The car moved speedily along the deserted road as Zack leaned comfortably in the back seat, legs crossed with calculated ease.
His eyes were focused, lips curled into a faint, amused smile as he played his favorite puzzle ga on the iPad in his hands. The swift motion of his fingers danced across the screen, matching the calm but intense concentration in his deanor.
"I wonder if there’s any puzzle as good as this," he muttered to himself. "I’m already reaching the end of this ga."
He sighed, the soft clicking sound of the puzzle pieces locking into place echoing in the silent, moving vehicle. Each click brought a small, strange satisfaction to Zack.
Finally, as if sothing significant had clicked into place—both in the ga and in his mind—Zack let the iPad slip to the side. He crossed his arms and leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze flickering up to et the driver’s eyes through the rearview mirror. The driver flinched slightly when their eyes t.
"Boss, is there sothing you’d like to do once we arrive?" the driver asked hesitantly, almost as if trying to anticipate an order before it ca.
Zack’s voice was calm but held an underlying command. "Yes. As observant as you are, I want you to contact the Puzzle Company."
The man’s eyes widened slightly in the mirror, unsure he’d heard correctly. Before he could respond, Zack continued with a slow shrug, as if the decision had already been carved in stone.
"This won’t just benefit —it’ll benefit every other app user who enjoys good puzzles. It’s too bad that the one I’m playing is ending so soon. I’ve already reached the final level. I want them to update it, to add more. So make that happen."
The driver swallowed nervously before speaking. "B-Boss, that would an... we’d need to pay them?"
"Rubbish," Zack said darkly. "Of course, we’ll pay. Don’t act like a newbie. You’re not new here, are you?"
The man quickly bowed his head and apologized softly. "I apologize, boss."
Zack waved his hand again, signaling finality in his tone. "It should be ready in two weeks. Contact them however possible—email, call, even visit their headquarters if necessary. We’re ready to collaborate. Make it happen."
The driver could barely believe how far his boss was willing to go for a re puzzle ga. He’d seen Zack obsessed with this particular ga for as long as he could rember. Despite shifts between drivers and changing routines, the one thing that remained consistent was Zack’s undivided focus on this ga.
Still, the man nodded respectfully. "Okay, sir. I’ll make sure to do that once we arrive."
Zack gave a satisfied nod, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Just as you should." Then he leaned back again, shifting slightly as if searching for sothing beside him.
"How many minutes left?" he asked casually.
The driver glanced at the GPS. "We have no more than five minutes before we reach Mr. Zethan’s house—actually, his mansion. But... the thing is, we’re not sure if we’ll be allowed inside."
Zack waved a hand with utter confidence. "Oh, please. Do you think I’d act so carelessly? I’ve already inford my brother that I’m coming. Of course, it bothered to have to give a heads-up, but we don’t want to catch anyone off guard, do we?"
The man nodded in understanding. "Of course, sir."
"Now move faster—make it two minutes," Zack instructed firmly.
The driver hesitated. "The thing is... the road has restrictions, sir. The speed limit is already tight."
Zack narrowed his eyes. "What did I say? Do you want to repeat myself?"
"N-No, I’ll do exactly as you say!" the man said quickly, pressing harder on the accelerator as the car surged forward.
*
*
anwhile, back at the hospital, Zethan sat silently beside the hospital bed, his gaze soft as he watched his wife, Ariana, eat quietly. Occasionally, he had tried to feed her himself, but she politely refused each ti, insisting she was fine. Zethan didn’t press her—he respected her boundaries. She was recovering, and that was all that mattered.
He quietly opened another plate of food, removing the lid as Ariana continued eating her rice in calm silence. He set the plate down gently and observed her with warmth in his eyes.
"If you keep watching like this, I might disappear," she said softly, glancing up at him with a faint smile. "I feel rude not giving you any."
Zethan chuckled softly, the corners of his lips twitching. His eyes flickered briefly to her lips before replying, "Oh, my wife. Just watching you eat is more than enough for . I’ll eat later."
She smiled bashfully. "You know... if I keep eating like this, once the month passes, my pregnancy will start to show. I’m going to get bigger."
Zethan reached out and touched her hand gently. "It doesn’t matter if you get fat. I’ll still love you just the sa," he said with a playful yet sincere tone, making her giggle.
"Oh, you’re so sweet, my husband," she whispered, her heart warm.
Suddenly, Zethan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. His smile faded a little as he pulled it out and checked the screen. As his eyes scanned the ssage, his expression shifted sharply—his features darkened.
Lilia, noticing the change imdiately, set her spoon down gently and asked, "Hubby... is sothing wrong?"
Zethan seed to calm slightly at the sound of her voice—at the word hubby. It was as though it anchored him.
"It seems my cousin is trying to play a silly ga with he is visiting," he said quietly, his tone void of humor.
Lilia’s body stiffened. She knew exactly who he was referring to—Zack.
Zethan continued, his voice low, "I won’t et him. He wants to, but I promise you, if I do, there will be a fight. And that’s the last thing I want—not here, not now."
She understood completely. When Zethan said "fight," it didn’t an a simple argunt. It ant a battle—a true clash between two immortal vampires. And when vampires fought, things got destructive. Dangerously.
That was the last thing they needed.
"So... what are we going to do now?" she asked, her voice calm and steady.
Zethan exhaled heavily. "One of my n will handle him. I don’t want to face him right now. I know myself—if I see his face, we won’t be able to talk things out. So, in order to be a good husband... and a great father... I have to wait."
Lilia felt her heart squeeze with emotion at his words.
"I would’ve hugged and kissed you right now, but..." Her eyes narrowed toward the food playfully.
"...But," she trailed off, pointing at the plate with a smile. "Zethan, I’ll forever be grateful to the heavens for bringing such a handso, caring, sweet, and amazing husband."
He laughed softly, his eyes full of love. "Oh, sweetheart. It should be the other way around."
She sipped from her glass, the air between them tender. Just then, a soft knock interrupted their mont. Zethan’s gaze shifted sharply toward the door.
"Co in," he called.
The door creaked open, and Lucas stepped in. His face was pale, his posture tense. He walked over with brisk steps, bowing respectfully.
"Mr. Zethan. Mrs. Lilia. I apologize for the interruption," he said, holding out a sleek tablet. Zethan took it with a curt nod. Lucas bowed again before quickly exiting and closing the door behind him.
Lilia looked at Zethan as he began scrolling through the tablet’s screen. With each passing second, his face grew darker.
"Is sothing wrong?" she asked gently, eyes scanning his expression for clues.
Zethan lifted his gaze slowly, his voice cold and even.
"Zack got into an accident."
A pause.
"He’s dead."
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