The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

No, not this, this is illegal.

~Lexi~

It had been three weeks since I recovered.

Three weeks since everything changed.

Physically, I was healing. The bruises had faded, the headaches were less frequent, and I could finally move without wincing every few seconds.

But mentally...

That was different.

Jasper had gone back to being distant again.

Cold.

Professional.

Like those moments in the hospital hadn't happened at all.

And Lilly—

She'd gone to London to be with her daughter.

The house felt different without her.

Quieter.

Less... human.

I'd moved back into my apartment once I felt strong enough. The police had assured me Scott was in custody, and that was enough for me to feel safe again.

Or at least...

Safe enough.

—

Tonight, though—

I wasn't thinking about any of that.

Tonight was different.

Tonight was Charlotte's masquerade ball.

My pen pal.

My friend.

The girl I'd written to for years before finally meeting her.

She had invited me every single year.

And for the first time...

I was actually going.

Jasper had given me the night off without question.

Apparently, he had something on himself.

Typical.

I stood in the hotel room Charlotte had arranged for me, staring at my reflection.

The dress was stunning.

Long.

Elegant.

Deep red—almost matching my hair.

A high slit ran up my leg, and the material hugged me in all the right places without feeling too much.

For once...

I felt confident.

Excited.

Normal.

I picked up my mask, placing it carefully over my face before taking one last look in the mirror.

"Okay," I muttered softly. "Let's do this."

—

The driver was already waiting when I stepped outside.

"Hi," I said as I climbed in. "Are you Samuel? My driver?"

He looked at me through the mirror.

For a moment—

Too long.

Then gave a small nod.

But didn't speak.

Strange.

I frowned slightly but brushed it off.

Maybe he was just... quiet.