May 31th, 1999
The shower’s steam still clung to the edges of Addie’s mind, a warm blur of the intimacy they shared before the cold reality of the rest of the evening. Addie slipped into the chocolate-colored gown, the silk sliding against her skin like liquid. The dress hugged her in all the right places, the simplicity of it whispering elegance rather than screaming it. She wore a satisfied smirk as she adjusted the straps, the ghost of Leo’s touch still lingering on her skin.
Leo’s eyes hadn’t left her since she’d pulled it over her body. He stood beside her now, his suit sharp and perfectly tailored, but it was the quiet intensity in his gaze that made her feel untouchable in that moment. He reached out, fingertips tracing her bare shoulder before his lips pressed there, lingering just long enough to make her shiver.
“Ready, my love?” he murmured, his breath a warm caress against her skin.
“As I’ll ever be, darling.” Her voice was steady, even if something in her gut twisted. The world outside their room was different. Colder—full of eyes waiting to see her stumble… them stumble. She had no intention of giving them the satisfaction.
They descended the grand staircase together, her arm hooked through Leo’s, a united front of grace and confidence. The moment they stepped through the double doors into the dining hall, all eyes turned to them. The air buzzed with the muted chatter of the elite, crystal glasses clinking against the backdrop of the string quartet’s soft melody. Candlelight flickered off mirrored centerpieces, casting sparks across the room. Some would say any girl would be luck to be in this room. Addie would say she’s in a room with sharks - and if she hadn’t been trained since childhood, she would have been eaten alive.
The long, rectangular table stretched out before them, all gilded edges and pristine white linens. At the head of it sat Richard Azure, his expression a careful mask of politeness that barely concealed the frost beneath the surface. He was the eye of the storm… no… he was the eye of the storm, an unspoken command surrounded him keeping everyone else swirling around him. But the second Addie and Leo crossed the threshold, Richard’s voice cut through the chatter.
“Ah, Leonardo, Adelaide.” His smile was just a little too sharp. “Why don’t we all take our seats?”
Addie’s fingers curled tighter around Leo’s arm. She felt his muscles tense beneath the fabric of his suit, a subtle warning. He felt it too—the trap in Richard’s tone, the carefully laid snare.
They walked toward their seats near the head of the table. As they settled into the high-backed chairs, Richard’s gaze drifted to Addie’s left hand, his eyes narrowing just slightly at the ring she wore there. Not… not her real one but as close to it as she could get. And after yesterday; she was going to keep it on her finger.
Richard paused, watching her carefully, his lips twisting ever so slightly. “Perhaps not wearing a ring is better. After all, decisions shouldn’t be made… prematurely.” . His eyes drifting from Addie’s, and then staying on Leo’s.
The insinuation was clear. A reminder that they were still being scrutinized. That she was still being scrutinized. Addie felt Leo bristle beside her, his hand curling into a fist beneath the table.
“That’s not your decision to make, Father” Leo shot back, his voice low and… almost dangerous.
Richard’s smile didn’t falter, but his eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction. “Everything that concerns this family is my decision to make, Son.”
Leo’s jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek. His free hand moved to the table, fingers twitching as if he were seconds away from shattering the crystal glass before him.
Addie’s hand slid over his, her fingers threading through his in a silent plea. “Leo,” she whispered, her voice a breath of calm in the rising storm.
He exhaled, the tension bleeding out of his shoulders just enough. He squeezed her hand back, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. A silent promise: I’m with you.
The conversation around them resumed its flow, the guests falling back into their perfectly rehearsed chatter, but the undercurrent of tension remained, a ghost that lingered just out of sight. And it was suffocating. The first shark had taken a bite.
The first course arrived—a delicate, artfully arranged dish that looked like it belonged in a museum more than on a plate. Addie forced herself to take a bite, the flavors blurring together in her mouth. It wasn’t bad… it was just… this wasn’t the place to enjoy food.
