The elevator doors opened.
But neither of them moved.
Lucien's gaze remained fixed on her lips.
Ava felt her body react in ways she couldn't control.
Heat spread through her chest.
Her heart pounded violently.
"Lucien…" she whispered.
He exhaled slowly.
As if fighting something inside himself.
"You should keep your distance from me," he said quietly.
"Why?"
His dark eyes lifted to hers.
"Because I'm not a good man."
Ava shook her head.
"You saved me."
His lips curved slightly.
"That doesn't make me good."
Slowly, his hand lifted again.
His fingers brushed lightly against her wrist.
The touch was gentle.
But the electricity between them was undeniable.
Ava's breath caught.
"Then why are you helping me?" she asked softly.
Lucien hesitated.
For the first time, something vulnerable flickered in his eyes.
"Because," he said quietly, "you were never supposed to matter to me."
Her heart skipped.
"But you do."
Silence fell between them.
Then Ava did something unexpected.
She stepped closer.
Close enough that their bodies almost touched.
Lucien's muscles tensed instantly.
"Ava…"
But she didn't step back.
Instead, she whispered,
"Maybe I'm not afraid of you."
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"You should be."
"Why?"
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"Because if you keep looking at me like that…"
His hand slowly slid to the small of her back.
"…I might forget all the reasons I'm trying to stay away."
Ava's heart raced wildly.
The tension between them was unbearable.
For a moment, she thought he might kiss her.
But Lucien suddenly stepped away.
Distance returned between them.
His control was back.
"Get some sleep," he said quietly.
Then he walked out of the elevator.
Leaving Ava standing there with a racing heart…
And a desire she didn't fully understand.
[09:56, 14/03/2026] Nonny: Chapter 9 – Shadows of the Past
Ava couldn't sleep.
Lucien's words replayed over and over in her mind.
You were never supposed to matter to me.
She stared at the ceiling of the hotel room, her heart refusing to calm down. The memory of standing in that elevator with him still burned under her skin. The way his hand rested on her back… the way his voice dropped when he warned her about temptation.
It scared her.
But what scared her even more was how much she wanted to feel it again.
A soft vibration from her phone interrupted her thoughts.
Unknown number.
Her stomach tightened.
She hesitated… then answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then a faint whisper.
"Ava… you shouldn't trust him."
Her blood ran cold.
"Who is this?"
The voice sounded distorted, like someone speaking through a damaged speaker.
"He erased you."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"What?"
"He's the reason your life disappeared."
The call ended.
Ava sat frozen on the bed.
Lucien.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Could it be true?
Before she could process the thought, the door opened.
Lucien walked in.
His dark eyes immediately locked onto her face.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," he said calmly.
Her throat went dry.
"Someone called me."
Lucien stopped moving.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
She swallowed.
"But they said something."
His gaze sharpened.
"What did they say?"
Ava forced the words out.
"They said you erased me."
The room fell silent.
Lucien's expression didn't change.
But something dark flickered behind his eyes.
"Did they," he said quietly.
Ava watched him carefully.
"Is it true?"
For a long moment, Lucien didn't answer.
Then he walked closer.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
His voice dropped to a low murmur.
"If I erased you…"
His fingers lightly lifted her chin.
"…why would I spend every second protecting you?"
Her heart raced.
"I don't know."
Lucien studied her face.
"You will learn something about the world you stepped into, Ava."
His thumb brushed softly against her jaw.
"Truth is rarely simple."