In Davis’s bedroom, everything remained still. The heavy curtains were tightly drawn, blocking out the light and wrapping the room in a cocoon of calmness. Jessica lay curled against Davis, her breathing slow and steady. She was completely exhausted, almost out of herself.
Their phones, placed on the bedside table, blinked silently—lights flashing with message after message—reminders, updates, reports.
But no sound disturbed the silence. Davis had turned off all alerts before lying in bed that morning. He didn’t want anything to wake her. Not today.
She had looked too tired and drained, with the signs clearly visible in her red eyes and the dark circles beneath them. The sigh of relief she gave earlier after they finished discussing the plans for the day had been alarming. She had slumped back in the chair, and he could see how deeply worn out she was.
She had given everything—working harder than anyone else. She had taken on far too much since they arrived in Noveria, and yet he had done so little to ease her burden. A wave of guilt tightened in his chest. Was bringing her to Noveria really the right decision?
Slowly, he shifted and slipped out from under the covers, careful not to wake her. If it were up to him, he would have preferred she sleep all through the day. She stirred slightly but didn’t open her eyes.
Inside the bathroom, Davis showered quickly, letting the cold water clear his thoughts. Afterward, he dressed in a clean, casual outfit.
He moved to the armchair near the window and picked up his tablet to check the media buzz. He pulled aside the curtain just enough to let in a little filtered sunlight. Settling into the seat, he began scrolling through the morning headlines.
"Anticipation Rises for the New Group’s Relaunch."
"Noveria’s Investors Await the New Empire’s Debut."
"Top-Tier Executives Recruited with Earth-Shattering Salaries."
"Workers from All Walks of Life Employed."
"Who Is the Man Behind the Scene?"
"Stock Market Ready for Major Trend Changes."
#Meet the Force Behind the Project#
The more he read, the deeper his frown became. Then, a particular post caught his attention. It had a picture showing Jessica’s back, whether intentional or not, and the caption read: Is this lady the force behind the group?
His fingers hesitated over the screen.
Clicking the article open, he scanned the contents—part admiration, part curiosity. Some praised her elegance and mystery. Others questioned her background and identity. None of them knew who she really was.
Good. Let them keep guessing.
As he studied the media reactions, Davis couldn’t shake off the sense of unease slowly building inside him. Everything looked fine on the surface. No obvious sabotage. No new drama from the rival factions in the family. But still—something didn’t feel right. It was all too quiet. Too still.
He let out a long sigh.
Jessica shifted on the bed, murmuring his name and patting the space beside her lightly. Then her eyes flew open.
Davis turned instantly, rising from the chair and hurrying to her side. He grabbed a glass of water and returned to the bed, sitting upright and pulling her gently into his arms as he brought the water to her lips. She drank a little, soothing her dry throat.
"Thank you," she mumbled with a small sigh, rubbing her eyes.
"You’re awake," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
She gave a faint smile. "What time is it?"
"Just past eleven," he replied.
Her eyes widened. "No way!"
He chuckled. "Relax. You need the rest. Or do you want to kill yourself?" he asked seriously.

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