Chapter 56 Caught Naked
Anna’s POV
I turned to Eve slowly, the thought still fresh in my mind.
“Who has access to my room?” I asked.
She blinked, slightly surprised by the question.
“Access?” she repeated. “Well… apart from me, the cleaners come in sometimes. And the laundry staff—they handle your clothes.”
I nodded slowly. That made sense. Too much sense.
Anyone of them could have planted something. Anyone of them could have gone through my things without me knowing.
A quiet leak. A silent watcher.
I pressed my lips together. So it wasn’t just Xavier. Or Lucas.
It could be someone I didn’t even notice.
Eve tilted her head slightly. “Why are you asking?”
I hesitated. Then shook my head lightly. “It’s nothing.”
She didn’t look convinced. But she didn’t push.
Instead, she folded her arms, studying me carefully. “I don’t think it’s nothing,” she said quietly.
I ignored that. “Lucas will be here soon,” I said instead. “You should go.”
Eve didn’t move. Didn’t even pretend to.
Instead, she took a step closer. “Before I go,” she said, her voice lower now, more serious, “I need to say something.”
I sighed softly. “What?”
“Don’t get involved with Lucas.” There it was again. That warning. Always Lucas.
I frowned slightly. “You’ve said that before.”
“And I’ll keep saying it,” she replied without hesitation.
Her eyes held mine. Firm and certain. “He’s not what you think he is.”
I crossed my arms slightly. “And what do you think he is?”
She didn’t answer immediately. That alone said enough. “Just… be careful,” she said finally.
Before I could respond— A knock.
Then the door opened. Lucas stepped in. His eyes moved from me… to Eve.
Something flickered in his expression.
Understanding.
Eve straightened. “I’ll leave you two,” she said calmly.
As she walked past him, Lucas spoke. “She was talking about me, wasn’t she?”
Eve didn’t stop. Didn’t answer. She just walked out.
The door shut. Lucas turned to me slowly. “I’m not your enemy, Anna,” he said.
His voice was softer now. Almost… pleading. “I need you to trust me.”
I didn’t respond immediately. Trust. That word felt dangerous.
“I mean it,” he added, stepping closer. “Everything I’m doing… it’s for you.”
I held his gaze. “Then tell me,” I said. “What exactly are you doing?”
He exhaled. Then said it. “Leave with me.”
My heart skipped. “What?”
“It’s the only way,” he continued. “If you stay here, you’ll end up marrying Xavier.”
His jaw tightened slightly. “And that’s not something I’ll let happen.”
I looked away briefly. My mind racing. Run? With him? That sounded like freedom. But it wasn’t.
Because I knew something he didn’t. The agency. They wouldn’t let me disappear. They wouldn’t let me walk away. They would find me. And when they did— It wouldn’t be pretty.
I looked back at him. “And after we leave?” I asked. He stepped closer. “You’ll be safe,” he said. “With me.”
I almost laughed. But I didn’t. Because a part of me… A very small part… Wanted to believe that.
“I love you, Anna,” he said suddenly.
My breath caught. He didn’t wait. He closed the distance and kissed me.
Soft at first. Careful. Like he was giving me time to pull away.
I didn’t. And that was my mistake. Because the kiss deepened. His hand moved slightly, pulling me closer.
My heart started racing. Too fast. Too much. Something felt off. Wrong.
Then his touch shifted. More urgent. More demanding. And that was it.
I pulled back immediately. “Lucas,” I said, breathing slightly heavier, “stop.”
He froze. Confusion flickering in his eyes.
“I’m not ready,” I added quickly. “I still… I still feel pain.”
He stared at me. Long.Hard. Then something changed. His expression darkened. “You’re lying,” he said quietly.
My chest tightened. “I’m not—”
“You just don’t want me,” he cut in.
“That’s not true,” I said quickly.
But even to my own ears— It didn’t sound convincing.
His jaw clenched. For a moment, I thought he would argue.
But instead— He stepped back.“Forget it,” he muttered.
And just like that— He turned and walked out. The door shut behind him.
I exhaled sharply. Relief flooded through me.
That alone told me everything. I sat there for a moment, staring at nothing.
Then I shook my head slowly.
No. I wasn’t running with Lucas. And I wasn’t marrying Xavier.
I didn’t care what the agency wanted.
They couldn’t force me into something like this.
Not this time. Not with my life on the line.
I stood up slowly and walked into the bathroom.
I needed space. Something to clear my head. The shower helped. The warmth. The quiet. For a moment, everything faded.
Just for a moment. But moments don’t last.
Nothing ever does.
I turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing a towel, drying myself absentmindedly.
My thoughts were still spinning.
Still racing. I didn’t even bother dressing immediately.
I stepped out of the bathroom— And froze.
My heart stopped. Xavier was in my room.
Standing there. Watching.
My breath caught instantly. His eyes were on me. Not surprised. Not shocked. Just… observing.
Like he had been there long enough. Like he had been watching longer than I realized.
Being naked wasn’t the problem. Being seen by him was.