Chapter 4: The Morning After

Emma woke up slowly.

For a few seconds, everything felt normal.

The bed was soft.

The room was warm.

Sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Then reality returned.

Her eyes opened immediately.

This wasn't her room.

Emma sat up too quickly and looked around.

Large windows.

Cream-colored walls.

Furniture that probably cost more than her yearly rent.

Right.

The cliff.

Ethan.

The mansion.

It wasn't a dream.

She pressed her fingers against her forehead.

Yesterday felt unreal now.

Like it had happened to someone else.

A soft knock came from the door.

Emma straightened.

"Come in."

The door opened and Mrs. Wilson stepped inside carrying a tray.

She smiled kindly.

"Good morning."

Emma quickly stood up.

"Good morning."

Mrs. Wilson placed the tray down.

"I brought breakfast."

Emma blinked.

"You didn't have to—"

"It's no trouble."

Emma stared at the tray.

Toast.

Eggs.

Fruit.

Coffee.

It looked too perfect.

Her chest tightened unexpectedly.

Nobody had done something this simple for her in a long time.

She suddenly remembered all those mornings making breakfast for her fiancé.

And not once had he done the same for her.

She looked away.

Mrs. Wilson seemed to notice.

"You should eat while it's warm."

Emma nodded.

"Thank you."

The older woman smiled.

"Mr. Black asked me to check on you."

Emma looked up.

"He did?"

Mrs. Wilson nodded casually.

"He left early this morning."

Something inside Emma quietly settled.

Of course.

What did she expect?

That a billionaire would stay home because of a stranger?

She almost laughed at herself.

After breakfast and a shower, Emma changed into the clothes left in the room.

They fit perfectly.

That felt suspicious.

How did they know her size?

She decided not to think about it.

When she walked downstairs, she froze.

The living room was enormous.

Floor-to-ceiling windows.

Modern furniture.

Everything looked expensive but strangely cold.

A maid noticed her.

"Miss Carter, Mr. Black said you can stay as long as you need."

Emma immediately shook her head.

"No. I'll leave today."

The maid smiled politely.

"Mr. Black said you'd say that."

Emma frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Before the maid could answer—

The front door opened.

Emma turned.

A man in a navy suit walked in carrying a tablet.

He looked around thirty and stopped the moment he saw her.

His eyes widened slightly.

"Oh."

Emma blinked.

He blinked.

Then suddenly—

His expression changed.

His eyes lit up.

He walked toward her.

Fast.

Too fast.

He stopped in front of her and smiled.

"So you're Emma."

Emma took a small step back.

"...Yes?"

He held out his hand.

"I'm Mason."

Emma carefully shook it.

His smile grew.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Emma immediately became suspicious.

Mason noticed.

"Relax. I'm not dangerous."

She looked him up and down.

That was exactly what dangerous people said.

Mason laughed.

Then lowered his voice dramatically.

"You know... you're the first woman Mr. Black has ever brought home."

Emma nearly dropped his hand.

"What?"

Mason grinned.

"Last week he made someone leave because they touched his office chair."

Emma stared.

She wasn't sure if he was joking.

Unfortunately—

Mason looked completely serious.

Emma suddenly didn't know what to think anymore.

Before she could respond, a familiar deep voice came from behind them.

"Mason."

The smile disappeared from Mason's face instantly.

He stepped back.

Ethan walked in.

His expression was calm.

Cold.

His gaze moved from Mason to Emma.

Then he said—

"Stop scaring my guest."

Emma looked at Ethan.

For some reason—

Seeing him return made the mansion feel a little less empty.

