LOGINIn the end, Lydia gave a faint smile. “No. Of course not.”“Let’s move,” Cale said flatly.They left the suite at a brisk pace. The hotel corridor looked calm, too calm, with thick carpet swallowing the sound of footsteps and warm yellow lights making everything appear normal. Yet that very stillnes
Three knocks sounded at the suite door, soft but clear enough to cut through the tension hanging in the air. No one moved for a fraction of a second. It was as if the entire room had stopped breathing together.Lydia, standing near the table, instinctively turned toward the door. Her fingers were gr
Don Falcon’s office occupied the highest floor of the mansion, overlooking a stretch of city that seemed small beneath the vast glass windows. But that morning, no one in the room dared appreciate the view. The air felt heavy, dense with pressure that came entirely from the man seated behind the gle
“Not if it’s treated immediately.” The doctor looked at Cale calmly. “But she needs complete rest. No stress, no fear, and she must not be left alone.”Lydia raised a brow. “That last part sounds important.”Dr. Weber took out fever medication and wrote an additional prescription. “I’ll give her an
The hotel room door flew open harder than usual. Fast footsteps entered the main suite, followed by a rush of cold air from the hallway before the door could close again.Cale came in first, still wearing the same suit he had left in that morning. His face was unreadable, but the tight line of his j
“Like what?”“Being… warm to strangers.”Lydia chewed slowly before answering. “No. I’m selective.”“Then why me?”“I don’t know,” Lydia said lightly. “Maybe fate?”That answer left Naomi quiet.To shift the mood, Lydia began talking about small, ordinary things. About a woman named Althea who, in h
“I agree,” Daven replied. “More and more companies seem to chase numbers alone, forgetting that social contribution is a long-term investment.”Sugimura gave a pleased nod. “The charity event is scheduled for two weeks from now. Our office will send full details via email—venue, schedule, guest list
“Sometimes I forget how comforting silence like this can be,” Chase said quietly.Althea nodded. “After years of chaos and noise, this is the kind of quiet I’ve learned to be most grateful for.”Chase turned to her, his gaze steady. “I hope all that chaos didn’t make you feel like you were any less.
The dining table at the Callister family estate was, as always, flawlessly set. The scent of toasted bread and strong black coffee mingled with the crisp morning air. At the head of the table, Daven stirred his coffee in slow, thoughtful circles. Across from him, Kate Callister ladled cream soup int
Eli’s question made the spoon in Riana’s hand pause midair.The silence that followed was immediate—thick, unmistakable.Because no one answered right away, Eli shifted in her seat, suddenly self-conscious. “She usually tells me,” she added softly. “But she hasn’t sent me a single message since this







