ot just the room, but the silence inside it. His suit jacket was gone now, his sleeves rolled up slightly, exposing his wristwatch that gleamed under the soft lighting. His eyes

n a promise. I loved him. But love didn't stop the fear. That was when I noticed him. Silver hair. Broad shoulders. Sitting alone at the table across from mine, untouched drink in front of him. He didn't smile. Didn't flirt. Didn't even look like he belonged there. He looked... broken. Our eyes met once. Then again. I shouldn't have stared. He stood. Then walked towards me. "Drink with me," he said, his voice low, tired. "Tonight is... difficult." I should have said no. Instead, I nodded. We drank in silence. Tequila burned. The music blurred. And the more I looked at him, the more my mind betrayed me. He looked like Chase. Not exactly....but close enough. Stronger. Richer. Whole. A version of the man I loved without the weight of sacrifice. When his hand brushed mine, I didn't pull away. When he leaned closer, I followed. When he whispered something I couldn't hear over the music, I let him lead me. The room after that was quiet. Dim. Private. His touch was familiar, confident, and overwhelming. And then.... Nothing. I woke up alone. My body ached. My head pounded. The bed beside me was empty. No face. No name. No goodbye. Just pain between my thighs... and shame in my chest. That was the night I decided to run. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Ophelia." The present snapped back into place. Lucien stood in front of me, his hand still at my waist, his eyes watching my face closely. I pushed him back. Hard. "You," I breathed. "It was you." He didn't stumble. Didn't look surprised. Understanding crossed his face slowly... then satisfaction. "So you remember." "You took my virginity," I said, my voice shaking. "And you left before I woke up. You didn't even apologize." Lucien stepped forward again, unfazed. "You walked into me," he replied calmly. "And you walked away just fine." "I was drunk." "So was I." "That doesn't make it right." "It makes it mutual." I shook my head, backing away until the bed hit the back of my knees. "You trapped me," I said. "You knew exactly who I was,