MasukThe 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
That afternoon, Silvia excused herself to go out and buy some household necessities. Eli still hadn’t returned from school—she said she had an extra singing class. Eli had been chosen to represent her school in an upcoming competition. Selena didn’t particularly care; what mattered was that Eli cont
Oscar looked away.“Say it before I lose my patience,” Cale said with a faint smile. “You know this place well, don’t you? There’s no way out.”Oscar growled in frustration; his glare fixed on Cale. His eyes flicked around the room—not just now, but as they had ever since he’d been brought here. Thi
“Exactly,” Riana replied. “Which means there’s another objective.”Nathan gazed out at the garden. “Do you think they want control?”“And recognition,” Riana added. “Recognition that’s being forced.”Nathan fell silent for a moment—not because he didn’t understand where the conversation was going, b
Elsewhere in the city, Cale was moving in the opposite direction—toward a place he used to frequent. He drove himself, hands steady on the wheel, eyes focused through the traffic ahead. His phone vibrated on the center console. Erick’s name lit up the screen.“What is it?” Cale asked bluntly as soon







