LOGIN“You… don’t want to tell me?” Lydia asked.She had been patient—waiting, giving him time—but ever since she asked that question, Cale had chosen silence. As if it were something so easy for him to ignore.“Not every promise… is something you need to know,” Cale said shortly.The answer left Lydia st
As if asking her to return to him—to the version of her that smiled easily, without the lingering tension from this morning.No matter what, Cale still cared about how she felt.“Of course.” Lydia gave a faint smile, slipping her hand into his.Their fingers intertwined.Andrew quickly stepped forwa
“Where is she?” Lydia asked, her voice edged with confusion.Her eyes kept searching for the girl she had just been talking to. As she stepped out of the restroom area, her pace slowed, her breath still slightly uneven—as if she had left something behind in there. Not an object. Not a sound.A feeli
Naomi 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
The car carrying Althea sped down the road, tailing the ambulance ahead. Her eyes stayed fixed on the flashing lights, her hands wringing together in her lap in a desperate attempt to ease the gnawing anxiety—though it was useless. Her vision blurred with tears that refused to stop. Beside her, a ho
“Of course!” Althea rained kisses all over his face, making him squeal with laughter and squirm in her arms, though she refused to let go so easily.The anger and frustration she’d felt yesterday had already melted away, gone without a trace. No matter how much the Callister family tried to push the
Cale gave a short, dark laugh. “Ah, Mr. Callister is with you, I see. Rest assured, sir—you’re not the only one. I’ll be far less forgiving if Harold thinks he can get away with this.”Silence settled again until Daven finally broke it. His voice was calm, but the weight in his tone pressed down lik
“Do you mind if we talk here?” Daven asked carefully as they entered the quiet café near where Josh and Chase had been playing.“No.”That was Althea’s only reply as she led the way to a corner table. The café felt hushed; a few patrons murmured over coffee while the scent of espresso and cinnamon f







