Chapter 3: Temptation
Lucy didn't move. Jack's fingers were still resting lightly against her arm, barely there—but it felt like fire against her skin. Her breath slowed, then quickened, this was wrong. Everything about this was wrong.
And yet… she didn't step away. Jack noticed.
Of course, he did. He always noticed everything.
His eyes dropped briefly to where his hand touched her, then lifted back to her face. There was something different in his expression now—something less controlled.
"Why aren't you pulling away?" he asked quietly.
Lucy swallowed. "I don't know she admitted.
The honesty surprised both of them. For a moment, neither moved.
The silence stretched, thick with tension. Then Lucy stepped back suddenly, breaking it.
"This… this doesn't change anything," she said quickly, almost defensively.
Jack's hand fell back to his side. His expression shifted again—back to calm, unreadable.
"It doesn't," he agreed.
But the air between them said otherwise. Lucy turned away, her heart pounding in her chest.
"I'm going to my room." Jack didn't stop her.
"Lucy."
She paused. His voice wasn't commanding this time. It was… softer. She hated that it made her hesitate.
"What?" she asked without turning. "Be careful."
Her brows furrowed. "Of what?"
A brief silence. Then—
"Of misunderstanding things." Lucy let out a small, bitter laugh.
"You mean like thinking you're human?" Jack didn't respond. She didn't wait for him to. She walked away.
That night, Lucy couldn't sleep. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the moment over and over again.
His touch.
His voice.
The way he looked at her. It didn't make sense. Jack Hollow wasn't supposed to look at anyone like that. He wasn't supposed to feel anything.
And yet… Lucy turned onto her side, frustrated.
"This is stupid," she muttered to herself. It meant nothing. It had to mean nothing. Because if it didn't …
Then everything she believed about this marriage would start to crumble. And she wasn't ready for that.
The next morning, Lucy woke up late. Sunlight poured into her room, warm and calm-completely
Opposite of how she felt inside. She sat up slowly, running a hand through her hair.
Her thought immediately went back to him. She groaned. "Why am I even thinking about him?"
Because you didn't pull away.
Lucy froze.
That thought lingered.
Uncomfortable.
True.
She quickly got out of bed, shaking it off. "No," she said firmly. "I'm not doing this." She wasn't going to get emotionally involved.
Not with him.
Not ever.
Later that day, Lucy found herself wandering through the mansion. She wasn't used to it. Every hallway felt too big. Too empty, too quiet.
She walked into the living room-and stopped.
Jack was there. Sitting on the couch, laptop open, focused. As always. For a second, she considered turning back. But it was too late.
He had already noticed her.
"Good morning," he said without looking up. Lucy crossed her arms. "It's afternoon."
"Then good afternoon." she rolled her eyes slightly. "Do you ever take a break?" she asked.
Jack finally looked up at her. "No."
Lucy walked further into the room, trying to act normal, trying to ignore, trying to suppress what still lingered from last night.
"You should," she said. "You might actually start acting like a normal person."
Jack watched her for a moment. "And what is a normal person?" Lucy shrugged. "Someone who feels things." "I feel things." She raised a brow.
"Like what?" A pause.
Then—
"Controlled."
Lucy scoffed. "That's not a feeling." "It is to me."
She shook her head. "You are unbelievable."
Jack closed his laptop slowly. "And yet you're still here."
The word made her pause. There was something behind them. Something deeper. Lucy frowned.
"I don't have a choice." Jack stood up.
"Everyone has a choice." Lucy's heart tightened.
"Not me." Jack stepped closer—the Same distance as last night.
Too close.
Too familiar.
"Then why didn't you walk away yesterday?" he asked quietly. Her breath caught. There it was.
The question she didn't want to answer. Lucy looked away. "That was a mistake."
Jack studied her face. "Was it?"
She forced herself to meet his eyes. "Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then Jack did something unexpected. He stepped even closer. Now there was barely any space between them. Lucy's heart started racing.
"Then prove it," he said. Her brows furrowed. "What?" "Prove it meant nothing."
Before she could react— he reached out again.
This time, his hand didn't stop at her arm. It moved up slowly… deliberately… until his fingers brushed against her cheek.
Lucy froze. Her body refused to move. Her mind screamed at her to step back. But she didn't.
Jack's thumb traced lightly along her jaw. His touch was gentle. Too gentle for someone like him.
"Say it again," he murmured. Lucy's lip parted slightly. "S-say what?" "That it was a mistake."
Her heart pounded so loudly that she was sure he could hear it. "It was," she said—but her voice wasn't steady anymore.
Jack's gaze dropped briefly to her lips. That small movement didn't go unnoticed. Lucy felt it. That shift. That pull. Dangerous. Unavoidable.
"If it was a mistake…" Jack said softly, "Then why aren't you stopping me?" Lucy's chest rose and fell quickly. "I…" she started, but the words wouldn't come out.
Because she didn't know the answer, and that scared her. Jack leaned closer. So close now…
She could feel his breath. Everything slowed.
The world.
The moment.
Her thoughts.
This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't part of the contract. This wasn't part of the plan.
And yet— Neither of them stopped.
Jack's lips hovered just inches from hers… And Lucy— Didn't move away.