SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)

Evening with Crystal: you're..... different

The house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft clink of dishes being washed in the kitchen.

After an emotionally draining day at the office, Sophia found solace in the familiar warmth of Mr. Lee's home-a place that felt both inviting and intimidating.

Crystal, ever attentive, was bustling around the kitchen, humming a cheerful tune. Sophia hesitated at the doorway, watching her friend move with practiced grace.

"You're going to lurk there all night?" Crystal's voice broke through the quiet, her tone teasing.

She turned, drying her hands with a dish towel, her smile softening when she saw Sophia's tired face. "Rough day?"

Sophia entered the kitchen, sinking into one of the high stools by the counter. "That obvious?"

Crystal poured a glass of water and slid it toward her. "Soph, you've got a look. Like you've been carrying the weight of the world all day."

Sophia chuckled weakly, taking a sip. "I guess I have. Between Mr. Lee's cryptic behavior, Penelope's smugness, and this whole contract marriage thing... it's a lot."

Crystal's brows furrowed, her usual brightness dimming with concern. "He told you about Samantha?"

Sophia nodded, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. "Yeah. It's... complicated."

Crystal leaned against the counter, studying her friend. "And how do you feel about it?"

Sophia hesitated, her mind replaying the icy moments she'd shared with Mr. Lee earlier that day. "I don't know. It's not my place to feel anything about it, is it? It's a business arrangement."

Crystal frowned, crossing her arms. "Business or not, it's still a marriage. And you're living here, working with him every day. That's bound to get messy."

Sophia sighed. "Messy is an understatement."

Crystal's lips twitched in a small smile. "You know, if anyone can handle messy, it's you. You've got this... strength. Even if you don't always see it."

Sophia managed a smile, grateful for the reassurance. "Thanks, Crystal. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Crystal waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, please. I'd like to think I'm here to keep you sane, but honestly, you're the one who keeps me grounded." Her tone softened, and her gaze flickered briefly, as if her thoughts had drifted elsewhere.

Sophia tilted her head. "What about you? You've seemed... different lately."

Crystal's cheeks flushed faintly, and she looked away, focusing on a stray crumb on the counter. "Me? Nah, I'm fine."

But Sophia wasn't convinced. "Is this about Kai?"

The red deepened in Crystal's cheeks, and her flustered expression gave her away. "What? No! Okay, maybe. He's just... he's Kai. Always joking, always making people laugh. It's hard not to... notice him, you know?"

Sophia smiled knowingly. "Oh, I know. He has a way of getting under your skin."

Crystal sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile. "Let's just say it's complicated for both of us, huh?"

They laughed softly, and for a moment, the heaviness of the day lifted. It was in these quiet moments with Crystal that Sophia found some semblance of normalcy-a small reminder that even amidst chaos, there were still connections worth holding onto.

---

Later That Night: Shadows in the Quiet

The house was eerily still when Sophia finally made her way to her room. She had just settled into bed when a faint knock on the door startled her.

"Come in," she called softly, expecting Crystal, but instead, the door opened to reveal Mr. Lee.

He stepped inside, his silhouette stark against the dim hallway light. His dark eyes met hers, and for a moment, the air seemed to still.

"You're awake," he observed, his voice quiet, almost gentle.

Sophia sat up, her pulse quickening. "I couldn't sleep. Is something wrong?"

He hesitated, his gaze drifting to the window. "No. I just... wanted to check on you."

The admission surprised her, and she studied him carefully.

There was something different about him tonight, a vulnerability he rarely let show. "I'm fine," she said softly. "Just... thinking."

"About the contract," he guessed, his voice colder now, guarded.

Sophia nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

He moved closer, stopping a few feet from her bed. "I told you before, this isn't about want. Samantha is... necessary."

"I know," she replied, her voice steady despite the ache in her chest. "It doesn't make it any easier to understand."

His gaze sharpened, his presence a storm threatening to pull her under. "You're not meant to understand. You're meant to stay safe. This world... my world... it's not something you can fully comprehend, Sophia."

"Then why let me in?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why show me any of it if I'm not supposed to be part of it?"

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer. But then he spoke, his voice low and laced with something raw. "Because I couldn't help it."

The admission sent a shiver through her, and she met his gaze, searching for meaning in his dark eyes. "Mr. Lee..."

He shook his head, cutting her off. "Go to sleep, Sophia. We'll talk tomorrow."

Before she could say anything more, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him. She stared at the empty doorway, her heart racing, and her mind filled with more questions than answers.

----

The next morning, Mr. Lee was back to his cold, composed self. He summoned her to his office, his tone clipped and professional as he discussed new tasks and deadlines.

But every so often, his gaze would linger on her, and the unspoken tension between them crackled like a live wire.

"Is that all?" Sophia asked, standing to leave after their meeting.

Mr. Lee leaned back in his chair, his gaze piercing. "No. There's one more thing."

She paused, waiting.

"Samantha will be visiting the office tomorrow," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I expect you to act professionally."

Sophia's chest tightened, but she nodded. "Of course."

As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her. "Sophia."

She turned back, meeting his gaze.

"Whatever happens," he said, his voice softer now, "remember that you don't belong to this. To any of it. You're... different."

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Sophia nodded slowly, the weight of his gaze following her as she left the room.

---

That night, as she sat in her room staring out the window at the moonlit garden, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was spiraling into something far beyond her control.

Between Mr. Lee's cold intensity, Crystal's quiet support, and the storm brewing in the shadows, Sophia knew one thing for certain: she was standing at the edge of something dark, something powerful-and there was no turning back.