Chapter 4

  The morning sun bathed the bakery in a warm, golden light as Vanessa stood behind the counter, her nerves already buzzing. She had barely slept the night before, tossing and turning with the overwhelming realization that Captain Vale was interested in her. Now, every second felt like an eternity as she waited for him to walk through the door, her heart thudding in anticipation.

  Any second now…

  She wiped her hands on her apron, glancing nervously at the door. Her palms were clammy, and she kept fidgeting, adjusting her apron to make sure it sat just right, even though she knew it didn’t matter. Lucien had been coming to the bakery every day now, and this morning was no different—or at least, she hoped it wouldn’t be.

  Just as the thought crossed her mind, the familiar chime of the doorbell rang out, signaling Lucien’s arrival. But when Vanessa looked up, her stomach dropped.

  Lucien had indeed walked in, his expression as stoic and intense as ever, but he wasn’t alone.

  Dr. Marin Solvi trailed in right behind him, practically bouncing with energy as she glanced around the bakery. Lucien, on the other hand, looked decidedly irritated, his usual scowl even deeper than normal as he glanced sideways at Marin, clearly unhappy about something.

  Vanessa froze, her hands clutching the edge of the counter as she tried to process the scene in front of her. What is Dr. Solvi doing here? They had only met briefly once before during that unfateful day Vanessa had bumped into the Captain and his squad, but Vanessa had never expected her to show up at the bakery again, especially not with Lucien.

  Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched them approach. Lucien’s scowl deepened, and Vanessa couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anxiety. Was something wrong? Had Marin said something to upset him?

  “Vanessa!” Dr. Solvi’s voice rang out cheerfully, completely oblivious to Lucien’s irritation. “What a surprise! I didn’t know Lucien was such a fan of this place, but here we are again!”

  Lucien let out a low, frustrated sigh, his hand briefly coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose as if he were barely holding back his annoyance. “Marin,” he muttered under his breath, his tone filled with impatience.

  Vanessa blinked, trying to hide her confusion. Why did Lucien seem so irritated? And why was Marin tagging along? She glanced between the two of them, her heart racing as she tried to read the situation.

  “Oh, don’t mind him,” Marin said with a wave of her hand, clearly unfazed by Lucien’s mood. “He’s just grumpy because I insisted on coming with him this morning. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.”

  Vanessa’s brow furrowed. Fuss? She glanced at Lucien, who looked like he was one step away from dragging Marin out of the bakery by force. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, and the tension in his posture was unmistakable.

  “What… fuss?” Vanessa asked hesitantly, still trying to understand why Marin had come along.

  Marin grinned, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Well, Lucien’s been coming here every single day lately, and I was curious to see what the big deal was. You know, I’ve never seen him so dedicated to a place like this before.”

  Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat. Every single day? Was it really that noticeable? She glanced at Lucien, who looked even more irritated now, and realized that Marin’s presence must’ve disrupted something. Lucien’s scowl wasn’t just his usual expression—it was deeper, sharper, like he was actually upset.

  Vanessa frowned slightly, her mind racing. Why would Lucien be upset that she was here? It wasn’t like he cared about who came into the bakery… right?

  Marin, oblivious to the tension, leaned against the counter and gave Vanessa a knowing smile. “I’ve been dragging Lucien around all morning on errands, so I figured I’d treat him to some tea.” She glanced over at Lucien, clearly enjoying herself. “He doesn’t seem too pleased about it, though.”

  Vanessa hesitated, still feeling the weight of Lucien’s gaze. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere else but here right now—or maybe it was because Marin had crashed what was supposed to be his usual quiet visit.

  Before Vanessa could say anything, Lucien finally spoke, his voice low and tight with frustration. “You weren’t supposed to come.”

  Vanessa’s eyes widened at the sharpness of his tone. She had never heard Lucien speak like that before, not with this level of annoyance. He sounded like Marin had ruined something important, but Vanessa couldn’t understand what.

  Marin just laughed, clearly not taking his irritation seriously. “Oh, come on, Captain. It’s not the end of the world if I join you for a cup of tea, is it?”

  Lucien’s jaw clenched, and for a brief moment, Vanessa caught a glimpse of something deeper in his expression. It wasn’t just irritation—it was frustration. And not just with Marin, but with the entire situation.

