She sat there, arms wrapped tight around her knees, staring nkly at the huge, empty room. She felt small, lost, like she barely belonged in all that space.


    Inside the vi, Dn was crouched on the floor, slowly picking up the shattered pieces of a vase. It was smashed beyond repair-some bits had crumbled to dust, impossible to piece back together.


    Just like their rtionship, he thought. One ugly truth, and everything would crumble. No matter how hard you tried, you could never make it whole again.


    Aiden walked in and froze, taking in the sight of Dn picking up the sharp, glittering fragments off the floor. He rushed over. "Sir, let me do that."


    He knelt beside him, but when he looked up, he saw a fresh line of blood trickling down Dn''s forehead. His eyes widened. "You''re hurt!"


    Dn just shook his head. He didn''t feel a thing. It was like there was a hole in his chest, cold wind blowing straight through it.


    Aiden reached for the first aid kit, then remembered—he''d taken it away a few days ago. "I''ll call a doctor."


    Dn clenched a shard in his palm, let out a low, bitterugh. "Tell me, Aiden, where did I lose?" He couldn''t helpparing himself to that shadowy man in her past. What made hime up short? Before, he could ept it—maybe he deserved to lose. But now? Why now?


    He couldn''t make sense of it.


    Aiden caught sight of the blood dripping from Dn''s hand and got anxious. "Sir, your health isn''t good. Please, you need to take care of yourself."


    Dn''s eyes dropped,shes low as he finally let the broken pieces fall from his hand.


    He looked down at the wilted petals on the floor, regret flickering in his eyes. She''d given them to him-and then torn them apart herself.


    In her world, no one mattered but that man from the past. Or maybe, what she wanted one moment meant nothing the next. It was like she could walk away any time, and nothing could hold her back.


    Dn went pale, then started coughing.


    Aiden hurried to help him up. "Sir, please rest. I''ll clean this up.”


    Dn brushed him off and went to look for his medicine. On the surface, he seemed calm-but his eyes were edged with something wild, almost feverish. He''d always been collected, but deep down, the beast inside him was waking up.


    Aiden found the pills in the nightstand and handed them over.


    Dn''s hand was trembling, veins standing out as he poured a few pills into his palm and swallowed them dry.


    He flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, voice t and cold. "I want him gone. Out of our lives. For good."


    "Sir..."


    Dn closed his eyes, lips pressed tight with exhaustion. "Did you find her records?"


    "We did."


    "Good." He didn''t say anything else.


    Aiden couldn''t tell if Dn had fallen asleep or was just lost in thought


    He didn''t dare ask. Instead, he quietly cleared the broken vase and swept the wilted petals into the trash.


    The flowers had been so beautiful once. Now they were crushed and pathetic.


    He slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.


    *


    ra sat outside all night, waiting


    Vol


    for sunrise. She''d made up her


    mind she''d wait until Dn''s


    left. As soon as the gates opened for


    him, she''d slip out too.


    But noon came and went, and Dn''s car never showed up. It was like he''d seen right through her n.


    Hunger twisted in her stomach, making her dizzy. She dragged herself back to the main house.


    The front door was open, almost like someone was expecting her. She leaned against the doorframe,


    looked into the living room-and


    there was Dn, sitting on the Couch in a dark suit, one hand on his chin, reading the newspaper like he had all the time in the world.


    He looked different today-not as cold, almost gentle.


    ra pressed her lips together, slipped off her dirty shoes and put on a clean pair, then shuffled toward the kitchen.


    Before, there had always been food in the fridge. Now, it was empty. She checked the cupboards too, but the kitchen was spotless. Nothing left.


    Her stomach ached with hunger.


    She steadied herself, then went back out to the living room. That''s when she


    noticed the pile of food on the coffee table, right in front of Dn.


    He hadn''t said a single word, but ra could feel it he knew exactly what she''d


    do, how she''d feel. Like he''d mapped out her every move.


    Dn really was a terrifying man.