LOGINThe office door opened slowly, and three men stepped inside with uneven, limping strides. Their faces were bruised, one of them with a split lip. Another held his ribs, struggling to hide the pain every time he breathed. None of them dared lift their heads too high.The spacious, dark-toned room sud
The car cut through the increasingly quiet streets of the night. City lights flashed past the windows, but Naomi didn’t see any of it. Curled up in the back seat, she wrapped both arms around herself, still trembling from head to toe. Every few breaths caught in her throat before breaking into stifl
Naomi stumbled back against the wall, gasping for breath, able only to stare with wide eyes.The man who had slapped her seized her again, yanking her close as a shield. “Don’t come any closer!”Liu looked at him without blinking. “Let her go.”“Or what?”Liu moved so fast Naomi barely saw it.In on
BANG! BANG! BANG!The pounding on the apartment door felt like a hammer striking directly against Naomi’s chest. Her fingers trembled as she held the phone to her ear, waiting for the call to connect. But before anyone could answer, she heard the sound of metal being forced from the outside. The doo
Naomi said nothing more. She walked to her unit, pushed open the apartment door, and stepped inside. Before closing it, she noticed Liu still standing in the hallway, watching until the door was fully shut and locked.The room was small, cramped, and far from comfortable, yet tonight it felt like th
“Thank you,” Naomi said, bowing her head slightly to Liu, who had escorted her home that night. Her voice was soft, nearly swallowed by the whisper of the night wind slipping through the corridor of the old apartment building where she lived. The hallway lights glowed dimly, casting long shadows acr
Mighatan — One month after Josh and Althea’s return to SunCity.“Mr. Daven,” Arsen called softly as he knocked on the office door.Daven lifted his head, his eyes dull and tired behind a stack of untouched documents. “Come in, Arsen.” His voice was flat, weary. The air in the room felt heavy—thick w
“I just hope Josh’s recovery goes smoothly. He’s past the critical stage now, isn’t he?”Althea nodded at Kate’s words.Relief softened Kate’s expression. Though her face was still pale, there was a newfound brightness in her eyes—maybe because they’d been talking about Josh this whole time. “I just
One year later.The afternoon air in SunCity was warm, filtering through the wide windows of the Millers’ family room. Althea leaned back on the sofa, her hand gently caressing her rounded belly with a serene smile. Nearly seven months pregnant now, she spent most of her days at home. Since the doct
“Mr. Handsome, you’ve been talking to Grandma for so long. Was something serious happening?” Josh asked between bites of fruit from the platter. “Uncle Arsen peeled me an apple. It’s really sweet. Do you want some, Mr. Handsome?”Daven walked over, ruffling Josh’s hair gently. His eyes flicked to th







