The room suddenly felt smaller.
Ava's mind raced.
"You mean… I was investigating you?"
Lucien nodded slightly.
"You were very determined."
"Did I find something?"
"Yes."
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
Lucien's gaze darkened.
"Something that could destroy very powerful people."
"Then why erase me?"
His voice dropped.
"I didn't."
Ava blinked.
"What?"
"I protected you."
Confusion flooded her face.
"By erasing my entire life?"
Lucien stepped closer.
Too close.
"I had no choice."
The intensity in his eyes made her breath catch.
"You were about to be killed."
"So you erased me instead?"
His voice softened.
"I hid you."
Ava's chest tightened.
"But you didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth."
Lucien didn't respond.
The silence between them grew heavier.
Her emotions twisted together—anger, fear, confusion…
And something else.
Something hotter.
She stepped closer.
"You've been watching me for two years," she whispered.
"Yes."
"And protecting me?"
"Yes."
"And now I'm living in your penthouse."
Lucien's voice lowered.
"Yes."
Ava tilted her head slightly.
"Do you always go this far for people you're protecting?"
Lucien's eyes flickered.
"No."
The air between them burned.
Ava didn't fully understand what she was doing.
But suddenly, she reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt.
Lucien froze.
"Then why me?" she whispered.
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then said quietly:
"Because you matter."
Her heart slammed violently.
And before she could overthink it…
Ava kissed him.
For a split second, Lucien didn't move.
Then his hand wrapped around her waist.
Pulling her closer.
The kiss deepened.
Slow.
Intense.
Dangerous.
The tension that had been building between them exploded.
Ava felt heat spread through her body as Lucien's fingers tightened against her back.
But just as quickly—
He pulled away.
Breathing hard.
"That," he said quietly, "was a mistake."
Ava's lips were still tingling.
"It didn't feel like one."
Lucien stepped back.
Creating distance again.
"It will complicate things."
Her voice softened.
"Maybe things were already complicated."