LOGINRhys’s jaw tightened until the muscles in his face began to ache.Despite the bruises scattered across his body, he forced himself upright and looked Theon straight in the eye. The swelling around one side of his face had already darkened into an ugly bruise, making him appear far more miserable than he had a few hours ago.“You know…” His voice was hoarse. “I can have you arrested for assault.”Theon didn’t even blink. The corner of his lips lifted into a faint smile. “Can you?”He walked closer without the slightest hint of hesitation, stopping only an arm’s length away. “Where’s your proof?”Rhys remained silent.Theon reached out and dusted an imaginary speck of dirt from Rhys’s already wrinkled shirt before patting his shoulder.“You of all people should know how important evidence is.” His smile widened. “You’re a lawyer, Rhys. You can’t accuse someone based on suspicion or because we happened to have an unpleasant conversation.”The room fell silent.Rhys stared at him for seve
The underground parking garage was almost silent except for the distant hum of ventilation fans and the occasional drip of melting snow from the ceiling.A sleek black car sat tucked inside one of the darker corners, its engine long since turned off.Inside, a man rested both hands on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the private elevator leading to the penthouse above.He glanced at his watch. “You’re late,” he whispered.Outside, snow continued to fall, coating the city in white. Every now and then another vehicle entered the garage, but none belonged to the person he was waiting for.Finally, bright headlights swept across the concrete walls.The familiar silver sedan rolled into its reserved parking space before coming to a smooth stop.The man inside the black car straightened. His gloved fingers reached for the black mask resting on the passenger seat.Within seconds, it concealed the lower half of his face. A dark cap followed, pulled low enough to shadow his eyes and hair.
The cold wind greeted Lena the moment she stepped out of the taxi.She pulled her coat tighter around herself and stood quietly before the modest two-storey house.Snow drifted down from the gray morning sky, settling over the roof, the driveway, and the bare branches lining the fence.A cloud of white mist escaped her lips as she let out a slow breath. For a long moment, she simply stood there.Then she walked to the front door and entered the passcode.The lock clicked. She pushed the door open.“Dad… I’m home.” Her voice echoed through the quiet house.No answer came.She slipped off her boots, brushed the snow from her coat, and hung it neatly on the rack before walking farther inside.The television was still on. Morning news played quietly across the empty living room.“Dad?”Still nothing. A faint crease formed between her brows.She made her way down the hallway and stopped outside William’s bedroom.‘Maybe he had gone back to sleep.’She knocked before pushing the door open.
The next morning, Lena woke to the sound of her phone going off.Ding. Ding. Ding.She groaned and dragged the blanket over her head.Ding. Ding. Ding.The phone vibrated across the nightstand, inching closer and closer to the edge.Then it started ringing.Lena reached out from beneath the blanket, fumbling until her fingers found it. Without even looking at the screen, she answered the call.“Hello…”“YOU STINKING BRAT!”Her father’s voice exploded through the speaker.Lena flinched so hard the phone slipped from her hand and landed on the bed.“All this has been going on, and you couldn’t even tell your own father?!”She hurriedly picked up the phone, her heart pounding against her chest.“Are you trying to send me to an early grave?”“Dad—”“Come home this instant! Are you even there? Hello? Hello!”Lena ended the call.She stared blankly at the screen, her hand trembling.“…What’s gotten into him?”She rubbed her forehead as a dull ache settled behind her eyes.‘Wasn’t he the one
Lena turned to stare at him, breathing a sigh of relief."Thank you."Theon kept silent. The muscle in his jaw kept ticking. She could see him trying to control his emotions, his hands still gripping the steering wheel like he was holding himself back from doing something reckless.So she let him be."Erhm… you can just drop me at my old house. I don't want to go back to—""Are you avoiding your father?"Theon cut her off. His voice was flat, but she could hear the edge underneath.Lena didn't answer."Does your father know about this whole thing?" he pressed.She looked down at her hands."I think we should pull over first." Lena forced a small smile. "I can't risk another unexpected brake, please."Theon didn't laugh. But he eased his grip on the wheel.The rest of the drive was unbearably silent. The only sound was the hum of the heater and the soft crunch of snow beneath the tires. Theon reached over and turned on the radio."—breaking news. Health officials are urging the public
The line went completely silent on the other end.Then Theon's voice came through, cautious and measured. "Roman, calm down. It might just be stimulation from the drugs. They can create illusions like that once in a while."Roman's breathing was still uneven. He pressed his palm against his forehead."I'm sure you're perfectly fine," Theon continued. "Have you noticed anything else? Any other odd symptoms?"Roman thought for a moment. His hand was still trembling slightly. "No. Just the... the fragments. Voices. Some images I can't place.""That's normal for the medication you're on. The chemicals in your system sometimes react unpredictably. But it doesn't mean anything is wrong."Roman closed his eyes. He forced himself to take a slow breath. "What about Evelyn?"Theon went quiet for a moment. "Her emotions could be stimulated by postpartum hormones. It's common. She might feel down, agitated, stressed out, or anxious. Her body is adjusting after childbirth."Roman's jaw tightened.
Roman kept his promise.Later that afternoon, once she could walk without glaring at him every few steps, he took her out.Not just anywhere.Everywhere.He showed her Italy the way only Roman could — unhurried and intentional. Cliffside restaurants overlooking endless blue. Quiet cobblestone stree
Roman leaned closer, just enough for her to feel his presence. “Wear it for me,” he murmured. “Please.”That was unfair.She had just promised herself she’d stop hiding. Stop shrinking. Stop letting shyness win.Evelyn bit her lip, her resolve trembling—but holding.“There’s a private cove just bel
Evelyn sat on the edge of the wooden dock, her legs dangling just above the glassy surface of the lake. Her camera hung from her neck, resting against her chest, her hat shielding her eyes from the gentle afternoon sun. The conversation with Lena replayed in her mindAfter the abrupt end to their fi
Roman only finally let Evelyn go after she agreed to pack his underwear for the trip.And worse—he stood there and watched her do it.By the time she was done, Evelyn was certain her skin would start bleeding from how hard her cheeks had been burning all day. Roman hadn’t stopped teasing her, his e