At one point, she found herself forcing small bites even though her stomach rebelled. Something was wrong. The voices around her blurred, their laughter and conversation weaving into a distant hum. A wave of nausea rolled through her, sudden and sharp.
Leo noticed immediately. His hand brushed her thigh, his voice low with concern. “Addie, are you okay?”
She nodded, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, my love.” But the lie felt… weak.
She took a long drink… trying to wash away the taste but was met with another wave of nausea. The room tilted slightly, the edges of her vision smudging like wet ink on paper. She swallowed hard, trying to will the discomfort away. Alas, it was impossible. It was too remitting… to constant now.
“Leo…” Her voice was barely audible. “I need to go. I don’t… feel well.”
His eyes darkened with concern. “I’ll come with you.”
She shook her head, fingers squeezing his. “Stay. I’ll be okay.” She needed him to stay. To keep up appearances. To hold the line they were walking so carefully.
Reluctantly, he let her go. She rose from her chair, excusing herself, each step measured, deliberate. The moment she cleared the main hall, she quickened her pace, the marble floor cold beneath her heels as she broke into a near run.
She barely made it to their room before the nausea consumed her.
She had barely made it to her door, fumbling with the handle before she rushed inside, her clutch dropping unceremoniously to the floor as she reached the bathroom.
The sickness came in waves, relentless. She clung to the cold porcelain of the bathroom toilet, her chest heaving, eyes stinging with tears. Minutes bled into an hour, her body trembling as she leaned against the floor, trying to catch her breath.
What the hell was in that food?
Her mind flickered to Leo. Panic twisted her gut again. What if he ate it too?
Wiping her mouth with a shaky hand, she straightened up, her reflection in the mirror pale and drawn. Her dress, once perfect, now clung to her damp skin like a suffocating weight. But worry overpowered everything. She had to find him. Make sure he was okay.
Addie rinsed her mouth, splashed cold water on her face, and left the room. Her legs felt like lead, but her determination kept her upright. She wrapped her arms around herself as she made her way back through the winding corridors, the sound of distant laughter and clinking glasses a cruel reminder of the evening she’d left behind.
She was almost to the dining hall when a figure stepped out from the shadows.
Preston.
He was leaning against the wall, a cigarette dangling between his fingers, his smile wore a lazy… predatory curve.
“Well, well, you look like you’ve seen better days,” he drawled, his eyes raking over her.
It made her feel disgusting.
Addie stiffened, her jaw clenching at even the idea of Preston near her. “Not now, Preston.” Her voice was ice cold, her patience long gone.
But he didn’t move. Instead, he pushed off the wall, his eyes glinting with something darker. Before she could step away, his hand landed on her wrist, pulling her closer until her back hit the cold stone. And, within a second, he had blown smoke on her face making her stomach twist with nausea.
“Come on, Addie,” he murmured, his voice low and coaxing. “Leo’s off with Lauren right now. Why don’t we show them we can do it better?” His fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.
Another surge of disgust rolled through her, stronger than the nausea. She jerked her wrist free and shoved him back, her eyes blazing with frustration. “Buzz off, Preston. I’m not interested.”
His smile faltered, eyes narrowing. “You think he’s loyal to you? He’s probably in the hot tub right now, letting Lauren crawl all over him… oh wait… not probably… he fcking is” His voice dripped with malice, the words meant to wound.
Addie’s heart clenched, but she masked the hurt with anger. “You’re a liar.” She took a step forward, her heel grinding down on his foot. He hissed in pain, staggering back.
Her voice was a dangerous whisper. “Next time, it’ll be your balls.”
He let out a bitter laugh, his eyes flickering with spite. “Fine. Don’t believe me? Go check the estate pool. See for yourself. Do you need directions? Better yet - let me give you a guided tour.”
Addie’s hand curled into a fist at her side. She didn’t dignify him with a response. Instead, she flipped him off as she walked away, the echo of her heels sharp and final.
