Jasmine didn't remember falling asleep.
One moment she had been sitting on the edge of the enormous bed, staring at the unfamiliar room, and the next she was waking to soft morning light spilling through the tall windows.
For a moment she lay still, confused.
The ceiling above her was smooth and white. The bed beneath her was softer than anything she had ever slept on before.
Then everything came rushing back.
The rain.
Running away.
Lucas.
The mansion.
Jasmine sat up quickly.
The room was quiet except for the faint sound of birds outside the window. Sunlight warmed the floor, making the space feel almost peaceful.
Too peaceful.
She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock on the bedside table.
8:17 AM.
Her stomach growled loudly.
Jasmine winced.
She hadn't eaten since yesterday morning.
Slowly she climbed out of bed and walked toward the door. Her steps felt cautious, like she was afraid someone might suddenly appear and tell her she wasn't supposed to be there.
The hallway outside was wide and bright, with paintings hanging neatly on the walls.
Everything about the house felt… controlled.
Organized.
Nothing like the loud, cramped home she had left behind.
As she walked down the stairs, the smell of food drifted toward her.
Eggs.
Toast.
Coffee.
Her stomach growled again.
The dining room was easy to find.
Lucas sat at the head of a long wooden table, reading something on a tablet while sipping coffee.
He looked exactly the same as the night before.
Calm.
Composed.
Untouchable.
Maria stood nearby arranging plates.
Both of them looked up when Jasmine stepped into the room.
"Good morning," Maria said warmly.
Jasmine hesitated near the doorway.
"Morning."
Lucas lowered the tablet slowly.
"Did you sleep well?"
"A little."
Maria pulled out a chair.
"Come sit. You must be hungry."
Jasmine nodded and walked over carefully, sitting down at the table.
The amount of food in front of her made her eyes widen.
Eggs, toast, fruit, pancakes, juice.
It looked like breakfast meant for a whole family.
"Is all this… necessary?" she asked.
Lucas lifted an eyebrow.
"You're a growing teenager."
Maria chuckled softly.
"And she looked like she hadn't eaten properly in weeks."
Jasmine felt a little embarrassed but didn't argue.
She picked up a fork and started eating.
At first she tried to be polite.
But hunger quickly took over.
The eggs were warm and perfectly seasoned. The toast was soft and buttery.
Jasmine finished half the plate before she even realized how fast she was eating.
When she finally looked up, she noticed Lucas watching her.
Her cheeks warmed.
"Sorry."
"For what?"
"Eating like that."
Lucas leaned back slightly.
"You're eating food. Not committing a crime."
Maria laughed quietly from the side of the room.
Jasmine relaxed a little.
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable.
For a moment it almost felt normal.
Then Lucas spoke again.
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Do you go to school?"
Jasmine hesitated.
"I used to."
Lucas studied her.
"Used to?"
She shrugged.
"I guess I'm not going back now."
"Why not?"
Jasmine stared down at her plate.
"Because I'm not going back there."
Lucas didn't ask where there was.
Instead he tapped his fingers once on the table.
"What did you like in school?"
The question caught her off guard.
"What do you mean?"
"What subject interested you?"
Jasmine thought for a moment.
"Music."
Lucas tilted his head slightly.
"Music?"
She nodded.
"I like singing."
Maria smiled.
"That explains something."
Jasmine looked up.
"Explains what?"
Maria gestured toward Lucas.
"Mr. Valtieri has excellent taste in music."
Lucas ignored that comment.
"Sing something," he said.
Jasmine nearly choked on her juice.
"What?"
"You said you like singing."
"That doesn't mean I can perform on command!"
Lucas's lips curved slightly.
"Fair point."
Jasmine shook her head.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
She stared at him for a moment.
Then she sighed.
"Fine."
Her heart started beating faster.
She wasn't used to singing in front of strangers.
But something about the calm atmosphere of the room made it feel… safe.
Jasmine closed her eyes.
And she began to sing.
Her voice started quietly.
Soft.
Uncertain.
But as the melody continued, something inside her changed.
Emotion slipped into the notes.
The sound grew stronger.
Clearer.
It filled the large dining room with surprising power.
When she finished, silence settled over the table.
Jasmine opened her eyes slowly.
Lucas was still watching her.
But his expression had changed.
For the first time since meeting him, he looked genuinely surprised.
Maria smiled warmly.
"That was beautiful."
Jasmine looked down, embarrassed.
"It's just singing."
Lucas shook his head slightly.
"No."
He stood from his chair.
"That's talent."
The word made her chest tighten.
No one had ever called her voice talent before.
Lucas walked toward the window.
"You're going back to school," he said calmly.
Jasmine blinked.
"What?"
"And you're getting proper music training."
Her fork slipped from her hand and clattered softly against the plate.
"Wait… what?"
Lucas turned to face her again.
"You heard me."
Jasmine stared at him in disbelief.
"Why would you do that?"
Lucas looked at her quietly.
"Because wasting potential irritates me."
The answer sounded simple.
But it made Jasmine feel something strange.
Hope.
Real hope.
She swallowed.
"You don't even know me."
Lucas's gaze held hers.
"I know enough."
Jasmine was about to respond when something outside caught Lucas's attention.
His phone vibrated on the table.
He glanced at the screen.
For a brief second, something dark flashed across his face.
The calm expression disappeared.
Lucas picked up the phone and stepped away from the table.
Jasmine couldn't hear the entire conversation.
Only pieces of it.
"…I told you not to move them yet."
Silence.
"…No mistakes."
Another pause.
"…Handle it."
The call ended.
Lucas slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned around.
The calm mask had returned.
But Jasmine couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping into her chest.
She suddenly realized something.
For a man who lived in a beautiful mansion, helped strangers, and spoke calmly about second chances…
Lucas Valtieri seemed to have a lot of very serious phone calls.
And something about the way he handled them felt dangerous.