What a beautiful morning!!

Ithan 

The incessant doorbell rang out like an alarm, pulling me out of the haze of sleep. My brows furrowed in irritation. Who the hell would dare to disturb me this early in the morning? And worse—who had the audacity to keep pressing the damn bell as if their life depended on it?

Groaning, I stumbled out of bed, massaging the sleep from my eyes as I made my way to the door. The relentless ringing continued, grating on my nerves. With a sigh of frustration, I swung the door open.

It was her. My Ayin.

"Well, well," I drawled, leaning lazily against the doorframe with a wicked smirk. "That was faster than I expected. You've got a brain, after all. I must say, I'm impressed."

She stormed past me without a word, her fiery glare more eloquent than any insult she could have thrown my way. She plopped down on the couch in my living room, her movements sharp and deliberate. The air around her practically crackled with anger.

Turning to face me, she fixed me with a glare so intense it could've melted steel. "You seem awfully relaxed for someone who traded his friend's sister like a piece of property," she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

I laughed, unbothered, as I settled into the couch across from her. "And yet," I said, leaning forward with a teasing smile, "Mrs. Houndston has moved in so willingly. Tell me, how did you come to this beautiful solution so quickly? You just couldn't wait to be with me, could you?"

Her jaw tightened, and she shot me a look that could've knocked me flat if looks could kill. "Since you've bought me," she said, her tone biting, "I figured I might as well let you waste your money. Why should I struggle on my own when I can drain your wallet dry? If you've made me your 'responsibility,' then you'll bear the costs—and the consequences."

Her words were like a challenge, and I couldn't help but grin. "Oh, I'm more than willing to bear them," I said, my voice low, playful. "Costs, consequences, and everything in between, my dear."

Her sharp ginger eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, I was reminded of the deer I used to hunt in my teenage years—innocent, yet defiant. But this deer was different. This one was mine. Not caught unwillingly, but by my own choice. And I would savor every moment of having her in my grasp.

She broke the silence, her voice curt. "Where's my room? I need to unpack and get to work after this morning's circus."

I stood, gesturing for her to follow me. "Right this way."

I led her to my bedroom and pushed the door open, a sly smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Here we are. Make yourself at home."

Her expression shifted from annoyed to horrified in seconds. "Excuse me? You expect me to stay here? In your room? This penthouse is massive, and you only have one bedroom? Not happening. Where are the other rooms?"

Feigning surprise, I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I thought since you arrived so early this morning, you were dying to share a room with me." My grin widened as I added, "But, alas, if you insist…"

Her deadpan stare could've leveled mountains. "I insist."

With a chuckle, I gestured toward the room across the hall. "Fine, my queen. Follow me."

I opened the door to the guest room and stepped aside to let her through. Without so much as a glance in my direction, she marched in and slammed the door shut in my face.

Classic Ayin.

A laugh rumbled in my chest as I stared at the closed door, shaking my head in amusement. What a beautiful morning!

Part of me had hoped she'd agree to stay in my room, but this was fine. For now. She was here, under my roof, where she belonged.

Five years. I'd waited five long years for this moment. The first time I saw her, I knew I had to have her. Every inch of her. Her stubbornness, her fire, her wit—it was all mine now. And no one would take her away from me.

But there were other matters to attend to. With a final glance at her closed door, I walked down the hall, my steps brisk and purposeful.

The door to my study room slid open with a quiet hiss. I crossed the room, shedding the softer side of me with each step. By the time I reached my desk, the screens blinked to life as I tapped in the passcodes. Each monitor displayed a different thread of my work—a map, a series of live feeds, and a list of encrypted files waiting for review. My fingers flew across the keyboard, opening the tracker first. Red dots pulsed on the digital map, tracing the movements of my prey.

They were still out there, circling the city like vultures. Arrogant, careless, and so very predictable.

Pulling up the latest surveillance logs, I scanned through timestamps and images. The system flagged a recent sighting at a private club. My eyes narrowed. The target was there, seated in a dim corner of the club. Their posture was relaxed, their laughter careless, as if they weren't aware of the storm brewing around them. Idiots.

I leaned forward, my mind already working. "Let's see…" I muttered under my breath, pulling up their financial logs. Transactions popped up in rapid succession, most of them small, but one stood out—a payment to a name I recognized all too well.

The target thought they were safe, surrounded by shadows and false allies. But I'd built this web with precision, and now they were tangled in it.

As I finalized the last details, a notification pinged on my phone. A photo attachment opened on my screen—a close-up of the target's face, oblivious to the danger looming over them.

I smiled darkly. "Let's see how long you can run," I murmured, my tone edged with menace.

Leaning back in my chair, I glanced once more at the live feed. They'd made their choices, and now they'd face the consequences. The city was vast, but there was nowhere they could hide. It was only a matter of time. And time was mine to control.