Chapter 35 – Where Hearts Begin to Settle

The smell of fresh toast, scrambled eggs, and miso soup wafted through the Lu mansion's spacious kitchen. Liyana stood at the marble counter, blinking groggily in her oversized cardigan—clearly borrowed from Damien—while Lu Yuhan energetically flipped pancakes like a proud chef.

"You're holding that spatula like a weapon," Liyana chuckled.

Yuhan grinned. "Only 'cause Meilin says I can't use the knife anymore."

Meilin, dressed in fluffy pajamas and wearing a messy bun, poked her head out from the fridge. "That's because you almost sliced your own finger trying to chop mangoes artistically!"

"Art requires sacrifice," Yuhan said dramatically.

The kitchen burst into soft laughter.

Liyana leaned into the moment—the casual chaos, the warm energy, the feeling of belonging. For someone who had built her world around ice and control, it was almost disarming.

Almost healing.

Damien entered then, freshly showered, buttoning his sleeves. He paused at the threshold, eyes resting on Liyana first. Her cheeks were pink from the heat of the kitchen, and she hadn't noticed him yet. He let himself have that second longer—just watching her in his space.

She belonged here.

With him.

"You're late," Meilin quipped.

Damien arched a brow. "You make breakfast once and suddenly you have authority?"

Yuhan threw a pancake at him.

It hit his chest.

Liyana burst out laughing.

It felt good. So good it made her heart ache.

Later that day, Liyana sat by the garden's stone bench, sipping tea, when her phone buzzed. Mira.

Her secretary's voice was quick and anxious. "Miss Xu, we've been receiving calls nonstop. The board is restless, especially after the sudden halt in the Westward Plaza project. I didn't disclose anything, but… your absence created ripples."

Liyana exhaled slowly. "Tell them I'm fine. Set up a remote board call for tomorrow. And Mira…"

"Yes, Miss Xu?"

"Thank you. For handling things."

Mira's voice softened. "Always."

As she hung up, Damien approached, holding his own phone.

"My grandfather called. Twice. My parents, too."

"What did you tell them?" she asked, brows raised.

"That you're staying here. With me."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And?"

"And they approved. Cautiously."

She blinked.

"I think your mother called mine, actually. They want us to attend the next Xu family dinner together. Publicly."

There was a beat of silence between them. Not uncomfortable—just charged.

"And Lin Hao?" she asked.

Damien's eyes turned cold. "He's being held in a private security facility. Interrogation underway. I made sure he knows this wasn't just a personal attack—it was an attack on the Lu and Xu legacy. He crossed a line."

"You didn't... kill him?"

"No," he said with steel. "But I broke enough of him to ensure he never forgets what he lost when he tried to take you."

Liyana nodded, quiet.

"I wanted to end him," Damien admitted, stepping closer. "But then I remembered—if I did, I'd be a beast in truth. You saved me from that edge."

She turned toward him, heart pounding. "You were never a beast, Damien."

He stared at her, his expression unreadable—until he reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"No. But I would've become one if you hadn't called my name that night."

Later that night, the Lu siblings piled into the entertainment room, dragging Liyana with them.

"You have to watch this drama with us!" Meilin declared, throwing herself dramatically onto the bean bag.

"I'm not watching a romantic comedy about a fake marriage," Damien muttered.

"Oh please," Yuhan snorted. "You're basically in one already."

Liyana stifled her laugh while Damien glared at his brother.

Despite the teasing, he didn't leave.

Instead, as the lights dimmed and the episode played, Damien sat beside Liyana on the long couch. Their shoulders brushed, their hands occasionally bumping when reaching for snacks.

She didn't move away.

Neither did he.

And by the time the credits rolled, Meilin and Yuhan were snoring on the floor.

Damien looked at her, voice quiet.

"Stay. Tonight. Again."

She hesitated.

Then nodded.