LOGINShe 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
Her allowance from the volunteer program was small, just enough for food and fare, but she had already decided not to use it for herself. Instead, she wanted to save it up for something more meaningful—buying generic vitamins for the children. The government gave away free medicines, yes, but never
Daniel fell silent again for a brief moment, as if giving her space to continue. She took the chance.“I told you before that I would talk to you about us when I came back.”“Yes, you did say that. So what’s happening, Calley?”“I want you to know how much I truly appreciate your feelings and your k
Everything that happened next blurred together. Calley’s vision swam with tears, and time itself seemed to slow. The scene where Phillian lunged at Sacred, delivering blow after blow, moved in sluggish fragments before her eyes until everything turned indistinct.Her body froze where she stood. She
When dinner time came, everyone gathered once more in the vast dining hall. Calley could not help but be struck by the sheer size of the house— it had clearly been rebuilt to accommodate a family of this scale. Every corner spoke of space and abundance. The second floor resembled a hotel with rooms