  He didn’t want her here. That much was obvious now.

  Lucien’s eyes flicked toward Vanessa for a moment, and in that brief glance, she felt like she understood something—something that made her stomach twist in nervous anticipation.

  He didn’t want Marin here because… this was his time. The time he usually spent talking to Vanessa. Alone.

  Vanessa’s heart raced as the realization sank in. Lucien had been coming here every day, and now, for the first time, someone else had intruded on that routine. Marin wasn’t supposed to be here, and it was throwing Lucien off. He wasn’t just irritated—he was disappointed.

  Marin, still oblivious to the tension in the air, grinned at Vanessa. “So, what do you think, Vanessa? Will you be treating us to the usual? Or should I try something new?”

  Vanessa blinked, her mind still spinning from the realization. “I… uh, sure, I’ll get you the usual.”

  Lucien shot Marin a glare as Vanessa hurried to prepare the tea and roll. His irritation was palpable, and now that Vanessa understood the reason behind it, she felt even more self-conscious. He wanted to spend time here—alone—with her. And Marin had thrown a wrench into that plan.

  As Vanessa set the tea and roll in front of Lucien, she caught his gaze again. His expression softened slightly, the sharpness in his eyes fading for a moment as he looked at her. But the frustration was still there, simmering just below the surface.

  “Thanks,” he muttered, his tone a little gruff but not unkind.

  Vanessa nodded, trying to keep her hands from trembling. “You’re welcome.”

  Marin, still grinning, leaned in closer to Vanessa, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t let him fool you. He loves it here. That’s why he’s been coming every day.”

  Lucien shot Marin another warning glare, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Marin, we’re leaving.”

  Marin shrugged, still completely unfazed. “Fine, fine. But I’m coming back soon. This place is too good to pass up.”

  Lucien grunted in response, already turning toward the door, clearly done with the conversation. But as he reached the exit, he paused, glancing back at Vanessa one last time.

  “I’ll be back,” he said quietly, his voice firm but less tense than before.

  Vanessa nodded, her heart still racing. “Okay.”

  The bell above the door chimed as Lucien and Marin walked out, and Vanessa stood there, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Now, it all made sense. Lucien had been coming here not just for the tea, but for the time he spent with her. And now that she understood why he had been so irritated, her heart raced even faster.

  He wanted to spend time with me.

  Vanessa couldn’t shake the thought, her cheeks flushing as the reality of it all settled in. He was definitely interested in her. And now, more than ever, she knew she couldn’t deny it.

  Because now, it was crystal clear.

  …

  Meanwhile back at the Rosemoor military base, the other soldiers had begun to notice a peculiar routine involving their usually stoic and grim captain. It wasn’t like Captain Vale to have any habits outside of cleaning and training—yet, lately, every single morning, like clockwork, he was gone. Always at the same time, leaving in the early morning and returning before noon. It was unusual, and what was more unsettling was the subtle change in his demeanor when he came back.

  It was Elias who noticed first, though he hadn’t said anything outright. He had been with Lucien that day in the bakery when Vanessa had spilled the tea, and since then, he’d watched as Lucien seemed to go back there more and more frequently. At first, Elias thought it was just because Lucien liked tea and wanted a quiet place to sit. But lately, Lucien had come back from the bakery with an expression that could only be described as… well, not quite happy, but something close to it. For Lucien, even the smallest hint of contentment was shocking.

  Elias had kept his suspicions to himself, but the others had started to catch on too.

  One morning, as the squad gathered in the briefing room, Dorian couldn’t help but speak up, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.

  "Has anyone else noticed that Captain Vale disappears every morning?" Dorian asked, glancing around the room. "It’s like he’s got some kind of secret mission."

  Finn, who was sprawled out lazily on one of the chairs, smirked. "Secret mission? Yeah, the mission to get his tea fix."

  Dorian rolled his eyes. "I’m serious. It’s weird. He’s been doing it for weeks now. Same time, every day, without fail."

  Kaela, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "He does go out a lot… and he doesn’t take anyone with him." She glanced at Elias, who was sitting quietly at the table. "Elias, you’ve been with him before. Where does he go?"

