Mia’s POV
The morning sun filtered through my curtains, and I stretched lazily in
bed, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of the previous day.
Daisy’s playful suggestion still echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t help
but smile at how persistent she was. At least she had the right intentions,
even if her ideas were chaotic.
I was halfway through my morning routine when a knock echoed at the
door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I opened it cautiously, only to freeze
when I saw Tristan standing there, looking effortlessly composed.
“Tristan?” I asked, blinking in surprise.
“Good morning,” he greeted, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Daisy
told me to stop by. She said she had to head out for something important
but thought you and I could catch up.”
I let out a slow breath, already piecing together Daisy’s plan. “Of course,
she did,” I muttered under my breath.
Tristan tilted his head, his brow furrowing slightly. “Is this a bad time?”
“No, no,” I said quickly, stepping aside to let him in. “Come in. Daisy has
a way of… arranging things, doesn’t she?”
We settled in the living room, the air thick with unspoken words. I
wasn’t sure what Daisy had told Tristan, but knowing her, it was
probably something outrageous.
Tristan broke the silence first, leaning back in his chair. “Mia, is
everything alright? You seem… tense.”
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Tense doesn’t even begin to
cover it.”
He watched me intently, his gaze unwavering. “What’s going on? Daisy
mentioned something about the brothers, but she didn’t go into detail.”
I hesitated, weighing my options. Part of me wanted to keep everything
to myself, to avoid dragging Tristan into the mess. But another part of
me knew that Daisy had already involved him, whether I liked it or not.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to tell him the truth-or at least part of
it. “The brothers and I have… history,” I began, choosing my words
carefully. “They weren’t exactly kind to me in the past. Seeing them
again has been… difficult.”
Tristan’s jaw tightened, and I could see the flicker of anger in his eyes.
“What did they do to you?”
“It’s not important,” I said quickly, waving it off. “What matters is that
I’m trying to move on. But Daisy seems to think that involving you in
some kind of… jealousy plot will help.”
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement creeping into his expression.
“Jealousy plot?”
“She thinks that if the brothers see me spending time with you, it’ll get
under their skin,” I explained, crossing my arms. “It’s ridiculous.”
To my surprise, Tristan didn’t dismiss the idea. Instead, he leaned
forward, his expression thoughtful. “She might not be entirely wrong.”
I stared at him, disbelief written all over my face. “You’re not serious.”
“I am,” he said firmly. “Mia, if these brothers are as possessive as you
say, then showing them that you’re not under their control could be a
good thing. It might make them back off.”
I shook my head, frustration bubbling up inside me. “And what happens
when they don’t back off? What if it just makes things worse?”
Tristan’s gaze softened, and he reached out to touch my hand. “Then I’ll
be here to protect you.”
His words sent a pang through my chest, and for a moment, I couldn’t
speak. The sincerity in his eyes was overwhelming, and I hated that I
couldn’t give him the same kind of reassurance.
The walk with Tristan had been peaceful for the most part. I couldn’t
deny that being around him brought a sense of familiarity and calmness
I hadn’t felt in years. But just as we rounded the corner of the garden
path, my heart dropped.
Xavier was there, leaning casually against a tree, though his sharp gaze
was locked on Tristan like a predator ready to pounce. His body tensed
the moment he spotted us, and the air between us turned icy.
Tristan noticed him too, but instead of reacting, he straightened,
offering a polite but guarded smile. I knew this wouldn’t end well.
“Tristan,” Xavier said, his voice low and filled with irritation. “What the
hell are you doing here?”
Before Tristan could answer, Xavier’s eyes shifted to me. “Mia, you
remember him?”
My irritation flared instantly. The audacity he had to question me as if he
had any right. I crossed my arms and met his gaze. “First, call me
Princess, and second, I don’t need to explain you when I talk with my
friend.”
“Friend?” Xavier repeated. His jaw clenched, and I could see the storm
brewing in his eyes. “You don’t even know him.”
“And you do?” I shot back, than I intended. “What gives you the right to
decide who I spend time with?”
Tristan took a step forward, his calm demeanor masking the tension I
could feel radiating from him. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly
introduced,” he said, his tone polite but laced with an underlying
challenge. “I’m Tristan. The princess and I met last month. We’ve
developed a good bond.”
Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between us. I could see the
doubt in his expression, the wheels in his head turning as he tried to
piece things together. “A good bond?” he repeated, his tone mocking.
Tristan’s smile didn’t waver. “Yes. The princess has been very
welcoming. It’s been a pleasure getting to know her.”
My stomach twisted at how easily Tristan played along, though I knew
he had no choice. I couldn’t let Xavier suspect that we had known each
other for years.
Xavier’s jaw tightened further, and I could see the possessiveness
flickering in his eyes. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you
won’t win,” he said coldly.
Tristan tilted his head slightly, his expression calm but unreadable.
“There’s no game, Xavier. I’m simply enjoying the company of the
princess. Is that a problem?”
“It is when you’re overstepping,” Xavier snapped, his anger barely
contained.
“Overstepping?” I interrupted, stepping between them before things
escalated. “Xavier, Tristan is my guest. You don’t get to dictate who I
spend time with or how.”
Xavier’s eyes flicked to me, his expression unreadable for a moment
before he masked it with indifference. “I’m just looking out for you, Mia.
People like him don’t always have the best intentions.”
I could see the tension between them rising, and I knew I had to put an
end to this before it spiraled out of control. “That’s enough,” I said
firmly, my voice cutting through the tension. “Tristan is here as my
guest, and that’s all you need to know. If you have a problem with that,
it’s your problem, not mine.”
Xavier’s gaze lingered on me, something unreadable flickering in his
eyes before he took a step back. “Fine,” he muttered, though his tone
was far from accepting. “But don’t think for a second that I’ll let him
win.”