More Than Just Lust

03.

The ride home was quiet, just like earlier. Xylon kept his eyes on the road, and I stayed silent. I didn’t want to annoy him—he might change his mind and kick me out.

I still didn’t know how I ended up in this mess. Living with a stranger who had zero patience and a sharp tongue wasn’t exactly ideal.

But I had no choice.

I was swallowing my pride just to have a warm bed at night.

Actually, I thought about getting a job, but who would hire me? I had been a housewife for nine years with no work experience. It felt like my life had been stuck in one place, and now I had to figure out how to start over.

Xylon didn’t seem like a bad guy. He wasn’t friendly, but he didn’t give off a dangerous vibe either.

And if he was planning something bad, then too bad for him—I had nothing left to take.

That asshole already took everything I had to give.

I stared out the window, watching the buildings and streets blur past as Xylon drove in silence. The weight of everything settled on my chest—nine years wasted, no home, no job, nothing to my name except a suitcase and a stranger who barely tolerated me.

Before I could sink too deep into my thoughts, the car slowed and pulled up in front of the house. Xylon didn’t say a word as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

Without looking at me, he sighed. “Stay here until I get back. Don’t touch anything, don’t break anything, and for the love of God, don’t do anything stupid.”

And just like that, he started the engine again and drove off, leaving me standing at the doorstep, staring at the massive house that I was just in this morning.

He didn’t leave any keys, but when Iona tried the door, it was unlocked.

Stepping inside, she was once again met with the grand size of the house. She had been here just this morning, but now that she wasn’t distracted by exhaustion and nerves, she took in the details she had missed—the towering ceilings, the sleek marble floors, and the expensive furniture that seemed too pristine to touch.

She had assumed Xylon didn’t have maids since she hadn’t seen anyone earlier, and of course, he never bothered to correct her. But just as she was about to take another step, a middle-aged woman in a maid’s uniform appeared from around the corner, her sharp eyes scanning Iona from head to toe.

With a stern expression, the woman strode toward her and gestured to hand her laugage which Iona did.

“Ella!” she called out, her voice carrying an air of authority. “Bring this to her room.”

A younger maid, likely in her twenties, quickly appeared and took the luggage without question before heading upstairs.

Iona, still processing everything, barely had time to react before the older woman turned her attention back to her. Arms crossed, she gave Iona a look that made it clear she didn’t have the patience for cluelessness.

“You didn’t see us this morning because we’re off on weekends,” she stated matter-of-factly. “It’s Monday. That’s why we just got back.”

Iona blinked, realizing Xylon had let her go on thinking he had no house staff without bothering to correct her. Of course, he did. That man wouldn’t lift a damn finger.

Before she could respond, the woman motioned toward the dining area. “Lunch is ready. Go eat.”

Iona hesitated. “Uh, I—”

“Xylon already texted us,” the woman cut her off, her tone blunt. “Told us to make sure you eat and to accompany you while he’s out. Seems like you’ll be living here from now on.”

Iona nearly choked. He did what?

“And one more thing,” the woman added, eyeing her with the same critical look as before. “Don’t bother trying to do any household work. The boss already warned us you’d probably just mess things up.”

Iona’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me?!”

But the woman had already turned and walked away, muttering something under her breath about how she better not break anything.

After finishing her meal, Iona set down her utensils and glanced around. The dining area was silent—the maids from earlier had vanished, leaving her alone in the unfamiliar house. She washed the plates and glass she used.

She leaned back in her chair, debating what to do next. Sitting around waiting for Xylon to return wasn’t an option, so she decided to explore.

Wandering through the hallways, she let her eyes skim over the details she hadn’t noticed before. The house was big but not overwhelmingly so. It felt lived-in, though not necessarily warm.

Eventually, she made her way to the backyard.

The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of grass and damp earth. The space was wide and open, but what caught her attention wasn’t the size—it was the two dogs darting across the yard.

One was a sleek Border Collie, agile and quick, effortlessly dodging the playful attacks of a larger Golden Retriever, who was a bit clumsier but just as eager.

Nearby, an older man stood watching them, his posture relaxed. He looked to be in his fifties, with neatly combed gray-streaked hair and the calm presence of someone who had seen enough of life to take things in stride. He noticed Iona immediately and gave a polite nod.

"Out for some air?" His voice was steady, carrying the weight of experience without sounding harsh.

Iona hesitated before stepping closer. "More like wandering. Didn’t think there were dogs here."

The man smiled slightly. "They're the child of Xylon, he loves them more than anyone else. The Border Collie’s Bisco, and the Golden Retriever is Kimi."

Iona watched as Bisco swiftly dodged Kimi’s attempt to pounce. "They’re cute."

"They know it," the man said with a knowing chuckle. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "You're the one Xylon told us to look after to? I assume you’ve met my wife?"

Iona raised an eyebrow. "Your wife?"

He nodded, his expression mildly amused. "The woman who greeted you earlier. Stiff posture, sharp tone, looks like she could run a military camp if she wanted to?"

Iona let out a small laugh. "Oh, her."

"That would be Felicia," he confirmed. "Don’t mind her too much. She takes her work seriously, but she doesn’t mean any harm. She’s just… particular."

Iona considered that for a moment before shrugging. "I guess I can respect that."

"Good," the man said approvingly. "She’ll warm up to you. Eventually."

They stood there in silence for a bit, watching as the dogs finally slowed down, collapsing onto the grass with tired huffs.

As the sky darkened, Iona stretched, letting out a small yawn. "I should probably head inside."

The man gave a small nod. "Sounds like a good idea. Storm’s coming in."

Taking that as her cue, Iona turned and walked back into the house.

Once inside, she made her way to the room she had been given. Iona didn’t want to think too much about everything that had happened—it was too much, too fast.

Instead, she simply threw herself onto the bed, letting out a deep breath. The soft mattress beneath her felt almost foreign after the chaos of the past days. She pulled the blanket over her and closed her eyes, willing herself to shut everything out.

Before she knew it, her body grew heavy, and sleep took over.