LOGINNaomi 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
“Are you meeting Eli today?” Lydia asked, just to be sure.She had just set down a plate of sliced fruit for Josh and Riana. Since early morning, Grace and Althea had already left the house. Althea had been asked to come to Grace’s school for a storytelling performance—an event involving children th
They moved down to the lower floor. The corridor leading to the interrogation room was eerily quiet. White lights burned steadily overhead, casting sharp shadows along the walls. In front of the steel door, Arsen stopped.“Should I come in?” he asked.Daven shook his head. “No. Stay at the office an
“Of course.”Josh looked at his grandmother, hesitation written clearly on his face, but he could no longer hold it back. “If later… if it turns out Eli really is Chase’s child—what will happen?”The question hung inside the car, stopping every other thought in its tracks. Riana didn’t blink as she
“I should take you home.”The words made Daven turn toward Arsen, who was standing a short distance away. “Why do you need to take me home?”Arsen cleared his throat lightly. “Um… to make sure you get home safely?”“You’d be better off taking care of yourself,” Daven clicked his tongue. “You’re tire







