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
Oscar slowly lifted his head. His breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling unevenly.“If you refuse,” Cale continued—his voice calm, stripped of any overt threat, which somehow made it far more terrifying—“you never should’ve thought about refusing in the first place. You do remember your
“Once you’re inside,” Oscar continued, his voice dropping even lower, “Callister Group will be paralyzed. The board of commissioners will scramble to save themselves, including Bret, who personally gave me my orders. Domestic and foreign investors will start pulling out. I think it began a few days
Riana smiled warmly. “That’s wonderful. It means the more you practice, the better your drawings will become.”Nathan nodded in agreement. “Hard work always shows results.”Grace smiled proudly, then went back to focusing on her toast.Josh finally set his spoon down. He looked at Riana with an expr
Silence filled the room once more as Noel’s question hung in the air. The fluorescent lights reflected off the steel table, casting his pale face into stark clarity—no place to hide, no shadows left to shield him.Cale crossed his arms over his chest. “Now tell me everything,” he said flatly. “Don’t







