Chapter 28

Alyssa had been feeling conflicted since the engagement party. She could feel herself being drawn closer and closer to Luther, but she had to keep reminding herself that she would soon be away from here and he belonged to someone else. She felt guilty for the way that she felt, but it was impossible to deny.

Ever since the engagement, she and her mother had been granted permission to stay in the palace in preparation for the wedding. There was no stir caused since the official engagement ceremony had already occurred and they were technically married, all that was left was the actual wedding ceremony.

It had only been two days since the ceremony and since she had been made to live here but she was already bored out if her mind. She was walking through the castle hallway when she saw Luther talking with his advisor. As she approached them, Luther turned to look at her and asked, “Tell me, Alyssa, are you trying to avoid me?”

This caught her off guard, and she stammered as she struggled to find the words to respond. Luther noticed her discomfort and took a step towards her, which only made her more nervous.

“Do I smell bad?” he asked with a chuckle.

Alyssa could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she tried to come up with an excuse. Just being near Luther made her feel giddy, and her heart was beating so loudly that she was afraid he would be able to hear it.

“No, you don’t smell bad…it’s just that I need some air,” she finally managed to say.

Luther raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden discomfort. Alyssa noticed this and quickly tried to change the subject.

“Do we have to go on that trip?” she asked, referring to the upcoming trip that Luther had planned to an island.

“Oh, so you know about that?” Luther responded. “I thought it would be a good chance for us to spend some time together before the wedding.”

Alyssa’s stomach twisted at the thought of spending an entire weekend alone with Luther on an isolated island. She knew that her feelings for him would only grow stronger, and it would only make things more difficult for her.

“I don’t feel up to traveling right now,” she said, hoping that Luther would drop the subject.

Luther seemed to sense her discomfort and softened his tone. “Is it because you don’t feel well? Or is it something else?”

Alyssa hesitated before finally admitting the truth. “It’s just that…I feel like I’m not really supposed to be here. I’m just filling in for Allisa until she comes back. I don’t want to get too attached and make things difficult when she returns.”

Luther’s expression softened as he took in her words. “Alyssa, you are not just filling in for Mitchell. You have a place here in the palace as my assistant, and I value your presence. Please don’t think that you’re not welcome here.”

Alyssa appreciated the reassurance, but she couldn’t shake the guilt she felt over her feelings for Luther. She knew that it was wrong to feel this way about her best friend’s fiancé, and she didn’t want to cause any problems.

As Luther walked away, Alyssa couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness wash over her. She stood there biting at her nails and feeling worried about the trip and then she felt someone’s arms around her waist and her legs were suddenly away from the floor.

She found herself being lifted off the ground as Luther hoisted her over his shoulder, slinging her bag over his shoulder as he carried her towards the waiting jet. She could feel her heart racing and her mind was filled with a thousand thoughts and fears.

“Luther, put me down this instant!” she demanded, but he just chuckled and continued to carry her towards the private jet that was waiting for them. The guards followed behind them, carrying their luggage and making sure that they didn’t encounter any problems on their way.

As they boarded the plane, Alyssa couldn’t help but feel trapped. She knew that going on this trip with Luther was the worst possible thing that she could do. But she was helpless to stop it now. The plane took off, and Alyssa felt her stomach drop as they ascended into the sky.

She couldn’t believe it. She was trapped on a private jet with Luther. Her heart was racing at the mere thought of spending the next few days alone with him. She had tried to get out of it, but Allisa’s mother had insisted that it was important for them to spend some time together before the wedding. And now she was stuck with Luther, who had made it clear that he had strong feelings for her.

As they flew towards their unknown destination, Alyssa couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. She knew that being alone with Luther was a dangerous game. She couldn’t let herself fall for him again, no matter how much she wanted to.

She looked over at Luther, who was looking out the window. His dark features were sharp and handsome, and she couldn’t help but admire him.

She sat quietly in her seat, trying to keep her distance from Luther. She could feel him watching her, but she refused to meet his gaze. She had to resist her feelings for him, for Mitchell’s sake.

“Are you scared of flying?” Luther asked, breaking the silence.

“No, I’m fine,” Alyssa said, trying to make her voice sound strong and confident even though her heart was beating furiously in her chest.

“Then what’s wrong? Why are you so tense?” he insisted.

“It’s nothing,” Alyssa said, still avoiding his gaze.

They sat in silence for a while longer, until Luther reached over and took her hand in his own. She tried to pull away, but he held her tightly, refusing to let go.

“Alyssa, talk to me,” he pleaded. “What’s going on inside that beautiful head of yours?”

Alyssa finally looked him in the eyes, and she could feel her heart melting. How could she resist him when he looked at her like that?

“I just don’t want to do anything that might hurt Mitchell,” she confessed. “I know that you’re engaged to her, and I don’t want to complicate things.”

Luther sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I know it’s complicated,” he said. “But I can’t help the way that I feel about you. I’ve been trying to fight it for so long, but it’s impossible. I love you, Alyssa.”

Alyssa was stunned by his words. She had known deep down that Luther had feelings for her, but hearing him say the words out loud was almost too much to handle.

“I…I can’t,” she stammered. “I can’t let this happen, Luther. It’s wrong.”

Luther took her hand again, gently stroking his thumb over her skin. “I know it’s wrong, but we can’t deny the way that we feel. We have to find a way to make this work.”

“We can’t do this, Luther,” she said firmly. “We have to keep our distance from each other.”

Luther looked hurt. “I don’t want to keep my distance from you,” he said. “I want to be near you, always.”

Alyssa sighed. “I know that,” she said. “But we have to do what’s right. When Allisa returns, she has to be the only person you focus on.”

Luther sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I know that,” he said. “But I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”

Alyssa looked away, feeling a pang of sadness. She wished that things were different too. She wished that she could be with Luther, but she knew that it was impossible.

After a few moments of silence, Luther cleared his throat. “Anyway, we should focus on enjoying our trip,” he said. “We don’t know where we’re going yet, but I’m sure it’ll be amazing.”

Alyssa nodded, grateful for the change of topic. She had been dreading the awkward tension between them, and she was glad that Luther was trying to lighten the mood of the journey.