CHAPTER FOUR

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

My breath hitched. His words settled deep into my chest, making my pulse throb with something dangerous, something I wasn't so sure of,

Kyle's fingers traced the line of my jaw, his touch so gentle that it sent a shiver down my spine. His forehead rested against mine, and I could feel the slow, measured breaths he was taking—as if he was fighting just as hard as I was.

But fighting what?

The way he looked at me, the way his hands held me like I was something fragile and precious, made it impossible to think straight.

I should say no to all these....

when his grip tightened, when his thumb brushed against my lower lip, the words caught in my throat, I barely could fight it,

"I know you want me too, Lessie." His voice was low, a quiet plea wrapped in certainty.

My hands clenched at my sides. "It doesn't matter what I want," I whispered. "You know that."

His jaw tensed, his fingers twitching slightly against my skin. "It does to me."

A shaky breath escaped me. "Your mother—"

"Screw my mother." His voice was sharp now, almost desperate. His fingers slid into my hair, tilting my face up so I had no choice but to look at him.

"She doesn't decide how I feel. She doesn't get to tell me who I can or can't—" He exhaled harshly, his eyes dark with something unspoken. "Who I can't love."

My heart skipped.

Love?

That word hovered between us, heavy and terrifying.

I shook my head, panic creeping in. "don't say what you don't mean, Kyle"

His grip tightened ever so slightly. "I do." His eyes searched mine, willing me to see the truth in them. "And it scares the hell out of me, I have always been fighting it, it just always fuel up whenever we quarrel over little things, that alone..." He chuckle Lowly,

Something cracked inside me.

This wasn't just attraction.

This wasn't just a stolen moment in the dark.

This was Kyle—arrogant, reckless, stubborn Kyle—giving me the one thing I was too afraid to name.

And it was dangerous.

Because I wanted it.

I wanted him.

But wanting him meant destroying everything in our path.

So, I did the only thing I could.

I pulled away.

His hands fell to his sides, his expression shifting from raw desperation to something guarded, something pained.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "This can't happen."

His jaw clenched. "Why not?"

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "Because I won't survive it."

Kyle flinched, his body going rigid.

Silence wrapped around us, thick and suffocating.

I turned toward the door, gripping the handle like it was the only thing keeping me upright. "Your mother will be here tomorrow," I said softly, my voice barely holding together. "And when she is, this…" I sucked in a breath. "This has to end."

Kyle didn't say anything.

Didn't move.

And that silence—his silence—was the most painful thing of all.

I opened the door and stepped out.

I didn't look back because I might not survive looking back,

NEXT DAY...

The estate was unusually quiet, as if it sensed the storm ahead. The afternoon sun cast long shadows as a sleek black car pulled into the driveway.

Kyle stood at the top of the grand staircase, his hands clenched as the driver opened the door.

His mother stepped out. She was as poised as ever, dressed in a navy-blue suit, her blonde hair neatly styled. When she glanced at the house, her sharp blue eyes locked onto Kyle.

No anger. No warmth. Just cold calculation.

She climbed the steps, her heels clicking against the marble floor. The tension was suffocating.

"Where is she?" she asked immediately.

Kyle exhaled. "Mom—"

"Where. Is. She."

Lessie.

Kyle had tried speaking to her all morning, but she had locked herself in her small room near the kitchen, refusing to see him. Now, with his mother here, there was no escape.

"She's working," he said firmly. "And before you start, Mom, I won't let you—"

"I don't care what you'll let me do," she cut in, setting her purse on the glass table. "You've already made a mess of things, Kyle."

Kyle clenched his jaw. "You don't even know—"

"Oh, I know," she said sharply. "I know you humiliated Tiara. You threw away a respectable relationship for a…" She paused, inhaling slowly. "For someone beneath you."

Kyle stiffened. "Don't."

She raised a brow. "Don't what? Tell the truth?"

"That's not the truth, and you know it."

Mrs. Holloway studied him for a moment, then walked into the sitting room, lowering herself into a chair with practiced grace.

"You will fix this," she said simply.

Kyle let out a bitter laugh. "Fix what? My feelings?"

She didn't waver. "Tiara is willing to forgive you. Her parents are willing to overlook this… mistake."

Kyle's stomach twisted. "A mistake?"

"Yes." She folded her hands. "This infatuation won't last."

Kyle's fists clenched. "You don't know a damn thing about how I feel."

His mother tilted her head slightly. "I know you. You think you're in love." She said it like it was ridiculous. "But be realistic. What kind of future does she have with you?"

Kyle's voice was low, furious. "That's not your decision to make."

Mrs. Holloway sighed, reaching for her tea. "There's a way to fix this, Kyle. You know what's expected of you."

He scoffed. "You want me to go back to Tiara."

"Yes." She took a slow sip. "End this nonsense, apologize publicly, and repair what's left of your reputation. The Holloway name has already suffered enough."

Kyle shook his head. "This isn't about family. This is about control."

Mrs. Holloway met his gaze. "Everything is about control, Kyle. That's why we're at the top."

Silence stretched between them.

Then she placed her cup down, her voice quieter but sharper. "I won't force your hand. But I will make things very difficult for her."

Kyle's blood ran cold.

"She works here," his mother continued. "Under my roof. That can change."

Kyle's pulse pounded. "You wouldn't."

She smiled slightly. "Wouldn't I?"

A knock at the door interrupted them.

Kyle turned as Lessie stepped inside.

She wore her usual black work dress with a white apron. Her shoulders were tense, her dark eyes unreadable.

Mrs. Holloway straightened. "Ah," she said lightly. "The maid."

Kyle's temper flared. "Mom."

Lessie's chin lifted. "Mrs. Holloway."

Evelyn Holloway gestured to the chair across from her. "Sit."

Lessie hesitated but, after a brief glance at Kyle, stepped forward and sat down.

"You know why I called you here," Mrs. Holloway said.

Lessie nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good." Evelyn leaned forward. "This needs to end."

Kyle inhaled sharply, but Lessie spoke first.

"And if I say no?" she asked calmly.

Mrs. Holloway chuckled. "You won't."

Lessie's fingers tightened in her lap. "Because I work for you?"

"Yes. And because I can make sure you never work anywhere again."

Kyle slammed a hand against the table, making the tea tremble. "Mom!"

His mother didn't flinch.

Lessie, however, placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Kyle," she murmured.

He turned to her—and what he saw in her eyes shattered him.

Acceptance.

Resignation.

Pain.

Lessie swallowed, then turned back to Mrs. Holloway. "Fine," she said quietly.

Kyle's breath caught. "Lessie, no—"

She met his gaze, her eyes shining. "It's over."

The words felt like a punch to the gut.

Mrs. Holloway smiled, satisfied. "Smart girl."

Lessie stood slowly, smoothing out her dress. "I'll pack my things."

Kyle shot up. "Lessie, please—"

She shook her head, her small, sad smile breaking him further. "Take care, Kyle."

Then, without another word, she walked away.

And this time, he knew.

She wasn't coming back.

Is he ready to lose her? No, he brought out his phone and typed something before running after her, luckily, she hasn't walk out of the gate,

"Lessie" he held her back and she turned with swollen eyes, she is crying and that hurt her, pulling her head into his chest,

"I'm sorry, Lessie but I can't let you walk out of my life" Lessie hated he stop her but she needed him to hold him tight just like now, "Kyle" she sobbed and he patted her hair "It's okay, I'm here"

"Kyle you need to let her walk away now" his mother shouted from the balcony but he refused to, Suddenly, reporters came to the house, cameras flashing....