Overnight Heiress

"The Caldwells could be playing a sick game," Cole said. "It wouldn't be surprising."

I sucked in a shaky breath, trying to process everything.

"They…" I hesitated, my throat tightening. "They wouldn't go this far, would they?"

Cole didn't answer right away, and the silence only made my pulse pound harder.

If Nicholas was really dead, then who left the locket? Who got past security? Who was trying to send me a message?

I swallowed hard, my mind spinning with possibilities.

"There's another option," Cole finally said, watching me closely. "What if someone else is using his name? Someone who knows what he did to you and wants to mess with you?"

"Either way, someone is watching me," I murmured, a chill creeping down my spine. "And they want me to know it."

Cole stepped closer. "You're not dealing with this alone, Astrid," he said, his voice low but certain. "We'll figure this out."

I looked up at him, his gray eyes deep and piercing, like polished silver catching the light. So beautiful in a way that felt almost hypnotic.

My gaze lowered to his lips.

Something inside me stirred.

I didn't think. I just leaned in, drawn to him like a force I couldn't fight. My heart pounded as the space between us shrank, as the warmth of him pulled me closer.

For a second, I thought he'd move away.

But he didn't.

Instead, he leaned in too.

Slowly.

Like he was fighting it, just as much as I was.

Our breaths mixed. His lips hovered over mine, close enough that I could feel the heat of them, but not close enough to touch. My pulse hammered, my body tense with anticipation, waiting—just waiting—for him to close the last inch.

Then, just when I thought he would—

Cole exhaled sharply and pulled back.

Not harshly. Not coldly. But with just enough distance to leave me aching.

"I need to keep looking into this," he said, his voice low, steady. Like nothing had happened.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

I forced myself to step back, to breathe, to act like my heart wasn't still racing.

I could still feel the heat of him, the ghost of a touch that never quite happened. And the worst part? I wanted it to.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Cole didn't say anything else. He just turned and walked away, like I wasn't standing there questioning everything.

I opened my mouth to stop him but snapped it shut just as fast. What would I even say? Don't go? I shook my head, pushing the thought away.

I needed to clear my head. A shower. Some fresh air. Maybe a walk around the estate would help.

After rinsing off, I threw on a pair of jeans and a black hoodie, pulling the hood over my head as I stepped out of my room. Cole wasn't outside, but someone else was.

The man stood up abruptly from his seat.

"Miss Caldwell," he greeted with a slight bow.

"I'm just going for a walk."

"Should I come with you?"

"I'll be fine." I didn't wait for a response before heading toward the exit.

The estate was massive, acres of perfectly manicured greenery stretching for miles. I used to take walks like this with Mr. Caldwell when he was alive. He'd always complain about being tired—despite it being his idea in the first place.

A small, sad smile tugged at my lips. Things were easier when I was just his caregiver. When my life wasn't tangled in whatever this was.

I sighed, realizing I had wandered farther than I meant to. The house was a distant shape behind me. I turned to head back—

And then I heard it..

"Shit! Fucking mud."

I frowned as Asher, Maria's son, stumbled out from behind one of the hedges, muttering curses under his breath. What was he doing out here? Was he following me?

He looked up, clearly startled to see me. Then, just as quickly, his expression shifted into a smirk.

"Well, if it isn't the heiress herself."

My frown deepened. "Are you following me?"

He let out a sharp laugh, the kind meant to mock.

"Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart. I wouldn't dream of following a flat ass like you."

My mouth fell open in shock.

"What? Not used to getting rejected?" He scoffed, running a hand through his messy brown hair. "This is my spot. Where I come to vape and get away from the chaos."

I nodded once and turned away, deciding this conversation wasn't worth my time.

"You've come a long way from the house," Asher suddenly said casually.

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned back to him and watched as his gaze dropped to my chest before trailing down my legs in a way that made my skin crawl.

"Yeah. I needed some air."

A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "You know, There are no cameras. No guards. Just us two, all the way out here." His voice was almost playful, like he was just tossing the idea around. "I could do whatever I wanted. Make you scream. And no one would hear a thing."

My stomach twisted.

I took a step back. Then another.

"Back off, Asher," I warned.

Asher's smirk widened. "Running already?"

I turned and bolted. I didn't wait to see if he was bluffing.

I barely made it three steps before something heavy crashed into me from behind, knocking the air from my lungs.

I hit the ground hard, dirt scraping my palms, Asher's weight pinning me down.

I sucked in a panicked breath just as his hand clamped over my mouth.

"Hush, Heiress," Asher murmured, his grip tightening as I struggled beneath him. "Struggling is pointless. This will be over soon."

I kicked out wildly, my heart pounding in terror, but he only pressed down harder, pinning me in place. His free hand fumbled with his belt, a sick grin tugging at his lips.