Chapter 34

Lucas's POV

The vulnerability in her voice shattered something inside me. "I came too late," I said softly, watching as another tear traced down her cheek.

"You came just in time," she whispered back, and the raw honesty in her eyes made my chest ache.

Before I could stop myself, my hand moved to her face, gently brushing away a tear that had escaped. The moment my fingers touched her skin, I felt her slight tremor. Our eyes met, and something shifted in the space between us - a current of understanding, of possibility.

My heart was racing as I leaned closer, drawn by an irresistible pull toward her. But just as I neared her lips, she turned her head slightly. My kiss landed softly on her cheek instead. The rejection, though gentle, felt like ice in my veins.

I immediately straightened, my body rigid with self-reproach. "I apologize for being forward." The words came out steady, masking the storm of emotions underneath.

As I started to rise, wrestling with disappointment and shame, her next words froze me in place.

"I have trouble with... physical closeness." Her voice was controlled, but I could hear the pain beneath the surface.

What followed shattered my world. She spoke of being drugged at eighteen, of unconsciousness and violation, of a father who chose disbelief over support. Each word was like a knife, twisting deeper into my chest. Rage and anguish warred within me - rage at those who had hurt her, anguish at her suffering.

Before I could respond, she bolted for the bathroom. The sound of her retching tore at me. I wanted to go to her, to shield her from these memories, but I forced myself to wait, giving her the space she needed.

When the sounds subsided, I approached carefully. She was pale, trembling. With infinite gentleness, I lifted her in my arms, feeling how light she was, how fragile she seemed in this moment.

"I'm tired," she murmured as I placed her on the bed.

"Get some rest. I won't take advantage." The words were a promise, both to her and to myself.

I watched as her breathing evened out, her features softening in sleep. My hand hovered over her face, wanting to trace the line of her cheek, to somehow erase the pain of her past. But I managed to hold myself back, and a strange bitterness welled up inside me.

Eleanor's POV

As I pulled up, my high heels clicking against the pavement with deliberate nonchalance. Quinn wasn't answering my texts. I pressed my phone to my ear, listening to it ring while fishing through my designer bag for cigarettes.

"Finally decided to pick up?" I drawled when she answered. "Where were you at Grandpa's birthday party? Don't tell me you were busy playing servant for the Sherwoods again."

Her tired sigh came through the line. "Eleanor, you know how it is. The Sherwood project deadline-"

"Always the Sherwood project," I cut her off, my heels clicking against the floor as I approached my suite. "You're basically running yourself into the ground for Spencer. What's the point? He won't even notice."

"It's not about Spencer," Quinn protested, but I could hear the hesitation in her voice. "I'm doing this for myself, for my career."

"Right," I drawled. "Keep telling yourself that. You know you can't lie to me, Quinn."

I pushed open the door to my suite, instantly noticing something was off. The bathroom light was on, spilling a warm glow into the darkness of my bedroom. I froze, my hand tightening around my phone.

"By the way," I continued smoothly, not missing a beat, "I'll be filming in Weehawken for the next few weeks. We should meet up."

"Sounds good," Quinn replied, oblivious to my situation.

"Get some rest, okay? Don't work too late." I kept my voice steady as I approached the bathroom door. "Good night."

I ended the call just as I pushed open the door, coming face to face with Jace Gillard. He stood there in casual clothes, his ears turning red as he realized the compromising situation.

"Well," I drawled, leaning against the doorframe with forced casualness, "this is unexpected. What brings the great Director Gillard to my humble bathroom?"

He turned around slowly, his expression carefully neutral. "There was a leak in my bathroom. I didn't know you'd be back today."

"Clearly." I let my lips curl into a sardonic smile. "Shouldn't you be with Evelyn?"

"Eleanor..." His voice held a warning note.

"Sorry, should I call you 'Uncle Jace' instead?" I watched his jaw tighten at the formal title. "That would be more appropriate, wouldn't it?"

The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, he moved past me, his shoulder barely brushing mine. "I'll have maintenance fix the leak tomorrow."

"Don't bother," I called after him. "I won't be staying long anyway."

The door clicked shut behind him, and I waited until his footsteps faded away. Only then did I let my carefully constructed facade crumble. My hands shook slightly as I lit a cigarette, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling. The cigarette burned down to my fingers. I barely felt the sting.