Glen was already waiting in the parking lot, leaning against the sleek black car as Hans pulled up. The tinted windows and partition ensured total privacy—perfect for a man like him, who preferred the world not see what he did in the back seat. He often kissed Akiko without warning, sometimes just to tease her, sometimes for reasons even he couldn’t explain.It always made her flustered. But Hans never said a word. Ever professional.“I want to come too!” Daisy’s voice rang out just as Akiko reached for the car door.She appeared from the lobby, swinging her bag over her shoulder and smoothing her glossy hair like she was walking into a photoshoot.“Why are you leaving me behind?” she pouted.“I let you stay at my place. That doesn’t mean you get to tag along to work,” Glen snapped, not even sparing her a full glance.“But I get bored in that giant apartment,” Daisy whined. “And my room’s still empty. I figured I’d come with you—maybe observe the company. Who knows? I might become a b
Hans had come by early that morning to check the power outage from the night before. Glen had ordered him to investigate—there was no way a place like this, a luxury apartment with top-tier security and infrastructure, would experience something as crude as a sudden blackout.“It wasn’t a technical issue,” Hans had said, brows furrowed. “Someone manually cut the power from the emergency access panel in the basement.”Glen didn’t say it out loud, but something about the timing felt off. His gut told him it wasn’t a coincidence.Whoever had done it would’ve needed special clearance, or inside knowledge of the building’s security layout. A random troublemaker wouldn’t have even gotten near that panel.And yet, despite the unsettling news, Glen’s thoughts weren’t fully on the security breach. They were on the girl curled up beside him, still sound asleep.For once, she looked... peaceful.Her breath was soft and steady. There were no nightmares, no cold floor beneath her, no panic in her
Akiko remained busy in the kitchen. She wasn’t much of a cook, but this time she gave it her all to bake a birthday cake. She was so focused on her task that she didn’t even notice when her hand brushed against the hot baking tray. The sting made her wince, but she didn’t stop.After decorating the cake as neatly as she could, Akiko headed to the bathroom. The clock had already struck 7 p.m. Glen would be home any minute. She cleaned up the apartment, too—oddly messy for a man like Glen, who usually kept everything spotless. Had no one cleaned it while she was gone?"He’s still not back," Akiko murmured, glancing again at the clock. 10 p.m.She was tired of waiting in the living room. The sound of the door unlocking made her jump. She rushed to the fridge, grabbed the cake, lit the candles, and walked toward the entrance with a soft smile."Happy birthday," she said.But Glen didn’t even look at her. His jaw was tense. His eyes, dull with exhaustion."Don’t bother me. I’m exhausted,"
Keinara had been searching for days, visiting universities and following dead leads—until she overheard a doctor mention a patient named Akiko who had vanished mid-treatment. Her heart sank. She confronted the man—Dr. Vian—and begged him to take her there.They arrived just in time. Akiko hadn’t left yet.“Akiko…” Keinara whispered, rushing toward her sister and pulling her into a tight embrace.“What am I to you, huh? I’m your sister! Why didn’t you call me? Why did you just disappear like that?” Her voice trembled, full of desperation.But Akiko didn’t respond, she quietly pushed her away.Keinara froze, stunned.“Hey, I came to take you home. You can stay with me now. Dad… he regrets everything. You don’t have to be afraid anymore,” she pleaded, gently gripping Akiko’s hand.But before she could lead her away, a tall figure stepped in between them.Glen.“She belongs to me now,” he said, his voice cold and absolute.“Glen Xander, I’ll repay every last cent of my Dad’s debt. Just le
The cold air made her cough as she pulled on her jacket. With what little strength remained, Akiko pushed herself off the couch and stepped outside. She paused, gazing at the sky. No stars. No moon. Just an empty black canvas above her.She had locked herself away for days—sustained only by water and a few slices of bread. Even when Vian came knocking, she didn’t open the door. He must have assumed she’d moved on. If he had known how distant she’d become, he never would’ve confessed. He would’ve buried his feelings quietly—just to preserve the fragile thread that still connected them.“So cold…” she whispered to herself.No medicine. No appointments. Just bed. Stillness. Silence. She was waiting for the end. Hoping it would come without noise, without pain.But today, her heart nudged her toward something unfinished.The orphanage.She didn’t know if Ethan still remembered her. But she had come to say goodbye. Ethan was the boy she once found on the street—beaten by his parents. She h
The cold air grew sharper that evening, a quiet signal that winter was near.As usual, Akiko met Vian in the park. But a flicker of unease still lingered in her chest. She hadn’t forgotten the last time she saw Glen here."Why have you been avoiding me these past few days?" Vian asked gently, his voice carrying confusion. He had noticed the sudden distance."I’ve just been tired," she answered vaguely, eyes not quite meeting his."How much longer will your medicine last?" he pressed, brows knitting. "You haven’t come to refill your prescription. Are you still taking it?""I only take it when it hurts too much to breathe," she said flatly."You should take it consistently, like I told you," Vian said, his voice tightening. "Don’t worry about the cost. I told you I’d support your treatment until you’re better. You don’t have to suffer alone."“…Thank you.” Her soft voice twisted something inside him."Let me drive you home tonight," he offered, pulling out his keys. "I don’t want you ge