CHAPTER THREE

But then, the door slammed open, and Tiara's voice cut through the haze of heat.

"Kyle!" Her voice was full of shock and anger. I pulled away, my heart racing in my chest.

Kyle froze, his body tense as he turned towards her, and I stood there, breathless and caught between them.

Tiara's eyes darted between us, her face a mixture of disbelief and fury. For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air, suffocating.

Kyle exhaled sharply, his grip on my wrist loosening, but he didn't step away. His chest rose and fell with deep, controlled breaths like he was trying to steady himself.

"Tiara," he finally said, his voice unnervingly calm.

She let out a bitter laugh, her hands clenched at her sides. "Oh, Tiara?" she echoed, voice laced with venom. "That's all you have to say?"

I took a step back, my stomach twisting. My mind screamed at me to run, to disappear before this got worse, but my feet wouldn't move.

Kyle's jaw tensed. "You don't understand—"

"I don't understand?" Tiara cut him off, taking a step closer. "I just caught you—with her!" Her glare shifted to me, and I felt my entire body shrink under her stare.

I opened my mouth to speak, to say something, but what could I say?

"I should've known," she whispered, shaking her head, her eyes dark with realization. "All those times you brushed me off, all the excuses… it was her, wasn't it?"

Kyle remained silent.

His silence was an answer.

Tiara scoffed, her lips twisting into something bitter. "Wow." She ran a hand through her hair, her breath unsteady. "So what now, Kyle? You just… what? Drop me for her?"

Her words stung, and even though I knew I had no right to feel it, guilt clawed at my chest. I had let this happen.

Kyle's eyes flickered to me, his expression unreadable. Then, he sighed. "Tiara, we need to talk—"

She shook her head, her face crumpling for just a second before she masked it with anger. "No," she bit out. "I should've walked away the first time I felt you slipping."

I clenched my fists, my breathing uneven.

Tiara turned to me, her gaze sharp. "And you," she said, her voice quieter but no less intense. "Did you ever think about what this meant? Or were you just so caught up in playing the part of the helpless maid?"

My throat tightened. "Tiara, I—"

"Save it," she snapped, her voice cracking. "I hope you're happy with whatever this is."

With that, she turned on her heels and stormed out.

The moment she was gone, the silence returned, louder than before.

Kyle exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. "Shit."

I took another step back. "This…" My voice faltered. I shook my head. "This was a mistake."

Kyle's eyes snapped to mine, dark and intense. "Don't say that."

I swallowed hard, my heart still racing. "I have to go."

He didn't try to stop me this time. And as I turned and walked away, I told myself I wouldn't look back. But damn it… I wanted to.

I had barely made it out of the kitchen when Kyle's phone buzzed.

At first, he ignored it, his gaze still locked onto me like he was about to say something—like he wanted to stop me again.

But then it rang again.

Kyle cursed under his breath and pulled out his phone. The moment he saw the caller ID, his entire body stiffened.

Mom.

My steps faltered. Mrs. Holloway rarely called. If she did, it was never for something casual.

Kyle hesitated, then finally answered. "Mom?"

Her voice was clear, firm. "Kyle." A pause. "I just got off the phone with Tiara."

My stomach dropped.

Kyle's expression darkened instantly. "What?"

"She told me everything." Her tone was eerily calm, but that only made it worse. "Imagine my surprise when she called, crying, saying she caught my son with the maid."

I felt a sharp sting in my chest.

Kyle exhaled slowly, his hand clenching around the phone. "Mom, I—"

"I don't want to hear your excuses, Kyle," she cut him off. "You know better than this."

Kyle's jaw tensed. "And what exactly did Tiara say?"

Mrs. Holloway scoffed. "She said she found you kissing Lessie. That you humiliated her." A pause. Then, in a voice that sent a chill down my spine, she said, "Tell me, Kyle. Is it true?"

Silence.

The kind that stretched too long, too dangerously.

Kyle didn't answer.

And that silence was the answer.

