A gentle kiss on her bare back was enough to stir Kage from his sleep. He savored the warmth of Johanna's body nestled beside him, a comforting presence that had become his sanctuary over the past few days. The best few days.The morning air was cool and crisp as Kage rolled out of bed and headed to the washroom to freshen up. When he returned, Johanna was still asleep, her form draped beneath his sheets. They had spent the night together, and several nights before that, a whirlwind of passion and reconnection.It was perfect. And hot. If anyone understood what that means.When she had arrived on Friday night, Kage had dared to hope that she would stay. And just as if she had read his mind, she had.Yesterday, the Saturday picnic that Johanna had meticulously planned had been surprisingly enjoyable, despite the initial stress. Kage still couldn't believe that he had actually joined her in preparing cookies, a task that had quickly spiraled into a awful tasting disaster. If not for Ros

His mom? His mom had died over 15 years ago.Well, even though it seemed like Kage just wanted a good reason to punch Matt, he wasn't going to let anyone disrespect his mother.Sensing the weight of what he had done, Kage released Matt. He attempted a reassuring smile, not the evil, glorious smirk that betrayed his enjoyment of what he had just inflicted. He should have controlled his anger more."You hit me," Matt stammered, his voice a mixture of shock and disbelief.Kage frowned and looked around, as if searching for a hidden camera. This had to be a joke coming from Matt. "You're kidding, right?" he asked, as he casually strolled back to his seat. "You tried to hit me first."Matt remained silent for a moment, processing the situation. He slowly raised his hand to his mouth, spat into it, and realized he was bleeding. He wiped the spit on his trousers, ran his palm over his disheveled hair, and chuckled humorlessly."That's disgusting. You're disgusting," Kage said, his nose wrink

Pffffff. What a dramatic day. Another dramatic day.The day's weight settled on Kage like a shroud as John steered the car away from the hospital. He watched an old woman slowly navigate the crosswalk, a stroller rattling in front of her and a small child, no older than six, clinging to her side. A strange pang, unfamiliar and unsettling, resonated within him. He wondered what it would feel like to be that age, that worn, that…vulnerable. He found himself thinking of his old age lately.He caught John watching him in the rearview mirror, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips."What?" Kage asked, the question sharper than he intended.John shrugged, his eyes flicking back to the road. "Just thinking." He hesitated, then added, "Heard you almost broke Matt's nose yesterday. Missed the show."Kage snorted, a flash of something feral flickering within him. "Didn't break it. Pretty sure." A lie, and they both knew it. He'd lost control, pure and simple. The memory of his fist connecting w

Kage had just ended the call with Johanna, relaying the news about Clara and the police investigation. He hadn't shared this with anyone else aside from those already in the know, but Johanna wasn't just anyone.Still at the mansion, Kage had skipped work that day, deeming it unwise to venture into a hospital teeming with content creators, press, and livestreamers. The thought of the inevitable chaos and scrutiny was enough to make him shudder.It was crazy how everyone wanted to capture him. The thought about it made his skin boil. It was the same reason that made him went under 15 years backAfter his parents accident, anytime Kage would go out, a swan of reporters had their cameras on his face. Light flashing while they ask him horrible questions about his parents death.'Was it your fault they died? Can you tell want really happened? Was it set up? What will you do now since you will forever be alone'Imagine such question to ask someone who just lost his parents."Uhmm. People" K

Clara fought back tears, desperately seeking a way to make Kage see her, to love her again. She knew she was acting out of desperation.His last words looped, merciless: You know what’s right, Clara. You can do it or not. But please, stop calling me.She could still feel the ghost of his hand brushing hers as he turned away—cold, final, gone.Her breath hitched, ragged. The phone in her lap felt heavier than sin. She reared back, arm cocked to hurl it, to shatter something, anything, that wasn’t her heart—or her ego She looked up to see Dr. Patel standing by the door, having witnessed her entire interaction with Kage."I don't think it's wise to smash your phone," he said calmly.Clara scoffed, but a faint smile touched her lips as she sat up in bed and began to gather her belongings."Why are you still pretending?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.Patel simply watched her, his expression unreadable. "You have been here for longer than necessary, Clara. Be safe and make sure