Shadows in the House
Sophia’s hands trembled as she folded her sweater, the low hum of activity in the Lee mansion filling her ears. The air carried a strange charge, one she couldn’t shake, even in the privacy of her room.
Crystal had noticed her unease the night before and insisted on staying up late, talking over tea. While it helped momentarily, her restless mind refused to settle.
She brushed a strand of hair from her face , she too was surprised how her hair grew and paused when a sharp knock rattled the door.
Before she could answer, it swung open.
“Didn’t anyone teach you to knock and wait?” Sophia asked, her tone cool as she turned to face Penelope.
Penelope stood in the doorway, arms crossed and a smirk tugging at her lips. “Funny. I don’t remember you running this house.”
Sophia suppressed a sigh. It was a game Penelope played often, using her role as Mr. Lee’s personal maid to lord over her. “What do you want, Penelope?”
Penelope stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished wood floor. “I’m here to remind you to keep out of today’s arrangements.
Samantha is arriving soon, and the last thing Mr. Lee needs is you making things awkward.”
Sophia’s jaw tightened. “I wasn’t planning on being anywhere near your precious arrangements.”
“Good,” Penelope said with a saccharine smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Because let’s be honest, Sophia, you don’t belong here. Whatever illusion you’re living in, it’s just that—an illusion. You’re a distraction, nothing more.”
Sophia refused to let her words cut deep. “If I’m such a distraction, why are you always so pressed about me?”
The smirk on Penelope’s face faltered for a moment before she turned on her heel. “Stay out of the way,” she snapped, her voice colder than the marble floors.
The door slammed shut behind her, and Sophia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
---
An Unwelcome Guest
Hours later, Sophia lingered in the shadows of the grand hall as Samantha arrived.
She was everything Sophia expected—poised, elegant, and exuding an air of confidence that made it clear she was used to being in control. Mr. Lee greeted her with the detached politeness he reserved for business partners.
Sophia’s chest tightened as she watched them. Samantha’s beauty wasn’t intimidating, but her connection to Mr. Lee—a connection rooted in legacy and obligation—felt like a chain tying Sophia to the edge of something she didn’t understand.
As Samantha stepped inside, Penelope flitted around her like a dutiful servant, her every move calculated to showcase her loyalty.
Sophia lingered just out of sight, her mind racing with unanswered questions.
“Enjoying the view?”
The voice sent a shiver down her spine. She turned to find Mr. Lee standing a few feet away, his dark gaze fixed on her.
“I wasn’t spying,” she said quickly, crossing her arms.
He raised a brow, his lips curving into a faint, teasing smirk. “You’re terrible at lying, Sophia.”
She glared at him, but her pulse quickened under his gaze. “What do you want?”
He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. The air around them seemed to shift, growing heavier. “I could ask you the same thing,” he murmured, his voice low. “You’ve been restless lately. Curious, perhaps.”
“I wouldn’t call it curiosity,” she replied, though her voice wavered slightly.
His smile darkened, his eyes glinting with something dangerous. “Then what would you call it?”
Before she could answer, Samantha’s laughter echoed down the hall, a sharp reminder of the reality they were standing in. Sophia glanced toward the sound, her throat tightening.
“Ah,” Mr. Lee said, his voice softer now. “Jealousy.”
Her head snapped back to him. “It’s not jealousy,” she said firmly.
He tilted his head, his gaze never leaving hers. “Isn’t it?”
“No,” she said, stepping back, though she knew it was futile. “It’s frustration. You—this—none of it makes sense.”
His smirk widened, but there was no humor in it. “Sense is overrated.”
Before she could retort, his hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The touch was brief, but it sent a shiver through her.
“You should be careful,” he murmured, his voice a mix of warning and promise. “You’re playing in shadows that could consume you.”
“And you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What are you playing at?”
His smile faded slightly, replaced by something darker. “This isn’t a game, Sophia. It’s survival.”
---
Nightfall
As the evening wore on, Sophia found herself in the kitchen with Crystal. The warmth of the space and Crystal’s easy demeanor were a welcome reprieve from the tension of the day.
“I saw Samantha today,” Sophia said, stirring her tea absently.
Crystal raised a brow, her expression curious. “And?”
“She’s... everything you’d expect,” Sophia admitted. “Graceful. Beautiful. Confident.”
Crystal frowned, her usual kindness tinged with concern. “And none of that matters, Sophia. You’re not competing with her.”
Sophia sighed. “It feels like I am.”
Crystal reached across the table, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“You’re more than whatever game Penelope or anyone else is playing. You’ve already made your place here, even if you don’t see it yet.”
Before Sophia could respond, the door creaked open, and Mr. Lee stepped inside. His dark eyes swept over the room, lingering on her.
“Crystal,” he said, his tone cool but not unkind. “Leave us.”
Crystal hesitated, glancing at Sophia, before nodding and retreating silently.
Sophia stood, her pulse quickening as Mr. Lee closed the distance between them.
“What do you want now?” she asked, her voice sharper than intended.
His lips curved into a faint smirk. “So defensive.”
“I’m tired,” she snapped. “And you’re not exactly helping.”
He chuckled softly, the sound low and dangerous. “You’re always so fiery, Sophia. It’s... entertaining.”
She glared at him, but the weight of his gaze made her breath hitch. “If this is about Samantha, I already get it. She’s the perfect match for you.”
His expression darkened, and he stepped closer, the air between them crackling with tension. “Perfect?” he repeated, his voice cold. “She’s a necessity, nothing more.”
“Then why do it?” she demanded, her frustration boiling over. “Why sacrifice yourself for something you clearly hate?”
His eyes burned with an intensity that made her shiver. “Because some legacies demand blood,” he said softly. “And some demons are born of duty, not desire.”
The words sent a chill down her spine. As he turned to leave, he paused in the doorway, his voice echoing in the quiet kitchen.
“Stay out of Penelope’s way, Sophia,” he said, his tone almost teasing. “She’s far less forgiving than I am.”
And with that, he was gone, leaving Sophia alone with the storm brewing in her chest.
YOU ARE READING
SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)
Romance"Beyond Shadows" In a world where darkness whispers secrets and power knows no bounds, a young orphan's dreams of becoming a veterinarian are crushed by the cruel betrayal of her own blood. Sold into an unforgiving fate, she finds herself in the eni...