Episodes
1 Chapter 1: The End of Everything
2 Chapter 2: A Complete Stranger
3 Chapter 3: Ethan Black
4 Chapter 4: The Morning After
5 Chapter 5: Rules
6 Chapter 6: Temporary
7 Chapter 7: Outside the Gate
8 Chapter 8: The Name Everyone Knows
9 Chapter 9: Too Comfortable
10 Chapter 10: The Call He Didn't Expect
11 Chapter 11: Stay
12 Chapter 12: Not Ready
13 Chapter 13: Unfamiliar
14 Chapter 14: A Different Kind of Day
15 Chapter 15: First Smile
16 Chapter 16: What Comes Next
17 Chapter 17: Going Outside
18 Chapter 18: A Small Choice
19 Chapter 19: Not Going Back Yet
20 Chapter 20: The Dinner Table
21 Chapter 21: Stay or Leave
22 Chapter 22: Somewhere New
23 Chapter 23: Something Small
24 Chapter 24: A List
25 Chapter 25: One Week
26 Chapter 26: Not Somewhere Important
27 Chapter 27: Questions He Didn't Answer
28 Chapter 28: The Kind of Quiet That Stayed
29 Chapter 29: You Look Lighter
30 Chapter 30: One More Question
31 Chapter 31: The Version of You That Stayed
32 Chapter 32: Somewhere Not Important
33 Chapter 33: I Forgot This Feeling
34 Chapter 34: Nothing Happened Today
35 Chapter 35: Late
36 Chapter 36: Stay for a While
37 Chapter 37: Stay
38 Chapter 38: Not Waiting
39 Chapter 39: Something Changed
40 Chapter 40: Take One Home
41 Chapter 41: Keep It Somewhere Bright
42 Chapter 42: The First Thing She Checked
43 Chapter 43: A Place That Felt Lived In
44 Chapter 44: You Stayed
45 Chapter 45: No Destination
46 Chapter 46: The Book She Didn't Buy
47 Chapter 47: You Don't Have to Become Good at It
48 Chapter 48: Not Everything Needs a Reason
49 Chapter 49: The Question She Didn't Notice
50 Chapter 50: Somewhere to Go
51 Chapter 51: What She Wanted
52 Chapter 52: One Question
53 Chapter 53: The Things She Didn't Say
54 Chapter 54: She Wanted to Know
55 Chapter 55: She Started Looking Forward
56 Chapter 56: The Quiet Became Different
57 Chapter 57: She Waited Without Realizing
58 Chapter 58: She Started Noticing
59 Chapter 59: She Thought About It Twice
60 Chapter 60: She Asked Without Thinking
61 Chapter 61: The Room He Never Mentioned
62 Chapter 62: She Opened the Book
63 Chapter 63: She Stayed Longer
64 Chapter 64: She Didn't Leave Immediately
65 Chapter 65: She Brought Her Sketchbook
66 Chapter 66: She Left Something Behind
67 Chapter 67: She Came Back
68 Chapter 68: She Started Asking
69 Chapter 69: The Things They Noticed
70 Chapter 70: She Asked What He Meant
71 Chapter 71: She Noticed What Stayed
72 Chapter 72: She Stopped Explaining
73 Chapter 73: She Didn't Realize She Waited
74 Chapter 74: She Didn't Need a Reason
75 Chapter 75: She Stayed Even When He Left
76 Chapter 76: Someone Noticed First
77 Chapter 77: She Didn't Notice She Said We
78 Chapter 78: She Started Leaving Things There
79 Chapter 79: She Didn't Take It Back
80 Chapter 80: Someone Asked
81 Chapter 81: She Saw The Door Open
82 Chapter 82: Quiet Didn't Mean Small
83 Chapter 83: She Stayed Long Enough To Notice
84 Chapter 84: She Went Instead Of Asking
85 Chapter 85: Someone Assumed
86 Chapter 86: She Didn't Ask
87 Chapter 87: She Went Somewhere Without Being Asked
88 Chapter 88: She Came Back For The Second Time
89 Chapter 89: She Didn't Go Upstairs Immediately
90 Chapter 90: He Asked First
91 Chapter 91: She Noticed He Stayed
92 Chapter 92: She Asked Before Thinking
93 Chapter 93: She Didn't Pretend She Forgot
94 Chapter 94: She Said Yes Too Quickly
95 Chapter 95: She Didn't Realize It Was A Habit
96 Chapter 96: She Didn't Expect To Be Invited