But the seed of doubt had been planted. It gnawed at her as she moved through the darkened pathways, the night air chilling her to the bone. She almost didn’t go. Almost turned back to the safety of her room. But some sick, twisting instinct pulled her forward.
The estate pool came into view, the water shimmering under the soft glow of lanterns. The laughter hit her first—hers—that soft sound of Lauren’s voice. And then she saw them.
Leo was sitting in the hot tub, his head tipped back, blindfolded. Lauren straddled his lap, her movements exaggerated, her bare skin gleaming under the lights. Leo’s boxers lay crumpled at the pool’s edge.
The air punched out of Addie’s lungs.
A choked sound escaped her throat before she could stop it. A soft, wounded cry that shattered the fragile silence.
Leo’s head snapped up, his blindfold slipping just enough for him to see her. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
“Leo…” The word was a broken whisper, a plea wrapped in devastation. And that’s what she was… utterly devastated.
She didn’t wait to hear his explanation. Didn’t wait for anything. Her heels dug into the ground as she turned and ran, the tears blinding her, burning down her cheeks.
Preston was waiting at the edge of the path, his smile smug and victorious.
“So, you and me—”
Her knee met his groin with brutal precision. He doubled over with a strangled groan, crumpling to the ground.
“I fucking told you to leave me alone,” she spat, stepping over him without another glance.
Her vision blurred as she stumbled back to their room. The door swung open, and she barely made it to the bed before the sobs overtook her. They came in violent, wracking waves, her chest heaving, her body curling in on itself.
How could he do this? Her Leo…
The image of Lauren’s body on his seared into her mind, an endless loop of betrayal. Without thinking, she took the ring he put on her finger off and threw it across the room. She didn’t want it.
She didn’t.
The door creaked open behind her, and she felt him before she saw him. The air shifted, filled with his presence, his scent, his regret.
“Addie…” Leo’s voice was shattered, desperate. “I didn’t… let me explain… please.”
She curled tighter, her fingers gripping the sheets. “Please leave.” The words were barely audible, choked by tears.
He didn’t move. “Addie, I… I… Ithought she was you. She dyed her hair blonde… I only saw the back of her head…, and a fucking butler told me to wear a blindfold and—”
“You… You thought wrong.”
His hand brushed her shoulder, and she flinched away, the contact like a live wire. She couldn’t help it - it was instant. Automatic.
“Please…” His voice cracked. “I’ll do anything. I’m so sorry.”
She didn’t respond. The tears just kept coming, drowning out everything. God… she didn’t even know how long she was crying under her sheets. She just… she just wanted him to leave. Wanted to turn back time and never see what she saw. But she couldn’t… she fcking couldn’t.
And then she heard the rustle of fabric. The first movement in what felt like forever. For the first time, she moved the blanket off her face and turned just enough to see him standing there, a blindfold in his hands. His eyes glistened with tears, his voice barely a whisper.
“I’d do anything for you. Please Addie… Please.”
He slipped the blindfold over his eyes, his hands trembling.
A silent vow. A broken man, offering his vulnerability. Leo… offering his vulnerability… which was something she’d never seen before.
But Addie didn’t know if that was enough to fix what had shattered between them.
Not yet.
Addie’s eyes lingered on him, the blindfold wrapped around his face, concealing the storm she knew was in his eyes. His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, each inhale a strained whisper of vulnerability. Her heart pounded so loudly it seemed to fill the silence, each beat a question she couldn’t answer.
Why does this still hurt so much?
She watched him standing there, stripped of his usual confidence. His hands trembled slightly at his sides, his jaw clenched in a futile attempt to hold himself together. Tears burned behind her eyes, but she let them fall. There was no strength left to hide them.
Without fully understanding why, she turned away, her feet carrying her to the bathroom. The space was bathed in soft, warm light, the massive tub standing like a sanctuary in the middle of it all. She twisted the faucet, the rush of water breaking the heavy quiet. The sound was soothing, a small distraction from the chaos inside her.
