Chapter 28: Unexpected change
TERESA’S POV
As I walked into the kitchen, I could already hear Max laughing about something, his booming voice carrying across the room, while Katrina and Melissa were helping Madi prepare dinner. The smell of roasting garlic filled the air, and the batter for a cake sat half-mixed on the counter. I reached for the whisk automatically, sliding in next to Madi, trying to blend in with the lively chatter around me.
After my visit to Luke, things settled back into their usual rhythm at the estate. Mornings meant work, afternoons were for lazy lunches, and evenings filled with laughter and chatter with my friends. Juliette, on the other hand, had become increasingly hard to pin down. She was always busy, but I couldn’t ignore the strange pattern I’d picked up on.
Every month, especially around the middle or end, the estate would turn into a flurry of activity. People rushed around, filling the hallways and gardens with purpose. Even Juliette, who usually had time for me, vanished during these times, and Lucian? He’d become like a ghost. The last time I saw him was nearly a week ago, he didn’t even acknowledge my arrival back from visiting Luke when he was the one that rushed me back. It was very frustrating. Whatever they were up to, no one would clue me in - not even my friends.
"Teresa, you’re zoning out again," Max teased, nudging me with his elbow. "Thinking about some prince charming?"
"Who knows?" Katrina quipped, her eyes darting over to me playfully. "Maybe she’s got her eye on someone."
I rolled my eyes, brushing off their teasing with a forced laugh, but inside I was grateful that they hadn’t caught on to my feelings for Lucian. Every time I thought about him-his calm, unreadable face, the way he moved with quiet authority-a warmth spread through me that I could barely hide.
"I’ve just...got a lot on my mind, I guess," I murmured, stirring the batter more aggressively than necessary.
Melissa raised a brow, her gaze sharp and curious. "Oh? Spill, Teresa. We’re all friends here, aren’t we?"
I bit my lip, glancing at the others. "I don’t know, it’s just... everyone seems so busy around here lately. It’s like... like there’s this whole secret world going on, and I’m on the outside."
The room went unusually quiet for a second. Madi continued chopping vegetables, her movements deliberate, but I could tell she was listening. Even the two bodyguards by the door shifted, as if on alert.