MasukIn 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
Morning arrived with a comforting routine. The breakfast table was set as usual—cups of coffee and tea still steaming, toast neatly arranged, the scent of butter and jam filling the air. The soft clink of spoons against plates created a familiar, gentle rhythm.Daven was already ready. His suit was
Elsewhere—far from gleaming high-rises, crowded boardrooms, or rows of cafés where people lingered over coffee and sugar-drenched cake—a dilapidated buildings stood hidden behind a line of long-abandoned storage warehouses. Its location lies well away from the city’s main roads. Traffic noise was ra
When they arrived home, the atmosphere felt far quieter than usual, not a cold silence, but one deliberately created so everyone inside could breathe a little easier. Lydia went straight to the kitchen without much comment. She rolled up her sleeves, unpacked the groceries, and began working with ef
“Yes.”Daven fell silent for a moment, then said softly, “I want to come with you. It’s been a long time since I last visited Chase.”Althea shook her head gently. “Not this time.”“Althea—”“Your work matters more right now. There are too many things you need to handle with your people, aren’t ther







