"Don’t worry. You aren’t going to die young?" Adelyn reassured.
Alia turned to her at once. "How do you know?"
Adelyn stared at her, montarily unable to comprehend how her brain worked.
How did Alia always circle back with questions when she could, at tis, simply nod and hum in response?
"I know," Adelyn said, trying to be calm, "because I don’t believe I will ever cross paths with him. We belong to entirely different worlds."
Alia thought for a mont before nodding. It did make sense. After all, among the Warren brothers, Dylan Warren had the least chance of getting involved with the entertainnt industry.
"Yes, that’s true," she humd, rubbing her chin. "With your current status, there’s no chance you’d ever appear in front of him. Not even S-level actresses have managed that."
She glanced at Adelyn, then added helpfully, "And you are not even rated yet. You’re still ... pending."
Adelyn fell silent.
She just wanted to reassure Alia.
Who thought she would need reassurance instead?
But then again, she knew her situation as well.
Although she had returned to pursue what she had long abandoned, everything wouldn’t start favouring her just because she wanted it to favour her.
She would need to work for it. And she was willing to do that.
Exhaling slowly, Adelyn turned to look for Freya.
"Weren’t we leaving earlier?" she reminded, only to see Freya a small distance away, taking a call.
They waited.
After a minute, Freya returned. "What’s wrong? Did sothing happen?" she asked.
"Nothing," Alia shook her head. "We were just waiting for you."
Freya nodded, then turned to Adelyn. "Where are you staying?"
"I am still at a hotel. If there is nothing else for today, I will take my leave first."
Freya paused before speaking. "You can’t stay in a hotel for long. Since you decided to pursue a career here, you need a temporary stay in a safe locality. Although our company does provide housing for artistes, given our current situation, it will be difficult to discuss it for now. But I’ll still try."
Adelyn nodded in understanding. "It’s okay, Sister Freya. I have a friend here who’s already helping look for an apartnt. I’ll be moving out soon."
Freya nodded.
"What friend?" Alia asked without waiting to even take a breath. "Boyfriend?"
Adelyn turned to her, and Alia quickly warned ... again.
"Rember, without forgetting this at all —no relationships. Period. No boyfriend. No flings."
"Alia," Freya intervened. "You don’t want to repeat it again and again. She already said she is not in a relationship."
She then turned back to Adelyn and offered to drop her off, but Adelyn refused.
Their destinations were in opposite directions.
"Stay safe," Freya said before starting the car.
Adelyn nodded, watching them drive away.
The night was quiet —gusts of piercing wind were blowing —but oddly, Adelyn didn’t mind the cold.
She casually checked the arrival ti of the car on her phone and waited.
She felt soone’s gaze on her from a distance. When she turned to look, however, she found no one.
Her brows furrowed as she scanned the area, eyes narrowing slightly. When there was still no movent, she relaxed.
But just as she turned —
"You ...!"
—————
At the sa ti, a midnight-black Rolls-Royce glided into Sanctuary Heights —the housing society exclusively designed for the Warrens.
The security gates parted soundlessly at its approach. White stone roads stretched ahead, flanked by manicured hedges trimd with unnatural precision.
Every lamp along the way emitted a soft, warm glow —not bright enough to dazzle, yet never dim.
There were no pedestrians. No lingering vehicles. Even the night seed to lower its voice here.
"Third Master," the driver whispered, not daring to speak too loudly, "we’ve arrived."
Felix looked out of the window and nodded slowly in acknowledgent, but he didn’t rush to get out.
Instead, his gaze shifted to the rear-view mirror.
It was dark inside the car, yet moonlight allowed him to make out the clear outline of his brother reflected there with little Eira nestled in Dylan’s arms.
Felix’s heart lted every ti he saw her. Not just because she was irresistibly adorable, but because she had beco his treasured niece from the very first day he t her.
"Brother," he spoke softly, careful not to disturb the little one’s sleep, "don’t you think you’re being cruel to her?"
Dylan’s eyes barely shifted to et his through the mirror.
For a mont, Felix wavered under that cold, abyss-like gaze.
But then, rembering whom he was speaking for, he continued quietly.
"She is barely four. She needs a mother in her life. You can’t force your resolutions onto her. She needs —"
"She doesn’t need a stepmother."
Dylan’s voice was not loud, yet it had sothing laced to it that stilled the air.
"But brother, she —"
"Since the car has already stopped, you should get out now."
Felix wanted to say sothing more, but the decisiveness in Dylan’s tone silenced him.
Nodding, he glanced at Little Eira one last ti before opening the door and stepping out.
"Drive!" Dylan ordered.
Ford imdiately started the engine.
As the car moved forward, Felix stared after it, sighing inwardly. He didn’t trust won either —but when it ca to Eira, he was willing to take a risk just to see her smile.
The car drove farther ... and farther, until it disappeared from the sight.
Just as Felix turned to head inside, a bike screeched to a halt in front of him.
He flinched slightly for a second before pursing his lips.
"Karl!"
The biker hastily removed his helt and stared at him. "Where is Little Eira?" he demanded, already scanning the surroundings. "Where is she?"
Felix didn’t answer imdiately, offering him the silence that nearly drove Karl mad.
Getting off the bike, he grabbed Felix’s arm desperately. "What? Tell now. Didn’t you say you got her from Calia?"
"I did go to get her but —"
"But?"
"But ... I wasn’t alone."
Karl swallowed, shaking his head, unwilling to accept what ca next.
"Brother was with ," Felix said quietly. "He took her away." He then gestured him towards the direction towards which Dylan’s car had disappeared.
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