Loving the enemy
569 Words
The wind howled across the rooftop, sharp and unforgiving, but Ariella barely felt the cold.
All she could feel was the ache in her chest.
Lucien stood in front of her, close enough that she could see the pain etched into his face. Not the polished, untouchable heir everyone feared—this was a boy weighed down by sins that were never truly his.
“You should hate me,” he said again, voice rough. “It would be easier.”
She laughed weakly. “Easy stopped existing the day my mother died.”
Her knees felt unsteady. She turned away, gripping the railing as if it could hold her together.
“I dreamed of revenge,” she whispered. “I imagined it would give me peace. But standing here with you… I feel worse.”
Lucien moved closer, careful, like approaching something wounded.
“Because revenge doesn’t heal,” he said quietly. “It only teaches you how to bleed differently.”
That broke her.
A sob tore from her chest before she could stop it. She covered her mouth, shaking.
“I don’t know how to forgive,” she cried. “I don’t even know if I want to.”
“You don’t have to,” he replied. “Just… don’t let it destroy you.”
She turned, tears streaming freely now.
“And what about you?” she demanded. “You live like nothing touches you. Like you’re untouchable.”
He smiled bitterly. “That’s the trick. If no one gets close, no one sees the rot.”
She stepped closer without realizing it.
“You’re not the villain I imagined,” she said softly.
“And you’re not the weapon you pretend to be,” he replied.
Their breaths mingled.
The space between them felt fragile. Dangerous.
“This is wrong,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he agreed.
Neither of them moved away.
Lucien’s hand finally cupped her cheek, gentle, trembling.
“If you tell me to stop, I will.”
She closed her eyes.
For one second, she saw her mother’s smile.
For another, she felt the crushing weight of grief.
Then there was just him.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
That was all the permission he needed.
Their kiss was not soft.
It was desperate. Broken. Filled with everything they weren’t saying.
Tears mixed between them as they clung to each other like the world might end if they let go.
When they finally pulled apart, Ariella was breathless.
“This changes everything,” she said.
Lucien rested his forehead against hers. “I know.”
“And it complicates everything.”
“I know.”
She let out a shaky laugh. “You really are dangerous.”
“So are you.”
They didn’t notice the shadow until it moved.
A phone camera lowered.
Vivian stepped forward, slow clapping softly.
“How poetic,” she said sweetly. “The transfer girl and the fallen prince.”
Ariella’s blood ran cold.
“How long?” Lucien demanded.
“Long enough,” Vivian replied. “This will ruin you.”
Lucien stepped in front of Ariella instinctively.
“Leave her out of this.”
Vivian smiled. “Too late.”
She walked past them, heels clicking like a countdown.
Ariella’s heart pounded.
“What have we done?” she whispered.
Lucien looked at the city below, jaw tight.
“Started a war.”
- Writer