  Elias shrugged, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "It’s just some bakery not too far from here. We went there once. Some girl works there." His lips twitched slightly as he remembered the scene with Vanessa. "She spilled tea all over him."

  Finn snorted, trying to imagine that. "Wait—Captain Vale let someone spill tea on him? And lived?"

  Tessa perked up from her spot next to Finn. "It’s true! I saw it. He didn’t even get mad—just stared at her like nothing happened."

  Dorian leaned in, his eyebrows raised. "Hold on. So you’re saying the Captain’s been going to this bakery every day to… see some girl?"

  "It’s not just for the tea," Elias added, his tone more serious. "He doesn’t say much, but you can tell. The bakery’s nice and quiet, but the way he looks at her…" He trailed off, letting the others fill in the blanks.

  Kaela’s eyes narrowed even more. "Wait. We ran into her once, didn’t we? That girl who bumped into him when we were in town?"

  "Yeah," Elias confirmed. "Same one."

  Dorian leaned back in his chair, a look of disbelief on his face. "You’re telling me that Captain Vale—the guy who’s never shown interest in anything except killing and being serious—has been hanging out with some bakery girl?"

  Finn’s eyes widened, and Tessa let out a small gasp. "Do you think…?" Tessa started, but then she hesitated, not wanting to voice what was on everyone’s mind.

  Silas, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, his voice thoughtful. "It’s possible. He’s been different lately. Not in a bad way, but… more relaxed, I guess." He glanced at Elias for confirmation, and Elias nodded slightly.

  Dorian’s jaw dropped. "Relaxed? Are we talking about the same guy? The man who never smiles and would rather do pushups till he passes out than talk to anyone?"

  Kaela’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. "It is strange. He’s been… softer, in a way. He’s still Captain Vale, but there’s something else going on."

  Elias remembered the way Lucien had glanced at Vanessa when they were in the bakery, the way his eyes had lingered on her, and the fact that he hadn’t shown any irritation when she spilled the tea. That wasn’t the captain he was used to.

  "You didn’t see the way he looked at her," Elias muttered, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

  Tessa, ever the romantic, gasped dramatically. "You think the Captain likes her?"

  Finn leaned in closer, his eyes wide with excitement. "That’s what it sounds like!"

  Even Kaela seemed surprised by the revelation. "Captain Vale… liking someone? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him interested in anyone like that."

  Elias stayed silent, but the pieces were starting to fall into place. Lucien wasn’t just going to that bakery for the tea. He was going to see Vanessa. And the fact that he came back looking even the slightest bit content was a dead giveaway.

  Dorian shook his head in disbelief. "This is insane. Next thing you know, he’ll be bringing her flowers or something."

  Finn laughed. "Yeah, and cleaning the bakery for her!"

  But Silas, ever the observant one, didn’t laugh. Instead, he leaned forward, his expression serious. "You know, this might be good for him," he said quietly. "Lucien’s been through a lot. We all have. Maybe this is something that helps him relax. He deserves some peace, too."

  There was a moment of silence as everyone considered Silas’s words. As much as they found the idea of Captain Vale being interested in someone surprising, they couldn’t deny that Silas had a point. He had carried so much weight for so long—perhaps this bakery, this girl, was giving him a small escape from the constant battle they had all faced.

  Kaela nodded slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Perhaps. We should leave him be. If this is something that brings him even a small amount of peace, we have no right to interfere."

  The room fell quiet again as the squad processed the strange new reality they were facing. Captain Vale—cold, stoic, and intimidating—was going to a bakery every day, and he seemed… happier for it. It was a sight to see him look anything close to happy, but at the same time, it was a relief.

  And as the conversation died down, one thing became clear.

  Something—or someone—was making Lucien Vale feel something other than the weight of the world.

  …

  The next morning, the squad gathered in the courtyard, whispering amongst themselves as they waited for Lucien to make his move. Curiosity had gotten the better of them—Captain Vale going to the same bakery every morning? Coming back looking less intense, maybe even a bit… content? It was too unorthodox to ignore.

  “Alright, there he is,” Dorian muttered, nodding in the direction of Lucien, who was striding toward the gate. His usual calm, focused demeanor was intact, but now that they knew his routine, the squad could sense something different. He was headed to that bakery again, and they weren’t going to let the opportunity pass.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Let’s follow him,” Finn whispered, eyes wide with excitement.

