Since She Met Lucian

"Nervous?" Lily walked over to Amelia, noticing the awkwardness that hovered around her. "You and Mr. Lucian are a couple. What are you nervous about?" she asked, her tone belying her confusion despite her friendly smile.

Amelia felt her cheeks warm with her words. Did Lily know? "Lily, you…" she stated nervously. "Even you know it?"

"You care about him. That much is clear to me. If I may be so bold to say this, I think that a little more honesty from the both of you would carry your feelings across to the other," Lily expressed her thoughts earnestly.

Amelia felt her shoulders relax. Lily was right, but it was one thing to know, and another to actually express it through actions. It would take her a lot of courage to take a step forward.

At this point, she remembered Jasper and the time they spent together. Five years was a long time. One would think that in this period, they would have already familiar to each other as breathing, like the way old couples finish each other's sentences. It should have been that way, but even with that length of time, it was as if there was hesitation in her that she could not place. The two of them had shared kisses, but it never seemed to go any further than that. Looking back now, she was not entirely sure she wanted that with him.

Half an hour later, Lucian came back home. Amelia thoughtfully took his bag and asked him if he had already eaten. If he hadn't yet, she would go straight to making dinner for him.

For a moment, Lucian was taken aback. Then, he replied, "There was a sudden meeting. It had been a hell of a day. I haven’t even realized that I haven't eaten yet until you asked. Dinner sounds nice, thank you."

Then, he went to the living room and sat down.

'So he was having a meeting...' Amelia thought. 'Thank god, he was not angry because of me.' She felt relieved now, glancing at his furrowed brows.

Just then, a thought occurred to her. Right. Dinner. She could try to at least relieve his stress with good food. With a newfound determination, she went to the kitchen and busied herself with cooking, all the while thinking of him.

Lucian had lied. He knew that Amelia had picked up on his sour mood. He had deliberately made up an excuse about a meeting so as not to make her feel guilty, but the truth was, he was brooding about something that was far from work.

The words that she said kept replaying themselves in his mind. 'We are not familiar with each other.' He threw a glance towards the direction of the kitchen where he heard the telltale sounds of cooking. The two of them had been living under the same roof for two months now, and they were a couple. Why did she say that they were not very familiar with each other?

Soon enough, dinner was ready and Amelia sat opposite Lucian as they ate together.

"You’re a wonderful cook," he praised. With a cheeky grin, she replied, "Why thank you, Mr. Lucian."

Meanwhile, Lily had quietly retreated to her own room to give the two of them their space. Their voices were the only sound that echoed in the spacious house.

When they had finished, Lucian offered to wash the dishes, but was quickly stopped by Amelia. She snatched the bowls from his hand and said, "We are rich, but I'd feel bad for the dishes if they break."

Lucian frowned. He knew what Amelia meant, and truthfully he knew that he had no comeback and that it was his loss this time. He didn't insist and leaned against the kitchen door instead, watching as she cleaned the plates and tableware.

Even with the knowledge that he was watching her, she was still doing things like no one else was there. Her attention was completely absorbed in her task. Lucian couldn't help but find her relaxed air somewhat charming.

Now he understood what people meant when they said that a woman was most attractive when she was serious. At this moment, Lucian strongly agreed. He could go on for hours just watching her like this.

"Mrs. Amelia, are we going to sleep in different rooms tonight?" Lucian asked when she was done. He was standing at the staircase, as if waiting for her to decide which direction he would go to next.

moment at his question. Suddenly, she remembered that he had changed her clothes last night and her face was immediately

face and her downcast eyes. She said it as if she

her and took her hands, waiting until she raised her eyes to meet his and said seriously, "Don't

Lucian went into

over Lucian's words. Then,

she entered, and she knew that Lucian was washing up. Her heart pounded in her chest as the image of them sleeping on the same bed came

was being

of Amelia. He had not expected her to

"Uh..."

trying very hard not to look at the muscles that were teasingly revealed to her from the gap of his bathrobe. She was at a loss of what to do next. From a brief moment, she was seized with a strong desire to run to

to notice her awkwardness. He walked up

their eyes met, she felt

she stuttered. "We are a couple now. If we sleep in different bedrooms all the time, it might put distance between

She had run out

to make their eyes meet once more. "Look, Amelia. It's not as complicated as you think. I will always respect your decision whatever it

doubt in Amelia's mind that Lucian would never force her

she blushed a shade deeper. "I'm going

with his eyes, a complicated

half an hour, and today she stared at herself in the mirror for a long time after, so all in all it took up a whole hour before she slowly walked

beginning to be afraid that the air in

he stood up, Amelia walked out in a cartoon fur pajama with water still dripping from the

Taking a dry towel, he led her to the dressed and said in a deep voice, "You have to dry

what Lucian was saying. She always washed her hair in the evening but ended up falling asleep without properly drying her hair off. In the morning, her head would feel heavy,

were handling her so delicately as his

dry, he pointed to the quilt on the bed and said, "I've

as she walked to the side of the bed and put the two quilts together. Then, she slipped into

you cold? I'll raise the temperature if you want," Lucian

farther than I ever have tonight. Why are you so stupid?

instant, the room was pitch-black, but even the darkness was not enough to cover the awkward atmosphere in the

now, stupid.' She clutched the quilt nervously as she felt a dip in her side. There was the smell of mint. Amelia

Lucian made no move

he said in a low and deep voice that seemed to be magnified by the darkness. It was all

a nice dream," she answered, moving closer

hold her in his arms. He reached out a hand and

confused, but