I shut my eyes briefly, my breath unsteady.

Mrs. Holloway sighed. "I'm coming back sooner than planned. I'll be home by tomorrow afternoon."

Kyle's grip on his phone tightened. "Mom—"

"We will talk then." Her voice was final. "About Tiara. And about her."

I sucked in a shaky breath. She knew, Maybe not everything, but she knew enough.

And that meant my time here was running out.

EVENING....

The house was quiet. Too quiet.

I carried the tray up the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. The warm scent of roasted chicken and mashed potatoes filled the air, but my appetite was nonexistent.

I reached his room and hesitated for a second before knocking lightly. No response.

Good.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. The dim lighting cast soft shadows across the room. Kyle sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. His phone was beside him, the screen dark.

He looked up the moment I walked in. His gaze locked onto mine, but I quickly looked away.

I walked over to the nightstand and placed the tray down carefully. "Your dinner," I said quietly.

He didn't move.

I turned to leave.

"Lessie," his voice came, rough, strained.

I ignored him and kept walking toward the door.

His chair scraped against the floor as he stood up. I quickened my steps, but before I could reach the door, his hand caught my wrist.

"Lessie," he said again, his voice softer this time.

I swallowed hard, staring at the floor. "Let me go, Kyle."

His grip didn't loosen. "You're avoiding me."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Shouldn't I?"

He exhaled sharply. "I told you, I'll handle this."

I turned around then, forcing myself to meet his gaze. His face was tense, his blue eyes clouded with something unreadable. "Your mother is coming back tomorrow, Kyle. She already knows. What exactly are you handling?"

His jaw clenched. "I won't let her do anything to you."

I scoffed. "You think she'll just let this go?"

Kyle took a step closer, his fingers brushing my wrist, softer now, almost pleading. "I'll protect you."

I sucked in a sharp breath. "You can't protect me from this."

"Yes, I can," he murmured. His other hand came up, sliding to my waist, his grip firm yet careful, as if he was afraid I'd slip away. "I don't care what my mother says, what Tiara says. I want you."

The air between us thickened.

My breath caught as his grip tightened, pulling me closer. I could feel the warmth of his body, the unsteady rise and fall of his chest.

I held my breath, my heart slamming against my ribs.

Kyle's hands on my waist were steady, firm, like he wasn't just holding me—he was staying grounded also. His fingers brushed the fabric of my dress, his touch burning through the thin material.

I should push him away.

I should remind him that this was wrong, that his mother was coming, that Tiara had already set the fire we couldn't escape from.

But when he leaned in, his forehead brushing against mine, I didn't move.

His breath was warm, uneven. "Lessie," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me you don't want this."

I swallowed hard, my pulse racing.

"Tell me," he pressed, his thumb tracing slow, careful circles on my waist. "And I'll stop. I'll lie to Mom, I'll go back to Tiara."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. The thought of him leaving me and going back to her made my chest tighten in pain. In a burst of anger, I kicked his leg.

"Don't say that," I spat, my voice trembling with emotion.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest, and he looked down at me with that same unreadable expression. "I just need to be convinced that I'm not the only one in this."

"Tell me you don't want it"

My lips parted, but no words came out.

Because I couldn't say it.

I did want this.

I wanted the way he looked at me, the way his hands felt on my body. I wanted the way he spoke my name like it meant something.

Kyle let out a low breath, his fingers trailing up my spine, sending shivers through me. "I don't care what anyone thinks," he whispered. "I don't care what happens tomorrow. Right now, all I care about is you."

I squeezed my eyes shut. "You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do." His hand slid up, his palm resting against my cheek, tilting my face toward him. His thumb traced the curve of my jaw, slow, deliberate.

"Lessie, I don't know how to stop wanting you."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

His lips were so close, barely an inch away. If I leaned in, if I let myself fall, I knew there'd be no coming back from this.

"Kyle," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Let me have you," he murmured, his breath ghosting over my lips.

"Please"