Leia felt lighter the moment she stepped out of the mansion's suffocating walls. Kieran was surprisingly easy to be around. He was gentle, attentive, and refreshingly sincere. He had the kind of charm that made you feel seen without being overwhelmed. She was more than willing to call him a friend.
"Kieran, it's honestly hard to believe you've never dated anyone seriously," she said, glancing at him with a teasing smile. "Women must be falling all over you."
He chuckled softly, keeping his eyes on the road. "They are. But I've never been interested. I tried a few times during college, but no one really wanted to know me. They were drawn to the title, the wealth, the name... not the person behind it."
She tilted her head, thoughtful. "Not all women are like that."
"Maybe not," he said, shrugging lightly. "But the ones I did like were. And things always got worse once they found out about my brothers. Lucien's name alone makes people tremble in fear, and Ronan... well, he's not exactly known for his patience."
"Sounds like they're both hopeless romantics," she said playfully.
Kieran laughed. "Not exactly. More like romantically challenged. They don't really get love, or how to handle it. But now that you're in the house, maybe things will shift. Lucien, at least, seems to be making an effort to keep you comfortable. That's rare for him. So... maybe he's better with women than I thought. Regarding Ronan, I'm also unsure. But I can tell you none of us will ever harm you."
Leia wondered if she should trust his words. Well, her plan was to bring these brothers against each other so that she could run away from them.
The car finally screeched to a halt, and they were in front of the mansion. She wished she could run away, but Lucien was too smart. He didn't allow her to go outside without trying to test her. He looked calm and relaxed all the time, but behind that exterior, she knew a dangerous man was hidden, one to whom making a fool of wasn't easy.
She stepped out of the car and carried the muffin box inside.
"Kieran, thanks a lot. This outing really helped me. Surprisingly, this city is so peaceful and beautiful," she said as they entered the living room.
"I am glad you enjoyed this short trip," Kieran said.
"Now, I feel hungry. I will check in the kitchen to see what's being cooked," she opined.
"Sure. I need to answer this call. I'll see you at the dinner table," Kieran said before stepping away, his phone already pressed to his ear.
Left alone, Leia asked a nearby maid for directions to the kitchen. Once there, she found two chefs preparing for dinner. When they saw her, they paused briefly to greet her with polite nods.
She smiled in return and walked over to the counter, setting down the box in her hands. Carefully, she unpacked the muffins she had picked up from the market and arranged them neatly on a large plate. This was a small gesture, an attempt to win over the brothers, even if just a little. Every step mattered if she wanted to gain their trust and eventually find a way out.
She stopped outside Lucien's room and knocked.
"Come in," came his firm voice.
She stepped inside and found him lounging on the couch, shirt half-open, focused on some documents in his hand. A scar cut across his chest, just partially visible, hinting at a story she didn't yet know.
"I brought muffins from the market," she said softly.
He finally looked up from his file, his intense gaze meeting hers. She approached and set the plate in front of him. "Have some."
"Sit," Lucien said.
She glanced at the armchair across from him.
"Next to me," he added, patting the space beside him.
Reluctantly, she settled beside him on the couch. He picked up one of the muffins, raising it toward his lips—but then turned, holding it out to her instead.
"You first, Leia."
"I'll eat later," she said, trying to keep her tone light.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Why do you want to feed them to me now?"
She clenched her jaw. "Don't eat then," she snapped, snatching the muffin back and setting it down with more force than necessary. Without waiting for a response, she stood up and walked out of the room, the plate still in hand.
"Did he think I mixed something in them?" she muttered under her breath, a dry chuckle escaping as she descended the stairs.
Next, she went to Kieran's room. He was still on his call as she could hear his voice. Just as she raised her hand to knock, the door opened. He smiled at her and gestured for her to come in.
She held up a muffin with a hopeful expression, silently offering it as she waited for his conversation to end. To her surprise, Kieran leaned forward mid-call and took a small bite, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He chewed, then smiled even more and gently took the muffin from her hand.
He gestured for her to take one too, as if saying, 'He loves it.'
She smiled and waited patiently for him to finish the call. When he finally hung up, he turned his attention to her, finishing the last bite of the muffin in his hand.
"Your choice is good. It's delicious," Kieran said.
She had taken one too, nibbling on it slowly. "I picked them randomly," she said through a bite, then added, "Eat one more. There are plenty on the plate."
He chuckled softly. "I need to save space for dinner," he replied, then looked at her with a playful glint in his eyes. "You should eat them."
Before she could respond, his fingers reached out and gently brushed the crumbs off the corner of her lips. The touch was soft, but it made her heart skip for just a second.
Feeling flustered, she quickly wiped her mouth with her fingers and finished the second muffin in silence, trying to compose herself.
There was something dangerously kind about Kieran.
"I should go and give some to Ronan as well," she said.
"Don't go near him," Kieran said, holding her wrist as she had almost turned to the door.