Chapter Twelve

Vivian's entire body froze.

The towel around Lucas's waist hung low on his hips, droplets of water trickling from his damp hair down the defined muscles of his chest before disappearing beneath the white fabric. Steam drifted lazily from the bathroom behind him, making the room smell faintly of cedarwood and fresh soap.

For several long seconds, neither of them moved. Vivian was the first to recover.

"Oh my God!"

She spun around so quickly that she almost tripped over her own feet, immediately covering her eyes with both hands.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't know. I wasn't trying to..."

Lucas sighed, running a hand through his wet hair. "You can open your eyes."

"I absolutely cannot!"

"You've already seen everything."

"I have not!"

"You definitely have."

"I saw nothing!"

Lucas couldn't stop the corner of his lips from twitching upward. "You walked into my bedroom."

"I walked into what I thought was another closet!" She was still facing away from him, her ears burning bright red.

Lucas picked up a black bathrobe from the chair nearby and slipped it on before tying the belt securely around his waist.

"You can turn around now."

Very cautiously, Vivian peeked through her fingers.

Only after confirming he was properly dressed did she lower her hands.

Her face was still crimson. "I'm really sorry."

"It's fine."

"No, it isn't."

"It really is."

She looked toward the connecting door between both rooms.

"Why is there even a door here?"

Lucas glanced at it casually.

"The previous owners designed these rooms as a master suite."

Vivian stared at him.

"So..."

"So when Mother prepared your room, she forgot this door existed."

He walked over and inspected the handle.

"It hasn't been used in years."

Vivian folded her arms.

"It should stay that way."

"I agree."

Lucas reached for the lock.

Click.

"There." He tested it once. "It only opens from my side with a master key now."

Vivian let out a relieved breath. "Thank goodness."

Lucas looked at her.

"I wasn't planning on walking into your room either."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"I hope not."

"I have standards."

Vivian gasped.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Lucas's face remained perfectly serious.

"It means I don't enjoy being yelled at before breakfast."

For a second, she simply stared at him. Then, despite herself, a laugh escaped.

It surprised both of them.

Lucas blinked.

Vivian quickly covered her mouth. "I didn't mean to laugh."

"You just did."

"I know."

"It's an improvement."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it."

"I won't."

Yet somehow, the tension between them had eased.

Just a little.

***

The following morning, Vivian woke to the scent of freshly baked bread drifting through the mansion.

She glanced at the unfamiliar ceiling before remembering where she was.

Lucas's mansion.

Her temporary home.

The realization still felt strange. After freshening up, she headed downstairs.

The dining room was already occupied.

Evelyn smiled brightly the moment she saw her.

"Good morning, my dear."

"Good morning, Ma."

Lucas sat opposite his mother, quietly reading the morning business reports on his tablet while sipping coffee.

He barely glanced up. "Morning."

Vivian returned a polite nod before taking the empty seat.

A maid immediately began serving breakfast. Fresh fruit. Toast. Eggs. Pancakes. Freshly squeezed orange juice.

Vivian blinked. "This could feed an entire family."

Evelyn laughed. "Lucas always insists on a full breakfast."

Vivian looked at him. "You eat all this?"

"No."

"Then why prepare this much?"

Lucas finally lowered his tablet. "In case someone else wants it."

She looked unconvinced. "That seems wasteful."

He shrugged. "I've never thought about it."

Vivian quietly reached for only a slice of toast. Evelyn noticed immediately.

"My dear, you need more than that."

"I'm not very hungry."

Lucas spoke without looking at her. "You skipped dinner."

Vivian frowned. "Were you keeping track?"

"You barely touched your tray."

She looked away. "I wasn't hungry."

"The doctor said you need proper nutrition."

"I'm eating."

"You're surviving."

She sighed. "I'm trying."

Lucas finally met her eyes. "I know."

His tone was softer than usual. Not commanding. Not sarcastic. Just factual.

Evelyn smiled quietly to herself. Perhaps these two were making progress after all.

***

Later that morning, Lucas called everyone into the sitting room. Vivian arrived carrying a glass of juice.

"What now?"

Lucas stood beside the fireplace holding a sheet of paper.

"If we're going to live under the same roof..."

Vivian immediately frowned. "I don't like where this is going."

"...we need rules."

She sighed dramatically. "I knew it."

Lucas ignored her. "Rule one." He glanced at the paper. "No skipping meals."

Vivian opened her mouth.

"No arguments," he added before she could speak. She shut it again.

Evelyn chuckled softly.

"Rule two. Doctor appointments are mandatory."

Vivian folded her arms. "I was already going."

Lucas continued. "Rule three. No leaving the property without informing security."

She raised an eyebrow. "So now I'm imprisoned?"

"No."

"Then why do I need permission?"

"You don't need permission. You need protection."

She muttered something under her breath. "I heard that."

"I'm sure you did. Rule four, no work."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"You've been granted medical leave."

"I didn't approve that."

"I did."

"You can't!"

"I already have."

Vivian stared at him in disbelief. "You really enjoy making decisions for people."

"I enjoy preventing disasters."

"I'm perfectly capable of deciding what's best for me."

Lucas looked at her calmly. "Were you planning on returning to work tomorrow?"

"Maybe."

"Exactly."

Evelyn gently intervened before another argument could erupt. "Lucas..."

He looked at his mother.

"Perhaps ask instead of ordering."

He was silent for a moment. Then he looked back at Vivian. "Would you consider taking time off?"

Vivian blinked. That was unexpected. "You actually asked."

"I did."

She thought for a long moment. Finally, she sighed.

"Fine."

Lucas nodded once. "Thank you."

She pointed a finger at him. "Don't think this means you're winning."

"I wasn't competing."

"Liar."

"I prefer businessman."

Evelyn laughed so hard she nearly spilled her tea.

***

That afternoon, while exploring the mansion's enormous library, Vivian wandered into one of the smaller lounges.

Sketchbooks. Pencils. Fabric samples. A mannequin. A professional sewing machine. She froze.

Slowly, she walked closer. Her fingers brushed over the smooth wooden table.

"This..." She looked around in disbelief. "...what is all this?"

A familiar voice answered from behind. "You'll be bored otherwise."

She turned. Lucas stood in the doorway, one hand in his pocket.

"You did this?"

"I had the room prepared."

Vivian stared at the fashion equipment. There were fabrics she had only ever admired online. Professional tools she'd dreamed of owning.

Her throat tightened. "I... I can't accept this."

"It's temporary."

"It's expensive."

"So?"

"I don't want charity."

Lucas walked over and picked up one of the sketchbooks before placing it gently in her hands.

"I've seen enough people waste talent." His voice was unusually quiet.

"I'm not interested in watching another." Vivian looked down at the blank pages. Then back at him.

For the first time, she couldn't think of an argument.

Before either of them could say another word, Evelyn appeared in the doorway with an amused smile.

"I had a feeling I'd find you both here." She looked from Lucas to Vivian, and then to the untouched sketchbook in Vivian's hands.

"My dear," Evelyn said warmly, "why don't you show Lucas one of your designs? I've been dying to see them myself."

Vivian instinctively hugged the sketchbook against her chest. "No."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

She shook her head. "They're not good enough."

Lucas looked at her for a long, thoughtful moment before replying quietly, "I don't believe that."

Vivian's heart skipped unexpectedly. She quickly looked away. She wasn't ready for him to believe in her.

Not yet.