” I asked gently, testing the waters.
She nodded without looking at me.
A pang of disappointment hit me, but I swallowed it. She needed time. And I was willing to give it to her.
When we went to check availability, there was only one option left-their honeymoon chalet. Of course.
“I guess we’ll take it,” Mara said, her voice neutral. No hesitation.
I booked it immediately.
We packed in quiet coordination, and Austin helped us carry our bags out to the car. Just as we were heading down the steps of the mansion, Darian appeared like a storm waiting to break.
“Lucian!” he called.
I clenched my jaw. Of course.
“What is it?” I asked, already exhausted.
“Please, Lucian. Don’t do this. Let her go.”
As if I had kidnapped her.
“Mind your damn business and stop troubling me and my wife,” I snapped. “You had your chance. You blew it. Why can’t you just let her be?”
“You know she loves me,” he shot back. “You have someone you love-someone who loves you back. Don’t take her from
me.”
My blood boiled.
“Your mother took her from you,” I said. “When she manipulated Father into buying her for me. And stop spreading lies about Tina. We’re done. I broke up with her before the wedding. You think this is healthy? This obsession? Let. Her. Go.”
“There’s a pregnant girl inside this house who’s crazy about you,” I added. “Maybe try focusing on her.”
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26 (Lucian’s POV) Willing
Darian’s face twisted.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” he spat. “I don’t want Tiffa-”
I cut him off.
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“Then you shouldn’t have slept with her,” I said coldly. “You should have spoken up when Father asked you how you felt about Mara. But you didn’t. So stop blaming the world for your cowardice.”
I turned and walked away.
Behind me, his voice cracked through the air like a whip.
“Mara, don’t believe his lies! Lucian is a monster!”
I flinched at that word. Not because it hurt-but because it almost fit.
I slid into the driver’s seat, started the car, and glanced at Mara.
She just stared ahead. Silent. Distant.
“I promise you’ll have peace and quiet at the resort, Mara,” I said quietly.
She gave a small nod. No words.
She kept silent for the entire drive. And maybe that was okay. Maybe silence was better than more screaming, more
accusations, more pain.
But as we drove away from the mansion and everything it represented, I let one fragile thought settle in my mind:
Maybe this trip could change something between us.
Maybe not love.
But maybe peace.
And peace… would be enough for now.
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