97 Chapter 97: She Saw It Later
98 Chapter 98: Someone Else Noticed
99 Chapter 99: She Forgot To Leave
100 Chapter 100: She Realized She Had Plans
101 Chapter 101: She Didn't Think It Counted
102 Chapter 102: She Almost Said No
103 Chapter 103: She Didn't Hide The Page
104 Chapter 104: She Chose One
105 Chapter 105: She Didn't Put It Back
106 Chapter 106: She Thought About Saying Yes
107 Chapter 107: She Didn't Undo It
108 Chapter 108: She Didn't Decide
109 Chapter 109: She Carried It Anyway
110 Chapter 110: She Didn't Make It Important
111 Chapter 111: The Day After
112 Chapter 112: She Answered Before Thinking
113 Chapter 113: She Didn't Mean To Ask
114 Chapter 114: She Circled One
115 Chapter 115: She Looked It Up
116 Chapter 116: She Opened It Again
117 Chapter 117: She Didn't Click It
118 Chapter 118: She Left The Tab Open
119 Chapter 119: She Closed Everything Else
120 Chapter 120: She Pressed It Quietly
121 Chapter 121: She Had A Date
122 Chapter 122: She Counted Backwards
123 Chapter 123: She Almost Said It
124 Chapter 124: She Didn't Expect The Question
125 Chapter 125: The Day Before
126 Chapter 126: She Left
127 Chapter 127: Nothing Was Missing
128 Chapter 128: She Didn't Wait To Be Asked
129 Chapter 129: She Put It On The Calendar
130 Chapter 130: She Forgot To Be Nervous
131 Chapter 131: She Didn't Notice At First
132 Chapter 132: She Asked The Wrong Question
133 Chapter 133: She Looked Back
134 Chapter 134: Nobody Said Anything
135 Chapter 135: She Couldn't Blame Anyone
136 Chapter 136: She Didn't Ask
137 Chapter 137: She Went Again
138 Chapter 138: She Noticed The Space
139 Chapter 139: She Didn't Want To Miss It
140 Chapter 140: She Moved Something
141 Chapter 141: She Saved A Seat
142 Chapter 142: The Chair Stayed Empty
143 Chapter 143: She Learned Her Name
144 Chapter 144: She Drew Her By Accident
145 Chapter 145: She Tried Not To Notice
146 Chapter 146: She Got Asked
147 Chapter 147: She Asked A Dangerous Question
148 Chapter 148: She Left It Open
149 Chapter 149: Nobody Reacted
150 Chapter 150: She Didn't Correct It
151 Chapter 151: She Looked Back
152 Chapter 152: She Kept The Receipt
153 Chapter 153: She Forgot To Hide It
154 Chapter 154: She Found More
155 Chapter 155: She Couldn't Remember This One
156 Chapter 156: She Wrote It Down
157 Chapter 157: She Noticed The Margin
158 Chapter 158: She Found The Bookmark
159 Chapter 159: She Tried To Return It
160 Chapter 160: Someone Could Read It
161 Chapter 161: She Almost Wrote It
162 Chapter 162: She Didn't Think It Was For Her
163 Chapter 163: She Almost Answered
164 Chapter 164: She Didn't Leave It There
165 Chapter 165: She Looked At The Handwriting
166 Chapter 166: She Knew Which One
167 Chapter 167: She Didn't Ask
168 Chapter 168: She Got A Question Instead
169 Chapter 169: She Didn't Mean To Answer
170 Chapter 170: Nobody Acted Surprised
171 Chapter 171: The Door Wasn't Locked
172 Chapter 172: She Bought Another Notebook
173 Chapter 173: The First Page
174 Chapter 174: The Second Page
175 Chapter 175: She Stopped Checking
176 Chapter 176: Next Week
177 Chapter 177: For Later
178 Chapter 178: The Answer Was Ordinary
179 Chapter 179: Again Tomorrow
180 Chapter 180: After
181 DraftChapter 181: Nobody Asked For Proof
182 Chapter 182: The Last Empty Pages
183 Chapter 183: The Question She Never Asked
184 Chapter 184: Choosing Tomorrow
185 Chapter 185: Staying
186 Chapter 186: Ordinary Happiness
187 Chapter 187: The Final Page
188 Chapter 188: Later
Episodes

