Kate's POV:

The mall trip had drained every ounce of energy from me. The endless browsing, trying on clothes, and carrying bags had left my legs feeling like jelly. As we walked back into the mansion, I made sure my exhaustion didn't show, but every step felt heavier than the last.

The guys had gone off to do whatever it was they did after our outings, while Emily and I collapsed onto the plush couch in the living room. Kay, ever the thoughtful one, offered to whip something up for us.

"Kate, you look ready to pass out. How about I make you some fries and nuggets?" Kay offered with a warm smile.

"That sounds perfect, thanks, Kay," I said, trying to muster up some energy. I liked Kay more than I'd expected—her presence felt light and genuine.

While we waited, Emily and I put on a random movie. It wasn't long before Kay brought out the food, the smell of crispy fries and nuggets filling the room. My stomach growled audibly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten much all day.

We ate in silence for a while, the comfort of warm food and the background noise of the TV making the world feel a little less complicated.

"Kate," Emily said, breaking the silence, "what do you really think about Lucio?"

I froze mid-bite, the question catching me off guard. I looked at her warily, trying to gauge her intentions.

"What do you mean?"

She smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Oh, come on. You two have been circling each other like lions in a cage. It's obvious there's something there."

"There's nothing there, Emily," I said firmly, focusing on my plate. "He barely tolerates me, and I... I don't even know what I feel about him."

Emily gave me a knowing look but didn't push further. "Alright, fine. Denial it is. But just remember—fireworks are beautiful to watch, but they burn if you get too close."

Before I could respond, Kay chimed in, "He does seem different when he's around you, though."

I let out a frustrated sigh. "You two are impossible."

As the night wore on, the conversation shifted, and laughter replaced the heavier topics. For a brief moment, I forgot about the storm that was Lucio and allowed myself to enjoy the peace.

But peace was fleeting in this house.

The moment I closed the door to my room, I felt it—the lingering scent of Lucio's cologne. It was everywhere, wrapping around me like an invisible presence. I shook my head, annoyed at how easily he occupied my thoughts.

I took a quick shower, letting the warm water soothe my aching muscles. When I returned to my room, I slipped into one of the new nightgowns I'd bought earlier. The silky fabric felt luxurious against my skin, a small indulgence in a life that often felt far too rough.

As I climbed into bed, my body was exhausted, but my mind refused to settle. Sleep felt like an elusive dream as I tossed and turned.

Finally, giving up, I got out of bed and wandered aimlessly down the hall. That's when I saw it—Lucio's forbidden room. The door was slightly ajar, and curiosity got the better of me.

Stepping inside, I was greeted by the faint smell of wood and old memories. The room was dimly lit, the moonlight streaming through the large window casting shadows across the furniture. On the wall was a large painting of a woman. Her features were delicate, her eyes hauntingly familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd seen her before.

"You just can't help yourself, can you, Kate?"

Lucio's voice sent a shiver down my spine. I turned to find him standing in the doorway, his presence dominating the room.

"I-I was just..."

"Just what?" he interrupted, stepping closer. "I told you not to come in here."

"I didn't mean to—"

Before I could finish, he grabbed my wrist, pinning me against the wall. His green eyes bore into mine, filled with an intensity that left me breathless.

"Why do you keep testing me?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"I... I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Something shifted in his gaze, the anger softening just enough to let something else through—something darker, more vulnerable.

"You drive me insane, Kate," he muttered, his face dangerously close to mine. "And I don't know why."

My heart pounded as he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. The tension between us crackled like a live wire. For a moment, I thought he might kiss me, but then his phone rang, shattering the moment.

"Dammit," he muttered, stepping away.

I took the opportunity to slip out of the room, my heart racing as I retreated to the safety of my own.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my shower running. My heart leapt into my throat. I was sure I had locked the door.

I approached the bathroom cautiously, my hand trembling as I reached for the doorknob. Before I could open it, the door swung open, revealing Lucio, water dripping from his hair onto his bare chest.

"What the hell are you doing in my room?" I demanded, covering my eyes instinctively.

"I needed hot water," he replied nonchalantly. "Your bathroom was the closest."

"That's ridiculous! There are twenty rooms in this house!"

He smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "And yet, I chose yours. Lucky you."

"Get out!" I snapped, pointing toward the door.

Lucio chuckled, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist. "Relax, love. I'm done anyway."

As he walked past me, he leaned down and whispered, "You should wear something less see-through next time."

My face turned crimson as I realized my nightgown had become semi-transparent from the light. Furious and embarrassed, I stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

By the time I made it downstairs for breakfast, the tension in my body had eased slightly, though my mood was still sour. Emily greeted me with a grin. "Morning, sunshine. You look like you've seen a ghost."

"More like a shirtless idiot," I muttered under my breath.

Kay served breakfast, her cheerful demeanor lifting the atmosphere. But just as I started to feel comfortable, Joseph and Steven burst into the kitchen, their loud banter filling the room.

Their teasing was relentless, and my patience was wearing thin. "Can't you two just eat without causing a scene?" I snapped.

"Who peed in your cereal this morning?" Joseph joked, earning a laugh from Steven.

