chapter 3

James stood near the edge of the room, watching Katherine carefully.

She sat with her back straight, hands resting calmly on her lap, eyes expressionless.

He cleared his throat softly.

“Um… I know this might be sudden but—should I call your family?” he asked gently. “They must be worried.”

Katherine didn’t even blink.

“I don’t have a family.”

Her voice was flat.

Matter-of-fact.

Not tragic—just truth.

James’ brows furrowed. “…Oh.”

He shifted, unsure if he was prying.

“O-Okay,” he continued carefully, “then should I take you home? Wherever you live? Your apartment or—”

Katherine cut him off with a cold, steady gaze.

“I don’t have a home either.”

The silence that followed was sharp.

James’s breath caught, his chest tightening at her tone. There was no sadness in her words, no vulnerability—just emptiness, quietly spoken.

He had never met someone who said such heartbreaking things with such a calm face.

“What do you mean…?” he whispered.

“Exactly what I said.” Katherine’s expression didn’t change. “I have neither family nor a home to return to.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Not in this world.

Her original home, her real life—gone. She had no identity here, no existence on any record, no past that belonged to this world.

She was truly homeless.

James swallowed hard. He stared at her, shock flickering across his face before melting into something softer… heartbreakingly gentle.

He looked at her as if he were seeing a little girl left outside in the rain.

“I… I’m so sorry,” he whispered, voice barely audible.

Katherine didn’t react.

Didn’t look away.

Didn’t offer an explanation.

She simply stated it like a fact.

A truth she had long accepted.

But James—

He was troubled. Deeply. His eyes softened, sadness pooling in them the more he studied her calm, untouched expression.

So that’s why she looks like that…

He thought.

So emotionless. So guarded. She must’ve gone through so much.

He took a small step closer, careful not to invade her space.

“You don’t have to face things alone,” he said quietly. “At least… not right now.”

Katherine tilted her head slightly, observing him.

He meant it.

Every word.

He pitied her.

She didn’t like pity—she had never needed it.

But coming from James Walker… it didn’t sting.

His kindness was too gentle to feel insulting.

Still, she kept her voice cold.

“I don’t need sympathy,” she said simply.

“I know,” James replied with a faint, earnest smile.

A normal person would have been trembling. Crying. Confused.

But this woman…

She was steady, composed, unshaken.

“Then… where were you going last night?” he asked softly.

“Nowhere,” she replied.

“And before that?”

“Nowhere.”

Her blank tone made a chill run down his spine—and yet, instead of fear, he felt a strong urge to protect her.

It didn’t make sense.

James took a small step closer, lowering his voice as if not to disturb her calm façade.

“Katherine… you don’t have to be alone now. I mean—at least let me help you. Until you’re better.” He hesitated. “You can stay here for a while, if you’d like. This place is safe.”

Katherine’s eyes finally flicked up to study him.

So gentle.

So soft-hearted.

No wonder Sophia used him.

“You’ve already helped me enough,” she said. “I won’t stay long.”

James shook his head quickly.

“You can stay as long as you need,” he insisted, cheeks flushing slightly at the boldness of his own words. “I—I mean it.”

Katherine held his gaze for a moment.

Then she nodded once, slowly.

“Fine.”

James’ shoulders relaxed in visible relief.

He didn’t know who she was.

He didn’t know where she came from.

All he knew was he couldn’t let her walk back into danger.

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