Chapter 56 Call Me ‘Lucien’
As she reached the corridor, she heard Kimberly’s cloying voice. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Lucien! I lost my balance and spilled coffee on your suit.”
“Let me clean it up for you,” Kimberly offered, her hand reaching toward the taut lines of Lucien’s frame, her heart
racing.
“No need,” he said curtly. “Also, we’re not that close. Don’t forget that.”
Kimberly faltered, stung by the disdain in his gaze, but she pressed on. “Well, Mr. Graves, could we be friends?”
“I didn’t mean to spill the coffee,” she added, inching closer, aiming to fall into his arms.
Lucien sidestepped swiftly, and Kimberly stumbled, crashing to
the floor with a thud.
“My apologies,” Lucien said, his tone tinged with impatience. “It’s your grandmother’s funeral today. Show some respect.”
With that, he turned and left.
Lucien wanted to find Kaia, to offer her some comfort. As he rounded a corner, he nearly bumped into her.
He licked his dry lips, his heart aching. Though Kaia seemed composed, he sensed the grief tearing her apart beneath the surface.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
nodded faintly.
a step closer,
fine,” he said, his
voice cracked,
drawing her head to
low. “Kaia, you don’t have to be
the distance, Kimberly watched, her
she
venom in her voice. “That witch! She’s seducing
steadied her breath, and brushed the
now?” Lucien asked, his eyes still
a weak, lopsided grin. “Getting there.
Alden are done, Kaia. That’s final,”
tightened
stop calling me ‘Mr. Graves.’ I’m only seven years older than you. Lucien will
caught off guard. Her mouth parted
his
want me to
like I’m young. Seriously, Kaia. I mean it. Alden’s my nephew, but if he messes up, I’ll take care
slow once-over, his gaze landing on how much weight she’d lost. “Say the word, Kaia. Whatever
an eyebrow, unsure.
Lucien said firmly, barely hiding
on the shift in his tone-but Kaia
she muttered, her
don’t forget
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!