  Tessa, beside him, nodded eagerly, her usual exuberance dampened by the need to stay quiet. “Do you think he’ll notice us?”

  Kaela shook her head, though even she seemed intrigued by the prospect of Lucien having some sort of… softer side. “We need to stay out of sight. Captain Vale isn’t the type to take kindly to being followed.”

  Silas adjusted his scarf, looking slightly anxious. “Are you sure this is a good idea? He might—”

  “It’ll be fine,” Elias interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he watched Lucien’s figure grow smaller in the distance. “We just need to see what’s going on. This doesn’t make sense.”

  Quietly, they trailed Lucien, keeping a safe distance as they followed him through the streets. The tension was palpable, everyone feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. What would they find? They’d all seen a glimpse of this Vanessa girl, but the idea that Lucien had any interest in someone like her—anyone at all, really—seemed absurd.

  Eventually, Lucien turned down a familiar street, and the squad slowed their pace, staying just far enough back to avoid detection. Sure enough, they saw him approach the entrance of The Sweet House, the bakery that had become the center of their curiosity.

  Dorian squinted, his voice barely a whisper. “He’s actually going in there again.”

  “Shh,” Kaela hissed, elbowing him sharply. “We need to stay hidden.”

  Lucien pushed open the door to the bakery, the bell above the door chiming softly as he stepped inside. The squad, now positioned across the street, crouched behind a small stack of crates, trying to get a better view through the bakery’s wide windows. The scene inside unfolded before them, and what they saw left them utterly flabbergasted.

  Lucien walked straight up to the counter, where Vanessa was standing, her hands busy with a tray of freshly baked goods. The moment she saw him, her face lit up—not in an over-the-top way, but there was definitely a smile there, soft and genuine. And Lucien… well, Lucien wasn’t exactly smiling, but his usual harsh expression seemed noticeably softer, more relaxed.

  Vanessa greeted him, and though the squad couldn’t hear what was being said, they watched in stunned silence as Lucien actually engaged her in conversation. His body language, while still composed, was less rigid than usual. And as Vanessa handed him a cup of tea, his expression flickered—just the tiniest shift—as he accepted it.

  “Is he… talking to her?” Finn whispered, his eyes wide.

  “Yeah, but not just talking,” Tessa added, her voice hushed with disbelief. “He’s, like… almost friendly?”

  Dorian shook his head in disbelief. “There’s no way.”

  They all watched, completely captivated, as Lucien continued to speak with Vanessa. She seemed a little nervous—shy, even—but she wasn’t stumbling over her words or spilling anything this time. And Lucien… he was definitely trying. As friendly as Lucien could get, anyway.

  Silas blinked, stunned by what he was seeing. “I can’t believe it. He’s really making an effort.”

  “Making an effort,” Elias muttered, shaking his head. “I don’t know if I should be impressed or terrified.”

  Just then, as the squad continued to stare, Lucien’s eyes flicked toward the window—right where they were all huddled behind the crates.

  Time seemed to freeze.

  His expression darkened in an instant. The subtle softness that had been there moments before vanished completely, replaced by a cold, irritated glare that could pierce through steel. His eyes locked onto them, and the message was clear: You’ve been caught.

  “Crap!” Finn yelped, ducking down behind the crates.

  Tessa followed suit, whispering frantically. “Do you think he saw us?”

  Elias let out a low groan, rubbing the back of his neck. “He definitely saw us.”

  Kaela frowned, glancing at the others. “What now?”

  Inside the bakery, Lucien narrowed his eyes at the group, clearly annoyed. Without a word, he turned back to Vanessa, muttering something to her—likely some excuse or explanation—before he turned on his heel and made a beeline for the door.

  The squad barely had time to scramble to their feet before Lucien stormed out of the bakery, his glare like a storm cloud waiting to strike.

  “What the hell are you all doing here?” Lucien’s voice was low and dangerous, sending a shiver down the spines of everyone present. His hands were clenched at his sides, and the irritation in his expression was unmistakable.

  Dorian tried to stammer out an explanation. “W-We were just—uh—”

  Finn cut in, his voice shaking. “We were just—uh—curious?”

  Lucien’s glare intensified. “Curious about what?”

