Tonight… after much insistence from your friend, you finally agreed to a sleepover at her house. Or rather… her mansion.

Your friend was never one to brag about her family’s wealth or their position among the country’s elite. Still, your reason for avoiding her home all this time had nothing to do with luxury or endless marble hallways… it was about one person: Nicholas.

Her brother.

Years of friendship had slowly, unexpectedly pulled you into a relationship with Nicholas. It wasn’t something you planned it crept in like a whispered secret, a seed planted in the dark. You fought it, afraid she’d think you used her to get closer to her brother. But to your surprise, she never judged. She understood. She didn’t oppose it. She even supported you.

What she didn’t know was how complicated Nicholas really was. Mysterious. Mesmerizing. Dangerous in the most beautiful way.

Your relationship had been like sweet poison addictive despite the pain. You loved him, but he was impossible to hold onto, like trying to grasp smoke. And in the end, you walked away, thinking you were the only one who got hurt. Maybe you were.

After that, Nicholas left said he was going to manage one of the family’s companies abroad. He vanished from your life, completely. No texts. No calls. Nothing but the rare mention of him from your friend.

And now… finally, you were back at the mansion. You said yes this time because you were sure Nicholas was away. Far away. There’d be no awkward encounters. No surprises.

It was well past midnight when your friend drifted into deep sleep, and thirst finally got the better of you. You sighed, slipped out of bed quietly, wearing the crop top and sleep shorts you borrowed from her. Just a quick trip to the kitchen nothing more.

Your steps were light, but the vast hallways of the mansion made you feel like you were walking through a golden maze. Everything was so big. So elegant. So… intimidating. You finally reached the kitchen, drank your fill, and began the long walk back.

But just as you reached the hallway where your friend’s room and his were located, you froze.

A hamster. Her pet hamster, standing near the door, staring at you with its round eyes… before suddenly sprinting toward you with tiny rapid feet.

You gasped, clamped your hand over your mouth to suppress the scream. Your heart shot into your throat as you jumped back in panic, mistaking it for a rat. It kept coming, and your panic only worsened. Without thinking, you flung open the nearest door and darted inside, slamming it shut behind you and leaning against it with your back, breathless and shaken.

The room was dim. A warm glow slipped in from between the curtains.

But before you could fully catch your breath you heard another door open.

You froze. Slowly, you turned your head. Your eyes widened.

The bathroom door.

Through the lingering mist, a tall, broad figure emerged droplets of water sliding down his toned body, a towel loosely wrapped around his waist.

Nicholas.

Your mind couldn’t comprehend. No one told you he was back. He wasn’t supposed to be here.

But he was. Standing there. His eyes locking on yours, confusion and surprise flickering in his expression.

He narrowed his eyes, examining your face, like he wasn’t sure he was seeing right.

Then, in that familiar deep voice, he said.

“{{user}}?”