C14 Sneak Peak Into The Past

Frustration flared in her chest, colliding with the weird, unexplained attraction she felt toward him. “You don't know?” she echoed, her voice rising. “You’ve been keeping secrets since the day we met. How am I supposed to trust you when you won’t tell me the truth?” Lucas took a deep breath, his usual composure fraying at the edges.

"It's complicated."

Sophia narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Yeah, I've noticed that with you, everything is complicated."

Tension-filled silence hung between them. With his hand running through his hair, Lucas turned away. He appeared almost helpless for the first time.

He whispered, "I didn't intend for you to see this," with his back to her. “But, now that you've... I am unable to reverse the actions that have been taken.”

Sophia's heartbeat accelerated. "What..actions? What are you talking about?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he walked to the large window overlooking the city, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the glowing skyline.

Sophia’s frustration gave way to something deeper—an ache, a longing to understand him. Despite her reservations, she couldn’t deny the connection between them, nor could she ignore the way her heart wrenched every time she saw him like this: guarded, yet clearly human.

She walked warily toward him. "Lucas," she whispered softly, "at least tell me why you painted it if you can't explain."

His shoulders stiffened, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. But then he turned to face her, his expression a mix of anguish and resolve. “Because I had to,” he responded simply. The words remained in the air, delivering no clarification but conveying a weight that left Sophia reeling.

Her attention returned to the painting, to the brushstrokes that appeared to capture not only her likeness but something deeper—something intimate.

She hoped that Lucas was sincere and that his intentions weren't as sinister as they appeared.

However, given that each response he provided simply raised additional queries, how could she?

As if sensing her turmoil, Lucas drew closer, his presence warm and steady despite the tension. “Sophia,” he began, his voice low, “I know I’m asking for a lot, but….trust me.”

Her eyes met his, and for a tiny second, she saw something raw and unprotected in his gaze.

It was enough to make her heart falter, to make her question the walls she’d built around herself.

Her focus then returned to the portrait and the tiny brass plaque that was attached to its frame.

The date.

As she read the inscription, her breath caught: 2020. Six years ago.

She was hit by the year like a ton of bricks, bringing up memories she had long since forgotten.

The year Shirley Westbrook had shattered her trust, derailing not just her career but her sense of self-believe.

Her suspicion flared again as she turned back to Lucas. With a quivering voice, she screamed, "Why that year? Then, why did you paint it?"

Lucas's jaw tightened as his face grew serious. "Sophia—"

"Don't," she cut in, her temper growing. “Don’t ask me to trust you when you’re keeping things like this from me.” She retreated when he reached for her, causing their distance to grow beyond mere physical space.

“I need answers, Lucas,” she continued, her voice strong despite the agony within her. “Until I get them, I don’t know how I can move forward with….any of this.” She briefly believed that Lucas might finally tell her the truth as his eyes swept over hers.

However, he took a step back and retreated behind his typical stoic mask. "You'll get them," he muttered. “When the time is right.”

The distance between them hurt Sophia's heart, but she knew she couldn't allow herself to be influenced this time.

She turned and left the building without saying anything more, leaving Lucas alone with the image and the secrets that tied them both.

Her mind was filled with questions as she walked down to the car, waiting with her arms folded in front of her.

The portrait, the date, Lucas’s cryptic behavior—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn’t yet solve.

However, there was no doubt that whatever Lucas was concealing had something to do with that year. And maybe with Shirley.

Sophia squinted her eyes in concentration, trying to connect the dots again, but simply got more confused. She heaved a sigh and rubbed her forehead.

Why did it have to be this way? Finding the gorgeous man, falling helplessly for him, and seeing that he somehow feels the same for you, but they have to be stuck with… goddamn secrets and circumstances.

Lucas observed her from inside, standing angrily by the car. He regretted bringing her in the first place.

He had hoped to calm her from the weird stuff she had been experiencing since she met him, with his great artistic pieces. But, things got even more complicated instead.

How did he forget to remove that particular painting before bringing her here? How is he supposed to start explaining without endangering her?

It was bad enough that her father had to die like that because of his actions.

The actions that he is trying to atone for, how can he live with himself if he endangered Sophia as well by telling her the truth now?

No, he can't

He can't risk losing someone he cares about again. Not after his parent's death, his wife's death, and Mr Lynn's as well. He had suffered enough. He wasn't going to lose anyone again.

Lucas turned back to the image, his fingers brushing over the painted edge. His voice was barely a whisper, but the words stayed in the room like a ghost.

“I didn't want you to find out like this.”