The morning after the tense hallway confrontation felt heavier than usual. I barely slept. I dressed in a simple dress and went downstairs for breakfast, hoping for some normalcy.
Lucian was already at the table, looking unusually tense. His jaw was tight, and he barely glanced at me when I sat down.
“Morning,” I said quietly.
“Morning,” he replied, short and cold.
We ate in silence. I tried once. “Did you sleep okay?”
“Fine.” He didn’t look up.
I gave up after that. The rules, the touches, the arguments, everything was wearing on me. After breakfast, Lucian disappeared into his study without another word. I spent the morning in the library, trying to lose myself in a book, but my mind kept wandering.
Around eleven, Mrs. Hale found me. “Mr. Draven’s father is here, miss. He wants to
