x
She could hear two people entering the room.
A man’s voice broke through the silence, low and rough:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DGbJC9ygZ
“She still hasn’t woken up?”
Lena didn’t recognize the voice, but a sudden memory flashed before her—just before she lost consciousness in the forest, she’d seen two armed men approaching her.
A woman responded, probably a maid.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK0IW4AgR0
“No, not yet. I’ve been checking on her every hour, but she remains unconscious.”
Lena kept her eyes shut, feigning unconsciousness as she listened carefully.
Then... silence.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhtaPPF7fB
Footsteps faded.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNo65GJ2hH
A soft click—the door had closed.
She slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling above. Her breath caught in her throat.
Something felt off.
She sensed a gaze on her. Someone was watching her.
Turning her head slightly toward the left side of the bed, her eyes landed on a figure sitting on the couch, half-shadowed in the dim room.
She froze.
She couldn’t see his face clearly—but someone was definitely there, sitting calmly, silently... watching.
A flicker of panic rose in her chest.
“W-Who are you?” she stammered.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd6rv151k8
“Where am I?”
The figure didn’t move at first. The silence stretched—quiet, tense.
Then, slowly, he leaned forward. Just enough for the faint light from the window to catch part of his face.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DkUTr51il
Then, in a calm and even voice, he finally spoke.
“I know this is all a bit overwhelming… but try to stay calm.”
Lena didn’t reply. Her throat was dry. She kept her eyes fixed on him.
He continued.
“You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I mistook you for someone else… and in the chaos, you got shot.”
He paused for a second, watching her reaction.
“I brought you here so you could be treated. I didn’t have a choice. Leaving you there would’ve meant certain death.”
Lena’s brows furrowed. Her lips parted to speak, but no words came out.
“This place is safe,” he added coolly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVwDouFHjQ
“I’m just a hunter. Nothing more. You were unconscious when we found you near the forest. That’s all.”
Lena blinked in confusion, trying to make sense of his words. Her head was still foggy, and the pain in her leg made it harder to think straight.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMcpSFvTx4
Lena shifted uncomfortably on the bed, still trying to make sense of the situation. The pain in her leg was persistent, but not as sharp now. She could finally speak.
Greyson’s voice broke the silence once more—calm, quiet, and unsettlingly gentle.
“What’s your name?”
Lena hesitated. Her instincts screamed not to trust him—not yet. She didn’t know who he was or what he really wanted. And so, she lied.
“Isabel,” she said softly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevOyPH45PJ
“My name is Isabel. I’m… I’m new in this city. I came here just a few days ago but got caught up in something I didn’t understand. The police are after me for something I didn’t do. I swear—I’m innocent.”
There was a pause.
Then, she heard it—a faint chuckle. The man seated in the shadows smiled, amused but not mockingly.
“What a coincidence,” he said smoothly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR5xLYq0Ks
“I’m new in this city too. And just like you, I’m hiding from the police… because of a baseless accusation.”
Lena looked toward him, unsure whether to believe him or not.
He stood up then, slowly, his tall silhouette outlined against the dim light filtering through the curtains.
“Well, Miss Isabel…” he said with a nod,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0bHIq6NIz
“seems like this place is a safe haven for both of us. Get some rest.”
And with that, he walked to the door, opened it silently, and stepped out, leaving her alone—confused, suspicious, and more curious than ever about the man who had just walked away.
..........................................
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPTAuSKTzy
Greyson stepped out of the room quietly, pulling the door shut behind him with a soft click. He descended the staircase in silence, each step measured and calm. The house was still, bathed in the warm orange glow of the early evening.
He entered the lounge and walked straight to the sofa in front of the fireplace. The flames crackled softly in the hearth, casting dancing shadows across the room.
Greyson sat down slowly, his movements deliberate. He leaned forward, resting one elbow on his knee, and curled his hand into a loose fist. Then, gently, he dropped his head onto it, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
"So... you want to play, Miss Isabell," he murmured to himself, his voice low and almost amused.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTupJtZFAxF
"Assuming that really is your name."
He took a deep breath, then leaned back against the sofa, head tipping against the cushion as he closed his eyes.
