Chapter 8: The Visit That Shouldn't Have Happened
1692 Words
Chapter 8: The Visit That Shouldn’t Have Happened
The mansion was too quiet that afternoon.
Not peaceful… not calm.
Just quiet in a way that made every small sound feel louder than it should.
Aria stepped out of the car slowly, the soft gravel crunching beneath her heels. The air smelled faintly of fresh flowers from the garden, mixed with something richer… polished wood and expensive perfume drifting from inside the house.
Her fingers brushed against the fabric of her dress unconsciously.
Navy blue.
Soft.
Light against her skin.
The off-shoulder cut exposed her collarbones, the cool breeze brushing against her bare shoulders, sending a faint shiver through her body.
For a second, she remembered.
The way Anderson had calmly told his secretary her exact measurements without hesitation.
The way the dress fit her perfectly.
Too perfectly.
Her heartbeat shifted slightly.
Then she walked inside.
The doors opened.
The scent hit her immediately.
Clean.
Luxurious.
A mixture of vanilla, polished marble, and something distinctly masculine… Anderson.
Her eyes lifted slowly.
The house was massive.
High ceilings stretched above her, crystal chandeliers reflecting soft golden light across the marble floors. The walls were designed with a mix of modern glass and classic textures, giving the entire place a cold elegance that felt untouchable.
Servants moved quietly.
Precise.
Disciplined.
Every movement controlled.
Aria swallowed softly.
She wasn’t used to this.
Not like this.
Before she could fully take it in
A voice came from the side.
“Miss Aria.”
She turned.
One of the maids stood there, head slightly lowered.
“There is a visitor here to see you.”
Aria’s brows furrowed slightly.
“A visitor?”
“Yes.”
Something about the tone made her chest tighten.
A faint uneasiness settled in her stomach.
She nodded slowly.
“Okay…”
Her steps were softer now as she walked further inside.
The sound of her heels echoed faintly against the floor.
Then She saw her.
Lillian.
Standing in the living room.
Perfectly dressed.
Perfectly composed.
But her eyes…
They weren’t soft.
They weren’t warm.
They were sharp.
Calculating.
Aria’s chest tightened instantly.
A strange feeling crept in.
Discomfort.
Something deeper.
Something she couldn’t explain.
“Aria!” Lillian’s voice came out bright, almost too bright.
She stepped forward quickly, holding something in her hand.
“I’m so sorry, I had to come back. I left something important here earlier.”
Aria’s gaze dropped slightly.
An earring.
Small.
Elegant.
“But… why didn’t you just call?” Aria asked softly.
Lillian smiled.
A little too quickly.
“It’s a family heirloom. I panicked. I had to come myself.”
Something about it didn’t sit right.
Aria couldn’t explain it.
But her chest felt… tight.
“Okay…” she said quietly.
Before she could say anything else
Footsteps.
Firm.
Steady.
Anderson.
He walked in.
His presence filled the room instantly.
The air shifted.
Cold.
Controlled.
Powerful.
His eyes landed on Lillian for a brief second.
No warmth.
No interest.
Just acknowledgment.
“You’re back.”
His voice was calm.
Flat.
Lillian straightened slightly.
“Yes… I came to get something I forgot.”
Her tone softened.
Almost… sweet.
Trying.
Anderson nodded once.
Then looked at the staff.
“Make sure she gets what she came for.”
His attention was already moving away.
But Lillian stepped forward quickly.
“Actually… it’s fine now. I found it.”
She smiled again.
Then—
Her foot slipped.
Her body tilted forward suddenly.
A soft gasp left her lips.
She was falling.
Toward Anderson.
Aria’s heart jumped.
Her body tensed.
She expected him to catch her.
Anyone would.
But
He didn’t move.
Not even slightly.
Lillian stumbled awkwardly, barely managing to steady herself before hitting the ground.
The moment froze.
Embarrassing.
Silent.
Heavy.
Aria’s eyes widened slightly.
Something twisted inside her.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
She didn’t understand it.
But it didn’t feel good.
Lillian laughed awkwardly.
“Oh… that was clumsy of me…”
But her eyes flickered.
Annoyed.
Frustrated.
She stepped closer again.
This time slower.
Deliberate.
Her fingers brushed lightly against Anderson’s arm.
“Thank you for letting me come back…”
Her touch lingered.
Too long.
Aria felt it instantly.
Her chest tightened.
Her fingers curled slightly.
Her breathing shifted.
Why is she touching him like that?
The thought came suddenly.
Sharp.
Uninvited.
Her heartbeat picked up.
Fast.
Uneven.
Something inside her twisted again.
Stronger this time.
She stepped forward without thinking.
Her hand reached out.
Grabbing Anderson’s wrist.
Pulling him slightly toward her.
The contact shocked even her.
Warm.
Solid.
Real.
The room stilled.
Lillian’s eyes widened slightly.
“What are you doing?” Lillian asked, her voice lower now.
Aria didn’t answer immediately.
Her chest rose and fell unevenly.
Her fingers tightened slightly around Anderson.
Her lips parted.
“I don’t like it.”
Her voice was soft.
But clear.
Both of them looked at her.
“What?” Lillian asked.
Aria swallowed.
Her throat felt dry.
“I don’t like… the way you’re touching him.”
The words surprised even her.
Silence fell.
Thick.
Heavy.
Lillian’s expression changed.
Subtle.
But visible.
“And since when does that matter to you?” she asked, her tone sharper now.
Aria’s grip tightened slightly.
Her heart was racing.
She didn’t understand why she felt this way.
Didn’t understand why it hurt.
But it did.
“I don’t know…” she whispered honestly.
“But it does.”
Anderson hadn’t moved.
Not even once.
His gaze rested on her.
Deep.
Observing.
Something unreadable in his eyes.
Lillian let out a small laugh.
Cold.
“So now you care?”
Aria’s chest tightened again.
That word.
Care.
Why did it feel so heavy?
“Lillian,” Anderson’s voice cut in suddenly.
Low.
Warning.
Lillian went quiet.
But her eyes shifted.
Dark.
Calculating.
She smiled again.
But this time
There was no warmth in it.
“Alright,” she said lightly.
“I got what I came for anyway.”
She turned.
Walking toward the door.
Her heels clicking softly.
But her mind
Was anything but calm.
As she stepped out
Her expression changed completely.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
So this is what it is…
Her fingers tightened slightly around her phone.
If she couldn’t get him through charm…
Then she would take a different route.
One that didn’t need permission.
Inside the mansion—
Aria slowly let go of Anderson’s hand.
Her fingers felt warm.
Her chest still tight.
Her mind confused.
“I… I don’t know why I did that…” she whispered.
Anderson stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
“I do.”
His voice was calm.
Certain.
Aria looked up at him.
Her heartbeat quickening again.
“What do you mean?” she asked softly.
He didn’t answer immediately.
He just looked at her.
Long.
Deep.
Like he saw something she didn’t.
And that…
Made her nervous.
Because deep inside
Something was changing.
Something she couldn’t control.
And outside
Someone had just decided
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD