Amelia sat on the couch, staring out of the large window of the penthouse. The view of the city below was stunning tall buildings, bustling streets, and the distant lights that seemed to symbolize the life she had once dreamed of. But now, nothing felt the same. Nothing felt right.
The weight of the contract she had signed still hung over her, pressing down on her with each passing hour. She had made a deal with Lucas Blackwood, a deal that had changed the course of her life. She had hoped it would all feel easier once she signed the papers, but instead, it had only made her feel more trapped, more helpless.
She had no idea what Lucas wanted from her. Sure, they had agreed on the terms of the marriage pact his help with her father's medical bills and saving her gallery, and in return, she would play the role of his wife. But there was so much more beneath the surface. Lucas was a man of secrets, and Amelia was beginning to feel like she was living in the shadow of those secrets, unable to escape them.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the door to the living room opened, and Lucas walked in. His presence was as commanding as ever, and yet, there was something different in the way he held himself today. He seemed less confident, almost... uncertain. Amelia looked up, surprised by the change in his demeanor.
"I need to talk to you," Lucas said, his voice softer than usual.
Amelia's heart skipped a beat. What now? She had gotten used to his cold, distant demeanor. She didn't know if she was ready for any more emotional turmoil. But something in his voice made her set aside her doubts.
"Okay," she replied cautiously, sitting up straighter on the couch. She had learned to be careful with him, to be on guard, but today, she couldn't help but feel a little curiosity bubbling up inside her. What was he going to say?
Lucas walked over to the couch and sat down next to her, his usual calm and controlled expression replaced by something more serious. He wasn't looking at her directly. His gaze was focused on the floor, as if he was trying to find the right words, the right moment.
"I've never been good at this," he started, his voice low. "At being open. At sharing. But you deserve to know the truth, even if it's not something I'm proud of."
Amelia felt a wave of confusion wash over her. The truth? What was he talking about? She had always known that Lucas wasn't the type to reveal much about himself, but now, it seemed like he was about to break that pattern. A small part of her wanted to shut down, to ignore whatever confession he was about to make. But another part of her felt a strange pull, as if his honesty would give her the answers she had been craving.
"You've probably already figured out that I'm not the kind of man who does things for free," Lucas continued, his voice carrying an edge of regret. "I don't make deals without expecting something in return."
Amelia nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on him. Of course, she knew that. Everything Lucas did seemed calculated, every decision tied to some personal gain. But hearing him admit it out loud felt different. It felt like a small crack in the armor he had built around himself.
"You've been asking yourself why I agreed to this marriage pact," Lucas said, turning slightly to face her. "Why I'm helping you with your father and the gallery, why I made such an offer to you."
Amelia remained silent, waiting for him to continue. She hadn't been able to figure out his motives, and no matter how many times she asked herself the question, she had never found a satisfying answer.
"The truth is, I wasn't planning on helping you at all," Lucas admitted, his eyes finally meeting hers. "Not in the way you think, at least. I was only interested in what your family had to offer. The power. The influence. Your father's connections were important to me."
Amelia felt a sting in her chest at his words. She had always known that Lucas had a hidden agenda, but hearing him say it so plainly hurt more than she expected. She had hoped, deep down, that there might have been some shred of kindness in him. But now, it felt like that hope was shattered.
"Why are you telling me this now?" Amelia asked, her voice quiet but filled with emotion. "Why are you confessing this?"
Lucas let out a slow breath, his eyes closing for a brief moment. "Because things changed. Because I didn't expect to care. And now, I do."
His words hit her like a shockwave. Amelia blinked, unsure if she had heard him right. Care? Lucas Blackwood, the man who had always been so distant, so cold, was admitting that he cared?
"You care?" she repeated, her voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "After everything that's happened? After everything you've done?"
Lucas nodded, the weight of his confession heavy in the air. "I never thought I'd find myself in this situation. But I did. I never thought I'd feel anything for anyone, especially not someone like you."
Amelia's mind raced. She didn't know what to think. She had always seen Lucas as a man who was untouchable, unmovable. But now, it seemed like there was more to him than she had ever realized.
"Why?" she asked, her voice softer now. "Why me?"
Lucas looked at her with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. "Because you're different. Because I see something in you that I don't see in anyone else. And I've come to realize that I don't want to keep pushing you away."
Amelia didn't know how to respond. Her emotions were all over the place. She had spent so much time fighting against him, resisting him, and now, here he was, confessing that he had feelings for her. Feelings that she hadn't even known existed in him.
"I don't know if I can trust you," she whispered, the words escaping her before she could stop them. "You've lied to me. You've used me. How can I believe you now?"
Lucas's expression hardened for a moment, but he didn't look away. "I don't expect you to trust me right now. But I'm telling you the truth. And for the first time in a long time, I don't want to hide from it."
The room fell silent again, but this time, the silence felt different. It was charged with a new energy, an energy neither of them could deny. Amelia didn't know where this confession would lead, but for the first time, she felt like she was seeing the real Lucas Blackwood. And maybe, just maybe, there was more to their story than she had ever imagined.
But before she could say anything, Lucas's phone buzzed. His eyes darkened as he glanced at the screen, and without a word, he stood up, his face suddenly unreadable. "I have to go," he said, his voice cold, and the door clicked shut behind him.