LOGINThe soft hum of the engine filled the narrow space like a distant echo from a dream that had not fully released her yet. Naomi stirred slowly beneath the soft blanket covering her body. Her head still felt heavy, her throat dry, and every breath felt like waking after a long illness. It took several
In 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
Silence settled over the family room after Althea’s last question hung in the air. No one spoke. Lydia stared at Althea in disbelief, while Althea kept her eyes on her husband, hoping—needing—an answer to the question that had been haunting her for days.Unfortunately, Daven chose to remain silent.
The television screen in the living room glowed brightly. Selena had deliberately turned the volume up. There was no one else in the apartment anyway—Eli had already left for school, and she had intentionally sent Silvia out to do the grocery shopping. There were plenty of household items she claime
“Dinner is ready, Miss Eli. Would you like to eat now?”Silvia’s voice, accompanied by a soft knock on the door, made Eli flinch. She quickly slipped the box containing the watch Josh had given her under the blanket—even though Silvia might not actually come in. Still, Eli was afraid that someone mi
“Oh God, what am I going to do?” Eli was in a full-blown panic. She kept jabbing the elevator buttons, as if pressing them again and again would make the doors close faster and carry her straight to her floor.She couldn’t imagine how furious her mother would be. All she could do was hope—desperatel







