Montenorie 2

Venisa did not sleep well.

It had nothing to do with the Montenorie estate. She had stayed here before, more times than she could remember, usually because Ruby had insisted she spend the night after they had spent an entire afternoon together.

The house was familiar to her—the long corridors, the polished marble staircase, the quiet gardens beyond the windows, even the faint scent of lavender that lingered in the guest rooms.

What she wasn't familiar with was trying to sleep beside Ruby after so many years.

Or, more accurately, trying to sleep beside Ruby while Ruby snored as though she were determined to wake the entire estate.

“Hmmmm...”

Venisa slowly opened her eyes.

She stared at the ceiling.

Another loud snore came from beside her.

Venisa turned her head.

Ruby was completely unconscious, wrapped comfortably in the blankets with one arm thrown over her pillow. Her breathing was deep and peaceful, as though she had not just committed an assault on Venisa's ears.

Venisa sighed.

She had endured it for nearly an hour.

She had tried turning away.

She had tried covering one ear with her pillow.

She had even tried convincing herself that the sound was merely the distant wind moving through the trees.

Another snore. Venisa finally sat up.

“Ruby,” she whispered.

No response. “Ruby.”

Nothing.

Venisa stared at her for a moment. “Unbelievable.”

She quietly slipped out of bed.

She reached for the thin nightgown hanging over the back of the nearby chair. It was more like a light robe than a proper gown, soft and loose enough to wear over her nightdress. She slipped it over her shoulders and tied it loosely around her waist.

Before leaving, she glanced back at Ruby.

Still sleeping.

Still snoring.

Venisa shook her head with the faintest smile.

Some things, apparently, had not changed.

Venisa opened the door and quietly stepped into the hallway.

The familiar corridor was dim beneath the soft glow of the wall lamps. She knew exactly where she was going. There was no need to wander through the house.

She simply wanted water.

Venisa had barely taken another step down the staircase when she noticed movement near the entrance.

The main doors were open.

Cold night air drifted into the grand foyer, stirring the curtains near the doorway.

And there stood Code.

He had one hand holding his dark coat, the expensive fabric hanging loosely from his fingers. His black shirt was still on, but several buttons near his chest had been left undone, exposing a glimpse of his skin beneath. His tie was gone, and the usually immaculate man looked strangely disheveled.

More strangely—

He was walking as though he were drunk.

Venisa stopped halfway down the stairs.

She watched him take one slow step inside.

Then another.

His shoulders were slightly lowered, his head tilted down, and his movements lacked the precise control she had always associated with him.

Venisa's brows drew together.

Was he drunk?

She had never seen Code like this.

Code reached the center of the foyer and stopped.

He rubbed the back of his neck, then let out a long breath.

Venisa remained on the staircase.

“Code?”

His head lifted.

For a moment, his eyes searched the dim room before finally finding her.

He stared.

Venisa stared back.

Neither spoke.

Then Code blinked slowly. “You're still awake.”

Venisa descended another step.

“So are you.”

He gave a faint, crooked smile. “Unfortunately.”

His voice was lower than usual, slightly rough.

Venisa's eyes moved to the coat hanging from his hand, then to his unbuttoned shirt.

“You look drunk.”

Code glanced down at himself as though he had only just noticed his appearance.

He considered this for a moment.

“I haven't had that much.”

Venisa raised an eyebrow. “That wasn't my question.”

A quiet laugh escaped him.

He leaned briefly against one of the pillars near the entrance.

Venisa studied him carefully.

He pushed himself away from the pillar and started toward the staircase.

His steps were still slightly uneven. Venisa instinctively moved down another step.

“Careful.”

Code looked up at her. “I can walk.”

“I can see that.”

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

For a moment, they stood only a few feet apart.

Venisa could smell the faint trace of alcohol on him, mixed with his cologne and the cold night air that had followed him inside.

She looked at his face.

His expression was unusually tired.

“What happened?” she asked quietly.

Code's eyes remained on hers. “Nothing.”

Venisa gave him a flat look.

Code let out another quiet laugh.

