"Alex, come on, you know she'd do anything for you. Just give her a chance, hm?"
A young man pouted, his blood-red eyes narrowing at the other figure in the carriage. But his companion seemed utterly indifferent—eyes closed, arms folded across his chest, one leg elegantly crossed over the other.
The talkative man studied him for a moment. Alexander's long, silky black hair partially obscured his face, the bangs brushing against closed lids. His pale, sharply sculpted features could make both men and women's hearts falter. Even his partially unbuttoned black-and-red shirt revealed a glimpse of his taut, well-defined chest.
Alexander's lips curled into a smirk. "Theodore, are you so enamored that you want to kiss me?"
Theodore stiffened. "I'll pass on that offer." He folded his arms, turning away.
Alexander chuckled, amused by his friend's childish reaction, and lazily ran his fingers through his thick hair.
Suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. Theodore almost tumbled forward, barely catching himself, while Alexander remained perfectly still.
His gaze lifted toward the coachman, irritation flickering across his face. "Is there a problem, Mr. Falcon?" he asked coolly.
The coachman visibly paled, sweat beading on his forehead. "Y-Young Master… there's a… there's a girl lying in the middle of the road." His voice trembled, knowing a single misstep could cost him his head.
Alexander's eyes narrowed. "Hmm…"
He stepped out of the carriage, Theodore following behind, already pitying the poor soul who had unknowingly stumbled into Alexander's path.
Theodore's eyes widened at the sight of the unconscious girl. She lay curled up in the dirt, long raven-black hair partially covering her delicate face. Her dress, once black, was now caked in mud, the hem tattered. Long, wet lashes fluttered against her pale cheeks as she shivered violently in the cold.
Alexander remained impassive, but a subtle twitch in his right eye betrayed a flicker of irritation.
"She might be a runaway slave," Theodore murmured, glancing at his friend.
Alexander gave a slow nod, his gaze lingering on her. A strange sensation prickled at the back of his mind—something about her unsettled him.
"Can I take her home? She looks like she needs help, and I'll take good care of her," Theodore grinned mischievously.
Alexander's expression darkened instantly. His glare was sharp enough to cut through steel.
"If you want her, buy her from the auction, little prick," he snapped.
Theodore flinched, confused by the sudden hostility.
Alexander turned to the coachman, who was already bracing for orders.
"Move her off the road. Put her under that tree." He gestured toward the darkened forest edge before striding back to the carriage. "Let's go, Theodore, before I gouge your eyes out."
Theodore swallowed hard and hurried after him.
---
That night, Alexander arrived at his grand estate. A maid was already stationed at the entrance, ready to receive his coat. Without a word, he shrugged it off and tossed it to her.
"Send Hilda to my room. And inform my parents that I'll be leaving early with Mr. Harper for the auction tomorrow." His lips curled into a deceptively charming smile, making the maid blush.
A few hours past midnight, a curvaceous woman slipped out of Alexander's chambers, clad in nothing but a quilt.
Inside, Alexander stood on the balcony, naked, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. Smoke curled into the night air as his thoughts drifted back to the strange girl lying in the road.
There was something off about her. He couldn't quite place it.
But the lingering twitch in his right eye told him one thing—
She was trouble.