Chapter 49 Forty Nine.

Chapter 49 Forty Nine.
VALERIE

The mere thought of the truth surfacing sent a violent chill through me. My fingers curled against the countertop as dread pooled low in my stomach.

I had been so close to stopping them.

So close to asking Mr. Castillo not to finalize anything—not yet. Just until Vanessa returned. Just until we could switch back and restore the order that should never have been disrupted.

But fear had sealed my lips.

I was stuck in a life I had never chosen, a role forced on me by blood and obligation. From the very start, this marriage had never been mine. My parents had made the choice for me, and I had paid the price ever since.

Life, I realized bitterly, rarely granted us what we truly wanted. Even when we begged for an escape. And I wanted out more than anything.

Even if escaping meant losing something I had never meant to love.

Lucas.

The ache sharpened at the thought of him. Of the night we crossed a line neither of us could uncross. Of the way he had looked at me afterward—distant, guarded.

The memory of his voice echoed in my head, cold and careless.

It was a mistake.

His words burned.

I exhaled shakily, fighting the sting behind my eyes, and steadied myself.

They would start wondering soon.

I lifted the tray of desserts from the counter and turned; my heart flipped violently.

Lucas stood by the doorway, tall and still, his shoulder pressed to the frame. One hand rested at his chin. His gaze was fixed on me, unreadable and unyielding.

How long had he been there?

I dropped my gaze just as he pushed off the doorframe and walked toward me.

“You ran off pretty fast,” he said.

“I volunteered to help,” I replied softly, “that’s all.”

“You didn’t have to,” he said calmly. “You do realize we have maids for that, right?”

A quiet, humorless laugh escaped me. “I didn’t have much of a choice.” I shifted the tray in my hands. “Excuse me.”

I stepped forward.

He moved just as quickly, blocking my path.

I lifted my head, and my breath caught as our eyes locked.
Without a word, he took the tray from my hands and set it back on the countertop. I turned my face away, refusing to meet his gaze.

He sighed.

Then his hand came down beside me, bracing against the counter, effectively trapping me in place.

“Why did you lie about it?” Lucas asked quietly.

I squinted up at him, confusion cutting through the storm in my chest. “Lie about what?”

His brow arched slightly. “Why didn’t you tell them how you actually knew about the mixture?” His voice remained calm, almost maddeningly so. “You’ve always wanted to be a doctor. That matters. They could’ve helped you.”

“Help?” I cut in sharply. “Did you just say help?”

My voice trembled despite myself. “Do you really think I deserve their help after everything? I didn’t lie to them, Lucas. I just didn’t tell them more than they needed to hear.”
I shook my head, words spilling faster now. “Do you even realize how things are going to turn out? Do you understand the implications of my actions at this point?”

My gaze burned into his. “I expected you to stop your father. I expected you to say something. But you just sat there—calm, unbothered—like nothing had gone wrong.”

His silence only fueled me.

“How do you think they’ll feel when they find out I’m not their daughter-in-law?” I demanded. “That I’m just her twin. A substitute. Do you know how furious they’ll be?”

I laughed bitterly. “And I’m tired, Lucas. I’m tired of the mixed signals. One moment you’re cold, the next you’re warm and soft like nothing ever happened.”

He didn’t move. His expression gave nothing away.

“I’m done,” I said hoarsely. “I’m going downstairs. I’ll tell them to put the contract on hold.”

I reached for the tray and turned, but he blocked my path again.

“And why would you do that?” he asked.

I stared at him. “What kind of question is that? Isn’t this what all of this is about? Pretending to be Vanessa until she returns?”

My chest rose sharply. “I’m not Vanessa. I just want them to delay it until she comes back. Then they can finalize everything.”

He studied me. “And what would your excuse be?” His brow lifted. “You do realize my parents aren’t stupid.”

My breath caught.

“If you go down there without a solid reason,” he continued, “you’ll only make them suspicious.”

I opened my mouth to argue—

But Lucas slammed his lips down onto mine, cutting me off mid-word. His hands buried themselves into the back of my hair and pressed his body against mine.

I exhaled when he tempted my lips open with his tongue and I got a taste of the drink he'd been nursing all day. I gripped onto his shirt, wanting this kiss to go on forever.

The kiss was anything but gentle. It was messy and passionate, and my entire body quivered in his hold as he clutched me tighter. His head tilted to the left and I matched him, our tongues grazing in a desperate need to get closer to one another.

He didn't take over the entire kiss. He gave me time to fight for my dominance in the kiss, allowing me to slip my arms over his shoulders and grip the back of his hair through my fingers.

Almost as if reality slapped me back in the face, I pressed a hand to his shoulder and pushed him back. Our lips disconnected; his eyes snapped open to find them dark and lust-filled.

I attempted to catch my breath and wiped my lips from the evidence of our kiss, but I could still feel how swollen they were.

Both of our chests rose and fell quickly. He didn't step away. He looked back down to my lips as if convincing himself not to lean in and kiss me again.

I shut my eyes and pressed a hand to my forehead. What am I doing? This wouldn't make things any better. It would only complicate things more.

Lucas closed the distance again, his forehead settling against mine. Our lips hovered so close it made my chest tighten painfully.

A tremor passed through me.

“Why did you kiss me?” I whispered.

His eyes darkened slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Why did you let me?” he countered. “Why did you kiss me back?”

My lips parted, useless. My mind scrambled for a defense that never came. Before I could speak—

“Valerie?” Mrs. Castillo called out.

“Everything alright in there?”

Reality slammed back into place.

I pulled away sharply, breaking free from his proximity. My hands shook as I grabbed the tray.

“I’m coming,” I said quickly.

I didn’t wait for a response. I hurried out of the kitchen, my heart racing, leaving Lucas behind—and the truth hanging dangerously between us.