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The heavy silence in the room was shattered by Damien's cold, commanding voice.
“Hm... so everything’s ready.”
He leaned forward, placing one hand on his knee, eyes locked onto the team head sitting across from him. The man gave a nervous nod. The person beside him quickly added, trying to please:
“Sir, he works very professionally. Your mission will be completed smoothly.”
But Damien didn’t shift his gaze—not for a second. His stare cut through the man like a blade, and he felt as if his soul was being pierced.
“Are you mute too?” Damien asked flatly.
“N-No, sir! I can speak,” the man stammered.
“Then the next time I ask a question,” Damien said, voice dropping colder, “I expect to hear your voice. Otherwise, you’ll join the ranks of your silent team.”
The man shifted uncomfortably, swallowed hard, and replied, “Understood, boss.”
Damien leaned back in his seat and spoke with cold precision.
“Tomorrow morning, we strike the home of Omega Task Force’s director, Grayson Blackwood. The objective is to kidnap the girl. Security will be tight due to a recent high-level case. Make sure every detail is covered. I won’t tolerate mistakes.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle, then continued.
“The girl must not be harmed. And whatever it takes—get Grayson away from the house before the attack begins.”
The man beside the team head nodded confidently.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrW8trw3C6
“Don’t worry, sir. Considering the security setup, I’ve hired the best people for this. And arrangements have already been made to lure Grayson out before the attack.”
Damien stood up, buttoning his coat smoothly. The two men instantly got to their feet. He walked to the door where a guard stood at attention and opened it. As Damien stepped outside, he paused—without turning back.
“Let me know before the strike. I’ll be in my car... I want to watch the show from a distance.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll notify you,” the team head said quickly.
But Damien didn’t wait for the response. He walked out.
As the door clicked shut behind him, the two men exhaled the breaths they didn’t realize they’d been holding. They collapsed back onto the sofa, silently recovering from the storm that had just passed through the room.
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Grayson lay stretched out on the lounge sofa, one arm folded under his head like a pillow, the other casually turning his phone over in his hand. His eyes, though fixed on the screen, were clearly miles away—lost in a labyrinth of thought that weighed heavy on his usually unreadable face.
The room was cloaked in a soft, quiet warmth. A single lamp near the window cast a faint amber glow, barely enough to pierce the shadows clinging to the corners. The fireplace crackled softly, the flicker of flames painting fleeting patterns on the walls. It wasn’t just silence—it was a silence that knew things. Heavy. Watching.
Then, suddenly, the phone screen lit up. Grayson blinked out of his trance, tapped a number, and brought the phone to his ear.
The call was answered instantly.
“Nico,” he said, voice low but edged with purpose. “You know Lena West, right? The one I’ve been tracking.”
There was a short pause on the other end, then a quiet “Yes, sir.”
Grayson’s tone hardened, sharp as a blade. “How old does she look to you?”
Another pause. Then a cautious answer. “Twenty-eight. Maybe twenty-nine.”
Grayson gave a slow nod, as if a puzzle piece had just clicked into place.
“Then I want every single year of those twenty-eight on my desk by morning. Everything. School, family, friends, enemies—her entire life. I want details no one else knows. Not even the people who think they know her best.”
“Understood, boss. I’m on it.”
Grayson ended the call and sat still for a moment, the phone now resting silently in his hand. Then, with a heavy breath, he rose from the couch.
As he climbed the stairs and reached the hallway, his steps slowed. His hand reached for his bedroom door—but his gaze drifted, unbidden, to the closed door across from his.
Lena’s room.
For a moment, he just stood there… staring. As if he could hear the silence on the other side.
But then, with a subtle shake of his head, he looked away.
Grayson opened his own door, stepped inside, and quietly shut the world out behind him.
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The morning was peaceful—eerily so. But there was something in the stillness… something that whispered of danger, like a predator silently waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Lena sat upright in bed, her back resting gently against the headboard, eyes fixed on the window. She looked better than she had the night before—calmer, more composed. But her eyes still carried a silent, lingering sadness. She said nothing. She just stared out the window, as if the world outside could somehow explain the storm inside her.
