Chapter 11: Love or Lose
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"This isn't right," I whispered, putting down my brush. "He's my... family."
But whenever I closed my eyes, Jay's face would appear—his determination protecting me in the rain, his gentleness treating wounds, and those deep eyes that seemed to see through my soul.
The door was gently knocked, and I quickly turned, my heart racing.
"Come in," I tried to keep my voice steady.
The door opened, revealing Lina, not Jay. I wasn't sure if I felt relieved or disappointed.
"Hey, missing person!" Lina walked in, looking around the studio. "Wow, you've created so much lately?"
I nodded. Over the past few days, I had spent almost all my time in the studio, trying to escape complicated emotions through art.
"I just... needed to express some things."
Lina examined my works, her gaze stopping on a particular painting—two figures in the rain, blurry but emotionally intense.
"This is you and Professor Jay, isn't it?" Lina asked softly. "That day in the park?"
I didn't answer, but the blush on my cheeks betrayed the truth.
Lina sat on a stool by the easel. "Ella, we're friends. You can tell me anything."
I took a deep breath, finally voicing the issue troubling me. "I think I'm in love with Jay."
Saying those words made me feel both relieved and panicked. Lina's expression, however, showed no surprise.
"Honestly, the whole school can see the chemistry between you two," Lina shrugged. "What's the problem?"
"What's the problem?" I repeated incredulously. "He's from the Moon family! They took me in! This... this isn't right."
Lina thought for a moment. "But they haven't formally adopted you, right? And you and Jay aren't blood-related."
"But they gave me a home, a sense of belonging. If I... if there's something between Jay and me, and it ends, I'll lose everything."
Lina's expression softened. "Ella, love always involves risk. But sometimes, not taking the risk is the biggest risk of all."
I turned to the window, moonlight illuminating my face. "And what will they think? Luke is serious enough already, if he knew..."
"You can't sacrifice your happiness for others' expectations," Lina said firmly. "If Jay makes you happy, it's worth trying."
At dinner, I found myself unable to look directly at Jay. Whenever our gazes met, I would quickly look away, my heart racing.
"Ella, are you alright?" Noah asked with concern. "You've barely touched your food."
"I'm fine, just... a bit tired," I managed a smile.
"Is it pressure from the art project?" William asked. "Jay says your collaboration is going well."
At the mention of Jay's name, I almost knocked over my water glass. "Yes, very well."
Aiden kicked me under the table, wiggling his eyebrows. I glared at him, but Aiden just grinned, clearly seeing through my thoughts.
After dinner, I quickly escaped to my room, but just as I reached the stairs, Luke called out to me.
"Ella, can we talk?"
I nervously followed Luke into his study. Luke closed the door, his expression serious.
"I've noticed your attitude towards Jay has been different lately," he said directly.
I felt my blood freeze. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Luke sighed. "Ella, I may be serious, but I'm not blind. Your feelings for him are obvious."
I lowered my head, unable to deny it. "I'm sorry. I know it's inappropriate. I will... I'll control these feelings."
"Why?" Luke's question made me look up.
"What?"
"Why do you think it's inappropriate?" Luke asked, his expression hard to read.
I looked at him in confusion. "Because... because you gave me a home, a sense of belonging. I don't want to ruin everything."
Luke's expression softened somewhat. "Ella, home isn't built on rules and expectations, but on love and understanding. If there are genuine feelings between you and Jay, that won't ruin anything."
I looked at him in shock. "You don't object?"
"I care about the happiness of this family, including yours and Jay's," Luke said calmly. "But I must warn you, our family has a complex history and traditions. Before your relationship progresses further, there are things you need to know."
I held my breath. "What things?"
Luke looked at the moon outside the window. "Not now. After the full moon, we'll tell you everything. Until then, listen to your heart, but be careful."
After leaving the study, my thoughts were even more confused. Luke's support was unexpected, but his warning deepened my confusion. What kind of family secret was so important that it had to wait until after the full moon to be revealed?
I walked towards my room, but encountered Jay in the hallway. We stood there awkwardly, moonlight streaming through the window onto the floor between us.
"Good night," I said, then ran.
Jay quickly caught up, his hand lightly but firmly grasping my wrist, precisely covering my crescent birthmark. That small patch of skin immediately became hot, as if an electric current passed through, impossible to ignore.
"Ella, let's talk, please?" he asked.
