The safehouse had no corners to escape to. Every wall felt like it was closing in on her. The air, cool and dry, pressed against Miley’s skin like a second, suffocating layer. She had wanted this—wanted to be close to him, to share space with him, to not be left behind.But now that they were here, sharing the same walls, the same oxygen, the weight of proximity felt unbearable.Everything was getting on her nerves , everything was making her anxious, make her extremely unable to control her emotions, as it was already not enough that everytime she has been seeing Julius she was getting butterflies in her stomach already that, now she has to witness his care from the closest proximity possible and keep it hidden because of the tensed situation they were going through.Thinking this she was walking towards the bed.But the next moment she tripped over a belt of ammo near the foot of the bed and cursed under her breath. Julius did not say a word. He simply looked at her from where he sa

The tunnel entrance was hidden beneath a steel hatch in the safehouse floor, camouflaged beneath a throw rug and a box of emergency rations. Julius had built it years ago, when paranoia was not just a habit, it was just for the survival. As he has seen enough things to know that this day will come too.“Go,” he ordered, lifting the hatch and motioning her inside. “I will seal it behind us.”Miley dropped down first, her boots landing on damp earth. The tunnel smelled of soil and old metal, its walls narrow and reinforced with steel ribs. She turned as Julius followed, pulling the hatch closed above them and locking it with a mechanical twist. Darkness swallowed them until he activated a small wrist-mounted torch.They ran in silence, their footsteps muffled by the damp ground. The tunnel sloped downward, then curved sharply to the east.“How long does this go?” she asked, breathless.“Just over a mile. It comes out near the old timberline.”A dull boom echoed behind them. Then anothe

The mansion felt unnervingly still as Miley paced through the darkened hallways. The night had fallen quiet, too quiet. The mission was supposed to be over. The traitor had been dealt with, the data erased, and for the first time in what felt like weeks, she thought they might actually have some peace.But peace never lasted long.Julius had disappeared into the night hours ago, saying something about tying up a “loose end” with one of his old contacts. He had not wanted her to come along, insisting it was a simple job. But Miley knew better. Nothing was simple for Julius. Nothing.She had not let it show, but the moment he left, unease had crawled beneath her skin. It was a feeling she could not shake, one that gnawed at her every time he walked out that door. The fear that one day, he would not come back.And now, as the clock on the wall ticked past midnight, that fear bloomed into something much worse.The front door slammed open with a violence that rattled the house. Miley’s hea

Miley arrived at the luxury fashion showcase with Julius at her side, the flashing lights of the photographers momentarily blinding as they walked down the red carpet. The glittering event was hosted in one of the city’s most opulent venues—glass walls that reflected the skyline, a pristine white-and-gold interior, and guests in designer attire who oohed and aahed over the latest collections. Everything was carefully curated, a world that Miley had been part of long before her marriage to Julius.But tonight was not about business or high society—this was supposed to be a celebration of fashion, the industry she had once ruled. At least, that is what she had hoped when she received the invitation from Cassie Delacroix, the former friend and designer who had once shared a bond with Miley over fashion and ambition. Now, however, it felt more like a trap.Miley had known Cassie’s bitterness. Their relationship had soured years ago, and though Miley had tried to mend things, Cassie had m

While both of them thought that finally everything was under control and they did not need to talk to anyone further or reply to anyone's question anymore, some people suddenly circled both of them."So Miley do you really want us to believe that your husband …Julius, he has bought the manuscript for one million dollars and he doesn't just stop there, he has donated it back to you as well !! Wow what a fascinating storyYes and I do not think why do you have a problem with that ?Umm! Because of the red flags it is giving…as you are telling me you bought that?" a voice jeered. It was Thyme, one of the wealthier merchants in the area, known for his sharp tongue and even sharper judgment.He was flanked by a few of his cronies, who eyed Julius with sneers of disbelief.Julius tried to keep his face neutral, but the sharp edge of Thyme’s tone struck deep. "Yes," Julius said calmly, though his voice betrayed a hint of the frustration roiling inside him. "I bought it. With my own money.