LOGINMorning crept slowly into the hotel suite, still wrapped in silence. The heavy curtains had not been fully opened, leaving only pale lines of light stretched across the floor. In the guest room, Naomi woke with ragged breaths, her body drenched in cold sweat. Her hands clutched the sheets tightly, a
Morning arrived in Berlin beneath a pale sky, the air still carrying the last bite of the night’s cold. On the upper floor of Brandon’s modern office tower, the main conference room had been prepared an hour earlier. A long wooden table was lined with final documents, the presentation screen already
The office door opened slowly, and three men stepped inside with uneven, limping strides. Their faces were bruised, one of them with a split lip. Another held his ribs, struggling to hide the pain every time he breathed. None of them dared lift their heads too high.The spacious, dark-toned room sud
The car cut through the increasingly quiet streets of the night. City lights flashed past the windows, but Naomi didn’t see any of it. Curled up in the back seat, she wrapped both arms around herself, still trembling from head to toe. Every few breaths caught in her throat before breaking into stifl
Naomi stumbled back against the wall, gasping for breath, able only to stare with wide eyes.The man who had slapped her seized her again, yanking her close as a shield. “Don’t come any closer!”Liu looked at him without blinking. “Let her go.”“Or what?”Liu moved so fast Naomi barely saw it.In on
BANG! BANG! BANG!The pounding on the apartment door felt like a hammer striking directly against Naomi’s chest. Her fingers trembled as she held the phone to her ear, waiting for the call to connect. But before anyone could answer, she heard the sound of metal being forced from the outside. The doo
“Sometimes I forget how comforting silence like this can be,” Chase said quietly.Althea nodded. “After years of chaos and noise, this is the kind of quiet I’ve learned to be most grateful for.”Chase turned to her, his gaze steady. “I hope all that chaos didn’t make you feel like you were any less.
The dining table at the Callister family estate was, as always, flawlessly set. The scent of toasted bread and strong black coffee mingled with the crisp morning air. At the head of the table, Daven stirred his coffee in slow, thoughtful circles. Across from him, Kate Callister ladled cream soup int
Eli’s question made the spoon in Riana’s hand pause midair.The silence that followed was immediate—thick, unmistakable.Because no one answered right away, Eli shifted in her seat, suddenly self-conscious. “She usually tells me,” she added softly. “But she hasn’t sent me a single message since this
Cale’s words left Lydia silent for several seconds.Her hand, which had still been gently massaging his temple, slowly stopped. She allowed him to sit back up beside her. Even then, Cale didn’t look away from her, as though there was something he needed to make clear.She stared at him—now fully awa







