เข้าสู่ระบบRachel POV
I sat in the lush courtyard grass, my laptop open and textbooks scattered around me. The soft breeze and the sound of Leo’s laughter made a perfect, peaceful backdrop for studying. Across the lawn, Leo was in his element, giggling uncontrollably as he chased two of Damien’s guards. The large, intimidating men were putting on a spectacularly bad performance of losing every race, letting the small boy climb onto their backs as they stood perfectly stilDamien POVI stared after Marcus's retreating form, still caught in a haze of disbelief.Then I heard small footsteps behind me.Leo came to my side, carefully lifting Scout from the ground into his arms. She remained asleep, her body limp with trust, her small head tucked against his chest as if nothing in the world had changed."Are you mad at me?" he asked quietly, watching Marcus's car disappear down the street. "Did I say something wrong?"I knelt and ruffled his hair. "No. You didn't do anything wrong. That was just... adults talking."Leo nodded, though he didn't look convinced.We stood there for a moment longer, watching as Marcus's car pulled away-accelerating faster than necessary.I exhaled slowly and looked down at Leo. His eyelids were already drooping, his movements sluggish."It's time to go home," I said gently.He nodded and leaned into me, careful not to wake Scout as I lifted them both into my arms.I carried Leo back to the car. Vance was already inside, waiting.
Damien POVMarcus stopped a few feet away, hands in his coat pockets, posture relaxed enough to be insulting."I was driving past," he said lightly. "Saw you buying ice cream. Thought I'd stop and say hello."My jaw tightened.Of course, he had.Of all the places in this city-of all the days-he'd noticed me standing in line like an ordinary man, fumbling money while my son gave me love advice."Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked coolly. "Work, perhaps."Marcus smiled, but it never reached his eyes. "I do. But then again..." His gaze slid briefly to Leo, then back to me. "You're dating my sister. I figured that earned you a minute."Leo shifted beside me, clutching his ice cream cup tighter. I felt it instantly-the subtle change in his breathing, the way his body leaned closer to mine."Papa," he whispered. "Who's that?"I placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. "An acquaintance."Marcus raised a brow. "That's one word for it."He crouched slightly, lowering himself to Leo'
Damien POVMr Vance opened the car door, and Leo climbed in, settling Scout on his lap. I slid in beside him while Vance took the front passenger seat.The car pulled away from the training centre, and for a moment, there was only the sound of the engine and Scout's quiet panting.Then Leo spoke up, his voice still a little wobbly from earlier. "Papa?""Yes?""Can we go to the dog park?" He looked up at me with those wide eyes, still red-rimmed from crying. "Scout would like it. And... I want to play with her outside."I hesitated.The Raven was still out there. Unresolved. Taking Leo to a public park-even with security felt reckless.But then Rachel's words from yesterday surfaced in my mind, clear and sharp."If you don't want Leo to be like you, then maybe he needs more than just this world. School. Other kids. Space to figure out who he is outside of guards and cars and walls."I looked at Leo. He was watching me hopefully, one hand absently stroking Scout's ears.He'd been cooped
Damien POVI absolutely knew this would happen, but that didn't make it any less irritating.Today, I brought Leo and Mr Vance to Scout's training centre to finally see the evaluation of her progress.Standing in the large, expansive yard surrounded by aggressive dogs mid-training only made our situation worse. Compared to them, Scout's small frame and soft colouring made her look painfully out of place. Foolish, even.Leo sat nearby under guard supervision, quietly working through an oversized lollipop. He'd wanted to follow Rachel to school that morning, and he cried when I told him no, and this had been the fastest solution. The candy was just enough of a distraction to keep him from protesting through the drive here.So now he sat there, hands sticky and smudged with dirt, the lollipop clenched in one fist while Scout lay stretched across his lap, fast asleep and completely unbothered by the chaos around her.The handler stepped in front of us, holding out a folder. I skimmed t
Rachel POVI lay on Damien's bed, sleep threatening to pull me under.Which wasn't fair, especially when I was dressed like this.The silk night robe clung softly to my skin - deep green, simple, flowing just above my thighs, tied loosely at the waist. I'd paired it with matching pants tonight, not for comfort, but for him.I still couldn't believe I was thinking like that.The door opened.I sat up immediately, excitement stirring as I adjusted my hair and robe, already smiling-Then I saw his face.The smile faded.His jaw was tight. His knuckles were white. Like he was holding himself together by force alone."What's wrong?" I asked, concern pulling me to the edge of the bed.His gaze met mine, then flicked away. I noticed how his eyes lingered briefly on me - the robe, and on the way I was waiting. He seemed to be debating whether now was the right moment."I went to visit your father," he said quietly.I froze."My father?" I repeated, worry rushing in. "Why? Damien, please don'
Damien POVI sat behind my desk, the aftermath of Rachel and me moments ago still lingering in the air. Vance and I had hurriedly cleared the room, erasing the evidence, though my bloodstained shirt remained untouched-I hadn't bothered changing it.My bloodstained shirt remained untouched. I hadn't bothered changing it.Vance stood to my right, as he always did, composed and watchful.I was expecting a knock.Instead, the door swung open.Alessandro walked in without hesitation, utterly unfazed by the death glare I sent his way. He strolled across the room like he owned it and dropped into the chair opposite my desk."That was a long ride," he said casually, rolling his shoulders. "You wouldn't happen to have a beer, would you? A civilised man keeps one on hand.""You clearly weren't taught manners," I said coldly.Vance sighed and closed the door before coming to my side once more."You knew I was coming anyway," Alessandro replied with a smirk. "What's the point of knocking?"I ope
Rachel POVI stepped out of the car once more, the hot afternoon air brushing against my skin as we stood in front of the city’s large community library.Leo stood beside me, his face beaming the moment he recognised the building. The excitement practically radiated off him as we walked i
Rachel POV I stepped out of the car as Mark opened the door for me, the morning sun spilling over the courtyard of my campus. I turned and reached out my hand for Leo. He took it eagerly, hopping down to his feet with a beaming smile. “Is this where you go to school?!” he
Damien POV"Position confirmed, sir. The subject just entered the café. Southwest corner table, back to the wall."Sullivan's voice crackled through the nearly invisible earpiece as I adjusted my cufflinks—a deliberate, calming gesture. My reflection stared back at me from the tinted car
Rachel POV Marcus’s smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. He leaned back in his chair, fingers folding together, his gaze sharpening into something cold and analytical. The warmth in his voice was gone when he spoke again. “I just find it interesting,” he said mildly, “that







