Alexander did not know what to say to that. After a brief pause, he signed the contract.The house agent’s smile widened immediately as she handed him a key. “Done,” she said. “Your roommate is the landlord herself. She’ll contact you later. I’ve already sent you her number.”Alexander nodded and saved the contact under a simple name: Landlord.Convenient and straightforward.As the house agent prepared to leave, she suddenly turned back with a mysterious smile. “Oh, right,” she added.Alexander looked up. “She’s very pretty.”He frowned slightly. “What does that have to do with me?”The woman laughed. “You’ll understand eventually.”With that, she left, and the apartment fell into a quiet stillness.Alexander loosened his collar and carried his suitcase toward the second bedroom. For the first time since leaving the villa, he felt as though he had found a temporary place to stay.It was not home, but it was at least peaceful.However, just as he reached for the door handle, a sudden c

Aurelia sat curled on the sofa in the living room, her phone pressed tightly against her ear as her brows drew together in frustration.She had already changed her clothes twice that morning, yet nothing seemed to settle her unease.The makeup beneath her eyes did little to conceal the faint shadows left by a sleepless night.Sleep had barely touched her; every time she closed her eyes, the same image returned—Alexander dragging his suitcase out of the villa the night before.But more than anything else was the look in his eyes that refused to leave her; there was no anger, no jealousy, only exhaustion.That quiet, worn expression disturbed her far more than any outburst could have.Even so, Aurelia stubbornly refused to admit that she might have been at fault.“He actually moved out,” she said irritably into the phone, her tone edged with disbelief. “Can you believe him? He even left a divorce agreement behind.”On the other end, Vivian’s expression immediately darkened. “A divorce ag

The look on Alexander’s face before he left the villa did not resemble anger or impulsiveness. It had looked like something far more final—like someone who had completely given up.The thought tightened her chest unexpectedly.“Aura?” Nahir called softly.She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”But her appetite was gone, the burger now looked unappetizing, almost nauseating, as grease soaked through the wrapper and stained the desk.Without realizing it, she found herself missing Alexander’s breakfasts—not just the food, but the feeling behind it. The quiet warmth, the unspoken care in every small detail.For three years, she had accepted it all without question, as though it would always be there… as though Alexander would always remain exactly where she left him.The office fell into a brief, heavy silence.Then Nahir spoke again. “Do you know where Alex is staying now?”Aurelia froze.Only then did she realize something unsettling—she had no idea. Alexander had always told her where he

Even so, Alexander showed no anger. It was not because he could not retaliate, but because none of them were worth the effort.Eventually, he turned into a small neighborhood park near the apartment complex and sat beneath a broad tree. Around him, life continued in quiet contrast to his thoughts.Children laughed freely as they played nearby, while elderly men leaned over chessboards beneath shaded pavilions. From farther down the street, construction noise echoed intermittently, blending with the constant rhythm of traffic and distant voices.Alexander opened his boxed lunch without a word.Inside, the contents were simple: plain rice, overcooked vegetables, and two dry pieces of chicken. Nothing was appealing about it, nothing memorable. Yet after the chaos of the past few days, even this ordinary moment of stillness felt rare.As he ate, he scrolled through job listings on his phone; most positions demanded years of experience.Others required industry connections, and some explici

A chair flew across the room like a projectile, smashing into a thug’s face with explosive force. Before anyone could react, Alexander slipped beneath an axe swing and drove his elbow into another man’s throat, dropping him instantly.A third attacker rushed in, but Alexander caught him mid-charge and hurled him into two others. Their bodies slammed violently into the ropes of the boxing ring, shaking the entire structure.Shouts of rage filled the air as more weapons swung toward him.Alexander dodged narrowly, countering with precision. A single kick shattered a man’s knee with a sickening crack. Despite the chaos, his movements remained controlled, almost effortless.Yet even he could not avoid everything. A blade suddenly slashed across his shoulder from behind, drawing blood.The gym owner cried out in horror, but Alexander did not retreat.Instead, the air around him seemed to change, and his eyes turned icy.The attacker who had wounded him barely had time to react before Ale