Masuk“You said you wanted to understand her properly.” “I do.” He nods once. “Then this is where she lives. All of her.” Something in the way he says it makes her glance at him. He isn’t looking at her. He’s looking at the desk. Jade steps forward and picks up the first bundle. The paper is thin with age. As she loosens the ribbon, a soft cloud of dust rises into the air. She barely turns before she sneezes. Once. Twice. Then again—sharp and breathless. She waves at the air, cheeks warming. The sound echoes too loudly in the still room. Kain goes rigid. The shift is immediate. His shoulders tighten. His jaw locks. For a split second, anger flashes across his face—quick and reflexive. Then it changes. “Nanny Flo,” he says, his voice slicing through the quiet. “Why is this room not being maintained?” Nanny Flo hurries in from the hallway. “Kain, it hasn’t been opened properly since—” “Since the funeral?” His tone sharpens. “And that means it should gather dust?”
…He was laughing. Bright-eyed. Seated on his grandmother’s lap, utterly unguarded. Elba Vanridge Wolf. The sight pierces her unexpectedly. Behind her, he stiffens. He hates that she sees this version of him. “So this is where you grew up,” she says quietly. “Parts of me were raised here.” “And the rest?” His gaze flicks to hers. “The rest learned not to be.” No sarcasm. No deflection. Nanny Flo gestures toward a wooden music box resting on the table. “Madam Elba kept this until her last day. She wanted you to have it.” The room stills. Kain steps forward and lifts it carefully. A melody spills into the room — soft, aching, fragile. Jade doesn’t move closer. She doesn’t touch him. She simply stays. And somehow that steadiness feels louder than comfort. As the tune continues, she drifts down the hallway. A framed photograph catches her attention. Teenage Kain. Holding a small child with protective ease. Her brows lift. Before she can ask, he steps behind her.
“But if you don’t come with me, the project stalls. And if the project stalls…” His eyes flick toward the building. “…you lose this job.” His gaze returns to her face. “All that work for a fake id… Mia.” The name rolls off his tongue deliberately. He extends his hand. “Come.” The world feels very small. She hates that he’s right. She hates that he knows he’s right. A faint smirk touches his mouth. “Unless you want me to carry you.” Her pride ignites instantly. Without another word, she places her hand in his. His fingers close around hers. And she lets him guide her into the car. Across the parking lot, Clarice watches — her expression tight with suspicion and jealousy. The door shuts and the outside noise disappears. Inside, the space feels intimate. Almost suffocating. Kain slides in beside her. Instead of letting the driver lean in, he reaches across her himself and pulls the seatbelt over her body. Slowly. Unhurried. His arm brushes lightly against her chest. H
Every nerve on edge. She straightens her shoulders, forcing control, even as her heart threatens to betray her. Fine. She doesn’t back down. . . When the presentation ends and the boardroom slowly empties, Jade finally exhales. It feels like she’s been holding her breath for an hour. Her palms are damp. Her fingers tremble slightly as she closes her laptop. The air still feels charged — thick with judgment, whispers, and the echo of Kain’s slow, deliberate applause. She doesn’t look at him. If she looks at him, she’ll feel it again. And she’s tired of feeling it. She stands, stacking the papers neatly, pretending she isn’t hyper-aware of every movement behind her. Then she feels it. That subtle shift in temperature. That familiar, dangerous warmth closing in. Him. Her breath stutters before she can stop it. Why am I still reacting to him like this? Why does my body remember him before my mind allows it? She almost laughs under her breath. Maybe he was never fully ou
“What’s that supposed to mean?” “You sheltered me. You’re engaged—temporarily—to Scarlett. Publicly. That makes us in-laws, right?” He considers, lips twitching with amusement. “In-laws… and friends. Family and friends. Family friends.” She dares a small, fleeting smile. Relief flickers. Until he adds, casual, lethal: “Temporary.” . . Her chest ached. Then the doors slide open, and the rest of the staff trickle in. Jade leans over to Kain, her voice low, sharp. “Over here. I’m Mia Cooper. We don’t know each other.” The group immediately splits, giving them space. Kain is greeted by the managers and shown to a seat. Jade’s chest tightens. Something’s… off. Why am I even worried? Pfft. He’s got nothing on her. He can’t have moved on this fast. Since they agreed to be “mutuals,” it feels like a crime to let her emotions slip…and the only way to resist the pull is if he backs out of the company. Everyone settles. Mocha shoots her a quick thumbs-up. Do well. The manager c
Before Jade can even get through the fifth page—her fingers still fumbling with the stack—the manager’s sharp voice cuts through the office. “VIP client is here. Hands on desks!” When was thirty minutes suddenly over? Mocha leans toward her, urgency flashing in her eyes. “You need to be in the boardroom now. The client just arrived. You’re project head—start moving, or you’re in trouble.” Jade’s breath catches. Her chest tightens, stomach twisting. Panic claws at her throat. “Move, Mia!” Mocha shouts, her voice sharp, almost desperate. Jade’s heart thunders. She grabs the papers, shoving them clumsily into her bag, fumbling at the strap. The VIP client is already moving through the hallway, imposing and confident, steps echoing. Jade picks up her pace, nearly stumbling over her heels. Her hands shake as she hustles forward, every nerve screaming, adrenaline pounding through her veins. She bursts into the boardroom, a gust of nerves and chaos trailing her. Her bag slip
Her face pressed into his chest, tears soaking through his shirt, hot and unstoppable. “I’m here,” he said quietly, steady even as something burned in his chest. “I’ve got you. You’re not alone.” She clung to him like he was the only solid thing left. And for once, he didn’t push her away. ~LAT
Preview X Recap❤️ ───────────────────────── Hi, lovely readers! This is not an official chapter, but a special little treat for those who can’t wait for the next update, plus a short recap to refresh your memory and keep the story vivid. I hope it excites you and gives you something fresh to
“I’ve always had my eyes on one person,” Kain said sharply. “Scarlett is the woman I love. My fiancée. The rest is fiction.” The journalist turned to Scarlett. “Your response?” Scarlett didn’t hesitate. “I am not my sister,” she said calmly, each word precise. “We are not close. I don’t know her
Her hair was released, cascading in glossy black waves. Nails filed. Jewelry arranged like offerings. Scarlett glanced at the clock. “My interview is in three minutes,” she snapped. “Move faster.” “I’m trying to make it flawless,” the makeup artist said carefully. “I’m just struggling to cover th







