LOGINDAMON.The walk from the grand iron gates of the upper-district estate to the paved driveways had always been a symbol of status, but today, it felt like a slow march of humiliation and pain. Damon walked the distance on foot, not in his usual sleek Sedan.He hadn't come back out of remorse. He had come back because reality had finally set in: freezing his accounts had crippled him. He convinced himself, with a desperate flick of his ego, that perhaps his father’s initial fury had cooled. After weeks of silent treatment, surely the old man’s heart would have softened toward his only son. Surely a family patriarch wouldn't let his own blood rot in the lower gutters over a broken engagement.He passed the security checkpoint but he wasn't accorded the usual respect.These fools, Damon said to himself. I will deal with them soon.The mahogany doors of his father's private study were cracked open. Damon pushed them wider and stepped inside.His father looked up from the leather desk, his
DAMONDamon walked into the usual meeting spot, pulled the collar of his damp leather jacket tight against his neck, standing in the shadows, waiting for the only person in the city who hated Eveline as much as he did Lucian Reed.A sleek, dark sedan pulled quietly to the curb at the mouth of the alley, its headlights clicking off instantly. The passenger door opened, and Maeve Cross stepped out.She was impeccably dressed in a tailored wool coat, her blonde hair pinned back in its usual pristine twist. The moment she locked eyes with Damon in the dim light, her face twisted in anger.“You are late, Damon,” Maeve hissed, marching right up to him and crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “I have been waiting in the car for a while now." “Traffic on the bridge from the lower district was hectic," Damon snapped back his jaw as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “What the hell did you call me out here for? My father has cut off my funds, my accounts are frozen, and I’m one step a
EVELINELucian carefully scooped Eveline up into his arms, carrying her out of the cramped bathroom and laying her down softly on her bed propped up against several pillows.He sat on the edge of the mattress, pouring a glass of water and holding it to her lips.“Drink slowly,” Lucian instructed, his tone softer now that the panic had subsided.Eveline took a small sip, avoiding his eyes as a flush of embarrassment hit her cheeks.For a moment, the only sound was the steady hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen and the soft rise and fall of Eveline’s breathing. She took a deep breath, still feeling a bit washed out, but the intense wave of nausea had faded out.Lucian remained seated, his large frame relaxed, watching her with a quiet, attentive gaze.Eveline cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “Thank you, Lucian. For... coming over so fast. And for not making a big deal out of it.”Lucian offered a soft, wry smile, shaking his head slightly. “You’re welcome, Eveline. Though it
EVELINE.The transition into their new reality was bumpy, marked by an ongoing tug-of-war between Eveline’s fierce independence and Lucian’s stubborn persistence.By Tuesday morning, the subtle footprint of Lucian’s presence was already woven into the small apartment. Eveline stepped into the kitchen in her oversized cotton sleep shirt just after six, and when she flicked on the light, she found a brown paper package neatly resting on the counter next to the kettle. Inside were fresh organic berries, a carton of iron-rich greens, and a small sealed bottle of prenatal vitamins accompanied by a note in Lucian's handwriting: Take these with breakfast. I will check in tonight.Eveline stared at the note, a mix of irritation and warmth fluttering in her chest. She wanted to prove she could handle everything on her own, but she couldn't deny the steady relief that washed over her. He was keeping his word, providing care without controlling her and she was gratefulBy mid-afternoon, however,
LUCIANThe digital tablet on Lucian’s desk glowed in the dark room, casting a cold, pale light across his face.Howard stood quietly by the door, holding a printed summary report. The private inquiry across the lower-district apothecary shops and independent pharmacies had taken less than twelve hours, but to Lucian, every minute had felt like forever.“Dr. Reed,” Howard said, his voice hesitant. “We found a match.”Lucian didn’t look up immediately. He locked his jaw, his hands flat against the dark wood of his desk. “Give me the details.”“It wasn’t logged under Eveline’s name,” Howard explained, glancing down at the paper. “Which explains why it didn’t show up initially. But the attendant at a small pharmacist two street away from Henderson books and brews remembered a young woman matching her description paying cash for two specific items two weeks ago: a standard home pregnancy test kit and a bottle of specialized prenatal vitamins.”The quiet in the room lingered on.Lucian clos
LUCIANThe executive office was dead quiet. The soft hum of the climate control system blended with the steady stream of city medical lights flickering through the floor-to-ceiling glass. Lucian sat behind his dark mahogany desk, his jaw set in a hard, unyielding line as he stared into the dark.The heavy oak door clicked open.Maeve walked into the room wearing her crisp white lab coat, a sleek leather tablet tucked neatly under her arm. Her blonde hair was pinned back in its usual immaculate twist. She paused a few feet inside the room, her eyes locking onto Lucian’s rigid posture behind the desk.“Lucian,” Maeve said smoothly, her voice carrying a practiced professional cadence. “If you’re looking over the evening surgery rosters, I need your sign-off on the trauma bay rotations before eight o'clock.”Lucian didn't reach for the tablet. He didn't even blink. Slowly, he stood up from his leather chair, his tall frame cutting a cold, imposing silhouette against the glittering backdr







