---
The soft chaos of high school life continued, but for Sophia, things were anything but normal.
---
The morning sun filtered through the blinds of Sophia's dorm room, casting warm patterns across her sheets. Ji-hyun, sprawled on her bed like a starfish, groaned as the alarm buzzed relentlessly.
“Unnie,” she whined, tossing a pillow in Sophia’s direction. “Make it stop!”
Sophia chuckled, stretching as she reached over to silence the alarm. “You’re going to be late if you don’t hurry.”
“Ugh, high school is a scam,” Ji-hyun muttered, rolling onto her stomach. “Why can’t Oppa just homeschool me in his fancy mansion?”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “Because you need friends and a social life, Ji-hyun. Now get up.”
---
At school, the buzz about the gala was still fresh in Sophia’s mind.
Lucius hadn’t called or visited since that night, and she found herself missing his infuriating smirks and mysterious presence.
Min-jae, however, had become a constant shadow. Whether in class, the courtyard, or the cafeteria, he always seemed to be nearby, watching her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.
“Unnie,” Ji-hyun whispered during lunch, her voice conspiratorial. “Why is Min-jae-oppa staring at you like that? It’s kind of creepy.”
Sophia glanced over her shoulder, meeting Min-jae’s gaze. He didn’t look away, his crimson eyes flashing for the briefest moment before he smiled—a slow, predatory smile that sent a shiver down her spine.
“I don’t know,” she said, turning back to her tray. “But I don’t trust him.”
---
In the US, chaos brewed in its own way.
Samantha and Penelope sat in a sunlit conservatory, their elegant dresses contrasting with their venomous plotting.
“Sophia is becoming a problem,” Samantha said, her voice icy. “Lucius is too focused on her. He’s… distracted.”
Penelope smirked, sipping her tea. “Let him be distracted. The more he underestimates us, the easier it will be to take her down. I have something planned.”
“Oh?” Samantha arched a brow. “Do share.”
Penelope leaned in, her voice a silky whisper. “Let’s just say… by the time we’re done, she’ll wish she never crossed paths with Lucius Lee.”
---
Back in Seoul, Sophia’s powers continued to manifest in unpredictable ways.
During a biology experiment, she accidentally revived a dead plant with a single touch. Her classmates gasped, and whispers of “witch” and “freak” followed her down the hallways.
By the end of the day, Su-jin and her posse cornered her in the gym.
“You think you’re so special, don’t you?” Su-jin sneered, her arms crossed. “Just because you’re close to Min-jae-oppa doesn’t mean you belong here.”
“I don’t want anything to do with Min-jae,” Sophia said calmly, though her fists clenched at her sides.
“Liar,” Su-jin hissed, stepping closer. “Stay away from him, or you’ll regret it.”
Sophia’s powers flared without warning. The air around her grew heavy, and the shadows in the gym deepened. Su-jin froze, her bravado crumbling as fear flickered in her eyes.
“Leave,” Sophia said, her voice low and commanding.
Su-jin and her posse scrambled away, their heels echoing in the silent gym.
---
That evening, Lucius finally appeared, leaning casually against a lamppost outside Sophia’s dorm.
“You’ve been busy,” he remarked as she approached, his voice laced with amusement.
“What are you doing here?” Sophia asked, crossing her arms.
“Checking on you,” he replied, his eyes scanning her face. “You’ve been attracting attention.”
“Not by choice,” she muttered, looking away.
Lucius stepped closer, tilting her chin up with a finger. “You can’t keep running from this, Sophia. You’re stronger than you realize.”
His touch was electric, sending warmth coursing through her veins. Her breath hitched as their eyes locked.
“Why do you care so much?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lucius’s expression softened for a moment, a rare vulnerability flickering in his eyes. “Because you matter more than you know.”
Before she could respond, he stepped back, the moment shattered. “Come. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
---
Meanwhile, in the US, Crystal and Kai were locked in their own kind of dance.
Crystal, Mr. Lee’s maid, had long since learned to navigate his unpredictable moods. But Kai, his jovial and flirtatious PA, made her life infinitely more complicated.
“Come on, Crystal,” Kai teased, leaning against the kitchen counter as she prepared tea. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Maybe because you’re annoying,” she shot back, though her lips twitched with the hint of a smile.
Kai grinned, undeterred. “Admit it—you’d miss me if I disappeared.”
Crystal turned to face him, her expression serious. “Kai, I—”
Before she could finish, the room’s temperature dropped. Shadows pooled in the corners, and the unmistakable presence of Lucius filled the space.
Kai straightened, all traces of humor gone. “Boss.”
Lucius stepped into the room, his gaze sharp. “What are you two bickering about now?”
“Nothing,” Crystal said quickly, averting her eyes.
Lucius smirked, but his attention didn’t linger. “I need you both to prepare. Things are escalating faster than I anticipated.”
---
Back in Seoul, Sophia found herself in a secluded forest at Lucius’s insistence.
“What are we doing here?” she asked, her voice wary.
“You need to learn control,” Lucius said simply.
“Control?” she echoed, crossing her arms. “And you’re going to teach me?”
Lucius smirked, stepping closer. “Who else?”
For the next hour, he pushed her to the brink, forcing her to tap into her powers in ways she hadn’t thought possible. The forest came alive under her command, the very air shimmering with energy.
By the end of it, she was exhausted but exhilarated.
“You’re a quick learner,” Lucius said, his tone almost approving.
Sophia rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “Thanks, I guess.”
As they made their way back, he suddenly stopped, his expression darkening.
“What is it?” she asked, her heart pounding.
“We’re not alone,” he said, his voice low.
The shadows shifted, and Min-jae stepped into view, his crimson eyes glowing.
“You should have stayed away, Sophia,” he said, his voice a dangerous growl.
Lucius stepped in front of her, his power radiating like a storm. “She’s under my protection.”
Min-jae smirked, his own power crackling in the air. “We’ll see about that.”
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...
