The Night Before the New Year
The estate seemed to hum with an electric anticipation as the New Year approached. Snow fell lightly outside, dusting the sprawling grounds in a pristine white.
Inside, warmth radiated from the grand fireplace, but the tension between Sophia and Mr. Lee made the atmosphere feel sharper, almost too charged to ignore.
Sophia sat curled on the couch in the library, pretending to read a book. Her mind wandered to the events of the day—Ji-hyun’s cheerful chatter about Sophia visiting her school in Seoul, Mr. Lee’s cold yet intoxicating presence, and Samantha’s infuriating attempts to stake her claim.
“You can’t keep hiding from me,” came a deep, familiar voice.
Sophia stiffened, her heart leaping into her throat. Slowly, she looked up to see Mr. Lee standing in the doorway, his dark gaze fixed on her.
“I’m not hiding,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
He stepped inside, the door closing behind him with a soft click. “Lying doesn’t suit you, Sophia.”
---
Before she could respond, he was in front of her, moving faster than seemed humanly possible.
He reached down, gently taking the book from her hands and setting it aside.
“Why are you avoiding me?” he asked, his tone dangerously soft.
Sophia tried to back away, but her movement was stopped by the arm of the couch. “I’m not avoiding you,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Then why do you flinch every time I’m near?” he demanded, his dark eyes searching hers.
Her breath hitched as he leaned down, his face inches from hers. She could feel the heat radiating off him, his proximity making her head spin.
“You’re imagining things,” she said weakly, her voice betraying her.
He smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting in a way that made her knees feel weak. “Am I?”
In a blur of motion, he lifted her effortlessly, pressing her back against the wall.
Her gasp echoed in the room as he trapped her between the cold surface and his unyielding body.
“Tell me, Sophia,” he murmured, his voice dark and dangerous. “Why do you run from me?”
Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
His face was so close now that their noses brushed, the faintest touch making her breath catch.
“I don’t…” she began, but the words died on her lips as his hand brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
“Liar,” he said softly, his gaze locking onto hers.
Sophia felt like the world had stopped, leaving only the two of them in this charged moment. His hand moved to her chin, tilting her face up slightly.
“You’re trembling,” he said, his voice a dangerous mix of amusement and something darker.
“I’m not…” she whispered, though the slight shake in her voice betrayed her.
He leaned in even closer, his breath warm against her lips. “You’re so infuriatingly stubborn,” he muttered, almost to himself.
Sophia’s hands clenched at her sides, her mind screaming at her to push him away, to remind herself that he was married.
YOU ARE READING
SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)
Romance"Beyond Shadows" In a world where darkness reigns, a young orphan's dreams of becoming a veterinarian are shattered by her aunt's cruelty. But when she's drawn into the mysterious world of enigmatic Mr. Lee - a powerful figure rumored to be "more th...
