Salim stepped in, composed as ever.
"Just checking in," he said, voice even. "How are you feeling?"
She turned slowly. "Alive. Thanks to you."
He gave a small nod, his hands tucked into his pockets. "The doctor said your vitals are good. You should be able to travel."
That was it.
No softness. No lingering glance.
Just business.
Lian frowned slightly. "So… this is professional now?"
Salim tilted his head. "This was always professional."
The words stung more than they should've.
"I stayed with you when you were unconscious," she said, voice quiet. "That wasn't professional."
He didn't flinch. "And I pulled you from the water. That makes us even."
Something in her chest tugged.
Even?
"You don't owe me anything, Salim."
"I know." He paused. "And you don't owe me either."
He stepped back toward the door. "The team's packing up. We leave in an hour. Alaric granted everyone a one-week break before the next round of the internship."
Lian nodded.
He lingered at the threshold for half a second, like he wanted to say something more. But didn't.
The buses were lined up at the port. Sunlight gleamed off polished luggage and sunglasses, but the warmth in the air did little to melt the quiet between Lian and Salim.
She watched as he moved ahead of the group, clipboard in hand, giving instructions like nothing had happened the night before.
No words.
No glances.
No warmth.
She told herself it didn't sting.
She told herself she didn't care.
But when she turned around, she wasn't expecting Pierre to be waiting near the path behind the docks, hands in his pockets, eyes" I guess this is goodbye"?she said
He raised his head. "well this is where I belong"
A pause.
Then he smiled gentler than she'd ever seen. "But I'll visit. I promise."
Lian nodded slowly. "Okay."
Pierre stepped closer, gaze softening. "Lian… look. I know I can be a lot. I say the wrong things, push too hard. But from the moment I saw you, really saw you, I knew something shifted in me."
She froze, her throat tightening.
"I like you," he said, not with flair or ego this time, just plain honesty. "And I know I don't stand a chance next to him"
"You don't have to do this,"I know. But you deserve to know that someone would take you seriously. Someone who'd choose you and not make you question it every day."
He stepped forward and pulled her into a brief hug. His arms were steady, warm.
Then he leaned in slightly, aiming for her cheek.
But she gently stopped him, palm resting against his chest.
A small smile curved her lips. "See you around, Pierre."
His eyes crinkled. "Yeah. You will."
And then he walked away no bitterness, no game.
Just honesty left behind in his place.
" she whispered. fixed on her.
Salim and red said their good byes to selene
On the Plane
Lian slipped into her seat near the window.
She wasn't expecting her row to be shared.
But Chloe slid into the aisle seat beside her.
Neither said a word.
The plane engines whirred to life. People laughed softly across rows. Some scrolled through phones. Others pulled on neck pillows.
But between the two girls silence.
Until Chloe finally exhaled.
"Sorry… about yesterday."
Lian blinked. She looked over slowly.
"It wasn't your fault," she said. "I'm sorry I made them question you
They sat in the silence again. But this time, it wasn't cold.
It was healing.
"I didn't know the water would pull you like that," Chloe added.
"I shouldn't have followed you in."
Their eyes met, briefly.
And that was enough.
No forced forgiveness.
No need to hug.
Just two girls realizing they'd both been stupid, and both deserved to grow past it.
The plane took off.
When they landed they were all exhausted.
The morning after their return, the Vance estate was unusually quiet. The staff moved like shadows, and the halls echoed with stillness.
Lian sat curled on one end of the plush couch in the lounge, her knees pulled up, a throw blanket draped over her shoulders. The sunlight trickled in gently through the wide windows, golden and warm.
Chloe strolled in casually, wearing a pink hoodie and checkered shorts, a yogurt in one hand and her phone in the other.
"Morning," she said, flopping down beside Lian.
"Hey," Lian murmured.
"So… any thoughts on how we're spending this royal one-week break?"
Lian shrugged. "Sleep. Maybe catch up on reading. I don't really know."
Chloe leaned forward, eyes bright. "You should go home."
Lian blinked at her. "Home?"
"Yeah. You know. Visit your family, see your parents"
Lian looked away, a quiet laugh escaping her lips but it wasn't amused.
"I don't really have a place I call home."
Chloe tilted her head. "what do you mean?"
"It's nothing," Lian said quickly.
But Chloe nudged her knee. "No, don't do that. Don't hide. Not with me. Tell me more."
Lian hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edge of the blanket.
There was no reason to keep it secret anymore. No more pretending. The ocean had already washed away the walls she'd built.
"My mom's in prison," she said, her voice soft but steady. "She got locked up when I was in high school. My father... he abandoned us when I was little. I can't even remember what he looks like."
Chloe's brows lifted slightly, her lips parting, but she said nothing.
"Me and my brother we grew up with my aunt. She was cruel, controlling, always made us feel like we were burdens. Now? She doesn't even welcome us anymore."
Lian swallowed.
"My brother's staying with our old neighbor someone I trust. But I don't even know how he's doing right now. I've been so far from everything."
Silence stretched between them.
Chloe finally exhaled. "Wow. That's… that's some big story you've got there."
Lian gave a small shrug. "I guess."
"What about you?" she asked gently, lifting her eyes to Chloe. "Whats your story?"
Chloe leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. "Well… my parents are comfortable. Middle-class. I'm the only child. Life wasn't too bad growing up. Honestly, I really admired this company, so when I saw the internship application, I jumped at it."
Lian sat up slightly. "You applied?"
Chloe looked at her, amused. "Yeah? How else do people get in?"
Lian blinked. "I didn't. I just… found myself here."
A beat of silence.
"Well," Chloe grinned, "guess you were destined to be rich."
Lian laughed softly, and for a moment, the air between them softened again.
"So," Chloe continued, stretching, "what do we do with this break?"
They tossed around ideas arcades, shopping, pool time, lazy brunches but eventually, the decision was to take it slow. Sleep in, eat good food, maybe check out a small art exhibit nearby. No parties. No tension. Just air.
But peace didn't last long.
-----
Meanwhile… Somewhere Else in the City
At the top floor of a secured Vance-owned penthouse, Alaric Vance stood alone in his glass-walled study, sipping from a crystal tumbler. Reading a very old newspaper.
The paper was marked with one name:
Elessar Jamiel.
His hand trembled slightly. A face flashed in his mind the same man he'd betrayed. The one who whispered a final wish before his life was destroyed.
Take care of my daughter she's only two "
A promise Alaric never forgot.
That's why she was here.
Not because he was generous. Not because she applied.
But because guilt had teeth.
And Elessar's last words haunted him.
He exhaled and turned toward the view.
But just then
CRASH!
Glass exploded.
One of the far glass panels shattered inward, scattering shards across the marble floor. Alaric spun around, heart pounding.
"Security!" he barked, his voice sharp, eyes scanning the shadows.
Silence.
Then
Ping.
His phone buzzed.
He picked it up, confusion furrowing his brow.
A message.
Unknown number.
"We didn't succeed in killing Salim or Elian. But we're not done yet. We're coming for the Vance family. We won't stop until you confess."
Alaric's hand went cold.
He read the message again. And again.
His mouth went dry.
"Who the hell…?"
But he didn't finish.
Because something shifted in the air.
This wasn't just revenge.
This was war.
And someone out there knew exactly what he did.
He straightened up slowly, clutching the edge of the desk.
His voice was low, dangerous.
"Do they know who they're messing with?"
-