The party had ended, but the lingering tension remained. Lucien stayed in his room for hours, the weight of Sophie's words pressing down on him like a heavy burden. When he finally emerged, his unsteady gait alarmed everyone present. The normally composed CEO now seemed broken, his vulnerability on display for all to see.
He gestured to a waiter. "Bring me a bottle of alcohol. Now."
"Lucien, what's the matter?" Celine asked, her voice tinged with concern. "Why are you behaving like this in front of everyone? You're the CEO; people are watching."
Lucien ignored her and took the bottle, drinking it all in one go. The alcohol burned his throat, but it numbed the ache in his chest just enough for him to stand upright and feign normalcy. His family arrived late and fussed over him, but he brushed off their concerns, holding himself together until the last guest left.
As the night deepened, Lucien collapsed on the couch, the effects of the alcohol finally overtaking him.
Upstairs
Meanwhile, in Sophie's room, Margaux found Sophie sobbing uncontrollably. Her eyes were puffy, and her face was stained with tears.
"I'm sorry," Margaux whispered, guilt evident in her voice. "This is all my fault."
Sophie shook her head and hugged her tightly, tears still streaming down her face. "It's not your fault, Margaux. It's just... everything."
Margaux held her and thought, I feel like Amelie is crying right in front of me.
The emotional weight of the evening exhausted both of them, and they eventually drifted off to sleep.
The Midnight Encounter
Sophie woke around midnight, her throat dry from all the crying. She quietly slipped out of bed to get a glass of water. As she walked down the stairs, she saw Lucien asleep on the couch. His face, usually so stern and composed, now looked peaceful and vulnerable.
Her heart wavered for a moment. She tried to ignore the pang of concern and went to the kitchen to drink her water. On her way back, she stopped.His neck will hurt if he sleeps like that... and he'll get cold.she thought, conflicted.
Sighing, she walked to his room and grabbed a blanket and a pillow. Returning to the living room, she gently draped the blanket over him and knelt to lift his head, intending to slide the pillow underneath.
But as she did, Lucien stirred. His hand shot up, grabbing the collar of her pajamas. Before she could react, he pulled her down, their lips colliding in an unintentional, alcohol-fueled kiss.
Sophie's eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding wildly. The heat from his body radiated through her, making her face flush. For a moment, she was frozen, her thoughts spiraling out of control. Then, snapping back to reality, she pulled away, her breath shallow and uneven.
Lucien mumbled incoherently, still too drunk to fully register what had happened. Sophie quickly adjusted the pillow under his head, her hands trembling, and hurried back to her room.
The Aftermath
In her room, Sophie stood in front of the mirror, her reflection revealing a face flushed deep red. Her heart still raced as she touched her lips, trying to process what had just happened.
Margaux sat up groggily, noticing Sophie's state. "Huh? You're back. I was worried sick you were out there doing something reckless," she teased.
Sophie smiled faintly, trying to shake off the moment.
Margaux squinted at her. "Why is your face red? And... are you blushing? People only blush like that when they meet someone they like. Did you run into someone in the mansion?"
"N-no!" Sophie stammered, turning away quickly.
Margaux wasn't convinced. She got out of bed and walked toward the door. "Let me see for myself."
Sophie tried to stop her, but Margaux peeked into the hall and spotted Lucien sleeping on the couch.
Her jaw dropped. "Did Lucien make you blush?"
"No! Why would I blush because of him?" Sophie protested, her voice a bit too defensive.
Margaux grinned mischievously. "If not, then why is your face so red? Don't tell me you're falling for him because of his handsomeness. This is classic—unexpected love. You hate him, but deep down, you like him. You just don't realize it yet."
Sophie grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. "I said I don't like him!"
Margaux laughed, dodging the pillow. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say, Sophie."
The two continued teasing each other until they were too tired to stay awake. But as Sophie lay in bed, her mind couldn't escape the memory of that kiss—or the confusing emotions it stirred within her.