Chapter 6: Let's Go Home.

Nova-

I sat quietly in the SUV, staring out the window as we waited for Nicolai.

What was taking him so long? My fingers hovered near my mouth, nails already worn from nervous biting. After everything that had just happened, the silence felt unbearable.

I glanced at the rearview mirror. Aaron met my eyes briefly, calm as ever—like nothing back there could possibly go wrong.

“Um… Mr. Dean,” I said hesitantly, my voice softer than I intended. “Are you sure Mr. Moreau is alright?”

Aaron’s lips lifted into an easy smile as he caught my reflection.

“He’s fine. Just… clarifying a few things with your family. For future reference.”

Clarifying?

My brows furrowed. What exactly needed clarifying? And for what future—

The car door suddenly opened. My thoughts vanished. My heart jumped as Nicolai slid into the backseat beside me. The space shrank instantly, his presence filling it completely. My breath caught.

He was too close.

The faint scent of his cologne wrapped around me—rich, clean, and unmistakably him. It made it harder to think. Harder to breathe. For a moment, neither of us spoke. We just looked at each other.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

His voice was low, steady—far calmer than the storm inside me.

“I’m fine.”

The answer came too quickly. Too sharp. He didn’t believe me. I could see it in his eyes.

“Nova…” he started gently. “A lot happened tonight. Your family—”

“I said I’m fine.”

My voice cracked halfway through. And that was it. The tears came before I could stop them.

Again.

Damn it.

I turned away slightly, trying to hide it, squeezing my eyes shut like that would make it better. I was tired of looking so weak in front of him!

“I’m sorry—I’m really sorry, I—”

Before I could finish, he pulled me into his arms.

Everything stilled.

My face pressed against his chest, warmth surrounding me as his arm settled securely around my back. For a second, I froze—completely caught off guard.

Then… I gave in. The tension in my chest loosened, just a little. His hand rested gently against my shoulder, grounding me. His breath brushed the top of my head.

Safe.

The thought slipped in before I could stop it.

“I’m the one who should apologize,” he said quietly.

I stilled against him.

“What?” I pulled back slightly, confusion cutting through the haze. “Why would you—”

“That wasn’t the way you should have learned the truth.”

His voice was calm, but there was something else there. Something quieter. Regret, maybe. I stared at him for a second… then let out a weak, shaky breath. A faint smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

“Somehow… I don’t think there’s a gift card for ‘sorry your sister’s pregnant by your fiancé.’”

For the first time since he got in the car, he chuckled.

“Fair enough.”

The moment lingered longer than it should have. Heat crept into my cheeks as awareness suddenly hit me—I was still in his arms. I pulled back quickly, clearing my throat.

“I’m—”

His finger pressed gently against my lips, stopping me mid-word.

“You need to stop saying sorry,” he said firmly. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

My chest tightened. No one had ever said that to me before.

“Um… Mr. Mor—”

“And that’s another thing,” he added smoothly. “You should get used to calling me Nicolai. At least when we’re not at work.”

His gaze held mine, steady and uncompromising.

“It would be strange having my fiancée call me ‘Mr.,’ don’t you think?”

My heart skipped.

“Fi—wait.” I blinked at him, my thoughts scrambling. “You were serious about that? About us being engaged?”

His brows drew together slightly, like he didn’t understand the question.

“Why would I joke about something like that?”

Because this is insane.

Because none of this makes sense.

“W-Well, I mean—”

“Does your family know where you live?”

The question caught me completely off guard.

“What?”

“Your family,” he repeated, his tone sharper now. “Do they have your address?”

“…Yes,” I said slowly. “They do.”

“And your ex-fiancé?”

I hesitated… then nodded.

He glanced toward the front.

“We’re going straight to my penthouse.”

“Of course,” Aaron replied without hesitation.

My stomach dropped.

Wait—what?!

As the car started moving, panic surged through me.

“Wait a second—Mr. Mor—”

“Nicolai.”