"Alright then," he whispered to the flickering fire,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDfmmQwDib
"Let’s wait and see when you decide to tell me the truth yourself."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCiSqVaXoc
Greyson sat on the sofa with his eyes closed, letting the warmth of the fire lull him into a moment of silence. But suddenly, the phone on the coffee table beside him started ringing loudly, breaking the calm.
He groaned, opened one eye, and glanced at the screen.
MAX BENNETT.
Greyson rolled his eyes in pure annoyance. Of course.
The phone kept ringing—again and again.
"Persistent little shit," he muttered under his breath.
Finally, completely fed up, he snatched up the phone and answered in a tone that was anything but welcoming.
"What the hell, man? Why are you bothering me? Just because you got your beauty sleep doesn’t mean you have to ruin mine!"
On the other end, Max exploded.
"Oh, I’m bothering you? What about the times you call me in the middle of the damn night or wake me up at sunrise with your dramatic emergencies, huh? What do you call that?"
Greyson winced at the volume and pulled the phone slightly away from his ear, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he replied dryly,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQU4yB93aL
"Whatever. Just get to the point. Why are you calling now?"
Max huffed, biting back a curse that nearly made it out.
"I called to ask about the girl. How is she? Is she okay?"
Greyson sighed and leaned back against the sofa again, speaking in a calmer tone now.
"Yeah… she’s fine. I was just with her."
There was a beat of silence before Max suddenly sat up straight, his voice bursting with excitement.
"You what? You were with her?!"
He practically yelled into the phone.
"So that’s why you weren’t picking up! You were busy playing nurse to your mystery girl!"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyf3Bgllki
Hearing Max’s teasing, Greyson groaned and snapped back irritably,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzvSjG5ynT
“Cut the crap. I just wanted to ask where she’s from and what the hell she was doing in that forest.”
But Max, completely ignoring the seriousness in Greyson’s voice, responded in a flirty, sing-song tone,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESBkdEl5M4
“Oh come on, man! Why dig into where she came from or why she was there? All that matters now is… she’s with Greyson Blackwood. And I’ve got a feeling she’s going to be my future sister-in-law reaaal soon.”
Greyson’s jaw tightened.
“Watch your mouth, Max. Stop running it like that—and don’t you dare say any of that nonsense in front of her.”
Before Max could respond with another one of his ridiculous remarks, Greyson ended the call with a sharp tap, tossing the phone back onto the table with a sigh.
He leaned back again and muttered under his breath,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyx7mvNYpy
“Idiot.”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0veYyAucU
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIMGXzb4u1
...................................
It was clearly a luxury bedroom—massive, lavishly furnished—but right now, it was drowned in darkness. Thick velvet curtains hung heavily over the tall windows, choking out any trace of daylight. Empty liquor bottles were scattered carelessly across the floor, and on the king-sized bed, a man lay sprawled face-down.
Suddenly, the silence was pierced by the shrill ring of a phone.
The man stirred slightly, his arm reaching out lazily to grab the device. Without lifting his head, he answered the call in a low, hoarse voice, heavy with sleep and intoxication.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nTwU8i2w7
“Any news?”
On the other end, a subordinate replied with urgency,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmNDBWPqJy
“Yes, boss. We found the girl. She’s at the home of OTF’s director—Greyson Blackwood. She was injured, but she’s stable now… and conscious.”
The man’s lips curled into a slow, wicked smile.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVg4NWzpvP
“Tell the men to prepare. We’re going to take her from Greyson Blackwood’s own house. This is our only shot. He doesn’t know yet that anyone else is aware of her presence. If we miss this chance, security will tighten, and he might move her somewhere else.”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G0OvqnH7v
He paused, his voice turning colder.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3brvu2w9KS
“We can’t afford a single mistake.”
Without waiting for a response, he ended the call.
Pushing himself up, he swung his legs off the bed and walked to the mirror above the bathroom sink. Staring at his reflection, he ran a hand through his tousled hair, a sly smile playing on his lips.
“Very soon… we’ll meet again, dear cousin.”
His honey-brown eyes gleamed with a fiery red hue, and the shadows on his sharp, handsome face deepened with a chill that promised danger.
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