Chapter 14 Lucas's Offer

• The tension in the mansion had been building for days. After that unforgettable night under the fireworks, where Alexander had finally admitted his feelings, Celia had felt like a new chapter had begun. Their interactions since then had been warmer, more open, yet there was still an unspoken uncertainty between them—a fear that neither was willing to fully address.
• But tonight, something was different. The usual sense of comfort and familiarity that Celia had come to associate with Alexander’s presence felt distant. He had been preoccupied with work, his phone glued to his hand, and his attention divided. The warmth that had ignited between them in the quiet of the night had begun to dim, and the ache in her chest grew every time he seemed to retreat back into his shell.
• Celia had taken to spending more time away from him, wandering through the large estate when he was busy, finding solace in the gardens or the library. It was during one of these solitary moments that she ran into Lucas.