Twisted desire

Chapter 8

Luna could still feel Richard’s eyes on

her long after he walked away.

The hallway had gone silent again, but

the tension remained.

Heavy.

Sharp.

Dangerous.

She stood frozen for a moment, her

heartbeat refusing to calm down.

Beside her, Hamilton looked tense

enough to snap.

Neither of them spoke until Richard

disappeared completely.

Then Luna finally exhaled shakily.

“That was not normal.”

Hamilton let out a quiet breath through

his nose, his jaw tight.

“He saw us.”

“We were just standing there.”

“You think he cares about that?”

The way he said it made her stomach

twist.

Luna crossed her arms tightly, trying to

ignore how fast her heart was beating.

“You are acting like we did something

wrong.”

Hamilton looked at her immediately.

His expression changed slightly.

Not softer.

Worse.

Because for one second, it looked like

he wanted to say something dangerous.

Something he should not say.

But instead, he stepped back.

“You should go to your room.”

Luna frowned.

“That is your solution to everything.”

“It is safer.”

“There you go again,” she snapped

quietly. “Always talking like something

horrible is about to happen.”

His eyes locked onto hers.

“You still think it is not?”

Silence.

Luna looked away first.

Because deep down…

She did not know anymore.

Hamilton moved toward the staircase.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To deal with him.”

Her chest tightened instantly.

“What does that mean?”

“It means stay out of it.”

Before she could stop him, he walked

away.

Luna stared after him nervously.

Something about tonight felt wrong.

Worse than before.

Like the house itself was waiting for

something to happen.

And somehow…

She had a feeling it already had.

The next morning felt painfully normal.

Which was the worst part.

Sunlight poured through the massive

dining room windows.

Her mother smiled happily while

speaking to one of the house staff.

Coffee was served.

Breakfast plates sat perfectly arranged.

Everything looked peaceful.

But underneath it…

Something was boiling.

Luna felt it immediately when she

walked in.

Richard sat at the head of the table

looking calm as ever.

Too calm.

Hamilton sat across from him silently.

The tension between them was

impossible to miss.

Yet somehow, Luna’s mother noticed

none of it.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” she said

brightly as Luna sat down.

“Morning.”

Richard looked up at her slowly.

And smiled.

Not warmly.

Carefully.

“You slept well?”

Luna forced herself to nod.

“Yeah.”

A lie.

His eyes stayed on her for a second too

long before he returned to his coffee.

Hamilton had not touched his food.

Luna noticed the way his fingers

tightened slightly around his glass every

time Richard spoke.

Like he was barely controlling himself.

“You should come shopping with me

later,” Luna’s mother said happily. “There

is still so much we need to buy for you.”

“I think I’ll stay home today,” Luna

replied quietly.

Before her mother could answer—

“That is probably a good idea.”

Richard’s voice.

Smooth.

Controlled.

Luna looked at him carefully.

Something about the way he said it

made her uneasy again.

Like he wanted her here.

Inside the house.

Close.

Hamilton noticed too.

Luna saw the shift in his expression

immediately.

Cold anger.

“Actually,” Hamilton said casually, “I was

planning to take her out later.”

Silence.

Instant.

Richard slowly looked at him.

“Oh?”

Hamilton leaned back slightly.

“She has barely seen the city.”

Luna’s heartbeat sped up.

What was he doing?

Richard’s smile remained perfectly

calm.

But his eyes did not.

“That is thoughtful of you.”

The words sounded polite.

The tone did not.

Luna suddenly felt trapped between

them.

Like this conversation was about

something much bigger than going out.

Her mother laughed lightly, completely

unaware of the tension.

“See?” she said to Luna. “Hamilton is

trying to be nice.”

Hamilton did not smile.

Neither did Richard.

And somehow…

That scared Luna more than if they had

argued openly.

Because this felt controlled.

Careful.

Like two people pretending not to hate

each other.

Breakfast continued painfully slowly

after that.

Every glance felt loaded.

Every silence felt intentional.

And throughout all of it—

Richard kept looking at Luna.

Not constantly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

But enough.

Enough to make her uncomfortable.

Enough to make Hamilton angry.

Luna could feel it building beside her.

The tension.

The resentment.

The jealousy.

It was becoming impossible to ignore.

Later that afternoon, Luna stood near

the library window pretending to read

while her thoughts spiraled.

Nothing in this house made sense

anymore.

Richard acted calm after seeing her

alone with Hamilton.

Too calm.

Hamilton acted like they were in

danger.

And her mother…

Her mother remained completely

oblivious.

Or at least Luna hoped she was.

A quiet sound behind her made her

turn.

Hamilton.

Again.

“You should stop sneaking up on

people.”

“You should stop standing near

windows looking terrified.”

Luna sighed softly.

“I am not terrified.”

“You are.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“And you should be.”

Luna stared at him.

“You really think he is dangerous.”

Hamilton did not answer immediately.

Which was answer enough.

A heavy silence settled between them.

Then quietly, Luna asked,

“What happened to the girls in the

photographs?”

His jaw tightened instantly.

“I told you to stop digging.”

“That is not an answer.”

His eyes met hers.

Sharp.

Tired.

“You do not want the truth.”

“How do you know?”

“Because once you know it,” he said

quietly, “you cannot unknow it.”

A chill ran down her spine.

Before Luna could respond, footsteps

echoed nearby.

Hamilton stepped away from her

immediately.

Too quickly.

Like instinct.

A second later, Richard appeared in the

doorway.

His gaze moved between them once.

Only once.

But it was enough.

Luna’s chest tightened.

Richard smiled calmly.

“There you are.”

His attention settled fully on Luna now.

“I was looking for you.”

Hamilton’s posture stiffened beside

her.

Luna noticed.

So did Richard.

“I did not realize I needed supervision,”

Luna said lightly, trying to ease the

tension.

Richard chuckled softly.

“In this house?” he said. “You would be

surprised.”

Something about the way he said it

made her uneasy again.

Then unexpectedly, he stepped closer.

Too close.

His hand rested lightly on her shoulder.

Gentle.

Possessive.

Luna froze.

It lasted only a second.

But Hamilton noticed.

The shift in him was immediate.

His jaw tightened hard enough to hurt.

Richard looked at him calmly.

Almost knowingly.

Then removed his hand.

“We are having a family dinner

tomorrow night,” Richard said smoothly.

His eyes never left Luna’s face.

“Do not be late.”

The words sounded normal.

But Luna felt the warning underneath

them instantly.

And somehow…

She knew Hamilton heard it too.