Luna's POV
I shivered under Alexander's penetrating gaze, the cool air of his bedroom brushing against my exposed skin. His smirk grew more pronounced as he closed the distance between us, his towering presence overwhelming.
"Why are you trembling?" His voice was cold, yet his eyes flickered with something I couldn't place—pity? Desire? Amusement?
"I… I'm not used to this," I stammered, hugging myself. My vulnerability was palpable, and I hated how powerless I felt in front of him.
He tilted his head, his smirk fading. "I see," he murmured, stepping back. For a moment, he seemed to study me, as though I were some complicated puzzle he couldn't solve.
"Put on a robe," he ordered abruptly, pointing to the chair where a silk robe was draped. "We need to talk."
Surprised, I quickly slipped into the robe, my heart still pounding. What did he want now?
"You intrigue me, Luna," Alexander began, pouring himself another glass of wine. "You're not like the others. You're… raw, unpolished." He sipped his wine, his gaze never leaving mine. "Tell me, why did you agree to my offer?"
I swallowed hard, unsure how to answer. Would he understand? Would he care?
"My dreams are all I have," I said softly. "And without money, they'll never come true."
His eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. The silence between us stretched, heavy and suffocating.
"You're fascinating, Luna," he said finally, setting his glass down. "I've decided to extend our arrangement."
My heart sank. "Extend? For how long?"
"A month, for now," he replied, his tone nonchalant. "But who knows? Perhaps longer, if I find you… entertaining."
I clenched my fists, anger bubbling beneath my fear. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him I wasn't a toy to be played with. But the words caught in my throat.
"You'll be compensated handsomely," he added, as though that would make it all better.
"I didn't sign up for this," I whispered, my voice shaking.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Oh, Luna," he said softly, almost mockingly. "You signed up for far more than you realize."
And with that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts—and my growing dread.
Alexander's POV
As I descended the staircase, I couldn't shake the image of Luna standing there, vulnerable yet defiant. She was different, and it infuriated me. She stirred something in me I couldn't name, something I hadn't felt in years.
"Sir, your father has requested an update on the overseas deal," my assistant, Marco, informed me as I reached the living room.
"Tell him it's under control," I snapped. The last thing I needed was my father meddling in my affairs.
But even as I focused on business, my thoughts kept drifting back to Luna. She was a mystery I was determined to unravel.
Luna's POV
The following morning, I woke up early, hoping to avoid Alexander. I decided to explore the mansion, partly out of curiosity and partly to escape the suffocating tension between us.
As I wandered through the house, I stumbled upon a locked room at the end of a narrow hallway. Something about it felt… off. The door was old, the wood scratched and worn, as though it had seen decades of secrets.
"Curious, are we?"
I jumped, spinning around to find Helen, the housekeeper, watching me with a knowing smile.
"I… I didn't mean to snoop," I stammered.
Helen chuckled. "It's alright, dear. But I'd stay away from that room if I were you."
"Why? What's in there?"I questioned back.
Her smile faded, replaced by a look of hesitation. "Some things are better left in the past," she said cryptically before walking away.
But her words only fueled my curiosity.
Later that night, while Alexander was out, I couldn't resist the urge to investigate. Using a hairpin, I carefully picked the lock, my hands trembling with both excitement and fear.
The door creaked open, revealing a dusty, dimly lit room filled with old photographs, letters, and—most disturbingly—a crib.
I approached the crib slowly, my heart pounding. Inside was a worn-out stuffed animal, its fur matted with age.
"What the hell are you doing in here?"
I whipped around to find Alexander standing in the doorway, his face a mask of fury.
"I… I was just—"
"Get out," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
"Alexander, I didn't mean to—"
"GET OUT!"
Tears stung my eyes as I rushed past him, his anger cutting through me like a knife.
Alexander's POV
I slammed the door shut, my chest heaving with anger. That room was off-limits for a reason.
Memories I had buried long ago came flooding back: the laughter of a child, the warmth of a family, and the cold, suffocating void that followed their loss.
Luna had no idea what she'd just uncovered—and she never would.
But as I stood there, staring at the crib, I realized something unsettling: Luna was starting to break down walls I had spent years building.
And that terrified me more than anything.