Unfinished Conversations

Lydia

I woke up to silence. 

The kind that felt hollow. 

Blinking against the morning light, I stretched my arm toward the other side of the bed—only to find it cold.

I blinked at the vacant space where Theo should have been, the sheets cold, untouched. Not even a lingering trace of warmth remained.

He never came home last night.

That realization settled deep in my chest, heavier than I expected. My fingers brushed against the mattress instinctively, but his scent was already fading. It wasn't just the bed—his presence, the quiet sense of him, was missing from the entire room.

Theo always had a strong presence, whether he was awake or asleep, filling the space around him effortlessly. But now, the air felt thinner and emptier.

Pushing myself upright, I stretched out the stiffness in my limbs, only for the ache to flare again. My brows furrowed as I looked down, catching a glimpse of something dark peeking from under the loose collar of Theo's shirt—his, because he must have not bothered to find my clothes in his closet.

Curiosity prickled at me. I swung my legs over the bed and padded toward the bathroom, the cool tiles grounding me. When I reached the mirror, I finally saw the full extent of it.

A startled breath escaped me.

Purplish bruises bloomed across my skin, curling along my collarbone, my shoulders, disappearing beneath the oversized shirt. I hesitated, then slowly pulled the fabric over my head. The reflection staring back at me was undeniable.

Hickeys. Everywhere.

My ribs. My waist. My thighs. Some were faint, others darker, the deeper ones tinged with a bluish hue. And at the center of it all, standing out like a brand, was the mark on my neck.

I reached up, fingers ghosting over the mark on my neck. A sharp tingle shot through my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. It was still sensitive, almost too raw.

I turned on the tap, letting the bath fill. The warm water lapped against my skin as I sank into it, letting the heat soothe the dull ache. I ran my fingers along the surface, watching ripples distort the reflection of the ceiling.

By the time I stepped out and dried off, the soreness had lessened, but the marks remained. I grabbed a turtleneck from Theo's closet, one of the few outfits I always kept here. It wasn't unusual for me, Theo, and Scarlet to crash in each other's rooms after long game nights or outings, so I always had spare clothes at his place.

Once dressed, covering every inch of my skin, I headed downstairs.

Only the maid was present, setting out breakfast. She looked up when she heard my footsteps. 

"Good morning, Miss Lydia," she greeted, pulling out a chair for me. "Breakfast is ready." 

I hesitated before sitting. "Where's Theo?" 

"He left early," she answered smoothly. "Straight to the company. Seemed busy." 

I nodded, though something about it didn't sit right with me. Theo wasn't the type to disappear without a word. 

I finished my meal quickly, then pushed my chair back. "Could you ask the driver to bring the car around?" 

The maid gave a slight bow. "Of course, miss."

I stepped outside, gripping my bag a little tighter. If Theo wasn't going to come home, I'd go to him. 

.....

The drive to Star Entertainment was quiet, the low hum of the engine the only sound filling the space. The city passed by in a blur of glass buildings and morning traffic.

As the car pulled up to the entrance, I stepped out, adjusting the sleeves of my turtleneck. The building wasn't grand yet, not like the industry giants, but it carried potential. The guards at the entrance straightened at my arrival, giving a slight bow in acknowledgment.

"Miss Ashford," one of them greeted.

I nodded in return, offering a small smile before stepping inside.

The moment I stepped into the building, the familiar scent of fresh paper and coffee greeted me. The polished floors reflected the morning light streaming in from the glass windows, and the soft murmur of employees settling into their day filled the air.

I made my way toward Theo's office, my pace steady, until a familiar figure stepped into my path.

Evan.

He stood tall, his expression neutral, but there was a quiet firmness in his stance. He was from the pack, one of Theo's most trusted employees, and had always maintained a professional distance when it came to me.

His posture was straight, his expression unreadable as always. He was efficient, serious, and never one for unnecessary conversation. I had once tried to befriend him, but some people had firm boundaries. I respected that and never pushed.

"Miss Lydia," he greeted, his tone formal, unwavering.

I halted in front of him, offering a small smile. "Good morning, Evan. I'd like to see Theo."

He didn't hesitate. "I'm afraid Theo has given strict instructions not to let anyone inside his office."

"Would you like me to make a call and check with him?" he offered, his tone still neutral.

I shook my head lightly. "Don't bother him. Just let him know I stopped by."

Evan gave a curt nod, stepping aside. I didn't linger. Without another word, I turned and made my way to my cabin.

I stepped into my cabin, shutting the door behind me. 

That's right—I had my own space here. 

Even though I wasn't officially hired, I had been working at Star Entertainment since its inception. One could say I was one of the few foundational members, and this company… it felt like my child. Watching it grow, seeing it thrive, brought me a kind of pride I imagined a mother would feel for her own. 

When Theo first decided to establish the company, his father—the Alpha—was firmly against it. He believed it would be a distraction, that it would consume too much of Theo's time and make him neglect the pack. But that opposition didn't last long. Not when the company started showing results. Eventually, he agreed—on one condition. 

