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Chapter 75 – Cracks in the Armor

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of laughter echoing through the hallways. At first, I thought I’d dreamed it—Desmond Smith didn’t laugh. At least, not the genuine, belly-deep kind. But when I slipped out of the guest room and padded barefoot down the hall, there he was in the kitchen, coffee mug in hand, actually chuckling at something his youngest cousin said.

And he looked… different. Softer.

His cousin ran off, leaving him alone at the counter. That’s when he noticed me. His face immediately shifted back into the familiar mask of indifference, like he’d pulled the shutters over his windows.

“Morning,” he said, voice cool.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms folded. “You do realize I just caught you laughing, right? Actual, human laughter.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t start.”

I smirked. “Oh, I’m starting. Because clearly you’re capable of not being an arrogant robot. Who knew?”

The corner of his mouth twitched, and though he tried to