SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)

Breaking down 😭

Sophia stared at the note for a long moment, her mind spinning.

Who had written this?

Her fingers traced the paper, the words lingering in her mind.

You look beautiful even when you're lost in thought.

It was simple. Sweet. Yet it unsettled her.

She wasn't used to this kind of attention. With Lucius, things had always been intense, complicated. But this? This felt... light. Almost like an escape.

Jisoo smirked. "You should write back."

Sophia snorted. "And say what? 'Hey, thanks, but I have a dangerously jealous boyfriend'?"

Jisoo gasped dramatically. "Ohhh, so you admit he's jealous!"

Sophia rolled her eyes. "That's not the point, Jisoo."

"Come on, aren't you curious?"

Curious? Yes. But more than that, she was cautious.

Still, she folded the note and tucked it into her notebook. Maybe she'd figure out who it was later.

---

A New Face

The day dragged on, and by the time she reached the university library, Sophia was exhausted.

She found a quiet corner, settling in to catch up on her veterinary studies. But just as she opened her book-

"Mind if I join you?"

She looked up, expecting Jisoo or Minji.

Instead, a tall figure stood before her.

He was handsome. Sharp jawline, warm brown eyes, and slightly tousled black hair. He had the kind of face that made people look twice.

Sophia blinked. "Uh... sure?"

He pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

"You're Sophia, right?"

She tensed. "Yes...?"

He smiled. "I'm Adrian. I'm a year ahead of you."

She frowned slightly. "How do you know me?"

His smile deepened. "I've seen you around. Plus, we have mutual friends."

Mutual friends?

Before she could ask, he nodded at her book. "Veterinary studies, huh? That's impressive."

Sophia hesitated, trying to place where she had seen him before. "What's your major?"

"Engineering." He leaned back. "Nothing as cool as saving animals, though."

A small laugh escaped her. "You think vet studies are cool?"

"Of course. It's not easy. Takes patience, skill, and a lot of love." His gaze held hers. "You must be really passionate."

Her heart did a weird little flip.

She quickly looked down at her book. "I try."

Adrian rested his chin on his palm. "You don't have to be so guarded, you know. I'm not going to bite."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "That's exactly what a vampire would say."

He laughed. "Touché."

It was easy to talk to him. Too easy.

And for a moment, she forgot about her argument with Lucius.

---

A Breaking Point

Later that night, Sophia finally checked her phone.

Lucius had sent messages.

Lucius: I know you're mad.
Lucius: Talk to me.
Lucius: Sophia.
Lucius: Fine. If you need space, I'll give it to you. But don't shut me out.

She sighed, guilt creeping in.

Maybe she had overreacted. Maybe she should call him.

But before she could decide, her phone buzzed.

Lucius was calling.

Her fingers hovered over the screen. Then, reluctantly, she answered.

"Hello."

Silence. Then-

"You're really going to ignore me all day?" His voice was rough, tired.

Sophia sighed. "Lucius, I just-"

"You were with someone."

Her breath caught. "What?"

"Don't lie to me, Little Lamb." His voice was cold now. "You weren't answering my texts, but you had time to sit with another guy?"

Sophia's stomach twisted. "Were you spying on me?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course it matters!" She shot up from her bed. "You can't just watch me, Lucius!"

A sharp exhale from his end. "I wasn't spying. I happened to see you."

Her fists clenched. "You're in Korea, aren't you?"

Silence.

Her heart pounded. "Lucius."

"...Yes."

She shut her eyes, shaking her head. "Why?"

"Because of you, obviously."

Her throat tightened.

He always did this. Showed up, watched over her, acted like he owned her heart.

And normally, she didn't mind.

But after last night's argument, after today's unexpected distraction, she wasn't sure how she felt anymore.

"Lucius... I can't do this right now."

"So, what?" His voice darkened. "You're done with me just like that?"

"That's not what I-"

"You know what, Sophia?" His voice was sharp now. Angry. "Maybe I should've just left you where I found you."

Her entire world stopped.

The words slammed into her, stealing the air from her lungs.

Silence.

Pure, deafening silence.

Lucius sucked in a breath, as if realizing what he had just said. "Sophia, I didn't-"

Click.

She hung up.

Then, finally-

She broke down.

Tears spilled from her eyes as she curled up on her bed, shaking.

She had trusted him.

And he had said that?

She cried until she couldn't anymore.

Until exhaustion pulled her into a restless sleep.

---

Regret & Restlessness

Lucius sat in his penthouse, gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

He had messed up.

Badly.

"Maybe I should've just left you where I found you."

The words haunted him.

Why had he said that?

He didn't mean it. Not even a little.

But the idea of her getting close to another man had driven him insane. And in his frustration, he had said the one thing that could break her.

He ran a hand through his hair.

He should call her. Apologize.

But she had shut him out.

And for the first time in a long time...

Lucius Lee felt powerless.