I took a shaky breath, forcing myself to try again.

“…Nicolai,” I said, and to my surprise…it felt familiar…comfortable. “Why am I going to your penthouse?”

He turned his head slightly, his expression serious now. Focused.

“Because I don’t trust your family,” he said bluntly. “And more importantly… I don’t trust Sinclair.”

A chill ran down my spine.

That was… fair.

“…Okay,” I whispered.

But then—

Oh no.

Sudden panic hit me, sharper than before.

“Wait—my grandmother—”

“She’s safe.”

I froze.

“What?”

“She’s safe,” he repeated, softer this time.

Shock rushed through me so quickly it left me breathless.

“She is?”

He nodded, the edge in his expression easing just slightly.

“I really did meet your grandmother, Nova. That wasn’t a lie.”

I stared at him. My thoughts tangled together, confusion and disbelief crashing into something else—something heavier.

How much… did he know about me? About my life? About everything? He seemed to read the question in my silence.

“I imagine you have a lot of questions,” he said.

That was an understatement.

“I promise,” he continued, his tone calmer now, “we’ll go over everything once we get home.”

Home.

Not your place.

Not my penthouse.

Home.

Something about that word made my chest tighten again—but this time, it wasn’t panic.

I looked at him for a moment longer, searching his face for… something. A reason. A warning. Anything. My instincts should have been screaming at me to stop this. To tell the driver to pull over. To get out. To run.

But they didn’t.

Instead… I nodded. Slowly, I turned my gaze back toward the window, watching the city lights blur past. I didn’t understand him. And I definitely didn’t understand why, despite everything—

I felt safer sitting beside him than I ever had in my entire life.

I pressed my lips together, hoping he wouldn’t notice the warmth creeping into my cheeks again.

Tonight had already been overwhelming enough.

———

We arrived at his penthouse nearly an hour later. A quiet laugh slipped from me as a random thought crossed my mind.

“Something funny?”

His voice was warm, curious, as he helped me out of the car, his hand still wrapped around mine. I hesitated for a second, a genuine smile tugging at my lips.

“I just… assumed you lived closer to the city center,” I admitted. “You know—near the company.”

A faint smirk curved his mouth.

“I’m fairly sure I’m not anything like what you imagined, Nova.”

There it was again. That traitorous flutter in my chest. My heart stumbling like it hadn’t learned its lesson.

Guilt followed quickly after.

He was right. Every assumption I had made about him so far had been wrong.

Nicolai gave my hand a soft squeeze before guiding me toward the building entrance, Aaron quiet and watchful behind us.

The ride up was smooth. Silent. But the moment the doors opened—

My breath left me.

Completely.

The space stretched before me in quiet, breathtaking elegance. Soft lighting spilled across polished marble floors, reflecting against floor‑to‑ceiling windows that overlooked the city. Everything felt intentional—designed. Refined. Untouchable.

Extraordinary.

Exquisite.

Like something pulled straight out of a magazine I could never afford. My eyes moved from one detail to the next, unwilling to settle, afraid I’d miss something if I blinked.

“Like it?”

I jumped slightly at his voice, turning too quickly.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh—no, it’s fine!” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I just… this… your place is—”

I let out a breath, laughing softly.

“It’s incredible.”

He glanced around the space, something softer touching his expression.

“Thank you,” he said. “I hope you can make yourself at home.”

Home.

That word again. It landed differently this time—too warm, too gentle… like something I didn’t quite know how to hold onto. I hesitated. Then forced myself to ask.

“Um… Nicolai?”

His gaze returned to me instantly.

“Yes?”

“How long exactly… were you planning for me to stay here?”

For a brief moment, he didn’t answer. Instead, he studied me—as if weighing something carefully.

Then, slowly, a faint smile returned.

“Well… considering everything that’s happened…”

He paused.

Watching me.

“I was hoping…” he continued quietly, “permanently.”

…..WHAT!