Updated 188 Episodes

1
Chapter 1: The End of Everything
2
Chapter 2: A Complete Stranger
3
Chapter 3: Ethan Black
4
Chapter 4: The Morning After
5
Chapter 5: Rules
6
Chapter 6: Temporary
7
Chapter 7: Outside the Gate
8
Chapter 8: The Name Everyone Knows
9
Chapter 9: Too Comfortable
10
Chapter 10: The Call He Didn't Expect
11
Chapter 11: Stay
12
Chapter 12: Not Ready
13
Chapter 13: Unfamiliar
14
Chapter 14: A Different Kind of Day
15
Chapter 15: First Smile
16
Chapter 16: What Comes Next
17
Chapter 17: Going Outside
18
Chapter 18: A Small Choice
19
Chapter 19: Not Going Back Yet
20
Chapter 20: The Dinner Table
21
Chapter 21: Stay or Leave
22
Chapter 22: Somewhere New
23
Chapter 23: Something Small
24
Chapter 24: A List
25
Chapter 25: One Week
26
Chapter 26: Not Somewhere Important
27
Chapter 27: Questions He Didn't Answer
28
Chapter 28: The Kind of Quiet That Stayed
29
Chapter 29: You Look Lighter
30
Chapter 30: One More Question
31
Chapter 31: The Version of You That Stayed
32
Chapter 32: Somewhere Not Important
33
Chapter 33: I Forgot This Feeling
34
Chapter 34: Nothing Happened Today
35
Chapter 35: Late
36
Chapter 36: Stay for a While
37
Chapter 37: Stay
38
Chapter 38: Not Waiting
39
Chapter 39: Something Changed
40
Chapter 40: Take One Home
41
Chapter 41: Keep It Somewhere Bright
42
Chapter 42: The First Thing She Checked
43
Chapter 43: A Place That Felt Lived In
44
Chapter 44: You Stayed
45
Chapter 45: No Destination
46
Chapter 46: The Book She Didn't Buy
47
Chapter 47: You Don't Have to Become Good at It
48
Chapter 48: Not Everything Needs a Reason
49
Chapter 49: The Question She Didn't Notice
50
Chapter 50: Somewhere to Go
51
Chapter 51: What She Wanted
52
Chapter 52: One Question
53
Chapter 53: The Things She Didn't Say
54
Chapter 54: She Wanted to Know
55
Chapter 55: She Started Looking Forward
56
Chapter 56: The Quiet Became Different
57
Chapter 57: She Waited Without Realizing
58
Chapter 58: She Started Noticing
59
Chapter 59: She Thought About It Twice
60
Chapter 60: She Asked Without Thinking
61
Chapter 61: The Room He Never Mentioned
62
Chapter 62: She Opened the Book
63
Chapter 63: She Stayed Longer
64
Chapter 64: She Didn't Leave Immediately
65
Chapter 65: She Brought Her Sketchbook
66
Chapter 66: She Left Something Behind
67
Chapter 67: She Came Back
68
Chapter 68: She Started Asking
69
Chapter 69: The Things They Noticed
70
Chapter 70: She Asked What He Meant
71
Chapter 71: She Noticed What Stayed
72
Chapter 72: She Stopped Explaining
73
Chapter 73: She Didn't Realize She Waited
74
Chapter 74: She Didn't Need a Reason
75
Chapter 75: She Stayed Even When He Left
76
Chapter 76: Someone Noticed First
77
Chapter 77: She Didn't Notice She Said We
78
Chapter 78: She Started Leaving Things There
79
Chapter 79: She Didn't Take It Back
80
Chapter 80: Someone Asked
81
Chapter 81: She Saw The Door Open
82
Chapter 82: Quiet Didn't Mean Small
83
Chapter 83: She Stayed Long Enough To Notice
84
Chapter 84: She Went Instead Of Asking
85
Chapter 85: Someone Assumed
86
Chapter 86: She Didn't Ask
87
Chapter 87: She Went Somewhere Without Being Asked
88
Chapter 88: She Came Back For The Second Time
89
Chapter 89: She Didn't Go Upstairs Immediately
90
Chapter 90: He Asked First
91
Chapter 91: She Noticed He Stayed
92
Chapter 92: She Asked Before Thinking
93
Chapter 93: She Didn't Pretend She Forgot
94
Chapter 94: She Said Yes Too Quickly
95
Chapter 95: She Didn't Realize It Was A Habit
96
Chapter 96: She Didn't Expect To Be Invited
97
Chapter 97: She Saw It Later
