THE SECRET BEHIND HIS SECRET

Chapter One — The Announcement The first thing I noticed when I got home was the silence. The Everly house was never silent at five in the afternoon. Mum usually had music playing in the kitchen, Dad was almost always on a phone call, and Octavian had a strange talent for making enough noise for three people. But that afternoon, there was nothing. I closed the front door behind me and stood still. “Mum?” No answer. “Dad?” Still nothing. I frowned and picked up my schoolbag from the floor. I was about to head upstairs when I heard voices coming from my father’s study. I recognized my mother’s voice first. “Six months, Cassiel. That’s a long time.” “I know.” “And Aurelia?” “We’ll tell her tonight.” I stopped. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag. Tell me what? I stepped closer to the study door. “We can’t keep this from her forever,” Mum continued. “I know.” “And you’re certain about Lucien?” There was a pause. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else.” My heart skipped. Lucien? Before I could hear anything else, the study door opened. My father stood there. He looked at me. I looked at him. Neither of us spoke. “You’re home,” he finally said. “Obviously.” His eyes moved toward my schoolbag. “You’re early.” “School ended early.” He nodded. “Go upstairs and change. We’re having dinner together tonight.” I narrowed my eyes. “Why?” “Because your mother and I want to talk to you.” That was not reassuring. “About what?” “Dinner first.” He closed the door. I stared at it. Definitely suspicious. I went upstairs, changed out of my uniform, and returned to the dining room twenty minutes later. My mother was already seated. Octavian was beside her, looking unusually serious. Dad sat at the head of the table. I took my seat. Nobody touched their food. I looked around. “Okay. This is officially terrifying.” Octavian gave a short laugh. “Dramatic as always.” “Everyone is staring at me.” “Because Dad has something to say.” I turned toward my father. “What?” He folded his hands on the table. “Your mother and I are going away for a while.” I blinked. “Where?” “London first. Then several other countries.” “For business?” “Yes.” “How long?” He hesitated. “About six months.” I stared at him. “Six months?” My mother nodded. “We’ll be travelling between several offices.” “And I’m supposed to stay here?” “Yes.” “Alone?” “No.” I looked at Octavian. “With him?” My brother nearly choked on his drink. Dad shook his head. “Not Octavian.” “Then who?” The room became quiet. My father looked directly at me. “Lucien Ardent.” For a moment, I didn’t react. Then I laughed. “You’re joking.” “No.” “You’re actually serious?” “Yes.” I leaned back. “Dad’s best friend?” “Exactly.” I had known Lucien for most of my life. He was the person my father called when business went wrong. The person Mum trusted enough to leave alone in the house. The person who had attended family birthdays and holiday dinners for years. But I hadn’t seen much of him recently. He had become busy with his company, travelling constantly and rarely appearing at family events. The last time I’d seen him properly, I had been fifteen. Now I was seventeen. And apparently, he was moving into our guest house. “Why him?” “Because I trust him.” “That doesn’t answer my question.” “He’s responsible.” “So am I.” “I know.” “I don’t need a guardian.” “I didn’t say you did.” “Then what is this?” Dad sighed. “It’s temporary.” “Six months is not temporary.” “It is when you’re talking about a lifetime.” I stared at him. Mum reached for my hand. I let her take it. “We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t think it was necessary,” she said softly. I looked at her. “Necessary for what?” She exchanged a glance with Dad. Neither answered. That silence bothered me more than the announcement. I pulled my hand away. “When are you leaving?” “Friday.” I stared at him. “That’s three days.” “Yes.” “You’ve already planned everything.” Dad didn’t deny it. “And Lucien knows?” “He agreed yesterday.” I felt something twist inside me. “You talked to him before telling me?” “We needed to make sure the arrangements were possible.” I pushed my chair back. “So everyone knew except me.” “Aurelia—” “I need some air.” I left before anyone could stop me. I walked upstairs and shut my bedroom door. For several minutes, I simply stood there. My parents were leaving. Lucien was staying. And nobody wanted to tell me why. I walked to my window. The sky outside had turned dark, and rain had begun tapping against the glass. I pressed my forehead against the cool window. Then headlights appeared at the end of the driveway. A black car approached slowly. I recognized it before the driver even stepped out. Lucien. He closed the car door and looked toward the house. My father came outside to greet him. They shook hands before embracing like old friends. Then Dad said something. Lucien looked up. Straight toward my window. I froze. Even from that distance, I knew he had seen me. He didn’t smile. He simply held my gaze for a moment before looking back at my father. I stepped away from the window. A knock sounded behind me. I turned. Mum stood in the doorway. “You saw him.” “Yeah.” “He’ll be staying in the guest house.” “I know.” “He’ll give you your space.” I nodded. She walked toward me and brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “You’re going to be okay.” I wanted to believe her. But there was something in her expression that made me wonder if she was trying to convince herself too. After she left, I sat on the edge of my bed. My phone vibrated. I looked down. Unknown number. One message. Your father isn’t telling you the real reason he’s leaving. I stared at the screen. Another message appeared. And Lucien knows why. My heart began pounding. I looked toward the window. Lucien was no longer outside. For the first time, I wondered whether my parents’ six-month trip had ever really been about business. And if it wasn’t, then why had they chosen Lucien to stay behind?