Arranged Marriage: Beneath The Rumors

Chapter 36: Not Until You Fall Asleep

He sat back down on the couch, his posture regal and commanding, like a king on his throne. His legs were spread wide, his arms stretched out along the back of the couch, and his eyes were fixed intently on Lisa.

He leaned back into the couch, steepling his fingers together as he watched Lisa. "Go to sleep, troublemaker," he said indifferently, his voice dripping with authority.

Lisa stormed into her bed, anger, and frustration boiling over inside her. She threw herself onto the pillow, her heart racing with indignation. How dare he watch her sleep? How dare he invade her privacy like this?

She tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, but her body felt tense and rigid. She could feel Lugard's eyes on her, watching her every move, and it made her skin crawl.

She pulled the covers up to her neck, trying to block out the feeling of being watched, but it didn't help. She could sense his presence, looming over her like a dark shadow.

Suddenly, she sat up and turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger. "Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" she spat, her voice low and venomous. "Why don't you just leave me alone?"

Lugard didn't move, didn't blink. He just kept watching her, his eyes fixed on hers with an unnerving intensity. Lisa felt a shiver run down her spine as he spoke, his voice low and husky. "I'm not going anywhere, troublemaker. Not until I'm satisfied."

Lisa's anger boiled over, but she knew she couldn't confront him physically. Instead, she turned her back on him and lay in bed, trying to ignore his presence. But she could feel his eyes on her, boring into her skin, making her skin crawl.

She sat up and asked again, "Why are you doing this? Why can't you leave my room?"

"Not until you fall asleep," Lugard said, his voice firm and unyielding.

Lisa lay back down, frustration and anger still simmering inside her. She couldn't believe he was doing this, couldn't believe he was watching her like a hawk.

She couldn't fall asleep easily, especially with someone in her room, especially a stranger. Her stepmother and sister had taught her to be vigilant, because of their bad intentions towards her. And it made her always be on guard against potential harm.

But despite her best efforts, Lisa felt her eyelids growing heavy, and her breathing slowing down. She tried to fight it, tried to stay awake, but it was no use. She fell asleep quickly, her body betraying her despite her mind's protests.

Lugard watched her, his eyes never leaving hers even as she fell asleep. A small smile played on his lips, a smile of triumph and satisfaction. He had won this small battle, had broken down her defenses, and claimed a small victory.

But as he watched her sleep, his expression changed, softened. He looked at her with a curious intensity, as if trying to understand her, to unravel the mysteries of her mind. And for a moment, his eyes gleamed with something almost like tenderness.

Lugard watched her sleep for a few more moments, his eyes drinking at the sight of her peaceful face. Then, he slowly stood up, his movements quiet and deliberate. He didn't want to disturb her, didn't want to break the spell of her sleep.

He walked silently to the door, his eyes never leaving hers. As he reached the threshold, he turned back to look at her, his gaze lingering on her face. For a moment, he hesitated, as if unsure of what to do next.

Then, he turned and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The sound was barely audible, but Lisa stirred in her sleep, her brow furrowing slightly.

Lugard stood outside her door, listening to her soft breathing. He felt a strange sense of satisfaction, of triumph. He had watched her sleep, had seen her vulnerable and helpless. And yet, he felt no sense of malice, no desire to harm her.

Instead, he felt a growing sense of curiosity, of fascination. Who was this girl, this Lisa? What secrets lay hidden behind her eyes? And why did he feel this strange, inexplicable pull towards her?

Lugard returned to his room, his movements quiet and deliberate. He walked to the balcony, sliding open the glass door with a soft whoosh. The cool night air enveloped him, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass.

He stood at the railing, his blue eyes gazing out into the dark sky. The stars twinkled like diamonds against the velvet blackness, and the moon cast a silver glow over the landscape. The world was hushed, a peaceful silence that seemed to vibrate with secrets.

Lugard's eyes seemed to bore into the darkness as if searching for answers to questions he hadn't yet asked. His jaw was set, his face chiseled in thought. His dark hair was mussed, and his black shirt rumpled from sitting on Lisa's couch.

His blue eyes, though, were the most striking feature. They seemed to glow in the dark, like two bright stars shining in the night sky. They were piercing, intense, and seemed to see right through the darkness to the very soul of the world.

As he stood there, lost in thought, the wind rustled his hair, carrying the whispers of the night. Lugard's eyes narrowed, his gaze intensifying, as if he was listening to secrets only the darkness knew.

The next day, Lisa woke up feeling refreshed and renewed. She had slept soundly, despite Lugard's unsettling presence in her room. As she got dressed and ready for the day, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something had shifted between them.

She made her way downstairs, wondering if she would see Lugard again. The house was quiet, the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioning.

When she came into the dining room, Lisa was taken aback by the sight before her. Lugard was already seated at the table, his eyes fixed on some point in front of him. Not in a good mood, But it was his eyes that caught her attention - they looked sunken, with two dark circles underneath, like he hadn't slept in weeks.

Lisa's curiosity got the better of her as she sat down across from him. "Mr. Lu, why are there eye bags under your eyes?", Mr Lu, she asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite her growing concern. "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Lugard's gaze slowly shifted to hers, his eyes cold and unyielding. He didn't respond, his silence a clear indication that he didn't want to discuss the matter. Lisa felt a shiver run down her spine as she held his gaze, searching for answers that refused to come.

The air in the room seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken words and secrets. Lisa tried to break the silence, but Lugard's stony expression deterred her. She looked away, focusing on her breakfast, but her mind kept wandering back to those haunting eyes. What had kept him up all night? And why was he being so secretive about it?

Lugard finished his breakfast in silence, his eyes never leaving the plate in front of him. When he was done, he pushed the plate away and stood up from his chair, his movements fluid and deliberate.

"I'm going to the company," he said, his voice low and detached as if he was speaking to himself rather than Lisa.

Lisa nodded, still feeling puzzled by the dark circles under his eyes. "Okay, Mr. Lu," she replied, trying to sound cheerful despite the tense atmosphere.

Lugard didn't respond, his gaze already drifting away from her. He turned and walked out of the dining room, leaving Lisa feeling frustrated and curious.

As she listened to the sound of his footsteps fading away, Lisa couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those enigmatic eyes