Lucas had always prided himself on being able to compartmentalize his emotions, but right now, it felt impossible. Emily had hidden something from him, and the discovery was like a punch to the gut. He had tried to avoid letting it affect his judgment, but the weight of the secret relationship she hadn't mentioned was gnawing at him.
He paced back and forth in the library, avoiding Emily as much as possible, his mind consumed with irritation. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t told him about it, not after everything they’d been through. The air between them had become thick with tension, and every interaction now felt forced, awkward, and mechanical.
For the past few days, Lucas had limited their conversations strictly to the mystery of the estate and avoided anything personal. It wasn’t tha
