5 Secret Garden

"I... I'm really sorry," I stammered, feeling the weight of my mistake. "I didn't mean to... but it's beautiful here," I added, trying to soften the tension that hung in the air like a heavy cloud.His eyes bore into mine, frustration evident in every line of his face. I braced myself for a reprimand or worse, expecting him to demand my immediate departure. The silence was suffocating, filled only by the rustle of leaves in the garden.Unexpectedly, he reached for my hand, his grip firm but not unkind as he led me away from the scene of my unintended mischief. "Ah!" I exclaimed as pain shot through my finger, the sharp edge of a rose thorn having left its mark.His expression softened briefly as he saw the blood welling from the wound. Without a word, he brought my finger to his lips, his actions a blend of anger and concern. The contrast confused me, but I allowed him to tend to the injury, his touch surprisingly gentle despite his evident annoyance.Carrying me effortlessly, he ushered me into the villa, depositing me on a plush sofa. "Get the first aid kit," he instructed the butler tersely, his focus solely on ensuring my comfort.As he cleaned and dressed the wound, I couldn't help but notice how long his hands lingered on mine. It stirred a mixture of emotions within me, a blend of gratitude for his care and a hint of discomfort at the intimacy of the moment."Thank you," I murmured as he finally released my hand, the quiet in the room amplifying the unspoken tension between us. "I should go," I added, feeling the need to break the lingering spell of the evening."I'll drive you home," he stated firmly, his eyes holding mine in a silent conversation."I can manage," I protested weakly, though a part of me wished to prolong our time together.With a gentle insistence, he escorted me to the door. "Thank you for today," I said softly, a mix of apology and appreciation in my words. "And I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused."The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped outside, leaving behind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and unanswered questions.A heavy sense of emptiness settled within me, like a fog obscuring my thoughts. It was in that moment of solitude that Lance, unexpected yet familiar, appeared and gently pulled me into his sleek black Ferrari. His voice, calm yet resolute, insisted on driving me home.As the engine hummed and the city lights blurred outside, a quiet tension filled the air between us. Questions lingered, unspoken, as I replayed the events that led to this silent journey. Was it the innocent act of plucking a flower or trespassing into forbidden gardens that triggered this sudden retreat into silence? The answers remained elusive, buried beneath layers of unspoken words.After what seemed like both an eternity and a fleeting moment, we arrived at my doorstep. Without exchanging a single word, I stepped out of the car and retreated into the comforting solitude of my home. The sound of Lance's car fading into the night was a stark reminder of the unresolved tension that hung between us.Alone in my room, I collapsed onto my bed, the events of the evening replaying like scenes from a recurring drama. Lance's enigmatic behavior left me with a gnawing sense of curiosity and apprehension. What was he hiding? And more importantly, why did I feel like I didn't have the right to ask?With a sigh, I resigned myself to the unanswered questions, knowing that some truths unravel only with time. The hope for clarity lingered, a flickering flame in the darkness of uncertainty. Every encounter with Lance seemed to oscillate between moments of joy and bouts of misunderstanding, each leaving behind a trail of emotional distance._ROSE_...