CELINE’S POV
I focus on the linen in my hands. One piece at a time, folding each sheet carefully, like it’s the most important thing in the world. Like my hands aren’t still shaking.
The sun is warm, the breeze soft. It should be a peaceful moment. But my mind is somewhere else.
Back in that study.
Back with him.
I swallow hard, pushing the thought away. Caesar giggles, dragging my attention back. He’s staring at a drawing in Cole’s hands, eyes wide with delight.
“That’s you!” Caesar beams, pointing excitedly at the scribbled sketch.
Cole grins, ruffling Caesar’s hair. “Not bad, huh? Think I captured your good side?” Caesar nods enthusiastically, clutching the paper like it’s a treasure.
I can’t help but smile at them.
And then Cole turns to me, gently nudging my arm. “You’ve got secrets, don’t you?”
The smile fades from my lips. My fingers tighten around the linen, but I force out augh. A quiet one. The kind that doesn’t quite reach my eyes.
“Don’t we all?”
Cole studies me for a second too long, like he’s trying to read between the lines. I nce back toward the house, my pulse picking up. The weight of something unseen presses against my chest.
I can’t shake the feeling of Hunter’s gaze. Even when he’s not there. When I turn back, Cole is still watching me. But his smile softens, and so does his
voice.
“Don’t worry.” He leans in just slightly, just enough to feel safe. “I’m not the kind of guy who pushes.”
Something in me loosens. Notpletely. But enough.
HUNTER’S POV~
The crackes before I even realize I’m gripping the ss too hard. A sharp snap, followed by the slow,zy slide of liquid down my fingers.
I nce down. Whiskey pools in my palm, a thin line of red where the ss bit into
my
skin.
I don’t feel it.
Not really. Because all I can see is her.
Celine.
Laughing. Rxing. With him. Cole leans in, too damn close, his hand brushing her arm like it belongs there. Like he’s testing the waters
And she lets him.
My jaw tightens. I shouldn’t care. I tell myself that again and again, but the lie burns going down harder than the whiskey.
Vincent’s words linger in my head, mocking. “You might want to figure out how much of ‘just a maid’ she is to you.”
I already know the answer. And that pisses me off even more.
I exhale slowly, setting the broken ss down with careful precision, watching as a drop of blood seeps into the expensive wood of my ches
Cole says something else, and she smiles. Not the polite one she gives me.
A real one. Something inside me snaps. I turn from the window, already moving.
“You can sit here all day and sulk like a brooding asshole, or”-Vincent sprawls across my desk like he owns the ce “you cane out, have a drink. and remind yourself that you’re Hunter Reid. Not some lovesick idiot losing his mind over a maid,”
I don’t react. Not outwardly. But the word tastes bitter.
Maid.
Like that’s all she is. Like that’s all she’s ever been.
I turn my gaze back to the window. Celine’s still outside, kneeling in front of Caesar,ughing softly as she presses a kiss to his cheek. The kid giggles, tugging at her sleeves, eyes full of admiration.
Then there’s him.
Cole.
Standing just close enough to make my patience unravel, like he’s trying to inch his way into something that doesn’t belong to him.
I force my grip to loosen before I break another ss. Vincent watches me carefully. Too carefully. Then he smirks like he’s figured something out.
“Unbelievable. This is happening.”
I drag my eyes away from the window. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Vincent straightens,ughing under his breath. “You. Losing your mind over her.” He shakes his head, looking genuinely entertained. “Tell me, when was thest time a woman made you this tense? Hell, when was thest time anything made you feel this out of control?”
I exhale sharply, running a hand over my jaw. “You’re being dramatic.”
“No,” he counters smoothly, “I’m being right.” Then he grins. “But lucky for you, I have the perfect solution.”
I already hate whatever’sing next.
“Let’s go out.”
I stare at him. “No.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t have time for that.”
“You don’t have time not to,” Vincent argues, standing up. “Because if you sit here any longer, you’re going to overthink this into something even worse. You’re going to let her get further under your skin. And for what? A woman who doesn’t belong to you?”
Something tightens in my chest, sharp and immediate. Vincent sees it. Of course, he does.
He steps closer, lowering his voice like he’s speaking the only truth I need to hear. “You’re Hunter Reid. The man who never loses control. So stop acting like you’re about to lose your mind over some maid.”
His wordsnd exactly where he wants them to. And I hate it. But not enough to ignore them. Not enough to stay here.
“Fine,” I say finally. “One drink.”
Vincent grins. “Yeah, yeah. One drink, Let’s see how long thatsts.”
When Ie downstairs, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted shirt, Vincent looking far too smug beside me, I don’t expect her to be the first thing i ce
But of course, she is.
Celine is standing in the courtyard, still kneeling in front of Caesar, whisper
her touch gentle, protective.
something that makes the kidugh again. Her hands cup his little face
Then, in a move that makes my chest tighten, she kisses his cheek, grinning when he giggles. <fnbc73> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel</fnbc73>
Something about the sight of it-of her-makes something shift violen
She’s too soft.
Too warm. Too much. And I don’t know what the hell to do with that. Tho
“The designs are done,” he says smoothly, slipping his hands into his p <ol><li></li></ol>
O Cole approaches me from the side, dragging my attention away.
“I left the sketches on your desk.”
I nod, barely looking at him. Vincent doesn’t even bother hiding his amusement as he watches the exchange.
“You’re all business, huh?” he drawls, eyeing the tension radiating off me. “No ‘thank you,’ no ‘good job’-just a nod?”
Cole shrugs, unfazed. “I don’t need a thank you.”
“That’s good,” Vincent smirks, “because you weren’t gonna get one.” Cole chuckles under his breath but doesn’t push. Smart.
Then Celine finally notices me.
Her body stiffens, her expression guarded as she rises to her feet, hands lightly settling
Something about the movement twists inside my chest.
on Caesar’s shoulders-*like she’s hiding him from me.*
But I say nothing. I just meet her stare with the same cold, unreadable expression!
I always
The head maid appears beside us then, her eyes flicking to Celine with something close to
noyance before turning to me.
“What should I prepare for your dinner tonight, sir?”
“Don’t bother,” I say shortly.
Before she can respond, Vincent slings an arm around my shoulder and grins. “No need for dinner ns, sweetheart. I’m taking Hunter out to get screwed up and fucked by some other women.”
A loud gasp echoes through the courtyard.
The head maid’s hand flies to her chest, her face instantly turning red.
Celine’s eyes widen slightly before she recovers, quickly covering Caesar’s ears with both hands, and shaking her head at Vincent. “S
mutters.
Vincent only grins wider. “What? The kid doesn’t know what it means.” He pauses, ncing down at Caesar. “Do you, buddy?”
Celine shoots him a re. “Pervert.”
Vincent raises his hands innocently, but his smirk lingers. Cole stays quiet beside her, his gaze unreadable as he watches me.
sly?” she
I don’t say anything.
I
I don’t have <ol><li></li></ol>
And maybe they’re right.
Because I know
1
what
they’re all
thinking.
That I’m
running. That
I’m trying
fo
drown out something I can’t controle
But I don’t care. Because
one way
of
another,
I will i
regain control.
Even
if Fit means losing
myself for a little
while.
A
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