Fleming slid his phone into his pocket, his brow creasing ever so slightly at Lucy''s words. Esmeralda''s jealousy always struck him as baseless, her suspicions so relentless that he felt constantly pressed to justify himself.


    "It''s nothing," was all he said.


    Lucy let the matter drop. She didn''t much care to discuss other women with Fleming in the first ce.


    But Fleming had no intention of lingering. He turned to leave. "You should get some rest. I''m heading to the base."


    Lucy hesitated. “Now? You''re not staying home tonight?"


    Even though he found Esmeralda''s dramatics increasingly hard to stomach, Fleming knew he couldn''t justify spending the night with Lucy. Whateverfort they might find in each other''spany, it wasn''t proper-they weren''t family.


    "There are things I need to take care of," he replied quietly, choosing not to borate. There was no point in making Lucy uneasy; she''d always been the sensitive, anxious sort, and he didn''t want to pile on any worry.


    Lucy was silent for a moment. "Honestly, I haven''t been feeling well today. I''ve had this cough going all day, feels like that old bug of mine is acting up." She forced a smile, brushing it off. "But it''s nothing serious. Go on. I know you''re busy."


    For the first time, Fleming''s expression changed. He frowned at her, concern flickering through his features. “Let me get you some medicine. Just wait here for a bit."


    Lucy, sensing his resolve weakening, sat down and smiled faintly. "Alright. Thanks."


    Fleming stepped out and paused outside Lucy''s door, gripping his phone tightly. Should he call Esmeralda and clear things up? She''de by earlier surely she''d bumped into Lucy. Was Esmeralda already jumping to all the wrong conclusions again?


    He nced at the time. The closest pharmacy would be closing in half an hour. He didn''t have time to argue or exin. He shoved his phone away. There would be other chances to talk-besides, Esmeralda was usually quick to get over these things. No matter how upset she got, she always bounced back sooner orter. The next morning, when Esmeralda woke, her head throbbed so badly it felt like it might split open. Maybe she hadn''t dressed warmly enough, or maybe this was just what she got for being careless, but she was sure she''d caught a cold. To make things worse, her period hade early, doubling the misery: stomach cramps so intense she could hardly straighten up, stuffy nose, raw throat. Good thing she was made of sterner stuff than most.


    She hadn''t returned home the previous night, but had crashed in her own t instead. After washing up, she copsed onto her sofa, phone in hand. A handful of the Eldermere inner circle group chats were blowing up. She tapped into one, curious.


    The first post she saw was a grainy nighttime photo, snapped right outside the front of an apartment building.


    "Tell me those two aren''t up to something," someone had written.


    "I heard yesterday that Lucy is staying with Fleming. But Lucy isn''t his biological sister-don''t tell me... sparks are actually flying


    ontent


    "Men-honestly. You really think he''s just ''taking care'' of her? Come on."


    "So what''s Lucy''s angle? Doesn''t she realize her ''brother'' is about to get married? This is pushing it."


    "Does Esmeralda even know? That woman has no sense of boundaries—some people really need a lesson in shame."


    More and more messages scrolled by, each one sharper than thest.


    Esmeralda blinked, stunned. How had the news of Lucy spending the night at Fleming''s gotten out? And photos, too?


    As she struggled to make sense of it, the doorbell rang. Grimacing, she wrapped an arm around her aching stomach and shuffled to answer.


    Fleming stood in the doorway. His expression was cial, his gaze hard. He cut to the chase, voice clipped: "Did you do this?"


    Esmeralda stared at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?" Her mind was foggy with fatigue and pain.


    "Those group chats," Fleming pressed. "People are calling Lucy a homewrecker."


    on hit her. So that''s


    The realization hit


    what this was-an interrogation. For


    a split second, she''d hoped he had


    maybe to check on her like he sometimes used to. But there in his eyes was only usation


    Ice crept into her voice, bitter


    ret


    amusement curling on her lips. "If


    it want


    you didn''t want


    talking, you


    eople t


    shouldn''t have given them a reason. Don''t act surprised now."