You're disturbing my girlfriend

Severa's POV

I didn't remember how the night ended.

All I knew was that I cried.

I cried until my throat ached, until my chest felt like it would collapse from the weight of emotions I didn't even know I still carried.

And Eugene… he never let go.

He held me through it all, murmuring quiet apologies I barely heard, his arms wrapped around me as if he was trying to hold me together. I must have fallen asleep at some point, exhausted from it all, because when I woke up, I was alone.

The only proof that he had been there was the faint scent of him lingering on my pillows.

I buried my face into them for a second before forcing myself to get up.

The moment I stood, a dull headache throbbed at my temples, reminding me just how much I had drained myself last night. I sighed, walking sluggishly to the bathroom. The cold water on my face was a welcome shock, pulling me further out of my drowsiness.

Before I could process anything further, the hotel phone rang.

I flinched at the sudden sound before reaching for it.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Ms. Yllana," the receptionist's polite voice came through. "There's someone looking for you in the lobby."

I frowned, rubbing my temples. "Who?"

"He said his name is Lucien."

Lucien?

I blinked.

The last time I saw him was at Valeria's restaurant, when he blindsided me with that so-called blind date. Why was he here?

"Should I tell him you're unavailable?" the receptionist asked, sensing my hesitation.

I inhaled deeply. "No, I'll be down in a few minutes."

I changed into a loose sweater and jeans before making my way downstairs. As I stepped into the lobby, I immediately spotted Lucien near the entrance. He was impossible to miss—tall, well-dressed, exuding the kind of effortless charm that made people look twice.

The moment he saw me, he smiled.

"Severa."

I crossed my arms, keeping a safe distance. "How did you find me?"

Lucien chuckled, hands in his pockets. "You should know by now—I have my ways."

I sighed. "What do you want?"

"For you to come with me."

I stared at him, unimpressed. "Excuse me?"

"For Christmas Eve," he clarified. "I know you're not going to Italy anymore, so I thought I'd take you somewhere special instead."

I narrowed my eyes. "And how do you know I'm not going to Italy?"

"I asked Sebastian," he admitted without shame. "He thought it was a good idea."

Of course, Sebastian.

I clenched my jaw. My brother had a habit of meddling in my life, but this? This was pushing it.

"No," I said firmly. "I barely know you, Lucien. I'm not spending Christmas with you."

Lucien sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest like I had deeply wounded him. "You're breaking my heart, Severa."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious."

He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "You haven't even heard where I'm taking you."

"And I don't care."

Lucien smirked. "Are you always this difficult?"

"Are you always this persistent?"

He laughed. "Only when I see something I want."

Before I could snap back, another voice cut in.

"Is there a problem here?"

I turned around, my heart stuttering for a second.

Eugene.

He stood a few feet away, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp, locked onto Lucien with a quiet intensity.

Lucien smirked. "Eugene."

"You're disturbing my girlfriend," Eugene said flatly.

I choked on air.

WHAT?!

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Your girlfriend?"

Eugene stepped beside me, his hand resting on my lower back. I stiffened at the contact, but he ignored it, his focus solely on Lucien.

"She didn't mention me?" Eugene continued smoothly.

Lucien let out a small chuckle. "Oh, she did. Just not in the way you'd hope."

I shot Eugene a sharp glare, but he didn't even acknowledge it.

Lucien sighed, looking back at me. "Well, this is disappointing."

"Good," I muttered.

He grinned. "For now." Then, with a lazy shrug, he stepped back. "I won't force you. But my offer stands."

Then, with one last look at Eugene, he walked out of the hotel.

As soon as the doors closed behind him, I turned to Eugene, pushing his hand off me. "What the hell was that?"

He looked at me, completely unfazed. "I got rid of him, didn't I?"

I scoffed. "By claiming I was your girlfriend?"

He shrugged. "It worked."

I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Why do you even care?"

For a moment, Eugene didn't answer.

Then, his expression softened. "Because I know what kind of guy Lucien is."

I narrowed my eyes. "And?"

"And I don't want you anywhere near him."

Something in his tone made my stomach twist.

I swallowed. "Eugene—"

"Do you really think he tracked you down just to be nice?" he interrupted, his voice dropping slightly. "Lucien doesn't do things out of kindness, Sev. He always has an agenda."

I hesitated.

Because deep down, I already knew that.

Still, that didn't explain why Eugene was acting like this.

I crossed my arms. "You're not my keeper, Eugene."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "I know."

"Then stop acting like one."

His eyes darkened. "What if I don't want to?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out.

The air between us shifted.

There was something about the way he was looking at me—something that made it impossible to breathe.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "I'm going back to my room."

Before he could say anything else, I turned on my heel and walked away.

I didn't look back.

I couldn't.

Because if I did, I wasn't sure what I'd see in his eyes.

And I wasn't sure if I was ready to face it.