The mansion was quiet at night.
Too qThe kind of silence that made every small sound feel louder than usual.
Lucas walked through the long hallway slowly, his footsteps soft against the polished marble floor. The large Carter mansion was always calm at night, but tonight felt different.
Maybe it was because of what happened in the elevator earlier.
Maybe it was because of Adrian's words.
You affect me.
Lucas touched his chest unconsciously.
His heart still reacted every time he remembered it.
"That man is dangerous," Lucas muttered quietly to himself.
He had barely eaten dinner.
He had barely spoken.
He had avoided Adrian's gaze the entire evening.
And Adrian didn't force him.
Which made it worse.
Because Adrian just watched him quietly with those deep, calm eyes like he was waiting.
Lucas sighed and entered his room.
He removed his coat and threw himself onto the bed.
"This is bad."
Very bad.
In the original novel, Adrian Carter never showed this kind of behavior.
He was cold.
Rational.
Controlled.
He never chased anyone.
He never got emotionally involved.
But now—
Adrian was slowly stepping closer and closer into Lucas's space.
And Lucas didn't know how to stop it.
Or worse—
A small part of him didn't want to stop it.
Lucas covered his face with a pillow.
"This is dangerous thinking."
Knock.
Lucas froze.
He slowly sat up.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A servant stood there.
"Young Master Lucas, Young Master Adrian is asking for you."
Lucas blinked.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Lucas frowned slightly.
"At this hour?"
The servant nodded.
"He said he needs your help with something in his room."
Lucas sighed.
"Alright."
He stood up and walked out of his room.
The hallway felt colder now.
Lucas walked toward Adrian's room slowly.
His heart was strangely nervous.
Why is he calling me at night?
He stopped in front of Adrian's door.
Knock.
"Come in."
Lucas opened the door and stepped inside.
Adrian was standing near the bathroom.
He looked calm as usual.
Lucas spoke.
"You called me."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas walked closer.
"What is it?"
Adrian pointed toward the bathroom.
"The tap is broken."
Lucas blinked.
"…The tap?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas frowned slightly.
"You called me to fix a tap?"
Adrian spoke calmly.
"You understand these things better."
Lucas sighed.
"Couldn't the servants fix it?"
Adrian answered simply.
"I want you to check it."
Lucas didn't think too much about it.
"Fine."
He walked into the bathroom.
The bathroom was large and modern, with a glass shower stall on one side.
Lucas walked toward the sink.
"Which one?"
Adrian followed behind him.
"The shower tap."
Lucas nodded.
"Alright."
He stepped into the shower stall and bent slightly to check the tap.
"It's probably loose—"
Click.
Lucas froze.
The bathroom door locked.
He turned slightly.
"Adrian?"
Before he could react—
Adrian stepped inside the shower stall.
Lucas blinked.
"What are you—"
Adrian suddenly pushed him gently against the wall.
Lucas's eyes widened.
"Adrian—"
Click.
The shower stall door locked.
Lucas's heart started beating fast.
"Adrian, what are you doing?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Instead, he turned on the shower.
Water poured down suddenly.
Cold at first.
Then warm.
Lucas gasped slightly.
"Adrian!"
Water soaked his clothes instantly.
His shirt clung to his body.
His hair became wet.
Adrian was also soaked.
Standing close.
Very close.
Lucas looked at him in shock.
"Are you crazy?!"
Adrian stepped closer slowly.
Water ran down his face.
His eyes were dark.
Focused.
Intense.
Lucas's breathing became uneven.
"Adrian… what are you doing?"
Adrian spoke quietly.
"You're avoiding me."
Lucas froze.
"That's not true."
Adrian stepped closer again.
"You didn't look at me during dinner."
Lucas swallowed.
"I was tired."
Adrian stopped in front of him.
"So you're running away."
Lucas shook his head.
"I'm not."
Adrian's voice became lower.
"Then why are you nervous around me?"
Lucas's back touched the cold wall.
Water continued pouring down on them.
"I'm not nervous."
Adrian lifted his hand and touched Lucas's wet hair gently.
"You are."
Lucas's heart was beating wildly now.
"Adrian…"
Adrian leaned closer.
"So I decided to stop waiting."
Lucas's eyes widened.
"Stop waiting for what?"
Adrian's voice dropped to a whisper.
"For you to accept me."
Lucas's breath stopped.
Adrian's hand moved to Lucas's cheek.
Warm.
Gentle.
Water ran down their faces.
Lucas whispered.
"This isn't part of the original novel…"
Adrian frowned slightly.
"What?"
Lucas shook his head quickly.
"Nothing."
Adrian leaned closer.
"Lucas."
Lucas's heart pounded.
"Yes?"
Adrian spoke softly.
"You affect me."
Lucas's chest tightened.
Adrian moved closer.
Their bodies almost touching.
Lucas's voice became weak.
"You're too close…"
Adrian whispered.
"Then push me away."
Lucas didn't move.
He couldn't.
Adrian's hand moved to Lucas's waist.
Holding him firmly.
Lucas's fingers trembled slightly.
"Adrian…"
Adrian's voice was low.
"Yes?"
"…This is wrong."
Adrian asked quietly.
"Do you want me to stop?"
Lucas opened his mouth.
But no words came out.
Adrian leaned closer.
Their foreheads touched.
Water continued falling around them.
Lucas whispered.
"…I don't know."
Adrian's eyes softened slightly.
Then he spoke quietly.
"I do."
And then—
He kissed Lucas.
Lucas froze.
The kiss was slow at first.
Careful.
Testing.
Lucas's mind went blank.
Adrian's lips were warm.
Gentle.
Lucas's fingers slowly grabbed Adrian's shirt.
The kiss deepened slightly.
Lucas's heart raced.
Adrian pulled him closer.
Lucas felt his entire body heating up.
Water poured down around them, making everything feel unreal.
Lucas's mind screamed.
This is not supposed to happen.
This was never in the original novel.
But his body didn't move away.
Instead—
He held Adrian tighter.
Adrian paused slightly.
Then kissed him again.
This time deeper.
More certain.
Lucas's breathing became uneven.
Adrian held him firmly, like he was afraid Lucas would disappear.
After a few moments, Adrian slowly pulled back.
Lucas was breathing heavily.
His face slightly red.
Adrian looked at him quietly.
"Lucas."
Lucas couldn't look at him.
"…Yes?"
Adrian spoke softly.
"I like you."
Lucas froze completely.
His heart stopped.
Adrian continued.
"I want you."
Lucas's hands trembled slightly.
"This… this is wrong…"
Adrian asked calmly.
"Do you hate it?"
Lucas stayed silent.
Adrian stepped back slightly.
"If you say stop, I will."
Lucas looked at him slowly.
Water still falling.
His voice was soft.
"…I don't hate it."
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly.
Lucas continued quietly.
"But I'm scared."
Adrian moved closer again.
"I'll wait."
Lucas looked at him.
"I won't force you."
Lucas's chest tightened.
Adrian gently touched his cheek again.
"But I won't give up either."
Lucas's heart trembled.
Because now he understood.
Adrian was serious.
This wasn't a mistake.
This wasn't confusion.
Adrian Carter had decided to pursue him.
And this—
This completely broke the original story.
Lucas closed his eyes slightly.
The plot is gone.
Completely gone.
And for the first time—
He wasn't sure if that was a bad thing.