─═✧✧═─ 𝔽𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝟙𝟡𝟙𝟚 ─═✧✧═─

Temptation and Loyalty

Henry had been hard at work in his family's study, going through ledgers and paperwork, when a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He glanced up to see Eleanor Beaumont standing in the doorway, her presence unexpected and unsettling.

"Eleanor?" he said, his brow furrowing. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled sweetly, though there was something in her eyes that unsettled Henry. "I was in the area and thought I'd stop by to see how you're doing," she said, stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation. Her movements were fluid and graceful, but her demeanour carried an air of quiet determination.

Henry stood, unsure of how to handle her sudden appearance. "I appreciate the thought, but I'm quite busy today," he replied, hoping to cut the visit short.

Eleanor approached him with a smile, standing a little too close for comfort. "Henry, we never really had the chance to get to know each other," she said softly, her eyes locking onto his. "I know your parents wanted us to... well, be something more. We could still explore that, you know."

Henry took a step back, feeling a sense of discomfort. "Eleanor, you know I'm with Mia. We've already talked about this."

Eleanor's smile didn't falter. Instead, she stepped closer, undeterred by his rejection. "But are you sure about her? She's not like us, Henry. She doesn't understand our world." She reached out and touched his arm lightly, her fingers brushing against his sleeve. "I could make things so much easier for you."

Henry stiffened, pulling his arm away gently but firmly. "I'm committed to Mia, Eleanor. Whatever my parents' intentions were, I've made my choice."

But Eleanor wasn't ready to give up. Her hand reached for his chest, sliding up to his neck, her touch soft but insistent. She leaned in close, her lips brushing against the side of his neck. "You don't have to decide right now," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. "We could just see how things feel."

Henry froze, his heart racing—not out of desire but out of the suddenness of her advance. "Eleanor, stop," he said, his voice low but firm. He grabbed her wrist and stepped back, creating distance between them. "I told you, I'm with Mia. I'm not interested."

But Eleanor, undeterred, stepped forward again. Her other hand reached up to his shoulder, and before Henry could react, she leaned in once more, pressing her lips to the sensitive skin of his neck. Her kisses were soft, trailing down the side of his throat, and despite his rejection, she didn't seem to hear him.

"Eleanor," he said again, trying to move away, but she followed, her lips continuing to brush against his skin as if she hadn't heard his protest at all.

"You don't have to push me away," she murmured between kisses. "You don't want to."

Henry's patience snapped. He took her by the shoulders, forcing her back a step. His voice was firmer now, sharper. "Enough, Eleanor! This has to stop. I've already told you that I love Mia. Nothing you do is going to change that."

Eleanor's expression faltered, a flash of frustration crossing her face. She looked at Henry with something close to desperation. "But she doesn't belong here, Henry. She's not part of this world. I am. We could have something real."

Henry's anger simmered just below the surface, but he kept his voice calm and controlled. "What Mia and I have is real. She's everything I want, and no one—no one—is going to come between us."

Eleanor stared at him for a long moment, her eyes filled with disbelief. She had thought her charm and persistence would work, that Henry would fall into her arms as easily as his parents had hoped. But his rejection stung, and she stepped back, finally realising that her advances were futile.