Mag-log inNaomi nodded again without hesitation. “Ah, I should get back to work.” She picked up a few cleaning tools, moving quickly—until—“Ouch!” Naomi winced, instinctively grabbing her wrist.A dark bruise was visible there.“I should go,” she added quickly.“Are you okay?” Lydia asked, startled by what s
The Berlin sky was bright that afternoon, but Lydia’s mood was anything but light. She wandered through a city park without direction, letting her steps carry her wherever they pleased. The rustling trees, the soft breeze, the people passing by—it all faded into the background.There was only one th
The building rose high in the heart of Berlin’s business district, its wide glass panels reflecting the bright midday sky while the traffic below moved in steady order. The car carrying Cale came to a smooth stop at the main entrance, and without delay, a staff member stepped forward to greet him wi
Morning came quietly.Breakfast passed in a strange silence, not awkward, but not comfortable either. The soft clink of cutlery filled the space, occasionally broken by a quiet breath, but no real conversation followed.Lydia looked at her plate more often than at Cale. It wasn’t that she lacked app
The question didn’t receive an immediate answer from Cale.Instead, he let out a long breath and leaned back against the sofa. He gestured for his wife to come closer—but Lydia didn’t move. If anything, her gaze sharpened, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest.“Answer my question first, Cal
And somehow, that made everything feel even more intense.Every now and then, Lydia glanced at him. Without realizing it, she kept wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue—a small gesture that didn’t go unnoticed. It pulled a knowing smile from Cale.The elevator doors slid open.They walked towa
Eli had no choice but to nod, even though the weight in her chest felt unbearable.They kept walking toward the crowd—toward the towering glass-fronted building—where cameras were already raised, microphones lined up, and bright lights blazing, ready to capture whatever was about to happen.This cle
“You should see this,” Lydia said as she turned on the flat-screen TV in the family room. Riana and Nathan looked startled by her words.“What’s going on?” one of them asked.Lydia let out a long breath. “Before that, I’ve already asked Josh and Grace to stay in the right-wing pavilion. Their privat
“I asked someone to keep an eye on Selena. You knew that, right?”Ah—right. One of Erick’s trusted people had been assigned to monitor Selena and her movements closely. “So what did he find?”“There was absolutely no change in her usual routine. Selena never met anyone else. All she did was shop, ta
“Why would I be?” Josh asked calmly. “We’re both under pressure, just in different ways.”Eli let out a long breath. “I… I never wanted to force things like this. But—” She trailed off, lowering her head again.Josh nodded in understanding. “I get it. How about we change the subject?”Eli finally la







