In his embrace, my thoughts were in utter disarray. The soft press of his lips against mine lingered, the kiss stretching out into a suspended moment that felt both exhilarating and bewildering. Was it lasting longer than it was intended to? Perhaps he, too, was caught up in the intensity of the moment, or at least that's what I believed—until the photographer's voice sliced through the atmosphere. "All done," the photographer's announcement severed the spell, and Lucian swiftly pulled back from me. The abruptness of his movement was almost startling, as if the kiss had been a figment of my imagination, dissipating into thin air the instant reality pushed back in. As my gaze remained fixed upon him, there was an absence of any visible emotional or physical impact from the kiss. No tell-tale sign that the shared moment had stirred anything within him. A sigh slipped inward, a mix of resignation and a pang of disappointment. "It was all an act after all," I whispered under my breath,

Lucian Creed sighed wearily as he made his way to the room they were supposed to share.Jake's words echoed in his mind: "Aren't you taking the plan a little too far?" The doctor's question had lingered, and Lucian couldn't help but wonder if he was indeed pushing the boundaries of their elaborate scheme too far, but…‘Like he would know the answer to that,’He knew for a fact that he had the means to carry out the plan without having to go through all this trouble. He could have ignored her plan and instead used her illness as leverage to get to Nicholas, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. There was something about her, something that had him entangled in this charade, something he couldn't quite explain.It was funny how just a few months ago, Lucian had been nothing but a heartless man, ready to destroy everything and anything related to Nicholas Dolman, without caring who got hurt in the process. So, what had happened? What had changed in him? How had a seemingly crazy w

As we followed Ken, Lucian's warm hands gently encircled my waist. Despite his pleasant smile and attempts at light conversation, my mind went inexplicably blank. It wasn't due to nervousness or fear about the impending introduction to the household as his new wife; rather, it was Ken's words that continued to trouble me Why did he ask me that? What led him to believe I had feelings for Lucian? How could he possibly know? Heaven, I've spent months trying to deny the inevitable, and suddenly, out of nowhere, some shrewd toy figured it out? How the hell did this happen? Why him of all people?" I kept questioning, my thoughts spiraling in confusion and doubt. Lucian's voice sliced through my internal turmoil, jolting me back to the present. "MIRA!" he yelled, his tone tinged with impatience. I flinched at the suddenness of his call, my heart racing. "What?" I stammered, struggling to regain my composure. Lucian hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching mine. "What...?” he

I watched Lucian as he walked into the closet to change his clothes, my curiosity getting the best of me. "Do you find eating here appalling?" I asked, following his footsteps.He turned to me with a thoughtful expression, his fingers working on unbuttoning his shirt. "No, I'm not just used to it," he replied, his tone reflective.I couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Well, you better get used to it, husband," I playfully teased, emphasizing the fact that, whether real or not, we were now married.He chuckled in response. "Right, wife," he replied, acknowledging our new roles with a hint of amusement in his voice.Lucian struggled with the buttons of his shirt, his fingers fumbling as he tried to fasten them. It was already too much, and the interruption had only added to his frustration. His mind was a whirlwind of desire and irritation.What bothered him most was the fact that his precious time with Mira had been abruptly cut short. Just one look at her in that alluring lingerie

As I lay on the bed, feeling physically clean but emotionally bewildered by the recent experience, Lucian was taking his bath, and the sound of running water filled the room. What had just happened between us? How would I ever face him again? The realization hit me like a tidal wave - had I just lost my virginity? We had been intimately close; he had touched and kissed me all over. Wasn't that what sex was? These questions swirled relentlessly in my mind, demanding answers. My heart raced as I contemplated the implications of that moment. How would I handle similar situations in the future? Could I maintain control over my emotions? My thoughts were in disarray, scattered like leaves in the wind, making it impossible to find clarity. As I remained on the bed, deep in thought, Lucian emerged from the bathroom, his bare chest glistening with droplets of water. He wore only a towel wrapped around his lower half, and another in his hand, used to gently dry his wet hair. The room felt