Chapter 444

"That's right. I'll miss you." Evelyn wasn't shy. She boldly wrapped both arms around his neck and tilted her head. "What if you miss me?"

"There's always a solution," Alexander chuckled, leaning in to brush his lips against hers. "Check your room."

It was the same room she always stayed in at the Hawthorne residence. Evelyn pushed the door open—and her breath caught.

Everything was exactly as she'd left it. The trinkets on the dresser, the half-read novel on the nightstand, even the faint scent of lavender from the sachet tucked under her pillow. The only difference? Fresh linens, crisp from sunlight, waiting for her.

But then she noticed—no hum of an air conditioner. No radiator. Just the thick, unmoving air of a house that refused modern comforts.

Alexander frowned, scanning the room. "No AC?"

Evelyn bit her lip. "I forgot to mention—the Hawthornes don't believe in climate control. You'll have to tough it out tonight."

His brows shot up. "Seriously? In this day and age?"

She flopped onto the bed, the springs creaking familiarly. "You know the rumors about us being an old-school martial arts family? They're true. Grandpa Reginald thinks suffering builds character. No heaters in winter, no AC in summer. Just... raw endurance."

Alexander stared. "That explains why your house looks like a monastery."

The Hawthorne estate sprawled across acres, yet the interiors were stark—functional furniture, bare walls, nothing that hinted at their wealth. Meanwhile, Alexander's penthouse gleamed with smart tech and Italian marble.

Evelyn smirked. "Now you get why I gawked at your place."

"Our place," he corrected, tapping her nose.

"Right." She stretched, savoring the simplicity. "At least here, I don't have to dodge surprise attacks at 3 AM."

His jaw dropped. "They ambush you in your sleep?"

"Training never stops," she said breezily. "Grandpa's motto: 'Complacency gets you killed.'"

Alexander groaned, collapsing beside her. The ceiling fan wobbled overhead. "...I suddenly regret this trip."

A beat. Then Evelyn burst out laughing.

But his expression turned serious. "Evelyn. There's something else."

The air between them shifted.

"What?" she whispered.

He exhaled. "I think your grandfather knows."

Her blood ran cold.

Knows what?

The unspoken truth hung between them—heavy, dangerous.

Outside, a cicada screeched. The room felt ten degrees hotter.

And for the first time, Evelyn wondered if coming home was a mistake.