Chapter 9 Breaking Boundaries

Sierra spun around quickly, startled to see Theo standing behind her. She hadn't even noticed when he'd arrived. "Uncle Theo, what are you doing here?" His sharp eyes took in her tear-streaked face and red-rimmed eyes. In a deep, steady voice, he asked, "Who upset you?" "No one. I just got something in my eye," Sierra stammered, her tone flustered as she hurried to explain. She raised her hand to wipe her tears, but the motion tugged at her injury, and she gasped sharply in pain. The wound on her arm reopened earlier when Sophie had deliberately squeezed it. Before she could react, a hand holding a tissue appeared in front of her. Theo had already stepped closer, so close that they stood toe-to-toe. Without a word, he wiped the tears from her face. Sierra's heart tightened, and her body went rigid. The sudden closeness was overwhelming, and the faint, cool scent of pine on him filled her senses. Even this gesture—his hand brushing against her skin as he wiped her tears—felt far too intimate. "Uncle Theo, I can do it myself," she protested softly, taking a small step back. She reached out to take the tissue from him, but before she could, Theo caught her hand. "Don't move," he said quietly. "Do you want to lose the use of your hand?" Sierra froze. His fingertips lightly pressed against her wrist, their warmth seeping into her skin, and she could feel the heat rising to her ears. Theo gently wiped away the tears from her face, his gaze lingering on her swollen eyes and damp lashes. His lips pressed into a thin, tight line before he spoke, his tone cold and direct. "Was it Benson who upset you?" Sierra's expression shifted. She looked up at him, meeting his deep, penetrating gaze, and quickly shook her head. "No. Really, I just got some sand in my eye." "Sierra, if you're going to lie to me, at least come up with a better excuse. Where would sand even come from in a restaurant?" His words sliced through her clumsy attempt at deception. Sierra bit her lip tightly. She didn't want to talk about what had happened between her and Benson, especially not with Theo. After all, he was part of the Gray family, too. If she told him, wouldn't he just end up taking Benson's side? "Uncle Theo, this is a private matter. I don't want to talk about it," she said after a deep breath. "What if I insist on knowing?" Theo took a deliberate step forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His voice was still calm and measured, like the still surface of a deep lake untouched by wind. But there was an unshakable pressure beneath it, quiet, yet impossible to ignore. The sink behind Sierra left her no room to retreat. Her wrist was still held securely in Theo's grip, and his tall frame loomed over herm enveloping her completely. It was as though she had been pulled into his orbit, unable to break free. Sierra's heart began to race against her will. She had always been careful to maintain boundaries with others, but Theo's deliberate step forward had crossed every unspoken line she had drawn. Even though she called him "Uncle Theo", the truth was, he was only five years older than her. Unsure of how to respond, Sierra hesitated for a moment before forcing herself to remain composed. "Uncle Theo, I respect you as an elder, but don't you think standing this close to me is inappropriate?" "I'm just looking out for my junior. What's going on in that head of yours?" Theo's faint smirk deepened as he spoke, the dark depths of his eyes glinting with a subtle hint of amusement. Sierra's face flushed bright red in an instant. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a couple rounding the corner and heading straight in their direction. Her expression shifted, and in a low, urgent voice, she said, "Let go of my hand." "You still haven't answered my question," Theo replied calmly, his grip unwavering as if her request hadn't fazed him at all. The couple grew closer, their footsteps echoing in the hallway. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed Theo's hand, pulled him into the nearby restroom, and quickly shut the door behind them. A moment later, Benson's unmistakable voice rang out from just outside. "Sierra, I know you're in the restroom. Come out." Sierra glanced at Theo just as he reached for the door handle, his intention clear. Without thinking, she lunged forward, throwing her arms around his waist to stop him. "Don't open it. I don't want to see him," she whispered urgently. All of a sudden, Theo found himself wrapped in a soft embrace. Strands of her hair brushed lightly against his chin, and his expression darkened. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he swallowed.