Her Cold Immortal

A Lie

"So, what time is the party?" Eloise asked, her fingers dancing over the edges of the scattered luggage. Her decision yesterday to accompany Lucas to the party now seemed to be causing her more distress than anticipated. It was as if she were searching for an escape route, her uncertainty evident in how she furrowed her brows and absently twirled a strand of hair.

"Around seven tonight," Lucas replied, his indifference apparent in the casual shrug of his shoulders.

"Formal?" Eloise questioned, her gaze scanning the contents of her luggage or lack thereof. Panic set in as she couldn't find anything suitable to wear. Winter coats dominated her selection, and the absence of a single formal dress left her feeling utterly helpless.

"Semi," Lucas answered nonchalantly, seemingly unmoved by her predicament.

"Sh-t!" Eloise exclaimed, a curse escaping her lips as realization hit her like a sudden storm. One suitcase was missing, and the weight of her oversight pressed heavily on her. 'I did not leave it at the airport. I left it in my mansion. How stupid of me!'

Concern flickered across Lucas's face when he heard her curse. "Are you okay?" he inquired, genuine worry in his voice.

"Jackets, furry cardigans, winter coats, and dress coats! Those are the ones I brought!" Eloise vented her frustration, her annoyance palpable. 'I'm going to die! This is so not me.'

"So?" Lucas responded dismissively, his irritation evident. He seemed uninterested in her wardrobe crisis, an attitude that only fueled Eloise's frustration.

"What are you implying?! I don't want to look pathetic at that party," she retorted, her voice tinged with a mix of desperation and irritation. The tension between them simmered as Eloise grappled with her unexpected wardrobe dilemma, and Lucas struggled to understand the gravity of the situation for her.

It was a good thing there were still a few casual dresses and nighties scattered among Eloise's belongings.

"Then just go shopping. That's what girls like. Don't tell me you're saving," Lucas chuckled, his teasing tone attempting to lighten the tension.

Eloise, however, wasn't in the mood for jests. With a swift motion, she grabbed a dress with a steel belt and flung it at him, the fabric hitting his face with a satisfying thud.

"Serves you right!" Eloise blurted out, a fire in her eyes that showed no remorse.

"Good for you, I don't feel pain," Lucas retorted wryly, but his demeanor suddenly shifted into silence.

"What happened to you?" Eloise asked, her surprise evident as she observed the abrupt change in Lucas's mood.

"Only one woman can hurt me like crazy," Lucas began, his voice carrying an unexpected emotional weight.

"What the hell, Lucas! Please, spare me the drama. It's over, and I don't want to reminisce!" Eloise declared, her frustration evident as she hung up the suitcase. The air between them crackled with unresolved tension, the past hovering like a ghost in the room, refusing to be ignored.

"How did you move on? Is it because of your five-year stay in France? What did you do to forget?" Lucas inquired, his tone carrying a weight of sincerity.

"Work. Party. Get wasted at the bar. Hook up with random guys. Then voila. I moved on." Eloise responded, her words painted with a layer of nonchalance. 'Lie!' echoed in her mind, a silent admission that her claimed method was far from the truth.

"If I do all that, can I forget her?" Lucas pressed further, his vulnerability peeking through the mask of his serious demeanor.

'Nope!' Eloise thought, but she maintained a confident facade outwardly. "Of course!" she assured her words, a well-crafted lie meant to offer solace.

"Can you help me?" Lucas requested, seeking a lifeline from Eloise.

'No.' resounded in her mind, but she smiled reassuringly. "Sure. I'm an expert at that," she replied, diverting her attention to closing her luggage. There was a fear that Lucas might see through her lies, an unease that lingered in her expressive eyes.

'I will do better. I don't want to be pitied. I don't need Lucas's pity. Besides, who will help him move on if I am also broken.' Resolute thoughts filled her mind as she stood up with a forced smile. "Accompany me," she stated, her words more of an order than a request.

"Where?" Lucas asked, his confusion evident in his furrowed brow.

"Shopping. I don't have anything to wear," Eloise declared, steering the conversation away from the emotional turmoil beneath the surface. The need for a distraction was apparent, and Eloise seized the opportunity to escape the moment's vulnerability.