Chapter 153: Embrace of Passion

The carriage rattled to a stop, jolting Jane back to reality. She stepped onto the familiar cobblestones of Haverbroks, a sense of relief washing over her. Despite the warmth found in her unexpected conversation with her mother, there was no place she'd rather be right now than by Lucian's side. Entering the opulent mansion, she found him exactly where she expected – in the study, hunched over a massive desk piled high with documents. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the lines of fatigue etched around his eyes. Jane's heart ached for him. He deserved a reprieve from the weight of his new title, a moment of connection after a day spent in solitude. She approached him silently, her silk robe whispering against the polished floor. With a sigh that spoke volumes, Lucian straightened, his eyes widening in surprise as he recognized her. "Jane," he breathed, a flicker of warmth chasing away the exhaustion in his gaze. "It seems the Duke has his ha