The First Night Alone.

(KAIRA'S POV)

The next morning came too quickly.

I stood in the grand foyer, watching Mum and Tom gather their luggage. Mum's eyes were already glistening with unshed tears. She kept looking at me like she was trying to memorize my face.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" She asked for the fifth time.

I forced a smile. "Mum, we've been through this. I'll be fine."

"Three weeks is a long time."

"It'll fly by." I pulled her into a hug. "You deserve this. Both of you. Go. Have fun. Don't worry about us."

She held me tight, her fingers digging into my back. "I love you. So much. You know that, right?"

"I know." My voice cracked slightly. "I love you too."

When we finally pulled apart, Tom stepped forward. He placed a hand on my shoulder, his expression warm.

"Kaira, I've left instructions with the staff. Anything you need—anything at all—just ask." He glanced at Slade, who was leaning against the wall with his hands shoved in his pockets. "And Slade will take care of you. Won't you, son?"

Slade's jaw tightened. "Of course."

The words were flat. Unreadable. But I caught the brief flicker in his eyes. The one that appeared when he was lying.

Another hug for Mum. Another promise to call. Then they were gone.

The door closed behind them. And suddenly, the mansion felt massive. Empty. Silent.

I stood in the middle of the foyer, not sure what to do with myself.

"Don't just stand there." Slade's voice cut through the silence. He was already walking toward the stairs. "You have a whole house to explore."

I watched him go, my chest tight. He was retreating. Disappearing into his room. Just like he always did.

"Slade?"

He paused on the stairs. Didn't turn around.

"We're going to be alone for three weeks," I said quietly. "We need to figure out how this is going to work."

"Figure it out yourself." He started walking again. "I'm going to stay out of your way. You should do the same."

The door slammed upstairs.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty staircase. Then I laughed. It was hollow. Lonely.

This was going to be the longest three weeks of my life.

The first day was unbearable.

I explored the mansion. I wandered through rooms I hadn't seen yet. I found a library that smelled like old books and dust. A home theater with seats that looked like clouds. A kitchen so huge it could have fit my old apartment inside it.

Everywhere I went, I felt Slade's absence. The house was too quiet. Too empty. Too big for just one person.

By noon, I was starving. I found my way to the kitchen, relieved to see that Tom had left the fridge fully stocked. There was fresh fruit, vegetables, and everything I could possibly need to cook.

Cooking. That would keep me busy.

I spent the next two hours preparing a simple meal. Nothing fancy. Just pasta and a fresh salad. The kitchen was so big that I kept turning around, expecting to see someone. But no one came.

I ate alone at the massive dining table, the silence pressing down on me. It felt wrong. Wrong to be here without Mum. Wrong to be here with him.

Wrong to want him so badly.

---

By evening, I was desperate for human interaction. I found my phone and scrolled through my contacts. Cameron. I could call Cameron.

But then I remembered Slade's texts. "Stay away from Cameron Grey. Ask him about Margo."

I shoved my phone back into my pocket. I couldn't deal with that right now. Not when my head was already spinning.

I curled up on one of the massive couches in the living room, a book in my hands. I tried to read. I tried to lose myself in the story. But my eyes kept drifting to the doorway, hoping—

No. Not hoping.

I wasn't hoping for anything.