  Elias, knowing they had been caught red-handed, stepped forward, his face serious. “We noticed you’ve been going to that bakery every morning. We just wanted to see what was going on.”

  Lucien’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it looked like he might snap. But then, with an exasperated sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered something under his breath.

  “I don’t owe any of you an explanation,” Lucien said flatly, his voice icy. “But if you ever try following me again, you’ll be doing laps around the base until your legs give out. Understood?”

  The squad, all still in various stages of panic, nodded furiously.

  “Yes, sir!” they chorused.

  Lucien shot one last glare at the group before turning on his heel and heading back into the bakery without another word, leaving the squad standing there, still reeling from the confrontation.

  As soon as the door closed behind him, Dorian let out a low whistle. “Man, he was pissed.”

  Finn shook his head, wide-eyed. “We’re lucky we didn’t get killed.”

  Silas, still processing what had just happened, glanced at the bakery. “But… he didn’t deny it. About her, I mean.”

  Elias crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. “Yeah. He didn’t.”

  The realization hit them all at once—Lucien had been going to the bakery for more than just the tea. And he didn’t want them interfering in whatever was going on with Vanessa.

  Tessa was the first to break the stunned silence, her voice soft but filled with wonder. “I think… I think Captain Vale really likes her.”

  The group exchanges glances, a strange mixture of shock and disbelief still lingering in the air.

  “Yeah,” Dorian muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I think he does too.”

  And as they all stood there, processing the strange, surreal truth, one thing was clear—whatever was happening between Lucien and Vanessa, it was something they’d never expected.

  ….

  Vanessa stood behind the counter, her heart still racing from her brief conversation with Lucien. As much as she had tried to stay calm, her nerves had been on edge all morning, especially after seeing his elite squad hiding outside the bakery like a group of guilty children. She didn’t understand why they’d been there, or what they were doing, but the tension in the air was unmistakable.

  And then, Lucien had seen them.

  Vanessa hadn’t needed to hear his words to know he wasn’t happy. His entire posture had stiffened, his jaw clenched, and the intensity in his gaze had sharpened the moment his eyes locked onto the window. She couldn’t see the squad anymore from her angle, but she could easily imagine them scrambling in fear under Lucien’s glare.

  Moments later, the door to the bakery opened again, the bell above it chiming softly. Lucien walked back inside, his irritation palpable. His expression was as cold and stony as ever, but there was an unmistakable tightness to his movements. His usual controlled, precise demeanor was still there, but he was clearly annoyed.

  Vanessa swallowed hard, her heart pounding as he approached the counter. She didn’t know what to say—if she should say anything at all—so she just stood there, watching as he walked toward her, the tension radiating off him like heat.

  Lucien stopped in front of her, his hands resting on the edge of the counter, his eyes fixed on her but slightly distant, as though his mind was elsewhere.

  “They followed me,” he muttered, his voice low and edged with frustration.

  Vanessa blinked, taken aback. “What?”

  Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly, a muscle in his jaw tightening. “My squad,” he clarified, his voice clipped. “They were outside, spying on us.”

  Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat. Spying? On us? She glanced toward the window, suddenly understanding why Lucien had looked so irritated when he had walked back inside.

  “They were… spying?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why?”

  Lucien let out a soft, exasperated sigh, his fingers tapping against the counter as though he was trying to rein in his frustration. “They’re curious. And they have too much time on their hands.” His grey eyes flicked toward the window, as if making sure the squad were well and truly gone. “Apparently, they’ve noticed I’ve been coming here every day.”

  Vanessa felt her cheeks flush at the implication. She couldn’t help but wonder what the others must have thought—why Lucien had been coming to the bakery every day, and what they might have assumed about her. The idea made her stomach flip with nerves.

  “Oh,” she muttered, her hands fidgeting nervously with the edge of her apron. “I didn’t realize…”

  Lucien’s gaze softened—just a fraction, but enough that Vanessa noticed. His irritation wasn’t directed at her. If anything, it seemed like he was more frustrated with the squad than anything else.

  “They’re idiots,” he muttered, more to himself than to her. “But they’re harmless.”

  Vanessa wasn’t so sure. She could only imagine the teasing and questions she might face the next time she ran into any of the squad, especially after they had all seen Lucien here, talking to her, trying to be friendly.

