Chapter 356 A Night on the Edge


    <b>Kirby’s </b>POV


    I limped inside, exaggerating the pain with every step.


    Truth was, I barely felt it anymore.


    She tossed a pair of men’s slippers onto the floor. “Change.”


    I froze, my chest tightening.


    Men’s slippers?


    Why were those here?


    Besides me… who else had been in this apartment? Adler?


    B


    <b>30 </b>


    Finished


    My mint pheromones threatened to break free, and for a moment I nearly dropped the act.


    Lance growled a warning in my head. “Kirby, calm down! Lose it now and you’ll be out on the street for real!”


    I clenched my jaw, forcing the storm back down, and bent to change shoes.


    Leslie crossed the room, picked up herptop from the couch, and plugged in the sh drive I had given her. The screen lit up.


    My heart stuttered. Damn it. That wasn’t even her sh drive.


    Her eyes flicked to the monitor. Her face darkened, and she turned a cold stare on me. “This is the one I supposedly left behind?”


    I walked closer, putting on my most innocent look. “Maybe… I mistook it.”


    She said nothing. Tossing theputer aside, she gathered her files and headed for the bedroom, throwing over her shoulder, “You’re on the couch. Otherwise, the car.”


    “I like the couch.” I rushed to answer, relief loosening my chest.


    She hadn’t thrown me out. That alone was a miracle.


    I leaned against the sofa, my eyes catching on the golden chrysanthemum gleaming on the table.


    Adler’s pathetic trinket.


    <b>Mon</b>,


    Chapter 356 A Night on the Edge


    Finished


    My face darkened. I forced myself to look away and pulled out my phone, replying to Pack emails instead.


    But then my gaze slid to the photos on the wall. Leslie, smiling, radiant.


    Something warm unfurled in my chest. I angled my phone, snapped a picture, and posted it to my social feed with the caption: “A beautiful night.”


    I blocked her from seeing it.


    Within minutes,ments rolled in.


    Leiss: “Damn, Kirby, that’s fast! Isn’t this Leslie’s ce? You two living together already? Where’s Leslie? Why isn’t she in the picture?”


    I replied with a single line: “She’s in the shower.”


    Kairis: “Ha, tonight’s gonna sting for a lot of single people…”


    Others piled on: “Kirby and Leslie’s fated bond is back!”


    “Moon Goddess blesses them!”


    Satisfied, I leaned back, exhaling slow.


    Adler might have met her family, but I was the one staying at her ce.


    Twenty minutester, Leslie emerged from the shower, wrapped in a thick robe.


    She picked up herptop and files, never sparing me a nce, and disappeared back into her


    room.


    Her phone, however, was left on the table–and began to ring.


    I nced down, my chest tightening. Lars.


    She came back out to answer, switching on speaker. “Still awake, Dad?”


    I couldn’t stop my eyes from following her.


    Lars’s voice came through, steady and warm. “You’re alone?”


    Her reply was calm, t. “Yeah.”


    My gut twisted. I almost spoke up.


    Lars went on, his tone almost indulgent. “Go out once in a while–drink, dance, blow off steam.


    Chapter 356 A Night on the Edge


    <b>30 </b>


    Finished


    Don’t spend every night alone… I’ve been thinking about it. Adler’s fine, Kirby’s fine too, but you need to weigh your options. Have some fun. Don’t give up the whole forest for one tree.”


    The words hit like a hammer to my skull.


    Teaching his daughter to… what, treat us both like toys?


    Lance burst outughing. “Kirby, Lars just called you a backup n!”


    My teeth ground together so hard my jaw ached. I wanted to rip into the call and defend myself.


    But Leslie only smiled faintly. “I know. I’ve got emails to check. Goodnight, Dad.”


    She hung up and went back to her room, closing the door behind her.


    I stood, pacing toward the exit, but found the door locked.


    I


    gave a bitterugh. She was guarding herself against me.


    Lance’s voice was dry. “Kirby, tonight you really are on the couch.”


    I red into the empty air, fury burning hotter, but I turned back and dropped onto the sofa.


    That night, rage, helplessness, and restless thoughts twisted inside me until I couldn’t sleep.


    At dawn, a sharp ringtone pierced from Leslie’s room.


    My eyes flew open. Ears straining, I listened for


    Ears straining, I listened for every sound that followed…


    Send <b>Gifts </b>


    208


    M


    <b>19:00 Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>


    Burn in the Alpha Princess’s Wrath