The morning sun streamed through the curtains of Sophia’s room, painting her walls with a soft golden hue. She stirred awake slowly, her body reluctant to leave the warmth of her bed.
Last night’s events played faintly in her mind—the intensity of Lucius’s kiss, his words, the ominous letter from Mr. Min.
As much as she wanted to lay in bed and process everything, her schedule wouldn’t allow it. With a soft groan, she sat up, her hair falling around her shoulders in soft waves.
Stretching her arms above her head, she let out a small yawn before swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
Sophia glanced at her wardrobe, debating what to wear. She wasn’t one for overly revealing clothes; she preferred comfort and freedom. Finally, she settled on a knee-length pastel blue sundress with a simple white cardigan.
The dress was loose but still hinted at her hourglass figure, and the color brought out the warmth in her brown skin. After brushing her hair into a neat ponytail, she slipped on a pair of white sneakers and headed downstairs.
---
Sophia’s day began in the kitchen, as always. She loved starting the morning with something simple, usually a cup of tea and some toast.
Today, however, the kitchen was busier than usual. Crystal was bustling about, chopping vegetables for what seemed like an elaborate lunch.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Crystal greeted with a teasing grin.
“Morning,” Sophia replied, grabbing a mug and filling it with tea. She sat at the counter, watching Crystal work. “What’s with the feast? Is there an occasion I don’t know about?”
Crystal paused, giving her a knowing look. “Mr. Lee’s been in a mood since last night. He didn’t say anything, but I can tell he’s planning something. Might be worth keeping an eye out.”
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Lucius. She tried to play it cool, shrugging nonchalantly. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Crystal smirked. “Right, because nothing has you blushing first thing in the morning.”
Before Sophia could respond, Ji-hyun entered the kitchen, still in her pajamas and rubbing her eyes. “Why is it so loud this early?”
“It’s 9 a.m., Ji-hyun. It’s not early,” Sophia pointed out with a laugh.
Ji-hyun groaned, plopping down at the table. “Whatever. I’m not fully awake until noon.”
---
After breakfast, Sophia decided to tackle some chores. She spent the next few hours tidying up her room, helping Crystal with laundry, and organizing the library, where she couldn’t resist flipping through a few books along the way.
By mid-afternoon, she was wiping down the counters in the kitchen when Lucius entered, his presence filling the room effortlessly.
He was dressed casually, his dark shirt and fitted jeans highlighting his lean frame.
“Sophia,” he said, his voice smooth as silk.
She turned to face him, her heart doing a little flip. “Yes?”
“I was wondering if you’d join me for dinner tonight.”
Sophia blinked, caught off guard. “Dinner?”
Lucius’s lips curved into a small smile. “Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all,” she said quickly. “I just—uh—sure. Dinner sounds great.”
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...