And then… a voice. Warm, old, and full of love echoed softly in her mind.
“Lena… don’t be scared, sweetheart. Grandfather is right here. Nothing happened. There’s no one here, look…”
A child’s small, tearful voice responded. “But Grandpa… he was just there. I saw him. I’m scared… don’t go, please…”
The kind voice spoke again, gentle and reassuring. “My darling… I’m not going anywhere. Why are you so afraid?”
Her voice quivered with innocent fear. “Promise me you’ll never leave me… ever. Not even for a moment.”
The old man chuckled softly, filled with affection. “No, I’ll never leave you. Never. But if, one day, time tears us apart… if something separates us… I want you to know this: I’ll never really be gone. I’ll live in your heart. My love will never leave your side. And even if my presence disappears… my love will always whisper to you that I’m still here.”
A single tear escaped Lena’s closed eyes, trailing down her cheek before falling quietly onto the blanket. She was lost in that memory… wrapped in it like a fragile cloak.
A knock at the door broke through her trance. Quickly, she wiped her tear away and composed herself. “Come in,” she called softly, brushing her tangled hair back with her fingers.
The door opened slowly, and Grayson stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and walked forward, his eyes lifting to the girl seated on the bed. Her fingers were still trying to tame her messy hair, and though her eyes were still a little red from crying the night before, she looked more like herself again.
Lena’s breath caught. She’d expected a maid—anyone but him. Seeing Grayson brought a wave of last night’s shame washing over her. She didn’t want anyone to see her like that, not broken, not vulnerable. Her gaze lowered, embarrassed.
Grayson paused for a second, then cleared his throat. “How are you feeling?” he asked gently. “Better now?”
Lena looked up at him. He stood there in black jeans and a white denim shirt that hugged his athletic frame, his arms muscular and his veins pronounced. His dark hair was perfectly in place, and those intense black eyes… calm but unreadable. His face was serious, always was—but when he spoke, there was always that faint smile that touched his lips. She didn’t know if it appeared for everyone… or just when he spoke to her.
She quickly turned her gaze back to the window and nodded. “I’m fine now.”
Grayson gave a small nod, understanding her silence, then walked over and sat on the same sofa where he had been a few days ago. Lena watched him. With the curtains pulled open and the morning light flooding in, she could see him clearly now. Nothing hidden. Nothing left to guess. This morning light made everything honest.
“I… I wanted to apologize for last night,” she said softly.
“There’s no need,” Grayson replied calmly. “I understand. You were scared.”
She didn’t answer. Just lowered her eyes and traced invisible patterns on the bedsheet with her finger.
Grayson watched her for a moment, then leaned back slightly, resting his elbow on the sofa’s armrest and pressing a hand against his lips thoughtfully. “Can I ask you something?” he said after a pause.
Lena’s eyes flicked to his, cautious. “Y-Yes?”
“Why do I feel like… there’s something you’re not telling me?”
Her reaction was immediate. Her head snapped up. “N-No! There’s nothing… I swear, there’s nothing!”
Grayson couldn’t help but smile at how flustered she looked. “Are you sure?” he asked, teasing just a little.
She nodded vigorously. “Yes! Sure, absolutely!”
He chuckled quietly and stood up, walking slowly to the edge of her bed. With his hands casually tucked into his jeans pockets, he looked down at her.
Lena looked up at him, curious.
“Can I make a request?” he asked gently.
She nodded.
“I don’t know what you’ve been through,” he said, voice softer now. “And I won’t pretend to understand it. But I do know this—you need to be strong. Not just physically, but mentally too. The world… it’s filled with people who live on power. And they crush the ones who show weakness. If you want to survive, you have to be strong, Isabel.”
She looked up at him with quiet eyes, then slowly nodded.
Grayson exhaled a peaceful breath and smiled again. “Good. I’ll leave you to rest. Do you need anything?”
Lena gave a tiny smile and shook her head. “No… thank you. I’m fine.”
Grayson nodded, turned to the door, and walked out. But before closing it, he cast one last glance back at her—sitting there in the morning light, lost in her thoughts.
Then the door clicked shut behind him.
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6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36CL3lScEL