She turned back, her eyes finding Leo where she left him. He hadn’t moved.
Her voice was a whisper, raw but steady.
“Take off your clothes.”
He didn’t hesitate. His hands went to his suit jacket, slipping it off with precision that belied the tremor in his fingers. The shirt followed, then his belt, his pants. Each piece fell away, leaving him exposed in every sense of the word.
Addie’s breath caught. He stood there, blindfolded, utterly vulnerable, trusting her even now. It made her chest ache.
She stepped forward, fingers brushing his hand. It felt warm, solid—real. She curled her fingers around his, the grip firm as if anchoring them both.
“Get in,” she murmured. “It’s right in front of you.”
He nodded once, his jaw tight, and carefully followed her lead. His bare feet padded against the cool tile before he eased into the steaming water. The tension in his shoulders seemed to unravel slightly as he sank into the warmth.
Addie’s heart thudded painfully. She didn’t know what she was doing. Didn’t know if this would help, if this would heal anything. But she couldn’t stop herself.
She stripped away the dress, the fabric pooling around her ankles. The silk felt cold now, discarded and forgotten. She stepped into the water, her legs folding until she was straddling him, the heat enveloping them both.
Her lips found his neck first, soft and slow. His skin was warm, his breath hitching at the contact. She trailed kisses along his jaw, his collarbone, the edge of his shoulder. Her hands glided over his back, feeling the muscles beneath his skin tense, then relax.
But even as she kissed him, even as he responded, there was a fracture beneath the surface. A hesitation. The ghost of the night’s betrayal lingered, a wound that refused to close.
She pulled back, her fingertips grazing the edge of the blindfold. Her voice trembled.
“I want you to see me.”
She slipped the blindfold away, and his eyes opened. They were red-rimmed, glossy with tears that hadn’t fallen. The moment his gaze found hers, something cracked open in both of them. Pain, love, fear—they all tangled together… too raw to unravel.
Leo’s hands rose to cup her face, his thumbs brushing away the fresh tears streaking down her cheeks.
“I see you, Addie.” His voice was thick, a confession and a plea wrapped in one. “I only ever see you.”
They lay in bed afterward, the darkness consuming them. The sheets tangled around their bodies, but the space between them felt vast. Addie stared at the ceiling, her eyes hollow, the ache in her chest refusing to fade.
Leo had told her everything. His voice had cracked as he explained how the butler had handed him a letter, claiming it was from her. How he’d only seen blonde hair before the blindfold was tied. How he’d done it because he thought she wanted to.
And then… the laugh. Lauren’s laugh. The sick realization that had come too late.
He had been manipulated. Deceived.
Violated.
Her mind replayed it all, the pieces fitting together like shards of glass. Her fingers trembled as she reached for him, wrapping her arms around his bare torso. Her cheek pressed against his chest, the steady thud of his heart the only thing grounding her.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Are you okay, Leo?” The words felt too small, too inadequate for what he’d been through.
He didn’t respond, his breath shallow, his body rigid.
Her throat tightened. Her fingers curled against his skin.
“You… you were r*ped.”
The word hung in the air, a dark truth neither of them wanted to face. Leo’s body shuddered beneath her touch, his arms wrapping around her like he was trying to hold himself together.
“I’m not okay,” he admitted, his voice barely audible. “But I need you, Addie. I need you to believe me.”
Tears welled in her eyes again, her heart breaking all over.
“I do believe you,” she whispered, her voice raw. “I just don’t know how to fix this.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead, the kiss tender and desperate.
“We’ll figure it out. As long as you’re here, we’ll figure it out.”
She closed her eyes, the warmth of his embrace a fragile comfort. The pain wouldn’t fade overnight. The scars left by betrayal and trauma ran too deep.
But for now, they held onto each other.
And maybe that was enough.