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Lucien noticed her unease. He noticed her tension.

Easing away from her, he looked down at her face. Kendall met his gaze, and her eyes were filled with poorly concealed guilt.

He paused.

A rush of thoughts flooded his mind and, staring at her, Lucien found his suspicions solidify. He’d wanted to verify Eliott’s claims later. He’d wanted to keep the mess away from Kendall so she wouldn’t worry.

But, looking at her face now, Lucien suddenly felt like she had a reason to worry. A major reason, one he didn’t know.

His heart briefly stopped, and his mouth soured with the taste of betrayal.

They stared at each other. And, like she’d read his mind, she visibly shrank, breaking eye contact.

To Kendall’s total surprise… he gently smiled.

His hand rose, brushing her hair off her shoulders. His fingers traced her cheek, making her flinch.

“It’s okay,” Lucien whispered.

Her wide eyes warily watched him, caution entering her gaze.

Always so mistrusting. Always so fearful. Kendall had never once completely relaxed; Lucien had never seen her do so.

And now, he would find out the reason why. What he wouldn’t do was add to her current fear.

Was he pissed? Maybe. Because something told him that Kendall had taken him for a major fool. But he’d suppress that right now. He wouldn’t question her or demand to know the truth. He wouldn’t even let Cross get access to her.

If she’d lied to him, he’d deal with that later. First, he’d protect her. From everything, including his own anger. He wouldn’t add to her fear; he could see the panic simmering in her eyes, and he would do everything to ease her mind.

This was the Kendall who was always quick to think that he was angry with her, or that he hated her. He’d lost count of the number of times he’d had to reassure her throughout the years. She was a delicate soul; he couldn’t crush her. Not even over the lies he hated so much.

“It’s okay,” he repeated, hating that she kept flinching. “We’ll deal with it. You don’t have to be scared.”

Kendall swallowed hard, trying to hide her trembling hands. She felt like she was holding up a house of cards. Her every tremble threatened to knock a card out of place and bring every lie she’d ever spoken crashing down on her head.

No matter what, Kendall had to keep holding this house up. But her arms were sore. Her muscles ached, her body longed to rest. She was tempted to let it all fall.

Maybe, once everything was destroyed—in the wake of disaster, she could finally sleep in peace.

“Sir, I… About Eliott—”

Lucien dipped his head, kissing her.

Silenced, Kendall closed her eyes. Tears wet her cheeks as her body hummed with pleasure at the comfort his kiss provided.

Pulling away, he gently stroked her cheek, wiping her tears. “I said you don’t have to be scared. Don’t you believe me?”

Swallowing hard, she looked up at him. “But what if I—”

“It’s okay.”

She stared at him, drowning in the temptation he was offering. The temptation to let go and trust him. To believe that he’ll always be there to catch her if she falls. That he wouldn’t hate her no matter what.

Without thinking, she found her genuine fears pouring out. “I’m worried you’ll change your mind.”

He tilted his head. “So, you don’t believe me.”

“You’re asking me to let my guard down. To trust you to take care of me. I’ve never done that before, not with anyone.”

A look of determination entered his eyes. “You can do that with me. Because I’m not two-faced, Kendall. What I say is what I do. And I’m telling you that, to get to you, Eliott Cross will have to get through me.”

Her troubled expression slowly slackened, unravelling into a look of awe. “You… you’re serious?”

“Absolutely. No matter what, Kendall. I’ll protect you. I promise.”



It was a promise he would keep. Lucien sighed, deep in thought.

Justin was frowning at him like he’d been presented with an unsolvable math problem. “I… beg your pardon?”

“I don’t know what he’s up to,” Lucien said, frowning dazedly at the floor. “I thought his daughter was that Judith girl, but Arlo hasn’t found anything to prove that. What’s more, the girl’s vanished.”

Justin scoffed. “Did you just say that Kendall is Eliott Cross’s daughter and then try to gloss over it?!”

Sucking in a breath, Lucien pressed an elbow onto the arm of his chair. “Is he trying to distract me from the fact that he sent a spy into my office?”

“Excuse me!” Justin yelled.

Blinking, Lucien looked at him. “Lower your voice.”

“I’m sorry, I just can’t seem to get past the fact that Kendall is a Cross? What the fuck is happening?”

“She’s not a Cross. I’ll be damned.”

“Then why would Eliott claim she is?! What reason could he possibly have for turning up after eight years and claiming that Kendall is his daughter?”

“That’s what I don’t know yet!”

“Did you ask Kendall?”

Lucien sighed, looking away. “She’s scared out of her mind. I don’t want to make things worse by interrogating her.”

“Where is she? I’ll speak to her, and I’ll be gentle.”

“She’s at my place.”

“The house?”

Lucien looked at him, shaking his head.

Justin blinked. For a moment, they stared at each other in silence.

A gasp parted Justin’s lips, eyes widening in shock. He slowly leaned in, staring into Lucien’s eyes.

Lucien tensed, swallowing hard as his heart pounded in his chest.

“Lucien…” Justin whispered, eyes wide.

Squirming, Lucien cleared his throat. “What?”

“You have her… in your secret penthouse?”

The unspoken meaning of the words was heavy between them. Justin knew Lucien better than anyone else in the world. And he knew that nobody got access to the penthouse.

But now Kendall was there.

“Lucien,” Justin cautiously began. “Christina made a joke last time I spoke to her. A joke about you and Kendall. Lucien… I need you to tell me that it was just a joke—”

“Justin, I slept with her.”

“Putain de merde!”

“I know.” Sighing, Lucien ran a hand through his hair. “I… I tried to stop it, but…”

“Holy shit. How did that happen? I knew she had a crush on you, but I didn’t think you—”

“Wait.” Lucien frowned. “You knew?!”

“You didn’t?” Justin countered. “It was obvious! I figured it out a few years ago; it’s in the way she looks at you like you’re a god.”

“Sonofabitch,” murmured Lucien. “How long has it been going on?”

“She’s liked you for years, you fool,” Justin hissed. “And you? Do you… have feelings for her?”

Lucien tensed. Sighing, he looked away. “I… do feel something. Not sure what it is.”

“Lucien, if she’s a Cross, then this is complicated.”

“Trust me, I know.”

“She’ll think you used her. She’ll think you used her to get revenge on her father.”