The evening breeze swept gently across the rooftop as Lucius held Sophia in his arms, both reluctant to break the embrace.
His warmth was a rare comfort she wasn’t used to, and in that moment, the rest of the world faded into insignificance.
“I still can’t figure you out,” Sophia murmured, her voice soft but tinged with a teasing lilt.
Lucius chuckled quietly, his chest vibrating against hers. “Good. Keep trying, Little Lamb.”
Sophia pulled back slightly, her brows furrowed. “Little Lamb? Really? That’s from the novel Hellbound With You!”
Lucius tilted his head, genuinely perplexed. “What are you talking about?”
Sophia placed her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve been reading romance novels, haven’t you?”
“I don’t read novels,” he countered smoothly, his lips twitching into a sly smile.
“And I’ve never heard of Hellbound With You. But now that you’ve mentioned it, I quite like ‘Little Lamb.’”
Sophia groaned, trying to stifle a smile. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” he teased, stepping closer, “here you are, still standing close to me. Maybe you like the name too.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of a response. Instead, she swatted his arm playfully.
---
The Morning After
Sophia woke up due to the rays of the sun that peered through the window.
"It's morning already?" She groans and lazily walks to the bathroom to freshen up.
After some minutes, she came out and did her usuals. Her comfy dresses,her light make-up and the rest that makes her her.
"I just hope something will just make this day my day." She says as she opened the curtain automatically,the curtain she forget to open before she went to shower
The household gathered for breakfast. Ji-hyun was chatting animatedly with Kai about the classes she would take in grade 11 when the topic shifted to Sophia.
“So, Sophia,” Kai began, waggling his eyebrows mischievously, “now that you’re done with high school, what’s next? Are you going to stay here and keep Lucius company forever?”
Sophia rolled her eyes, though a faint blush crept across her cheeks. “I have a plan, thank you very much. I’m going to study veterinary medicine.”
Ji-hyun beamed at her. “That’s perfect for you! You’re always so good with animals. Remember that time you helped rescue that injured bird at school?”
Sophia smiled fondly at the memory. “It’s always been my dream to help animals. And I’m going to make it happen, no matter what.”
Lucius, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, glanced at her. “A noble dream,” he said softly, his golden eyes warm with admiration. “It suits you.”
Before Sophia could respond, Crystal entered the room with a tray of freshly baked croissants. “Speaking of dreams, Ji-hyun, you’ll need to buckle down when school starts. No more late-night movies.”
Ji-hyun groaned dramatically. “You sound like Mrs. Chen.”
At the mention of Lucius’s late mother, an uncomfortable silence fell over the room.
---
Later that day, Sophia found herself in the garden, tending to the flowers with Crystal. The vibrant colors and sweet scents usually calmed her, but today, her thoughts kept drifting back to Nigeria—to Aunt Rachael.
“I can’t stop thinking about her,” Sophia admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.
Crystal glanced at her. “Your aunt?”
Sophia nodded, her grip tightening on the garden shears. “I trusted her. I thought she loved me. But she sold me like I was nothing.”
Crystal placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “She may have betrayed you, but look at where you are now. You escaped her cruelty, and you’ve built a new life.”
Sophia looked up at the sky, her expression resolute. “One day, I’ll go back. Not to see her, but to make peace with everything she did to me.”
Crystal squeezed her shoulder. “And when that day comes, you won’t be alone. We’ll all be here for you.”
---
As the sun set, Sophia wandered into the library to find Lucius reading by the fireplace.
The golden glow of the flames danced across his sharp features, making him look almost otherworldly.
“Is this your brooding hour?” she teased, leaning against the doorway.
Lucius looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “And here I thought I was being discreet.”
Sophia crossed the room and sat beside him, her gaze lingering on the book in his hands. “What are you reading?”
“Nothing you’d find interesting,” he replied, closing the book.
She reached for it, but he held it out of her reach, a playful glint in his eyes. “You’re hiding something.”
“Am I?” he challenged, leaning closer.
Sophia’s breath hitched as the distance between them disappeared. “Lucius…”
“Hmm?” His voice was a low hum, his golden eyes locked on hers.
“You’re insufferable,” she whispered, though her tone lacked any real bite.
He chuckled softly, his hand brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “And yet, you keep coming back to me.”
Sophia’s heart raced as his fingers lingered, tracing the curve of her jaw. “Maybe because you’re not as insufferable as you think.”
Lucius smirked, his gaze dropping to her lips. “Careful, Little Lamb. You’re treading dangerous waters.”
“Maybe I like the danger,” she replied boldly, surprising even herself.
Lucius’s eyes darkened, his restraint wavering. “You have no idea what you do to me,” he murmured, his voice raw with emotion.
Before she could respond, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and passionate.
Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other, the world outside fading away.
---
Their moment was interrupted by the sound of Crystal’s urgent footsteps. She burst into the library, her face pale.
“There’s a letter,” she said breathlessly, holding up an envelope. “It’s from Mr. Min.”
Lucius’s expression hardened as he took the letter, his grip tightening.
“What does it say?” Sophia asked, her voice trembling.
Lucius opened the envelope and read its contents, his jaw clenching. “He knows about Ji-hyun. And he’s threatening to expose her if I don’t come to him.”
Sophia’s blood ran cold. “What does he want?”
Lucius’s golden eyes burned with fury. “Control. Over me, over everything I’ve built. But he won’t win.”
Sophia stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”
Lucius looked at her, his expression softening despite the storm brewing inside him. “You’re too good for this world, Little Lamb.”
“And you’re stuck with me,” she replied with a faint smile, determined to stand by his side no matter what lay ahead.
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...
