Chapter 14

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The frantic knocking sounded like a death knell. Lucas Chase paused, the fruit knife in his hand halting mid-slice. The half-peeled apple skin snapped as the blade stilled. The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and he glanced at the frosted glass door before leisurely wiping his hands.

The moment the door opened, Sebastian Sinclair’s face, etched with urgency, came into view. A flicker of amusement passed through Lucas’s eyes as he stood his ground, blocking the entrance.

“Move.” Sebastian didn’t even spare him a glance, stepping forward to push past.

A flash of cold steel. The knife grazed Sebastian’s nose before embedding itself into the doorframe. Lucas traced the hilt with his fingertips, his smile not reaching his eyes. “Breaking and entering is a crime, you know.”

Only then did Sebastian properly look at the man before him. His pupils constricted the instant recognition struck—this was the man from the engagement video!

“This is my house,” Sebastian gritted out. “Who the hell are you?”

Lucas chuckled, leisurely pulling the knife free. The blade reflected his smug expression. “Funny. This is my fiancée’s place.”

“Fiancée?” Sebastian froze as if struck by lightning. He mechanically checked the door number again, his ears ringing. Had Eleanor given this apartment to—

“What’s going on here?”

A cool female voice shattered the tension. Lucas instantly sheathed his fangs, turning with a docile expression. “Babe, this guy was lurking around—”

But Sebastian seized the lifeline. “Eleanor! We need to talk!”

Water droplets trailed from her hair as Eleanor Knight stood in the hallway, wrapped in a bathrobe. Her gaze swept between the two men before settling on Lucas. “Weren’t you making dessert? The ingredients should be ready by now.”

Lucas pouted. “But he—”

“Go.” She nudged him gently. Only when sounds came from the kitchen did she turn to Sebastian, her eyes icing over. “Breaking into private property, Mr. Sinclair? Looking for another court summons?”

“Those rumors are lies!” Sebastian grabbed her wrist in desperation. “Someone’s trying to—”