d my thoughts. I didn't even know him. Yet somehow, Alaiz had alr

f anticipation and anxiety. My father's voice cut through

ounced, folding his napkin with surgical precis

mid-sip.

ll return before

t. His trips always brought this mixture of relief and unease: free

y something I couldn't name. "When I return, we'll celeb

ion tugging at me. "

keep my word," h

rritation slipped further. But I couldn't help it. My life had alway

d instructions, calls to staff, meticulous checks of schedules. I retreated

phone buzzed. A

I just heard some

ly. "If it's not en

n't even know what she was about to say, but it felt urgent, dang

ly through my phone, the dim glow reflecting off the walls. My hair was loose

berate tap aga

My pulse spiked. Crossing the room carefully, I pulled the curtain aside. A shadow stoo

Al

gainst the glass controlled, intentional, not reckless.

idn't

held a folded

taking it. He gave a brief nod an

mbled as I unf

but I know your eye

ust truth. Dangerous, inti

pen, shaking,

but you found me anywa

lessly. Our eyes met for a heartbeat. Then he was gone.I couldn'

ak out to have a chit chat with Alaiz . Abi insisted on accompanying me even if she didn't

you're about to commit

I am," I

re we could knock. And

Ar

ic that hugged her curves with calculated confidence. She radiated a dangerous ea

ps curved into a smile that was all amusement and war

is to me but deep down I knew she

he told me he w

lightly, eyes assessing me lik

the tension in the air, I could feel that Alaiz's presence hovered

spered, voice sof

and knowing. "Oh, so you'

lable pressed against my chest, igniting tension and uns

friendly?" I asked careful

listic. Some things in life... you don't g

e claim Alaiz had made the night before, and at the invi

amusement. Her eyes lingered, and I could feel the tension in the air. She had always admired Alaiz

d the doorframe like she had nothing to hide, nothing to fear. I realized too la

r her breath, "Oh n

?" I h

Possessive. And she hates anyone

ule, every wall I had built see

laiz had ever done or said, an invisible crown of power around her. I couldn't move, couldn't

k up the Cybertruck Alaiz had left the night before. My heart leapt and

last night was a mist

t a promise, sharp as a blad

e house, her presence pressing against mine with unspoken warnings. Every word s

ven she couldn't pierce the thick fog

ensing my agitation, issued an or

around the estate. Le

ction, and jealousy that had taken root inside me. The drive wound through the sprawli

made my stomach drop. Alaiz... and Emmilia were having a passionate intense kiss, th

confusion. And yet, buried under it all, a pulse of somet

remaining silent. The estate stretched on, quiet except for the soft hum of th

own, that the storm