The first threads of dawn crept through the curtains, washing the room in a pale gold that softened every edge. The scent of the night still lingered… sweat, sex, and something unmistakably theirs, woven into the sheets, into the very air.

Jayden stirred first. His body ached in ways both new and satisfying, muscles languid and heavy. He turned slightly, the fabric brushing against his bare skin, and there she was.

Penelope.

Curled against him, her face turned toward his chest, hair a tousled halo spilling across the pillow. She looked nothing like the untouchable, dazzling woman everyone feared. Her lips were parted in sleep, cheeks faintly flushed, lashes resting against skin kissed by moonlight hours before. Vulnerable. Beautiful. Real.

Jayden just… stared. His chest tightened in a way that had nothing to do with lust. This wasn't just attraction, wasn't just the aftermath of passion.. it was something deeper, something that terrified him more than any beast he'd ever faced.

He lifted a hand, hesitant, and brushed a strand of hair from her face. She stirred but didn't wake, only nestled closer, pressing her warmth against his side as if she belonged there. The gesture made his heart trip painfully in his chest.

He almost whispered her name. But stopped himself in time.

Instead, he lay back, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, the weight of the night settling over him. They'd crossed a line… he knew it, she knew it. There was no going back.

Minutes stretched. The world outside stirred awake, but inside this room time seemed to hold its breath.

Finally, Penelope moved. A small sigh, a flutter of lashes, and then her eyes opened… sleepy, still hazy with dreams. She blinked up at him, her lips curving into the faintest, laziest smile.

"Good morning," she whispered, her voice rough with sleep, husky in a way that sent a shiver through him.

Jayden swallowed. "Morning."

Silence stretched, but it wasn't awkward, it was thick. Charged. Her smile deepened slightly, as if she could read his racing thoughts, as if she already knew the weight of everything unsaid.

Then, with infuriating grace, she sat up slightly, her hair tumbling forward to curtain her face. She pulled the sheet around herself, looking at him with that teasing glimmer in her eyes, though softer now.

"You're staring," she chuckled.

Jayden's lips twitched into a smile. "Can you blame me? It's not everyday you wake up in bed with an angel."

Penelope blushed instantly. For a heartbeat, her façade slipped. Her eyes softened, her lips parted as if to speak.. but then, just as quickly, she masked it with a playful roll of her eyes.

"Flatterer," she said, shaking her head.

But her hand lingered on the sheets, fingers brushing against his arm before she rose from the bed.

And in that small touch, Jayden knew last night hadn't been a mistake.

Not for her. Not for him. Not for either of them.

The sunlight was brighter now, filtering lazily through the curtains, painting the room in gold. Penelope had already slipped out of the bed, adjusting her night gown, her hair tousled but her beauty unshaken. She stood near the door, looking back at him with a warmth he'd never seen on her face before.

"Last night…" she began, her voice husky with sincerity. "It was the best of my life, Jayden. I haven't felt that kind of… closeness in a very, very long time."

Her words weren't playful, not teasing, but heavy with affection. She stepped closer, touching his chest softly. "Thank you."

Jayden smiled, slow and genuine, the corner of his lips lifting as his eyes softened. "I should be the one thanking you. You made my first time a memorable one." he muttered. "You made me feel lively… and free. Something I haven't felt in a while."

Then his eyes softened. "You're amazing, Penelope. And I love you." he confessed.

Penelope's lips curled in a smile, wide and tender, before she leaned up to brush a kiss against his cheek. "I love you too, Jayden," she said. "Now, take a shower. I'll be back soon."

He nodded, and with one last lingering look, Penelope left the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

Jayden sat there for a moment, letting the silence sink in, before finally rising. His body was still sore, marked by the intensity of the night. He made his way into the bathroom, letting the hot water rinse away the lingering sweat and tension, steam curling around him like a second skin.

When he emerged, his only option of clothes was the tuxedo from the gala, slightly crumpled but presentable enough. He dressed, buttoning the shirt slowly, each click of the cufflinks echoing like a reminder of how much had changed since last night.