98
Chapter 98: Someone Else Noticed
99
Chapter 99: She Forgot To Leave
100
Chapter 100: She Realized She Had Plans
101
Chapter 101: She Didn't Think It Counted
102
Chapter 102: She Almost Said No
103
Chapter 103: She Didn't Hide The Page
104
Chapter 104: She Chose One
105
Chapter 105: She Didn't Put It Back
106
Chapter 106: She Thought About Saying Yes
107
Chapter 107: She Didn't Undo It
108
Chapter 108: She Didn't Decide
109
Chapter 109: She Carried It Anyway
110
Chapter 110: She Didn't Make It Important
111
Chapter 111: The Day After
112
Chapter 112: She Answered Before Thinking
113
Chapter 113: She Didn't Mean To Ask
114
Chapter 114: She Circled One
115
Chapter 115: She Looked It Up
116
Chapter 116: She Opened It Again
117
Chapter 117: She Didn't Click It
118
Chapter 118: She Left The Tab Open
119
Chapter 119: She Closed Everything Else
120
Chapter 120: She Pressed It Quietly
121
Chapter 121: She Had A Date
122
Chapter 122: She Counted Backwards
123
Chapter 123: She Almost Said It
124
Chapter 124: She Didn't Expect The Question
125
Chapter 125: The Day Before
126
Chapter 126: She Left
127
Chapter 127: Nothing Was Missing
128
Chapter 128: She Didn't Wait To Be Asked
129
Chapter 129: She Put It On The Calendar
130
Chapter 130: She Forgot To Be Nervous
131
Chapter 131: She Didn't Notice At First
132
Chapter 132: She Asked The Wrong Question
133
Chapter 133: She Looked Back
134
Chapter 134: Nobody Said Anything
135
Chapter 135: She Couldn't Blame Anyone
136
Chapter 136: She Didn't Ask
137
Chapter 137: She Went Again
138
Chapter 138: She Noticed The Space
139
Chapter 139: She Didn't Want To Miss It
140
Chapter 140: She Moved Something
141
Chapter 141: She Saved A Seat
142
Chapter 142: The Chair Stayed Empty
143
Chapter 143: She Learned Her Name
144
Chapter 144: She Drew Her By Accident
145
Chapter 145: She Tried Not To Notice
146
Chapter 146: She Got Asked
147
Chapter 147: She Asked A Dangerous Question
148
Chapter 148: She Left It Open
149
Chapter 149: Nobody Reacted
150
Chapter 150: She Didn't Correct It
151
Chapter 151: She Looked Back
152
Chapter 152: She Kept The Receipt
153
Chapter 153: She Forgot To Hide It
154
Chapter 154: She Found More
155
Chapter 155: She Couldn't Remember This One
156
Chapter 156: She Wrote It Down
157
Chapter 157: She Noticed The Margin
158
Chapter 158: She Found The Bookmark
159
Chapter 159: She Tried To Return It
160
Chapter 160: Someone Could Read It
161
Chapter 161: She Almost Wrote It
162
Chapter 162: She Didn't Think It Was For Her
163
Chapter 163: She Almost Answered
164
Chapter 164: She Didn't Leave It There
165
Chapter 165: She Looked At The Handwriting
166
Chapter 166: She Knew Which One
167
Chapter 167: She Didn't Ask
168
Chapter 168: She Got A Question Instead
169
Chapter 169: She Didn't Mean To Answer
170
Chapter 170: Nobody Acted Surprised
171
Chapter 171: The Door Wasn't Locked
172
Chapter 172: She Bought Another Notebook
173
Chapter 173: The First Page
174
Chapter 174: The Second Page
175
Chapter 175: She Stopped Checking
176
Chapter 176: Next Week
177
Chapter 177: For Later
178
Chapter 178: The Answer Was Ordinary
179
Chapter 179: Again Tomorrow
180
Chapter 180: After
181
DraftChapter 181: Nobody Asked For Proof
182
Chapter 182: The Last Empty Pages
183
Chapter 183: The Question She Never Asked
184
Chapter 184: Choosing Tomorrow
185
Chapter 185: Staying
186
Chapter 186: Ordinary Happiness
187
Chapter 187: The Final Page
188
Chapter 188: Later

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