Then his gaze dropped briefly to the thin robe wrapped around her. “You couldn't sleep?”

“I just want water. That's all.”

Code nodded. “Then get some.”

Venisa expected him to walk past her.

Instead, he stepped closer.

Before she could ask what he was doing, his hand gently settled at the side of her neck. His touch was warm, almost absentminded, and he carefully tilted her head toward him.

Venisa froze.

Code leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against her cheek.

It lasted only a moment.

Nothing more.

Yet somehow, it left her completely speechless.

He pulled away as casually as though he had done nothing unusual.

“Get some water and go back to sleep,” he murmured.

He lifted his coat from his hand and started toward the stairs. “I'll go to my room then.”

Venisa remained where she was. She didn't move.

Her fingers remained curled around it while her mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened.

Just a quiet, effortless kiss on her cheek—as though caring for her had become something natural.

Venisa slowly touched the place where his lips had been.

Her eyes followed him as he disappeared up the staircase.

For several seconds, she stood completely frozen in the silent foyer.

Then she whispered to herself,

“What was that?”

Early the next morning, Venisa sat at the long breakfast table with the Montenorie family.

Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, falling across the white tablecloth and polished silverware. The atmosphere was considerably quieter than it had been the night before. The grand birthday celebration was already beginning to feel like a distant memory.

Venisa sat beside Ruby, who looked completely refreshed despite having spent half the night snoring beside her.

Venisa, on the other hand, was quietly questioning whether sleep had ever truly happened.

Mrs. Montenorie noticed her tired expression and smiled knowingly. “It has been such a long time since you stayed the night here, Venisa.”

Venisa looked up from her tea. “It has,” she agreed.

Ruby immediately turned toward her. “I told you she should stay more often.”

Venisa gave her a sideways glance.“You also told me you wouldn't snore.”

Ruby nearly choked on her breakfast. “Venisa!”

A small laugh traveled around the table.

Mrs. Montenorie smiled warmly. “I remember when you used to spend entire weekends here. You and Ruby were inseparable.”

“We still are,” Ruby said proudly.

Venisa gave her a doubtful look.

Ruby ignored it.

Mrs. Montenorie continued, her expression becoming almost nostalgic.

“It is difficult to believe how much time has passed. The young Lady Greymore who used to run around this house with Ruby is now the Baroness.”

Venisa lowered her eyes for a moment.

The title still sounded strange when spoken so casually.

“Life changes quickly,” she replied.

Mrs. Montenorie smiled.

“You were already carrying yourself like a little lady of the estate back then. I suppose we should have known.”

Venisa took a slow sip of tea.

“The estate had a way of making me serious.”

“And now you manage everything yourself,” Mr. Rafael said. “The Greymore estate, your family's businesses, and the responsibilities that came with your title.”

There was no pity in her voice, only admiration and perhaps a touch of nostalgia.

“You have grown into your position beautifully.”

Venisa gave a polite smile.

“Thank you, Sir. Montenorie.”

Before Venisa could take another sip of her tea, someone stopped behind her chair.

She barely had time to turn her head.

A familiar presence leaned down.

A soft kiss landed on her cheek.

Venisa froze. Again.

She slowly turned her eyes to the side and found Code already straightening, completely composed. His expression held no embarrassment, no hesitation—as though kissing her cheek in front of his entire family was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Venisa stared at him.

Code simply pulled out the chair beside her and sat down.

“Good morning,” he said calmly.

Venisa blinked. “Good morning?”

He nodded, reaching for his cup.

Across the table, Ruby was trying very hard not to smile.

Mrs. Montenorie merely continued arranging her breakfast, her lips curved into a knowing smile.

Even Don Rafael glanced at them briefly before returning to his newspaper, looking entirely unsurprised.

Code took a sip of his coffee, completely unfazed.

Venisa narrowed her eyes at him and he glanced at her.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Mrs. Montenorie quietly laughed into her cup.

“Some things,” she said warmly, “do not change as much as we think they do.”

Venisa looked down at her tea, trying to hide the warmth spreading across her cheek.

Unfortunately, everyone at the table had already noticed.