41

CHAPTER 41.
As the night wore on, Lucas and Andrianne settled into the couch to watch a movie together. It was a romantic comedy, but neither of them paid much attention to it. They were more interested in the fact that they were sitting together, alone, in the quiet of the night.
Andrianne snuggled into Lucas’ side, feeling safe and secure. She had always been attracted to him physically, but until now she had never allowed herself to indulge in those feelings. Now, with him so close, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him.
As the credits rolled on the TV screen, Andrianne and Lucas sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The movie they had watched was an emotional one and it had left them both feeling drained. Finally, Lucas broke the silence.
“That was a good movie,” he said, turning his head to look at Andrianne. “Thanks for suggesting it.”
Andrianne smiled back at him. “I’m glad you liked it,” she said. “It’s one of my favorites.”
Lucas stood up and stretched his arms. “Well, it’s getting late,” he said, glancing at his watch. “I should probably head to bed.”
Andrianne nodded, standing up as well. “Goodnight, Lucas,” she said, walking over to him and giving him a warm hug.
“Goodnight, Andrianne,” he replied, returning the embrace.
As they pulled away, Andrianne looked up at him and said, “Thanks for spending the evening with me. It was nice to have some company.”
Lucas smiled down at her. “Anytime,” he said. “I really enjoyed tonight,”
Andrianne felt a flutter in her chest at his words. She had never been very close to Lucas, but lately she had found herself enjoying his company more and more. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why, but something about him made her feel comfortable and safe.
As Andrianne walked towards the staircases that lead to her room, Lucas lingered in the living room, not wanting the evening to end just yet. He sat down on the couch and picked up a book, hoping to lose himself in its pages for a while longer.
As he read, her thoughts wandered to Andrianne. He had never really thought of him as anything other than a contracted wife before, but tonight something had shifted. He found herself drawn to her in a way he couldn’t explain.
Eventually, his eyelids grew heavy and he realized it was time for him to head to bed. He closed his book and made his way upstairs to his bedroom.
As Andrianne settled into bed, she couldn’t help but think about Lucas. She had always known that he was a handsome man, but tonight she had found herself noticing things about him that she never had before. The way his muscles had flexed as he stretched, the warmth of his embrace as he had hugged her goodnight.
She shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts from her mind. But even as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing between them.
The early morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow on the room as Andrianne’s alarm went off. She groggily opened her eyes and stretched, feeling the cool air brush against her skin. Rolling out of bed, she quickly made her way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Lucas.
As she sliced the fresh fruits, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Andrianne hummed a tune, feeling a sense of contentment as she worked. She knew she was doing this not just out of duty as a wife but also out of kindness as a friend.
As the breakfast was almost done, Lucas made his way down the stairs, dressed in a crisp suit and looking every inch the successful businessman that he was. He looked surprised to see Andrianne already in the kitchen, and a smile slowly spread across his face as he realized what she was doing.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice deep and rich. “I didn’t expect you to be up so early.”
Andrianne turned to face him, her eyes bright and welcoming. “I thought I’d make breakfast for you,” she said, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
Lucas took a seat at the kitchen table, his eyes trained on Andrianne as she served him the breakfast. They talked about their plans for the day, and Andrianne felt a sense of warmth and contentment settle in her chest. For the first time in a long time, she felt happy and at peace.
As Lucas got up to leave for work, he turned to Andrianne and said, “Thank you for this, Andrianne. You didn’t have to do this, but I appreciate it.”
Andrianne smiled at him, feeling a sense of satisfaction. “It’s no problem,” she said. “I’m happy to do it.”
As Lucas left, Andrianne remained in the kitchen, sipping on her coffee and watching the early morning light fill the room. She felt a sense of gratitude and happiness wash over her, knowing that she had the opportunity to make someone’s day just a little bit better.
As she cleared away the breakfast dishes, Andrianne felt a sense of hope. Maybe things between her and Lucas could get better. Maybe they could become good friends, despite their arranged marriage.
With a smile on her face, Andrianne went about her day, feeling grateful for the cool, peaceful morning that had started it all.
Andrianne had always loved to read. It was a passion she had cultivated since she was a little girl. She loved the smell of the pages, the way the words danced across the page, and how it could transport her to a different world. So, when she woke up that morning, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.
She made herself a cup of coffee, grabbed a book from her shelf, and settled into her favorite armchair. The hours flew by as she lost herself in the pages, barely noticing the time slipping away. It wasn’t until her stomach grumbled that she realized how much time had passed.