this for myself. A little

clothes," she added, her gaze falling on the neatly organized co

he said, pointing towards the stairs. He looked back at her wi

ked, arching an eyebrow as sh

ve got your basics here. I'm not much

couch, laughing. "That's

to him. "My cousin said that I'd need a counter.

nto a smile. "It's really beautiful," she said,

er lips brushed against his cheek in a soft kiss, and as she pulled away, she smil

k you, sure, but not this... unexpected tenderness. He watched as she bounded up the stairs, her energy infecti

INA

every detail. The walls, the furniture, the window with its bre

s at the absurdity of it. This place was more like a mansion compared to the cabins sh

oft glow across the room. A small closet stood to the side, just big enough to hang dresses-though she hadn't packed any of those. Across from t

. De

but it was no use. The thoughts of her brother were always tangled in a web of uncertainty and fear. She had left hi

the familiar shape of her phone. It wasn't there. "Ughh

t time she had checked, she'd been reading a message, one that had made her stoma

liarity of the space. When she rounded the corner into the living area, her eyes fell on Zachary, seated on the couch

king in the way the sunlight glinted off his dark hair and the relaxed posture he held in his wi

ferent. Casual.

s torso revealed the chiseled muscles beneath, hinting at a well-defined set of abs that she hadn't

e wasn't here to make things complicated. "I think I dropped my phone upstairs," she said, her voice a li

ion in his shoulders, the way his body was stiff as if he was lost in thought. "It's up there

eplied, too quickly. "I'

oment. She was about to turn to leave when

ur own, you know," he said, his tone u

sure why, but something in his voice made her stop. She glanced back at him, bu

gh there was a note of hesitation

k of the couch. Karina stood there for a few more seconds, debating whether she should say something

sky. The room was bathed in soft golden light, and Zachary was no longer sitting on the couch. She found

something inside her. He was no longer the intimidating businessman she h

s eyes lingered on her for a moment, and Karina quickly lo

sked, his voice low

pping her phone into

a quick smile, before tu

etween them, one she couldn't ignore no matter how hard she tried. She had come here to e

at sca