"Brother, give the phone to Sister Lilith!" Rose said suddenly, her voice impatient and slightly wobbly, like she was holding back tears.
Alexander raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Lilith before silently handing her the phone. Their fingers brushed again, and this ti he held her hand just a second longer, as if he needed that final touch before letting her speak.
Lilith took the phone gently, pressing it to her ear with a soft hum. "Hello?"
There was a pause. Then Rose’s voice ca through, quiet... trembling.
"I missed you..."
Lilith froze, her throat tightening instantly.
"I missed you too," Lilith replied softly, her heart clenching as she stared at the floor. "More than you can imagine."
On the other end, Rose sniffled. "I thought sothing happened to you... they said you were gone. I couldn’t sleep, I kept thinking—what if I lost you..."
Lilith’s eyes beco dark with emotions, "You didn’t lose . I’m here. I’m safe."
Rose’s voice cracked, "Promise?"
Lilith closed her eyes, pressing the phone tighter to her ear. "I promise," she whispered. "Even if everything falls apart... I’ll find my way back to you. Always."
There was silence. Then a small laugh..half-relief, half tears. "Good," Rose said. "You’re not allowed to break promises. That’s cheating."
Lilith smiled faintly, "I don’t cheat, Rose. Especially not on people I love."
Beside her, Alexander didn’t say a word.but his gaze remained on her.
Watching.
Listening.
And quietly burning with the realization...She was soone no one should ever risk losing.
***
"Hey baby, when are you coming back?" Rayan asked, phone pressed to his ear as he looked down at the small gift box in his hands. It was neatly wrapped, ribbon tied perfectly. He had picked it out days ago, thinking she’d co back by now thinking they’d share a quiet evening, maybe even celebrate.
On the other end, Lia’s voice ca through, light and distant.
"Sorry, Rayan... I’m busy. You know, this is a small role but it needs a lot of preparation," she said, adding a fake laugh at the end.
Rayan’s smile disappeared. His fingers loosened around the gift, and his eyes dimd slightly.
"But it’s been a week," he said quietly, almost like he was trying not to sound clingy. "You haven’t even video-called properly. I miss you."
There was a pause on the other end. A rustle. Then her voice ca back, smooth as always. "I know, I know... but this is important to , Rayan. Just understand, okay?"
He stared at the floor. The silence between them was filled with everything unsaid.
"Yeah," he replied eventually, his voice softer now. "I understand."
But the truth was he didn’t.
Not really.
And for the first ti, holding the unopened gift in his lap, he wondered if she had already opened the door to soone or sothing else.
Rayan sighed and leaned back into the couch, his fingers absentmindedly scrolling through his phone. A small notification blinked on his screen.
[ Company Update: Project Zenith Phase 2 Progress – 87% Ready for Launch.]
He paused, staring at the glowing report with a faint smile curling on his lips.
They were almost there.
He built his company alone, without his family’s help. Late nights in college and lost weekends...all his sacrifices led to this mont. Now, his company was ready to launch a new product. Experts were already calling it the next big thing.
He smiled to himself, heart swelling with a quiet kind of pride.
With that money, he thought, I’ll buy us a mansion.
Not just any mansion...their ho. With tall white curtains, warm wooden floors, a wide garden where Lia could paint in the sun and where he’d build a cozy reading nook with glass windows for rainy days. Sothing they could call theirs.
He stood up with a hopeful breath and made his way to the bedroom.
Life had changed so much. Just a few years ago, he wouldn’t have believed it.
Once, he didn’t even know how to do laundry.
Now? He was in the middle of sorting clothes by color.
He knelt down beside the laundry basket, tossing his shirts into the washing machine, humming faintly. Not because he had no money for help, he could hire an army of maids. But because Lia once told him, with sparkling eyes and teasing laughter, "I like n who can live simple. Who don’t rely on money to be charming."
So he gave her that.
He washed his own clothes. Cleaned up his place. Even tried cooking...once and nearly burned a pan, but he tried.
All because he wanted to be the man Lia loved. The one who didn’t just shine in fancy suits and etings, but who could fold his own clothes and be real.
But deep in his chest, a quiet thought stirred.
How long will she keep choosing ... if I’m not the version of she truly wants?
Still, he shook that thought off.
He had a gift in the living room, a new life blooming in his hands, and a woman he loved, who maybe just needed more ti.
He just had to wait a little longer.
She’ll co back. She always does.
Back in the city, far away from Rayan’s quiet devotion and his dreams of a future mansion, Lia was living a different life entirely.
"Director..." she blinked slowly, swaying a little on her feet before the man beside her caught her by the arm. He was middle-aged, dressed in an expensive suit, his wristwatch worth more than most people’s cars.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low, gently supporting her as he guided her into the plush lounge of his private office.
Lia let out a dramatic sigh, her hand resting on her barely-showing baby bump.
"Yeah... just your baby is making feel weak. Hump!" she said with a pout, blinking her lashes at him, playing the part of the delicate, tired mother.
The director laughed, throwing his head back, clearly chard. "Yes, yes! My little boy is already showing his strength, isn’t he?" he said, rubbing her stomach as if he already claid the child as his heir.
It was no secret...he was married, with three grown daughters he rarely spoke about. He had always wanted a son, soone to carry on his legacy, his na, his empire.
And Lia knew that.
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