Theo could keep his company only if he prioritized giving jobs to pack members. 

That was why so many employees here were from our pack, each placed in roles that suited their skills. It was a compromise, a way to satisfy both sides. 

But in the beginning, things weren't this stable. Back then, we were short-staffed, and Theo was stretched thin, juggling every responsibility just to keep the company afloat. 

Scarlet and I had both dreamed of becoming actresses, but I had seen how much pressure Theo was under. Every penny counted, and in those early days, the company could only afford to invest in one of us. I didn't want him to be torn between us, so I let go of my dream. 

Instead, I chose to help in the way I knew best. 

While Theo handled external affairs—securing investments, connections, projects—I took on internal responsibilities. Managing staff, guiding new actors, refining their skills. Acting was something I loved, something I was good at, and though I had given up on my own stage, I could still shape the ones meant for it. 

For the past two years, I had dedicated myself to nurturing this place, and now that high school was behind me, I had even more time to focus on my work—at least until college started. 

I glanced around the room, my fingers lightly brushing against the desk. 

This company had become more than just a workplace to me. It was a part of me.

The office was quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of my fingers against the keyboard. I scanned through the reports, eyes flicking between emails and performance evaluations. The routine had always been familiar, but today, it felt different—empty, like something was missing.

I glanced at the clock. Past lunchtime.

Theo still hadn't called or messaged.

I hesitated for a second before shaking my head and turning back to the screen. He was busy—I knew that. The company had always demanded too much of his time. But no matter how hectic things got, he had always been the one to remind me that health came before work.

"One should eat before exhaustion kicks in," he used to say, ushering me away from my desk every time I stuck to it.

Yet today, there was nothing.

I exhaled slowly, shoving the thought aside, and tried to refocus.

Hours passed, the sun setting outside the glass windows, bathing the room in an amber hue. By the time I looked at the clock again, it was well past dinner. My stomach ached slightly from hunger, and my phone screen remained void of any messages.

Not even from Scarlet; typically, she would bombard me with messages—selfies, reels, and incessant chatter. Today, however, there was nothing.

I sighed and ordered takeout, picking at my food absentmindedly. The quiet gnawed at me, the absence of Theo's voice more noticeable than ever.

Maybe he was still in his office.

With that thought, I got up, making my way toward his cabin. The halls were mostly deserted by now, except for a few staff members finishing up their work. As I approached, Evan stood at his usual spot, his expression unreadable.

"Miss Lydia," he greeted, his tone formal as always.

I nodded. "Is Theo still inside?"

"He is, but—" 

Before he could finish, I pulled out my phone and dialed Theo's number. The ringing seemed to stretch on interminably, each tone amplifying my unease. He had always answered my calls promptly, usually within the first three rings. Now, as the ringing continued, a knot tightened in my stomach, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he might not pick up this time.

Then, finally—

"Dia?" His voice was lower than usual, tinged with exhaustion.

I straightened slightly. "It's late, Theo. You haven't eaten all day."

There was a pause before he exhaled. "I know. I just… I have to finish this first."

I bit my lip, gripping my phone tighter. "I ordered dinner. Just take a break and—"

"Dia," he murmured, a quiet sigh in his voice. "I really can't right now."

I swallowed, forcing down the disappointment. "Okay. Then at least eat when you get a chance. I will leave dinner with Evan."

There was another pause, softer this time. "Don't miss your dinner, alright? And don't overwork, and get to bed early; I might be coming late."

That small reminder, the gentle concern laced in his voice, made my chest tighten.

"I will," I whispered.

The call ended, and I exhaled slowly before turning to Evan, handing him the takeout bag. "Give it to him later when he takes a break."

Evan hesitated but took it with a nod.

I didn't say anything else, just turned back to my cabin.

At first, I told myself it was fine. That he was just too busy. That things would return to normal once work settled down.

But soon, days turned into weeks.

Theo barely spoke to me. He came home late, always locked himself in his office at work, and rejected almost everything I suggested. Dinners, breaks, even small conversations—nothing. If I called, he would pick up, but the conversations were short and empty, leaving me feeling like I was talking to a stranger.

The first few days, I tried to be understanding. Then, I tried convincing myself that maybe I was overthinking things.

But deep down, something gnawed at me.

Theo had always been the one to come to me. The one to seek me out.

And now… it felt like he was pulling away.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at my phone screen. There was no message from him.

Maybe… maybe he lost interest after we slept together.

Maybe he got what he wanted, and now, he didn't want me anymore.

The thought made my stomach twist, an ache settling deep in my chest.

But Theo wasn't like that… was he?

I wanted to trust him. I tried to trust him.

But the longer this went on, the more his actions made it harder to believe.

For the first time, doubt crept in.

Had I misunderstood everything?

Was this how things ended?

I clenched my fingers slightly, feeling the cold emptiness settle in.

It was a quiet kind of pain—the worst kind.

And the longer this went on, the more I started to wonder if I was truly prepared for his answer.

What if he wants to break up with me?