LOGINBradley let out a long breath. His eyes remained fixed on the dimly lit phone screen in his hand; he had been staring at it for far too long.
Eirene’s name was still there on the phone, unchanged, neither altered nor deleted. It was neatly saved, as if nothing had ever happened; as if the days filled with arguments, lies and disappointment had never existed. Ironically, that very name had now become a burden to Bradley—a single word more suffocating than any of their conver
By the time the last car left the yard of the Ravenor family home, night had fully fallen. The fading sound of its engine marked the end of the long tension that had just unfolded—and the beginning of something new for some.Under Garrison’s command, the Investigation Division wasted no time. They did not stop to rest, but moved straight to headquarters without pause or thought of delaying until morning. Everyone understood the same thing: the longer they left the trail, the harder it would be to track.The data centre at the guard headquarters was never truly quiet, but that night it felt more alive than usual. Rows of screens glowed, casting a cold light that contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere in the room. Several team members were already in position, waiting for further instructions.Garrison entered with quick strides, followed by two of his subordinates. “We start now,” he ordered without preamble.One of the analysts turned. “Your orders, Commander?”“Expand the searc
The Ravenor household did not immediately return to normal after Yoren, Fabrizio and the entire investigation team left. Instead, the silence that remained felt far more oppressive than before; it was as if the walls still held the echoes of footsteps and the cold stares of the guards, along with an aura of oppression that had yet to fully dissipate.Isabella stood in the living room where she had last seen Yoren. Her hands were still trembling slightly. She wasn’t aware when her breathing had become irregular. Her chest rose and fell faster than usual, as if her body had just experienced something too overwhelming to comprehend.Heston dropped onto the sofa roughly. He felt drained, though not physically. Something inside him had been completely depleted—perhaps the composure or courage he had believed he still possessed.Daisy stood not far away, hugging herself. Her shopping bags were scattered on the floor near the door. The expensive bags and branded boxes looked starkly out of p
The first thing Yoren noticed when he stepped inside the room was that it wasn’t big. It wasn’t cramped, but it was far from spacious. The plain walls were painted in a soft colour that had begun to fade in several places. The furniture was simple: a bed with a standard wooden frame, a small table beside it, a modest wardrobe and a study desk near the window. Nothing stood out. There was no luxury or distinction; everything looked ordinary.Yoren stood still in the middle of the room for a moment before moving. His gaze slowly swept across every corner, as if he was trying to understand something that couldn’t be explained with words alone.This is where she has been living all this time.This thought came to him suddenly, stirring something in his chest—subtle yet real. His instincts stirred. He took a few steps towards the study desk near the window.Several books were neatly arranged on the desk. There weren't many, but enough to reveal a habit. Some of them looked like they had be
Light seeped slowly in through the gap in the curtains, falling softly across the floor and part of the bed. Although its warmth was not immediately felt, it was enough to stir a half-lost consciousness.Eirene frowned faintly. Her eyes opened slowly, feeling heavy as if her eyelids were reluctant to lift fully.It took a few seconds for her vision to focus. The ceiling greeted her—unfamiliar, yet not entirely so.Eirene remained still for a moment. Her thoughts moved sluggishly, as if trying to piece together scattered fragments.Eventually, the memory came. Everything revolved around Yoren and that room.Eirene took a slow breath. Her body felt light yet strange. Something wasn't right, prompting her to turn her head to the side.Empty. The pillow bore a faint indentation and the sheets were slightly wrinkled—a sign that someone had been there, though they were long gone.Eirene furrowed her brows. “Alpha,” she murmured softly, barely audible even to herself.The silence responded i
The shopping centre was filled with bright lights reflecting off the glass storefronts. Soft music drifted through the air, blending with the sounds of footsteps and passing conversations.Amidst it all, Daisy walked with hands that were never truly empty. Her steps were light, as if she were floating. She moved from one boutique to another and from one floor to the next without hesitation. She chose dresses, shoes, bags and jewellery quickly, as if buying required neither time nor thought.The boutique attendants welcomed her as the type of customer who asked very few questions. A single glance and touch were enough for an item to be added to her shopping list.One attendant approached her with a professional smile. “Our latest collection is at the back, Miss.”Daisy gave a slight nod. “Show me.”Soon afterwards, she stood before a large mirror wearing a black dress with a simple yet elegant cut. She tilted her head slightly and studied her reflection. A faint smile lifted her lips.
Darkness, devoid of sound or sensation. Only emptiness stretched endlessly, calm yet suffocating in its own way.Yoren was there, but he was not fully aware of it. Time seemed to stand still—or perhaps it moved, but left no trace—until something reached him. A small gap appeared in the darkness, faint and almost imperceptible, but enough to draw his attention back.His breath, heartbeat and the heavy sensation in his body returned one by one. Yoren’s eyelids moved slowly before finally opening. Light greeted him—not bright, but enough to make him frown slightly—and revealed a different view. He saw an unfamiliar ceiling painted in clean white.Yoren did not move right away. He fixed his gaze on the ceiling for several seconds, trying to understand what he was seeing. It was not his room.The realisation hit him all at once. In the next fraction of a second, everything returned: the Aurelion Residence and Eirene.Yoren let out a long breath and wondered. How long was I asleep?His body
Eirene woke with an unfamiliar feeling of lightness and calm. There was no blaring alarm, no sound of neighbours arguing through thin apartment walls, and no anxiety about the day ahead.Sunlight slipped softly through the curtains, bathing the marble floor in a serene golden glow. The lin
Fabrizio stopped the car a few metres from the entrance to Sabrina’s apartment block. He turned off the engine, but did not get out right away. He glanced at his watch, then looked at the building once more. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. At least, as far as the naked eye could tell.
Sabrina’s apartment always felt too warm in the afternoons, but this would shift into something calming once night fell. Eirene had thought it was because the air conditioning was rarely used or because the windows faced west, but that wasn’t the reason. It was actually the presence o
That morning, Valemor Holdings moved like a well-trained organism. The company’s headquarters stood gracefully at the heart of Velmora’s business district—a high-rise building with dark glass façades and strong architectural lines. While not flashy or noisy, its presence







