She had no choice but to agree. Opportunities like this didn’t come twice, and the only reason she’d been working herself to the bone was to earn Merlin’s recognition and secure her name on the design. With Luther Corp backing her, Stardust was bound to rise.“Fine. Let’s go.”Eric hadn’t expected Travis to go so far as to use his own son as leverage just to get close to Nora. He could only sigh. One move too late.—At the Luther estate, Nora headed straight for Quinton’s room the moment she stepped out of the car. She knocked twice. No response.She turned to go back downstairs, ready to tell Travis even she couldn’t convince him.“Mrs. Luther,” the butler called from the staircase. He seemed to gather his courage before speaking again. “Quinton isn’t refusing school because he doesn’t want to go. He only wants to wait a few more days—because he knows next Wednesday is your birthday. He’s been planning to prepare a gift for you himself.”The words caught her off guard, strikin
Bang. Bang. Bang.Another round of pounding shook the door. The hair on the back of Nora’s neck stood straight up. Just as her nerves threatened to snap, a voice finally rang out from the other side.“Nora, are you home? Nora!”She froze. The voice was familiar. Slowly, cautiously, she edged toward the door. When it came again—louder this time—she recognized it for sure. It was Eric.She pulled the door open, only for Eric to jump back with a start. He’d been about to leave when the sudden glow of her phone lit up her pale face like something out of a horror movie.“…Seriously?” Nora muttered. “Who scared who here?”Eric quickly steadied himself, though his ears flushed with embarrassment. “So you’re fine. Good. I was walking out of the elevator and heard a woman scream. I thought something happened to you, so I pounded on the door.”Nora blinked. So this whole scare was because of a neighbor screaming.“Alright,” she said, a little dryly. “But what are you doing here so late?”
Mary gave a cold laugh. “I don’t know where you get such nonsense, but I’m not blind. I can see perfectly well that Travis has feelings for Nora. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent the night in the same room with her and worn himself out like that.”Susan had no answer. Calvin stayed silent.—In the car, Nora sat with Quinton between her and Travis. What should have looked like a warm family scene felt tense and joyless.Henry, riding up front, felt his head ache. He’d assumed that an overnight at the family estate meant progress. Clearly, he’d been too optimistic.Even Quinton, usually lively, sensed the heaviness. “Dad, can I stay home from school another week?” he asked carefully.Travis’s gaze shifted to him, then to Nora, who wasn’t paying attention. His voice was cool. “No. You’ve already had two weeks off.”“But I still don’t feel good. My stomach hurt again this morning,” Quinton said, clutching his belly for emphasis.He leaned his small frame toward Nora.She tried t
The next morning, Nora woke on the sofa. She’d expected it to be uncomfortable, but she had slept surprisingly well.When she peeked into the bedroom, Travis was already gone. The bed was neatly made, as if he had never been there.After washing up, she went downstairs. Every member of the Luther family was already seated, even Quinton had beaten her to breakfast.Heat pricked at the back of her neck, but she kept her expression composed.“How shameless. Letting everyone wait on you,” Susan snapped the moment she saw her.Mary shot her a disapproving look. “You always have something to say.”Susan’s grip on her spoon tightened, but she fell silent.Calvin, Travis’s father, sighed and handed Nora a piece of toast. “Eat something.”Quinton, meanwhile, couldn’t stop glancing between Nora and his father. Last night, his great-grandmother had told him they were busy with “important grown-up matters” and mustn’t be disturbed. If things went well, she’d said, they wouldn’t fight anymo
Travis led Nora upstairs to the bedroom.She had never stayed overnight at the Luther’s estate before. When she saw the room’s dark, masculine decor, her brows lifted, but she wasn’t surprised.He walked straight into the dressing room, clearly at home, and began changing.“Our relationship doesn’t make it appropriate for us to share a room,” she said firmly. “Either you sleep on the sofa, or you move to the guest room. Your choice.”Travis glanced at her, holding his loungewear, his voice flat and final. “I only sleep in my own bed. If you can’t handle that, find your own solution.”The tone left no room for debate.Nora knew she couldn’t win this fight. “Fine. I’ll take the guest room.”She turned on her heel and left without hesitation. Travis’s eyes darkened as he watched her go. A moment later, he picked up his phone and made a call downstairs.Five minutes later, Nora stormed back in, furious. “Travis, was this your doing?”He was already changed into black silk pajamas,
Travis’s eyes were dark as he looked at Nora. She kept her head down, silent. Without hesitation, he sat beside her.The sofa was wide enough for two, but the moment he settled in, the space felt too close, too warm.“Couldn’t you sit across from me?” she asked sharply.Hearing her blame him, Travis’s voice dropped cold. “This is where I always sit.”Nora immediately stood, ready to move elsewhere, but his hand shot out. He pulled her back down beside him.Their shoulders brushed through the thin fabric, the touch sending a subtle spark through the air.“What are you doing? Don’t think just because this is your family’s house, I’m afraid of you,” she said, her expression hard.Travis didn’t let go. His tone was calm, almost detached. “Grandma will see.”“So what? You can’t force me just because your family doesn’t approve,” Nora shot back, refusing to play along.His grip tightened slightly. For the first time that night, the mask of cold detachment slipped, revealing exhausti