Luna's Pov
I had avoided Alexander for days, doing everything I could to stay out of his way. I confined myself to the farthest corners of the house, the ones he never bothered to step into. The library became my refuge, a quiet haven where I could lose myself in the pages of someone else's story and momentarily forget the painful reality of my own.
The cold indifference he had shown me in our last conversation lingered like a dark cloud over my thoughts. Every cruel word replayed in my mind, cutting deeper each time. I told myself I didn't care—that I was done trying to understand him or earn even a sliver of his kindness this was just a deal.
But my heart betrayed me.
I caught myself thinking about him at odd moments, wondering where he was, what he was doing. Did he even notice my absence? Did he care?
No, I reminded myself bitterly. You're nothing to him. Just a toy.
It was late afternoon when Helen entered the library, interrupting my solitude. "Mr. Cole has asked for you in the dining room," she said, her tone neutral but her eyes flickering with something that resembled pity.
I hesitated, my stomach churning. I didn't want to see him, not after everything that had been said. But ignoring his summons wasn't an option.
"Thank you, Helen," I said quietly, closing the book I'd been pretending to read.
The dining room was quiet when I entered, the late afternoon sun streaming through the tall windows. Alexander sat at the head of the table, his expression as unreadable as ever. He didn't look up as I approached, his attention fixed on the glass of wine in front of him.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked, my voice carefully controlled.
He finally looked up, his piercing gaze meeting mine. For a moment, he said nothing, simply studying me in a way that made my skin prickle.
"Sit," he said, his tone clipped.
I did as he said, lowering myself into the chair at the other end of the table. The distance between us felt symbolic, a chasm that had grown wider with every passing day.
"I've noticed you've been avoiding me," he said, his voice calm but laced with a sharp edge.
"I've been keeping busy," I replied, meeting his gaze.
His lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
I clenched my fists beneath the table, willing myself to stay composed. "What do you want, Alexander?"
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "I want you to remember the terms of our arrangement. You don't get to sulk like a child every time you don't get your way."
The accusation stung, but I refused to let him see it. "I haven't broken any rules," I said quietly.
"You've been distant," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "And I don't tolerate distance from what's mine."
The possessiveness in his words sent a shiver down my spine, but it was laced with the coldness that had become his default.
"I'm not yours," I said before I could stop myself, the words slipping out in a moment of defiance.
His eyes darkened, and I immediately regretted my boldness. "No?" he said, his voice a low, menacing whisper. "Then why are you still here?"
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. "Because I have no other choice."
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor as he rounded the table toward me. I tensed as he stopped in front of me, towering over me with an intensity that made my breath catch.
"You always have a choice, Luna," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "Don't pretend you're some helpless victim in all this."
I looked up at him, my heart pounding. "And what about you, Alexander? What choice are you making? To treat me like this? To push me away every chance you get?"
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might walk away. But instead, he leaned down, his face inches from mine. "This is who I am," he said coldly. "If you're expecting anything more, you'll be disappointed."
I held his gaze, the intensity of it making my chest ache. "I don't expect anything from you," I said, my voice trembling. "Not anymore."
He straightened, his expression hardening. "Good," he said, his tone final. "Then we understand each other."
Alexander's POV
I watched her retreat from the dining room, her shoulders stiff, her head held high despite the tears I could see threatening to fall. She was stronger than she realized, and that strength only made her more dangerous to me.
I hated the way she got under my skin, the way she made me question every decision, every word. Keeping her at arm's length was supposed to protect me, to protect her. But instead, it felt like I was tearing us both apart.
You're doing the right thing, I told myself. She doesn't need to know the truth.
But as I poured myself another glass of wine, I couldn't shake the hollow ache in my chest or the quiet voice whispering that maybe, just maybe, I was wrong.