  “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, not really sure why she was apologizing. “I didn’t mean for them to… you know.”

  Lucien shook his head, his irritation easing just a little. “It’s not your fault.” His voice was calmer now, though the hard edge hadn’t completely disappeared. “They’re just nosy.”

  There was a brief silence between them, the air heavy with unspoken words. Vanessa could still feel the weight of Lucien’s earlier frustration, but there was something else there too—something softer, something that made her heart beat a little faster.

  Lucien glanced toward the door again, his expression still serious, but his posture had relaxed slightly. “If they give you any trouble,” he said, his voice quieter now, “tell me.”

  Vanessa blinked, surprised by the offer. “Oh, I—um—okay,” she stammered, feeling her cheeks heat up again. The idea of Lucien standing up for her, even in something as simple as dealing with nosy squad, made her heart skip a beat.

  Lucien’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, his eyes dark and thoughtful. It was a strange feeling, standing here with him, knowing that he had come back inside, frustrated, but had chosen to stay and talk to her anyway. He could have left. He could have walked away without a word. But instead, he had come back to the counter, chosen to stay, chosen to talk.

  Vanessa swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. “Are they… are they going to come back?”

  Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of annoyance creeping back into his expression. “Not if they know what’s good for them.”

  A small, nervous laugh escaped Vanessa before she could stop it. She quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed, but Lucien didn’t seem to mind. If anything, the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly, almost like he was amused.

  For a moment, they stood there, the tension easing between them, though the air still felt heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. Vanessa wasn’t sure what was going on, or what Lucien was thinking, but she could feel the subtle shift in the way he looked at her.

  And for the first time, she didn’t feel quite so nervous. Maybe it was because Lucien’s irritation wasn’t directed at her, or maybe it was the fact that he had chosen to stay, despite everything. But standing there with him, in the quiet of the bakery, Vanessa felt a little more at ease.

  “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Lucien’s gaze softened again, just for a moment, before he nodded. “You’re welcome.”

  And as the silence settled between them once more, Vanessa couldn’t help but wonder what the squad had seen—what they had really seen—when they had followed Lucien to the bakery that morning.

  Because whatever it was, it had been enough to make them curious.

  Enough to make them follow.

  And enough to make Lucien come back, despite it all.

  As Vanessa stood there, still trying to process the tension between her and Lucien, the door to the backroom suddenly swung open, and in walked Vivian, her face lighting up the moment she saw Lucien standing at the counter. Vanessa’s stomach dropped. Oh no. Not now, not again.

  “Vanessa!” Vivian’s voice was cheerful and loud, immediately drawing Lucien’s attention as she walked over with a knowing grin. “Good morning, Captain Vale!”

  Vanessa’s heart plummeted. She already knew where this was going. Her mother had done this before, and every time, it made her want to sink into the ground and disappear.

  Lucien gave a small nod in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable but noticeably stiffening at the sound of Vivian’s voice. Vanessa felt the heat rising to her cheeks, her entire body tensing as her mother sauntered over, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

  “Such a surprise to see you here again, Captain,” Vivian said with exaggerated enthusiasm. “You’ve been coming by every day now, haven’t you?” Her grin widened, and Vanessa knew what was coming next. “You know, ever since you started visiting, Vanessa’s been so much happier. She’s always smiling and in a good mood.”

  Vanessa’s eyes went wide, panic surging through her veins. “Mom—”

  But Vivian, ignoring her daughter’s protests, pressed on, her voice as bright and cheerful as ever. “It’s just so nice to see! You know, Vanessa works so hard—baking all day, serving customers—and when she’s not here, all she does is sleep. She’s single, you know. And lonely.”

  Vanessa felt like the ground was crumbling beneath her. “Mom, please—”

  “And,” Vivian continued, as if she hadn’t heard a word, “now that you’ve been coming here, she’s been smiling more, hasn’t she? She’s always talking about how good you are at… well, everything.” Vivian winked, clearly enjoying herself. “Maybe you’ve had something to do with her better mood.”

  Lucien, for his part, stood perfectly still, his expression impassive, though Vanessa could sense the tension building. His eyes flicked briefly to Vanessa, then back to Vivian, his face unreadable but definitely uncomfortable.

