The Lover in the Closet

On the day of my birthday, I'm burning with a fever that almost hits 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of that, I've called Tristan Graham more than a dozen times. He never picks up any of them.

In the end, my dad has to take me to the hospital. When we walk past a corridor, he suddenly stops in his tracks.

"Mr. Graham? What are you doing here?"

I raise my head to see Tristan and Madison Franklin walking from the OBGYN department. Their fingers are tightly laced together. Tristan is even carrying a bag of medication. Birth control pills as well as ointment meant to be used on private parts can be seen in that bag.

My mind goes blank at that moment. All I can do is stare at Tristan.

As soon as our eyes meet, Tristan frowns slightly at me, though his gaze only lingers on me for a second before he turns to look at my dad.

"I'll be hosting a banquet in the garden tomorrow night. Remember to decorate the garden nicely."

Dad quickly accepts the order. "Don't worry, Mr. Graham. When Luna's fever breaks out, I'll deal with this task right away."

Tristan is momentarily stunned by Dad's words. When he notices my unnaturally flushed cheeks, he instinctively takes a step toward me.

But that's when Madison tugs his sleeve.

"Stop wasting precious time on a gardener's daughter, Tristan. Let's go. I'm still in pain, you know."

Tristan stops in his tracks instantly. Then, he leaves with Madison.

Later on, he pays for my hospital bills. Our seven-year underground relationship that's considered a taboo is also paid off as well.

Dad sighed as he looked at the medical bill, saying, "Mr. Graham normally looks like such a cold person, but he actually footed your entire medical bill. He also made sure that the doctors gave you the best medicine."

I looked down at the signature on the receipt. Tristan Graham's signature was refined and elegant.

I smiled and said, "I guess he's a good man."

Dad didn't seem to pick up on the underlying meaning in my words. He continued, "Right? Men of his standing don't usually care about their employee's well-being.

"Meanwhile, not only did Mr. Graham sponsor and help you enroll in a prestigious college, but he also leaves flowers at Mom's grave every year."

Dad was right. From everyone else's perspective, Tristan was a good man.

I first joined the Graham family when I was 18 years old. For the next seven years, I slept in the same bed as Tristan.

However, since Tristan's father, Patrick Graham, placed a great deal of importance on securing a good match for him, we had no choice but to keep our relationship a secret.

Tristan would always promise me that he would find a way for me to openly stand by his side after we shared a night of passion. It was why I waited for seven years.

My phone suddenly started ringing while I