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Lucian, of course, doesn’t move. Wouldn’t be surprised if he started monologuing about spine rigidity next.

“Don’t stop on my account,” I go on, stepping further into the room.“I mean, I love nothing more than hearing four grown men, all of whom have literally been inside me, discuss my value like I’m some ancient vase that got passed around at an estate sale.”

Ash clears his throat. “Rhea -”

“No,” I snap, and the sharpness of my voice surprises even me. “Don’t. Don’t look at me like I’m going to break. I alreadydid.And I got back up.”

Lucian watches me from across the room, jaw tight, expression unreadable. The air around him is all tension and power and cold calculation, but it doesn’t freeze me the way it did before.

It just pisses me off.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” I say, turning to face him directly. “But turns out your house is wired like a sound tunnel.”

Theo shifts slightly, his eyes wide and worried. Kai mutters something that might be “oh shit,” but he’s grinning, as always.

Lucian stares me down like I’m the unruly variable in a carefully balanced equation.

“You overheard a private conversation,” he says, like that’s going to magically undo the words he said.

“Oh, I heard you just fine,” I snap. “Would you like me to quote the highlights? I particularly liked the part where you said I was unstable and used. That was really nice. Veryfather-of-the-brideenergy.”

His jaw ticks. Just a little.

“If you’re going to throw tantrums every time someone -”

“Don’t finish that sentence unless you want this shirt burned off me in real time.”

Ash coughs hard. Kai mutters “please do” under his breath.

“I just think it’s impressive,” I go on, “how fast you flipped. One minute you’re inside me calling me yours, the next you’re acting like I’m roadkill that wandered in through your security gates.”

Lucian doesn't blink. “You weren’t meant to hear that.”

“Well, congrats, Vale. You built your whole legacy on control and forgot about acoustics.”

Kai actually snorts.

“And you know what?” I keep going, because someone has to. “I'm glad I heard it. Because now I know. I know exactly where I stand with you. Somewhere between legally complicated and emotionally inconvenient.”

Silence.

Lucian is stone. A beautiful, cold, marble statue of disappointment.

Theo shifts toward me, slow and careful.

“Rhea,” he says gently, “do you want some real clothes? I can -”

“I’ll get them.” Lucian cuts in, teeth clenched. He sounds like it’s taking every ounce of his willpower not to combust. “They’ll be left in the room. You can change in private.”

“Aw,” Kai mutters, “how thoughtful.”

“Oh, sonowyou want to be helpful,” I add.

Kai fans himself with a throw pillow. “This is everything to me.”

Lucian ignores us both as he turns on his heel and strides from the room.

The door closes behind him with a satisfyingclick,and a beat of silence follows.

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