GALE'S HOUSE Laura stormed out of the spa with her heels clicking furiously against the tiles. The attendants called after her, confused, but she didn’t even glance back. Camilla rushed behind her, clutching her bag as she tried to keep up.“Laura, wait! What about the session? We—”Laura spun around suddenly, her eyes blazing. “Forget the session! Forget the spa! I can’t sit there pretending to relax while the entire world is talking about this. I need to go home. I need to talk to Gale. I need to—” Her words cut off in a sharp breath, her chest heaving. “I’ll talk to you later, Camilla. Just—later.”Camilla hesitated, clearly worried, but she nodded. “Alright. Call me when you’ve calmed down.”But Laura wasn’t listening anymore. She had already turned on her heel, striding toward her car.The drive home felt endless. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, her nails digging into her palms. Every time she blinked, she saw Scott’s face in her mind declaring to the world that

BENJAMIN'S HOUSEThe clang of metal echoed through the private gym, bouncing off the walls. Benjamin’s arms flexed as he slammed the dumbbells back into their rack, his chest heaving, his forehead glistening with sweat. His jaw was tight, his expression one of rage.The men he had sent out had returned only minutes earlier, reporting the same pathetic excuse he had heard a dozen times already.“We couldn’t find him, boss.”Benjamin had nearly thrown a weight plate at them out of pure frustration. Instead, he chose to drown his fury in raw exercise, trying to burn the anger out of his system with sheer force. His muscles screamed, but the fire in his chest only grew.“That bastard,” he muttered between clenched teeth, his voice hoarse with anger. “Always one step ahead. Always slipping through my fingers.”He gripped the barbell, veins bulging in his arms as he lifted it above his chest and pushed up. His breaths came out sharp, more like growls than exhales. He was so focused on his

Cara woke up before the sun had fully risen, her body moving almost mechanically as she prepared for the day. She slipped into her dark fitted jacket, tied her hair into a neat ponytail, and studied her reflection in the mirror. Scott had asked her to check on Lisa. On the surface, it seemed simple, but Cara knew Scott never wasted his words. If he wanted Lisa checked on, then there had to be more going on beneath the surface. And knowing Scott as she did, he must have sensed something before even voicing the command.By the time she left her apartment, the city was beginning to stir awake. Her first destination was Lisa’s workplace. Scott had said nothing about what to expect, only that she should go and see. —EVENTS BY L.RCara tightened her grip on the steering wheel as she parked in front of the glassy office building.She knew this was one place Lisa never toyed with. The woman was known to be diligent with her career, priding herself on her independence and commitment. Cara

AUNT KATE'S HOUSE Aunt Kate was already dressed neatly, her hair tucked into a bun as she bustled about the living room with her handbag and keys. She was always the organized one, ready to face the day with her usual energy.But Leah? Leah was still in her room, taking her sweet time.“Leah!” Aunt Kate called out, her voice echoing down the hallway. “If you don’t hurry up, the customers will open the shop themselves! And you know how cranky people get when they don’t have their morning bread rolls and croissants!”From inside her room came Leah’s voice, sing-songy and playful. “I’m almost ready! Just five more minutes, Auntie!”Aunt Kate rolled her eyes dramatically, though a fond smile tugged at her lips. “Five more minutes? That’s what you said ten minutes ago. Do you want the customers to think we’re running a lazy bakery?”Leah finally emerged from her room, still fiddling with the sleeves of her blouse. She walked barefoot across the floor, her hair slightly messy but her eyes

AUNT KATE'S HOUSE Aunt Kate sat in her living room, her body sinking into the couch like she had been glued there. Her shoes were already tossed carelessly at the foot of the sofa, her stockings wrinkled around her ankles. She let out a long sigh, her shoulders rising and falling heavily.“Lord have mercy,” she muttered, rubbing her calves slowly with her hands. “I’m not as young as I used to be. Standing all day in that shop… I feel like my bones are begging for retirement.”She chuckled weakly at her own words, though exhaustion was clear in her voice. Her hair, usually pinned tightly in a bun during working hours, now hung loosely over her shoulders, strands sticking out after a long day.“Leah better hurry and get back,” she continued mumbling to herself. “She’s the one with all the energy. Young blood. She can stay in that bakery till midnight and not complain. Me? I need my bed.”With that, Aunt Kate dragged herself off the couch and trudged into the bathroom. The sound of run