Before leaving, he stripped the bed of the stained sheets and folded the fresh ones neatly, restoring some order to the chaos they'd created. Then, drawing a steady breath, he stepped out into the hall.

The sound of soft footsteps caught his attention. Down the corridor, Cassandra appeared. She was in casual athletic wear, her long hair swaying lightly as she walked.

Jayden smiled instinctively, raising a hand. "Cassie!"

She stopped, turning toward him. But instead of the cheerful olwarmth he expected, her expression was flat, almost distant.

"Oh, hey," she said, casually. As if not even surprised he was there.

Jayden blinked, caught off guard. Cassandra was never this… indifferent. "Are you alright?" he asked in concern.

Cassandra forced a thin smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Jayden raised a brow. Something in her tone made his chest tighten. He hesitated before speaking. "Okay. I was just… concerned about you."

Cassandra chuckled. Her laugh was sharp, wry, laced with sarcasm. "Sure you were." she scoffed.

Jayden froze. The words cut deeper than he wanted to admit. He stared at her, unsure how to respond. But before he could, Cassandra shifted her bag on her shoulder and cut him off.

"Look, I've got yoga lessons to attend. See you around."

Without waiting for his reply, she brushed past him quickly, her perfume trailing faintly in the air.

Jayden stood in stunned silence, the casual dismissal and veiled hostility stinging more than he cared to admit. Something was clearly wrong. Very wrong. But he shook his head, pushing the disconcerting encounter from his mind

Making his way down the stairs, he stepped into the grand living room. The morning light spilled through the tall windows, painting the marble floor in patterns of gold. He was halfway to the foyer when a familiar voice called out.

"Leaving so soon?"

He turned, caught with a guilty half-smile. Penelope was descending the stairs, robe flowing like a queen's train.

Jayden turned, a sheepish grin touching his lips. "Just have some things to attend to," he explained, a hint of guilt in his tone.

Penelope reached the last step, her lips pursed in dissatisfaction. "Oh. Well at least have breakfast with me."

But Jayden shook his head gently. "I really can't. I need to get back home before everyone starts looking for me." he said.

Penelope sighed, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but she relented. "Fine."

Then she walked towards him, her hand reaching up to cup his cheek before pulling him into a soft kiss, tender and lingering.

When they broke apart, a playful smirk played on her lips. "But you owe me dinner."

Jayden chuckled. "Deal." he replied, then took her hand, kissing it lightly as a final farewell. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel[f]ire.net

Penelope smiled as he turned and walked toward the doors, her eyes following him until the massive doors shut.

Outside, the air was cool against his face. He strolled down the walkway toward the gates, every step pulling him further away from the mansion, from her warmth.

Unseen to him, upstairs, Cassandra watched Jayden from the window in her room. Her eyes, once full with indifference, were now clouded with a profound sadness.

She saw him walk out the mansion and summon his hover bike, the sleek machine humming to life.

Suddenly, her eyes welled up, blurring her vision. A shudder ran through her. Recent memories, sharp and painful, flooded her mind.

Her hands tightened against the window frame. Her eyes shimmered, glossed with tears she refused to let fall.

But as Jayden mounted his bike and ascended into the sky, her control slipped. One tear slid down her cheek, then another. Her gaze remained fixed on his departing form as more tears streamed down her face.

She pressed her forehead against the window glass, as a soft, choked whimper escaped her lips… the sound of someone holding back a flood of pain.

The hurt in her eyes was raw, a stark contrast to the carefree facade she usually presented.

Whatever she was feeling, whatever memory haunted her… it was more than betrayal. It was heartbreak.

Like the kind you get when you're rejected by someone you're crazy about.

And as Jayden vanished into the horizon, Cassandra wiped her face, forcing the tears away. She turned from the window, her expression blank, unreadable.

But the truth was clear: something inside her had cracked.