MasukShe had grown used to seeing him in his loud floral Hawaiian shirts, but never in something like this. And she couldn’t quite explain why it amused her so much.Was it because he looked oddly… endearing, wearing that apron?Damn it. Just last night, she had been seething with anger at him. That very
Phillian’s lips pressed shut once more, as though sealing in whatever words had threatened to escape. He fell silent, lost in thought.Then, without another word, he quietly walked toward the bedroom door, opened it, and stepped out. But before closing it, he turned back to her, his eyes resting on
Calley didn’t know how long she had been staring at the painting hanging above the headboard in Phillian’s room. It was a different painting now—not the one he had once made for her.Of course, Phillian had taken that down. Why wouldn’t he?But…Her gaze wandered across the room, unsettled. Why had
The loud ringtone jolted Calley awake, making her straighten in her seat. She turned her head to the side, catching sight of Phillian still focused on the wheel, driving steadily.She blinked, groggy. She hadn’t even realized she had fallen asleep. Shaking off the haze, she shifted her gaze out the
“Phillian! What are you doing?! You can’t force me to come back to Asteria!”“Who told you I’m bringing you back there?”She froze.Where was Phillian planning to take her?When the only possible place dawned on her, she gasped. But she didn’t have the chance to speak again before they reached the t
“Ugh, you look terrible.”That was the first thing Sacred said when they met, two days after she had confirmed her condition. They met at a restaurant near her apartment.“I had to fly all the way from Texas just to meet you,” he said as he sat across from her, his gaze fixed. “Make sure this is wor
He smiled and turned to Mang Ima.“We could survive for a whole month without fishing, Mang Ima. I’ll take care of you and your families.”The old man smiled warmly and squeezed his shoulder.“Thank you, son. You’re a blessing to us.”That gesture reminded Phillian of his father, who had passed away
“For someone with good looks and a body like yours, that’s really hard to believe,” she whispered.He smiled. That little compliment, even if unintentional, gave him a bit of courage.He leaned forward and planted his hands on either side of her, hovering over her but keeping just enough distance be
He shot him a glare.His brother had graduated college six months ago and moved to Montana, a town about an hour and a half from his university. His university was closer to La Asteria, and since he often passed through there, they usually traveled home together.“I’m looking for her,” he corrected
Ten years later.Phillian stepped out of his pickup truck, utterly exhausted. Every part of his body ached, and he could barely keep his eyes open. He didn’t know where he was still drawing energy from, but he forced himself to walk toward the beach house, drenched from head to toe.The weather was







