LOGINThe atmosphere inside the study turns heavier the moment Lawyer Jean arrives. The sharp click of the door closing behind him sounds louder than it should, sealing the tension inside the room. The man removes his coat slowly, his movements calm and measured, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside Travis.Jean is in his late forties, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed, eyes sharp behind thin-rimmed glasses. He has handled enough high-profile cases to recognize when something has crossed the line beyond repair. One look at Travis’s rigid posture and clenched fists tells him this is not a simple matter.Ivan stands near the desk, laptop still open, the screen glowing faintly in the dim light. Travis doesn’t bother offering pleasantries.“Sit,” Travis says, his voice low but commanding.Jean nods once and takes the chair opposite him, setting his briefcase down. He opens it carefully, taking out a notepad and pen, his eyes lifting back to Travis. “Ivan briefed me on the basics. I
The entire house is on fire the moment Mrs. Ericson informs everyone that Tiara has collapsed. Panic spreads like smoke through every corridor, seeping into every room, clinging to every breath. Voices overlap, footsteps rush, and the once calm house turns restless and loud. Dawn, who has been feeding Asher in the nursery, freezes mid-motion when she hears the commotion. The spoon pauses inches away from Asher’s lips as her heart drops heavily into her stomach.She hurriedly places the bowl aside, wiping her hands on the hem of her shirt as she scoops Asher into her arms. Her movements are rushed but careful, instinctively protective. Asher squirms, confused by the sudden change, his small fingers clutching her collar. Dawn presses him against her chest, her pulse racing, and walks inside the elevator to go downstairs, her steps uneven and hurried. Her brows knit together, her lips parting slightly as anxiety settles in her chest. She only knows about the situation briefly. No one
Tiara barely looks up to Danny who is sitting on the chair, leaning towards her. Her lashes flutter faintly before dropping again, as if even lifting her gaze costs too much strength. His brows stretch with the concern that can puzzle anyone. A shallow breath slips past his lips, uneven, restrained. Not friendly, not family-like or anything else, just... the one when someone feels guilty, someone who thinks that fails to protect the very person they have sworn to protect forever. His jaw tightens for a split second, the muscle ticking as he looks at her.He extends his hand, but hesitates to move. His fingers hover mid-air, curling slightly as if unsure whether he deserves to touch her at all. He can see the bead of tears in the corner of her eyes. The sight makes his chest constrict painfully. The weight pull towards the intention of wiping it off her red cheeks is stronger than he has expected. His thumb twitches, betraying the restraint he is trying so hard to maintain." Should I
" You are saying someone sent some inappropriate pictures of her to a group?" Travis's words were like venom, spitting out with its utmost sharpness. His jaw flexed as each syllable left his mouth.Danny nodded quietly before handing Tiara's phone to him. He had been keeping it with him just to make sure the screen didn't go off. His fingers trembled slightly as he let it go.Travis stared at the group messages where those students and a few professors didn’t go kind on her. His eyes darkened with every line he read, the muscle beneath his eye twitching. They were blaming her for creating messes in an important group.Travis sat on the chair in front of the ER, the chair creaking under the sudden weight of his tension. David followed, his face full of concern. He watched Danny and Travis losing their expressions to something colder and cruel, both of them stiffening like predators catching a scent.Travis grabbed his phone while typing something in Tiara’s phone. His fingers moved sha
"Professor Danny! Are you done?" Danny's assistant, Joan, asked, leaning against the doorframe.Danny grabbed his belongings and looked at Joan with a polite smile. "No. I need to wait for three hours to get the final results, so I am heading home until it's done." He set the timer on his phone while ignoring the messages before approaching the door.Since he needed to concentrate on his research tonight, he decided not to receive any calls or read messages."That's good. You have been staying up late. Anyway, I am done with my part. Can I go home?" Joan asked, constantly checking his phone."I already told you that you don't have to inform me. Just message me. See you tomorrow, Joan. Good night."Joan, a master's student, nodded his head. He was going on a dinner date with his girlfriend and couldn't wait to see her.Seeing that Danny hadn't questioned him like the previous professor, who constantly nagged, Joan felt quite grateful. At least now he didn't have to go home with headach
Tiara barely enters the house after opening the door with shaky hands. She is well aware of the situation. Whenever she tries to stay away from her house longer than usual, she feels fatigued and catches cold and flu. It's not usual.However, what's unusual is that she doesn't have anyone by her side. Neither her parents, brothers, nor sister-in-law who usually gives her attention instantly.She chuckles as she lays on the couch, resting her arm on her burning forehead, "I feel like a spoiled princess!"She can't help but feel homesick. She is determined to get free from that attachment to her family. Ever since she went through the trauma a decade ago, she can't live alone in the house. She hates darkness, and on top of that, she hates feeling the dilemma.She grabs the cushion and presses it on her forehead. "Who knew that living alone would be that hard?"Curling into a ball, Tiara decides to fall asleep as soon as possible. But with a fever, it is just a little wishful thinking.W