The tension in the air was as palpable as the heavy silence that followed Lucio's abrupt interruption. I knew the moment he walked into the kitchen that this wasn't going to end well. His dark eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that felt like it could burn straight through me.

"Kate," he said, his tone as sharp as the edge of a knife. "Come with me."

"What now?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kay glanced at me nervously, her hands hesitating over the pot she was stirring. She didn't say anything—she didn't have to. The look in her eyes said enough: Good luck.

Reluctantly, I followed Lucio out of the room. The sound of his shoes hitting the hardwood floor echoed in the hallway, each step a reminder of the conversation I wasn't ready to have.

When we reached the end of the hall, he stopped abruptly, and I almost bumped into him. He turned to face me, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression a mix of irritation and something I couldn't quite place—concern?

"What is it now?" I asked, crossing my arms to mirror his stance.

He stared at me for a moment, his green eyes scanning my face as if trying to decipher a code.

"Why didn't you tell me about your fall earlier?" he asked, his voice low but firm.

I blinked, caught off guard. Of all the things he could've brought up, this was the last thing I expected. "Why does it matter? It wasn't a big deal."

"It wasn't a big deal?" he repeated, his tone incredulous. "Kate, you could've seriously hurt yourself."

"But I didn't," I snapped, meeting his gaze head-on. "And maybe if you hadn't left the bathroom floor soaking wet, it wouldn't have happened in the first place."

His jaw tightened, and for a fleeting moment, I thought he might apologize. Instead, his expression hardened.

"You're reckless, Kate," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "You don't think before you act, and it's going to get you hurt—or worse."

"Excuse me?" I stepped closer to him, anger bubbling to the surface. "I slipped because of your carelessness, not mine. Don't try to pin this on me."

Lucio's towering figure seemed even more imposing as he took a step closer, his presence almost suffocating.

"That's not the point," he said, his tone measured but firm. "The point is, you're constantly putting yourself in harm's way. Whether it's falling down stairs or barging into rooms you have no business being in, you don't know when to stop."

My blood boiled at his words. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I supposed to sit quietly in a corner and do nothing while you control every aspect of my life? Newsflash, Lucio—I'm not one of your soldiers, and I'm not your prisoner. You don't own me."

His eyes darkened, and his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "While you're in my house, you follow my rules. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But maybe you should take a good look in the mirror before lecturing me about responsibility. You're the one who drags me into this mess and expects me to just go along with it like a puppet."

Lucio's fists clenched at his sides, his frustration evident in the sharp line of his jaw. For a moment, the hallway was filled with nothing but the sound of our heavy breathing, the tension between us almost suffocating.

"You don't understand what you're talking about," he said finally, his voice low and measured.

"Then explain it to me!" I shouted, throwing my hands in the air. "Explain why you keep me here, why you act like you care one minute and then push me away the next! Explain why I'm not allowed to ask questions or live my own life!"

His silence was deafening. His eyes burned into mine, filled with a mix of anger, regret, and something else—something softer, almost like guilt.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, almost resigned. "You wouldn't understand."

"You're right," I said, my voice breaking. I turned on my heel and stormed up the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest.

By the time I reached my room, my hands were trembling, and my chest felt tight. I slammed the door shut behind me and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath.

I hated how Lucio could get under my skin, how he could make me feel so powerless and so alive at the same time. It was infuriating.

I collapsed onto my bed, burying my face in the pillows. The soft fabric did little to muffle the storm of emotions raging inside me.

Why couldn't he just let me be?

Just as I was beginning to calm down, there was a soft knock on my door.

"Kate? It's Emily."

"Come in," I called, not bothering to sit up.

Emily entered the room, her sharp features softened by the dim light. She sat beside me on the bed, her hands neatly folded in her lap.

"Lucio's got you all wound up, doesn't he?" she asked, her lips curving into a knowing smile.

I rolled onto my side to face her, groaning in exasperation. "How do you deal with him? He's impossible!"

Emily chuckled, tucking a strand of her short hair behind her ear. "He's always been like that—intense, protective, and completely overbearing. But he means well, even if he doesn't show it in the best way."

I scoffed, propping myself up on one elbow. "Protective? More like controlling. He treats me like I'm some fragile object that's going to break if I'm not under his watchful eye 24/7."

Emily raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing. "Have you ever thought about why he's like that with you?"

"Because he's a control freak?" I offered, only half-joking.

She shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "No, Kate. It's because he cares about you."

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when I saw the seriousness in her eyes. Could she be right? Did Lucio care about me in a way I hadn't allowed myself to consider?

"I don't know, Emily," I said, lying back down and staring at the ceiling. "Even if he does care, it's buried under layers of arrogance and bad behavior. It's exhausting."

Emily let out a soft laugh. "You're not wrong. He's a handful. But if anyone can handle him, it's you."

Her words lingered in the air long after she left.

Later that evening, I joined everyone in the living room, where the atmosphere was lighthearted, full of banter and laughter. But as the evening wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that Lucio's gaze was on me, watching, waiting.

When he finally pulled me aside to talk, his intensity was as overwhelming as ever, leaving me both frustrated and undeniably drawn to him.

Lucio was a storm—unpredictable, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore.

And I was caught in his path.