Chapter 1
The House I Shouldn't Stay In
I shouldn't have agreed to stay in this house.
That thought crossed my mind the moment the heavy iron gate closed behind us.
The mansion stood quietly on top of the hill, surrounded by tall trees that blocked most of the afternoon sunlight. It looked less like a home and more like something out of a movie about powerful men who didn't like being disturbed.
Ryan squeezed my hand excitedly.
"Welcome to my home, Luna," he said with a grin.
Home.
The word sounded strange in my ears.
I adjusted the strap of my bag and forced a small smile. "Your house is… huge."
"Right?" Ryan laughed proudly. "My dad barely stays here anyway. You'll have the place almost to yourself."
Almost.
That word didn't comfort me as much as he probably thought it would.
The moment we stepped inside, the air felt cooler. The marble floor reflected the soft golden light from the chandelier above us, and everything looked expensive enough to make me afraid of touching anything.
Ryan dropped his keys onto a table and stretched his arms.
"Make yourself comfortable," he said. "You're basically family already."
I opened my mouth to respond...
Then I heard footsteps.
Slow, Calm.
Ryan froze.
For a second, the entire living room seemed to go silent.
And then a deep voice spoke from the staircase.
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
My heart skipped.
Ryan sighed under his breath. "Dad…"
I turned.
And that was the first time I saw him.
Adrian Cole.
He stood halfway down the staircase, one hand resting casually on the railing. The soft evening light from the tall windows behind him cast long shadows across his face.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Sharp features that looked carved out of stone.
He wore a simple black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, but somehow he still looked more intimidating than anyone I had ever met.
But it wasn't his height or his posture that made me nervous.
It was his eyes.
Cold. Observant. Quietly judging.
They moved slowly from Ryan…
to me.
My throat went dry.
Ryan cleared his throat awkwardly. "Dad, this is Luna. My girlfriend."
The silence that followed felt longer than it should have.
Adrian stepped down the last few stairs.
Each step echoed faintly against the marble floor.
When he finally stopped in front of us, he was close enough that I could see the faint line of a scar near his eyebrow.
His gaze settled on me again.
Not rude.
Not friendly.
Just… studying.
Like I was a puzzle he hadn't decided whether to solve.
"So," he said calmly, his voice low and controlled. "You're the reason my son suddenly wants to stay home this summer."
Heat rushed to my face.
Ryan laughed nervously. "Come on, Dad."
Adrian ignored him.
His attention was still on me.
I forced myself to speak.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Cole."
Another pause.
Then the corner of his mouth moved slightly.
"Adrian," he corrected.
Ryan clapped his hands once. "See? Everything's fine."
But Adrian didn't move away.
Instead, he asked a question that made my stomach tighten.
"How long are you planning to stay here, Luna?"
I hesitated.
Ryan answered for me.
"Just the summer."
Adrian looked at him.
Then at me again.
And for a moment, I felt like he could see straight through every nervous thought in my head.
Finally, he nodded once.
"Then I hope you understand one thing."
His voice remained calm.
But there was something in it that made the room feel colder.
"This house has rules."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Dad..."
Adrian raised a hand slightly.
Ryan stopped talking immediately.
Then Adrian's gaze returned to me.
"And I expect guests," he said slowly, "to respect them."
I nodded quickly.
"Of course."
Another silence fell between us.
Ryan suddenly checked his phone.
"Oh, crap."
"What?" I asked.
"My manager just texted me." He groaned. "They need me back in the city tonight."
My stomach dropped.
"Tonight?"
"Just for a few days," he said quickly. "Work stuff. It'll be quick."
I looked at him.
Then at the quiet mansion around us.
Then at the man standing only a few feet away.
Ryan grabbed his car keys again. "You'll be fine here. Dad's around."
Adrian didn't react.
Ryan kissed my cheek quickly.
"Text me, okay?"
Before I could even process what was happening, he was already heading for the door.
The gate outside opened again.
Then closed.
And just like that…
The mansion became very quiet.
I slowly turned around.
Adrian Cole was still standing there.
Watching me.
Not saying anything.
Not moving.
Just observing.
The weight of his gaze made my heart beat faster.
Finally, he spoke again.
"You should choose your room upstairs."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Dinner is at seven."
Then he turned and walked away toward the study.
Leaving me standing alone in the middle of the enormous living room.
I exhaled slowly.
Something about this house felt… dangerous.
And for the first time since arriving, a strange thought crossed my mind.
Maybe staying here all summer…
was a terrible mistake.
Upstairs, a door closed quietly.
And somehow, even from across the house…
I could still feel Adrian Cole watching me.