Jasmine's throat was sore by the time Elena finally ended the lesson.
"Again," Elena had said at least twenty times.
Higher.
Clearer.
Control the breath.
Jasmine had never worked so hard just to produce sound.
Now she collapsed into the chair beside the piano, exhausted.
"I think my vocal cords are about to file a complaint," she groaned.
Elena didn't look sympathetic.
"That means you're using muscles you've never trained before."
"That sounds painful."
"It's progress."
Jasmine sighed dramatically and wiped sweat from her forehead.
"I thought singing was supposed to be fun."
"It will be," Elena replied calmly, closing the piano lid. "After discipline."
Jasmine glanced toward the doorway.
Lucas was still there.
He hadn't moved the entire time.
Just watching.
Observing.
It made her nervous in a strange way.
"You stayed the whole time?" she asked.
Lucas nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
His answer came easily.
"I like results."
Jasmine rolled her eyes.
"I'm not a business project."
Lucas didn't argue.
Instead he said something that made her pause.
"No. But you're valuable."
The word sat oddly in the air.
Before Jasmine could respond, Elena gathered her bag.
"We'll continue tomorrow," she said.
Jasmine groaned again.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Lucas added calmly, "Every day."
Jasmine stared at him.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
Elena walked past them toward the door.
"Good luck surviving the training," she said dryly before leaving.
The room fell quiet.
Jasmine leaned her head back.
"I think she secretly enjoys torturing people."
Lucas walked further into the room.
"She's one of the best vocal trainers in the country."
"That explains the torture."
Lucas ignored the comment and studied her carefully.
"You're improving already."
Jasmine raised an eyebrow.
"It's been two hours."
"Exactly."
Something about the pride in his voice made her chest warm slightly.
She wasn't used to adults encouraging her like that.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
Lucas didn't respond immediately.
Instead he walked toward the large window overlooking the garden.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Jasmine said something without thinking.
"You don't seem like the kind of person who listens to music all day."
Lucas turned slightly.
"What kind of person do I seem like?"
She hesitated.
"Someone… serious."
Lucas almost smiled.
"That's accurate."
Jasmine swung her legs off the chair.
"So why music?"
Lucas looked back toward the piano.
"Because music reveals people."
"What do you mean?"
"A person's voice shows what they feel."
Jasmine thought about that.
"So what does my voice show?"
Lucas's eyes rested on her.
"Pain."
The word hit her like a quiet punch.
She looked away.
"That obvious?"
Lucas didn't soften his answer.
"Yes."
Jasmine forced a small laugh.
"Well… I guess life hasn't been a comedy."
Lucas watched her for a moment longer.
Then his phone buzzed.
The sound immediately changed the mood in the room.
Lucas glanced at the screen.
His expression hardened slightly.
"I need to take this."
Jasmine nodded.
"I'll go back to my room."
Lucas stepped outside the music room while answering.
"Yes."
Jasmine tried not to listen.
But the hallway carried sound too easily.
"…I told you to keep them quiet."
A pause.
"…Then move them."
Another silence.
"…No witnesses."
Jasmine froze.
Her stomach tightened.
She didn't understand what the conversation meant.
But the tone of Lucas's voice felt… dangerous.
Very dangerous.
When the call ended, Jasmine quickly stepped back into the music room, pretending she had been gathering her things.
Lucas re-entered a moment later.
His calm expression had returned.
"You look tired," he said.
"I am."
"Good."
She blinked.
"Good?"
"That means you worked hard."
Jasmine shook her head.
"You're strange."
Lucas didn't deny it.
"Go rest."
She nodded and started toward the door.
But just before leaving, Jasmine paused.
"Lucas?"
"Yes?"
She turned slightly.
"Thank you… for everything."
For the house.
The school.
The music lessons.
The second chance.
Lucas held her gaze for a moment.
Then he said something simple.
"You're welcome."
Jasmine smiled faintly and left the room.
But as her footsteps disappeared down the hallway, Lucas's expression slowly changed.
The warmth faded.
His phone vibrated again.
This time he answered immediately.
"Well?" he asked.
A voice spoke on the other end.
Lucas listened silently.
Then he said one quiet sentence.
"Make sure she never finds out."
He ended the call.
And for the first time that day, Lucas Valtieri allowed himself a slow, satisfied smile.
Because Jasmine believed she had been rescued.
But the truth was something very different.
Lucas had never rescued anyone in his life.
He had only ever claimed them.