Nolan glanced at Ashley in the kitchen with him early in the morning. Since he was aware of the injury she was hiding from Primo, Nolan automatically took it upon himself to help with breakfast. However, Ashley joined him minutes later.

"Madam, why don’t you rest?" he suggested politely. "I was told to let you rest as much as possible."

Ashley turned to him, pausing while preparing Primo’s packed lunch and snacks. "Nolan, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it."

She flashed him a bright smile before resuming what she was doing. Meanwhile, Nolan narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brows, assessing her figure. For some reason, even though Ashley was supposed to be healing, her aura felt different from usual.

For someone who had been abducted just a couple of days ago, she was rather... glowing.

Amid his thoughts, Nolan noticed a figure from the corner of his eye. When he turned, he spotted Lucian making his way to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Master," he greeted.

Lucian shot him a side glance and nodded. "Morning."

Upon hearing that, Ashley turned to Lucian. At the same time, Lucian had already reached her, his hand snaking around her waist automatically. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He pulled her close, and her arm instinctively rested on his shoulder.

The smile on her face, which had already been there before he arrived, stretched wider, her eyes shimmering.

"Good morning," he greeted as he lowered his head for a kiss.

Ashley’s eyes squinted as she bit her lip and closed her eyes, warmly welcoming his kiss.

"Good morning," she said right after the soft peck, giggling as he smiled and leaned down for more.

Nolan stood there awkwardly, watching as the two kissed each other... until they were almost making out. The sound of their tangled lips echoed in the quiet kitchen, neither of them caring about the old man standing just a few steps away.

I’m... still here?

"Ahem." Nolan cleared his throat loudly as he glanced at the stairs, catching Primo’s shadow.

Only then did Ashley and Lucian part, smiling at each other before turning to greet Primo.

"Good morning, Primo," Ashley greeted, and Primo smiled at them brightly.

Acting as though they hadn’t just been making out in front of Nolan, Ashley turned back to the kitchen while Lucian asked if there was anything else he could do. She nodded, telling him to set the table.

"Primo, help me," Lucian said, and the father and son set the table together.

Nolan still assisted, but with the family working together, it felt like he didn’t have much to do. He had woken up early to help them, but at this rate, he couldn’t help but wonder if he should have slept a little longer.

Even so, watching the family have breakfast together so peacefully, Nolan couldn’t help but nod approvingly. He stuck around, helping with anything he could, until Ashley sent them off as usual.

*****

Lucian tapped his fingertips against the steering wheel as he slowly drove through traffic toward Primo’s school. He glanced at the boy in the front passenger seat, who was holding his packed lunch and snacks securely on his lap.

"Primo," he called, watching the boy turn to him. "Are you alright?"

Primo tilted his head slightly before nodding. Then he signed,

[Don’t worry about me.]

Lucian smiled subtly as he reached over and ruffled the boy’s hair gently. "I’ll go home early so your mom and I can pick you up together."

Primo’s smile widened as he nodded in understanding. Even though he hadn’t witnessed it directly, Primo was sharp enough to sense the change in the atmosphere — especially the air around Lucian, which felt warmer and less intimidating than usual.

[Even if you can’t, it’s fine.] The boy reassured him. [She will come for me regardless.]

Lucian let out a low chuckle as he leaned back in his seat, giving Primo a sideways glance. The boy smiled back brightly — something Lucian was only seeing today after all the years he had raised him.

After dropping the boy off at the drop-off area, a light sigh escaped Lucian’s lips as Primo walked toward the school entrance.

"I’m glad I listened to her," he whispered, relieved that the abduction hadn’t affected Primo as much as he had expected.

Who would have thought that going home would make such a difference?

Honk!

Lucian blinked at the honk behind him. He glanced at the rearview mirror, tilting his head to the side.

"I wonder why he always ends up behind me?" he whispered, because as far as he was concerned, that particular van had been right in front of him moments ago. "Is he doing this on purpose?"

Well, if his usual parking rival were to speak, he would certainly say otherwise. To him, it seemed Lucian was the one doing it on purpose. The latter had just overtaken him earlier even when there was very little space.

Lucian shrugged and paid the person no more mind, driving away casually.

As he drove, he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. His eyes were fixed on the road, but his mind drifted back to the night before with Ashley.

"You’re absolutely my type."

"More... I want you more."

"Lucian..."

Her voice, her moans, her soft breaths, and the heat of her body replayed in his head on a loop. Before, she would say, "No more! Too much!" — but last night, she had still been kissing him even as she was nearly nodding off.

It was the first time he had felt so desired by her. It felt like a dream.

If Lucian was being honest, it felt surreal to be desired by the only woman he had ever wanted with all of his body, soul, heart, and mind.

His expression softened as he arched a brow at the road ahead.

"It..." He propped his elbow on the window, biting his thumb lightly. "...it was nice."

*****

[Dominion New Neighborhood]

Ashley jogged down the stairs to find Nolan and a few maids — posing as her neighbors — cleaning the house.

"Nolan," she called as she paused at the landing, resting an arm on the railing.

As Nolan walked toward her, she glanced at the maids. "It’s okay now. You can leave."

Nolan furrowed his brows as he stopped near her, catching the confusion on the others’ faces. Since the house was small, they had finished quickly. Without question, the maids lowered their heads and headed to the side door that connected to Nolan’s home.

"Madam," Nolan said, not paying the other helpers any attention. "I think it’s best if at least one or two people stay to assist you. I was informed of the doctor’s advice."

Ashley chuckled as her smile stretched wider. "Nolan, you should take a day off."

"Madam?"

"Don’t worry about me," she winked at him. "Just... use today as a day off."

When Nolan didn’t move, she huffed softly and walked toward him. Then, nudging him gently toward the side door until he was out.

Ashley stood by it, hand on the door.

"Madam —"

"Nolan, you should close your windows too," she said. "Or better yet, go buy me some of the watermelons you got from the market. Just don’t come back in here — and tell the others the same, alright?"

Deep lines appeared on Nolan’s face as he stared at her bright smile before she shut the door in front of him. Confused, he tilted his head and dragged his feet toward the small gate connecting his home to the couple’s house.

But just as Nolan was closing the side gate, he paused.

His brows rose as he turned his head toward the front of the house, catching Lucian’s car pulling up at the curb.

"Did he forget something?" he wondered, watching Lucian jog casually to the front door. "That’s strange. He usually doesn’t forget things."

Nolan should have known better, but he found himself glancing through the side window — just enough to catch Ashley walking toward the front door. Before she could even reach it, Lucian had already stepped inside.

"Huh?"

The next thing Nolan saw was Lucian loosening his tie, one hand on her waist while hungrily kissing her. Meanwhile, Ashley’s arm wrapped around his neck as she hopped once, her legs wrapping around his waist. Carrying her like that, the couple didn’t part.

"..."

Nolan turned his back to the window, horrified.

"I should... indeed, close the windows."