  “Mom!” Vanessa practically shouted, her voice cracking with embarrassment. “Stop!”

  But Vivian was relentless. “Oh, don’t be shy, sweetie!” She turned her attention back to Lucien, who still hadn’t spoken, though the discomfort on his face was becoming more obvious. “Captain, you should know that Vanessa is quite the catch. A sweet, hardworking girl like her? And she’s been so much happier since you’ve started coming by. I think you’ve made a real impression.”

  Vanessa’s face was burning with humiliation. She could barely even look at Lucien. She couldn’t believe her mother was doing this again—right in front of him. Her heart raced, her palms sweaty as she tried to think of a way to salvage the situation.

  With a deep breath, Vanessa reached out and grabbed her mother by the arm, pulling her away from the counter with more force than usual. “Mom, enough,” she said through gritted teeth, her voice low and urgent. “Please, just go.”

  Vivian, still smiling, looked mildly surprised but not at all offended. “Alright, alright, I’ll leave you two to it,” she said with a teasing grin, before giving Lucien one last look. “But just remember what I said, Captain!”

  Before Vanessa could die of mortification, she all but shoved her mother back into the kitchen, her face burning with embarrassment. She could still feel Lucien’s eyes on her, and the awkwardness in the air was almost suffocating.

  “I’m so sorry,” Vanessa said, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned back to Lucien, unable to meet his gaze. “She—she’s just—ugh, I don’t know why she does this.”

  There was a long, uncomfortable pause. Vanessa’s heart was pounding, and she could feel her pulse in her ears. She didn’t dare look at Lucien, terrified of what she might see on his face—irritation, embarrassment, or worse, indifference.

  But then, to her surprise, Lucien spoke, his voice low and calm.

  “It’s fine,” he said, his tone surprisingly gentle given the situation. “I’ve dealt with worse.”

  Vanessa blinked, startled by his response. She looked up at him, finally meeting his eyes, and found that his expression wasn’t angry or annoyed like she had feared. If anything, he looked almost… amused. In that quiet, subtle way that only Lucien could manage.

  Still, the embarrassment lingered. “I’m really sorry,” Vanessa muttered again, her hands fidgeting with her apron. “She’s just… she thinks she’s helping.”

  Lucien studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly, though not unkindly. “Your mother cares about you,” he said simply, as if that explained everything.

  Vanessa let out a small, nervous laugh, her heart still racing. “Yeah… sometimes a little too much.”

  Lucien didn’t respond right away, but there was a brief flicker of something in his eyes—a hint of understanding, maybe even empathy. He stood there, quiet but present, and despite the lingering awkwardness, Vanessa felt a strange sense of relief.

  At least he wasn’t running out the door after what her mother had just said.

  Vanessa sighed softly, running a hand through her hair as she tried to calm herself down. “I can’t believe she said that,” she muttered, mostly to herself.

  Lucien, however, seemed unfazed. He glanced toward the kitchen door where Vivian had disappeared, then back at Vanessa. “She’s right about one thing,” he said quietly, his voice steady but soft.

  Vanessa blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

  Lucien’s gaze didn’t waver, his expression as calm and controlled as ever. “You have been smiling more.”

  Vanessa’s breath caught in her throat, her heart skipping a beat as she stared at him, completely caught off guard by his words. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say—didn’t know how to respond.

  Did he really notice that?

  Her cheeks flushed again, though this time it wasn’t just from embarrassment. She looked away, biting her lip as she tried to suppress the small smile threatening to tug at her lips. “I guess… maybe I have,” she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Lucien said nothing more, but the silence between them felt diffEliast now—softer, quieter, and somehow more comfortable. Whatever tension had been lingering in the air had eased, and for the first time that morning, Vanessa felt like she could breathe again.

  “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice steady now. “For not… running out after that.”

  Lucien’s mouth twitched, almost imperceptibly, in the faintest hint of a smile. “It would take more than that to get rid of me.”

  Vanessa couldn’t help but smile, her heart lighter than it had been all morning. And though her mother’s words still echoed in the back of her mind, she found herself feeling a little less mortified—and maybe even a little hopeful.

  Because Lucien hadn’t just stayed.

  He’d noticed.