llowed hard. I shouldn't have felt anything-it was just a buil

ome. I remembered moments of laughter echoing through the halls, the quiet ni

o

he memories. I refused to let nostalgia take hold. Those "beautiful moments" were lies

es traveled over the mansion's towering facade, the pristine windows r

ment, I froze, half-expecting Nina to be standing there

his deep voice tinged

a smile breaking

pulled me into a firm, fatherly hug. His white hair brush

" I asked, pulling

. "And so are you, it seems. Though I must admit, I nev

ed, glancing back at the

t, his gaze kind but knowing

eased, eyeing his white hair. "Did it get wh

I see. And for your information, the hair comes with the job

t," I muttered,

ening. "It's good to see you, truly. You

g. "Keep talking like that,

ng. "Sentimentality isn't a bad thing,

ful for the brief repri

is?" I asked, glancing

, in the gym, I believe," Edgar s

"The gym? Didn't pe

r said, a hint of mischief in hi

urther. Instead, I stepped toward the hallwa

Miss Q

said, my voic

expression wa

-

marble floors. The west wing was quieter than I remembered, the only sounds com

e here, I thought, send

tering through the closed door. I hesitated for

reeted me stoppe

ds in his ears, the faint sound of whatever he was listening to spilling out into the quiet room. H

is ch

.

strength in every motion, the sheer presence of him. His broad shoulders flexed with each push-up, his bi

y eyes dro

y h

ially with the way his sweatpants hung low on his hips. Every

ing like I'd walked into a scen

ing a hand through his wet hair. That simple motion shouldn

ing to snap myself out of whate

to mine. He pulled out one AirPod, his expres

g the heat rising to my fa

for a towel and wiping the s

to observe?" I asked, my v

nt of amusement in his eyes. "I

into the room. "Don't flatter you

w, tossing the towe

focus on the notepad I'd pulled from m

he stood and walked toward me. "You might f

oming but not overbearing. His damp hair glistened under the overhead lights, an

g off?" I asked, kee

rking as he reached for a

kin. But as he drank, his Adam's apple bobbing with each sw