The grand hall of the Carter mansion buzzed with chatter and laughter, the sound of crystal glasses clinking together in celebratory toasts. Among the sea of well-dressed guests, a woman sat at the far end of the ballroom, her fingers tracing the delicate rim of her untouched champagne glass. Kelly Japison of the Japison family, a woman of renowned beauty and charm, observed the crowd with concealed bitterness.
Her sharp eyes flickered toward the center of the room, where men eagerly lined up to ask a particular woman for a dance. Kelly didn't know her name, but she didn't need to. It was obvious the woman was new in these circles—fresh, intriguing, and worst of all, effortlessly captivating.
Her green eyes darkened with envy as she watched Julian Carter, the man she had long set her sights on, steal glances at the woman as she twirled around the dance floor with Vivienne Carter. Kelly clenched her fists. It was infuriating. She had always assumed that Julian, who had never paid much attention to any woman, would naturally gravitate toward her in time. And yet, here she was, watching him glance at another with an expression she couldn't quite read.
The night carried on, and after the dance, guests dispersed, engaging in casual conversations over desserts. It was at this moment that Mrs. Flourish Carter approached Kelly, leaning in close to whisper, "Follow Julian. Wherever he goes, you go. Stay with him until he's somewhere safe. Understood?"
Kelly straightened, her heart skipping a beat. "Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Carter smiled approvingly. "Good girl."
As Kelly prepared to rise, Flourish made her way toward Julian, who had been busy engaging in conversations with influential figures all night. Carrying a drink on a silver tray, she approached her son with a practiced grace.
"Julian, dear, you must be exhausted from all this talking. Here, have a drink."
Julian barely hesitated before taking the glass from her, drinking it in one smooth motion. The warmth of the liquid settled in his chest, and his mother placed a hand on his arm, her lips curving into a small smile.
"You're doing wonderfully. Keep up the good work."
Julian nodded, giving his mother a small smile in return, before continuing his conversations. However, as the minutes passed, a strange sensation crept through his body. His vision blurred at the edges, his skin flushed with unnatural heat, and an overwhelming sensation of desire pooled deep within him. His breath grew shallow, his fingers clenching involuntarily. Something was wrong. He needed to clear his head.
Meanwhile, on the third floor of the mansion, Rose found herself in a dimly lit corridor. The ball had been a spectacle, but she had always been one to indulge in curiosity. She saw the event as the perfect opportunity to explore the mansion further, to finally put her questions to rest about a particular room she had always wondered about.
Reaching the large black door at the end of the hallway, she hesitated for only a moment before pushing it open. The room was enveloped in darkness. She stepped inside cautiously, her fingers reaching for the curtains. With a quick pull, she let the streetlights flood the space, illuminating an expensive yet hauntingly empty bedroom.
Her eyes swept over the grand furnishings, the heavy bookshelves, the neatly arranged desk—it was all so pristine, untouched. This wasn't just any room; this was Julian's. Her chest tightened as she took it all in.
Before she could step further inside, the door suddenly burst open. She gasped, whirling around to find none other than Julian himself, shutting the door behind him with urgency. He turned the lock with a sharp click before leaning back against the wood, his chest rising and falling heavily.
Rose's heart pounded. She was caught.
Julian's head lifted, his eyes landing on her. For a moment, he simply stared, confusion clouding his gaze. His body burned, his pulse racing in a way he couldn't control. The drink—whatever it was—was messing with him, clouding his thoughts, twisting his instincts.
"Rose?" His voice was husky, laced with something she couldn't quite place.
She stiffened at the way he said her name. There was something different about his tone, something... dangerous.
"I—uh—I was just looking around," she stammered, taking a cautious step back.
Julian pushed off the door, his movements slightly unsteady. He ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply. "What are you doing in my room?"
Rose opened her mouth, but no words came out. It wasn't like she could say, 'Oh, I was just snooping because I was curious about you.'
She took another step back, but Julian's sharp eyes caught the movement. He tilted his head, his gaze dark and unreadable. Something was off. He felt... wrong. His breathing was heavier, his pupils slightly blown. And then it clicked.
Something was in that drink.
Just as he realized it, His fists clenched, his jaw tightening as he fought against whatever was trying to take over his body. His mind screamed for control, for logic, but the sensation crawling through his veins was relentless.
He needed to get out.
He needed to get away from her.
But the door was locked, and outside, Kelly stood frozen in place, having followed him as instructed. She reached for the handle, only to find it wouldn't budge. Her heart raced. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. She was meant to be inside with him, to be the one he looked at with desire, not... whoever was in there with him now.
Inside the room, Julian took a slow step forward, his expression unreadable.
"Rose," he murmured, his voice sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.
Rose swallowed hard. She needed to get out of there. Fast.