bapter /bb281 /b

bAuthor’s /bbPOV/bb: /b

The bmorning sun /bcast long bshadows /bbacross /bHaxton’s manicuredwn bas /bMax took Captain for his daily walk. bHe’d /bfallen into a bfortable /bbroutine /bduring the bmonth /bJade had been away–bfirst /bin Southeast bAsia/bb, /bthen Russiab, /band now Venezu at Titan Defense Group’s bnewly /bestablished headquartersb. /bording to her sporadic texts, bshe’d /bmissed the annual La Coronapetitionb, /bbut still managed to bmeet /bseveral new faces during her nearly twob–/bweek stay there.

“Morning, kid,b” /ba deep voice called out.

Max turned to see Zach jogging toward him, sweat glistening on his forehead. Despite the early hourb, /bZach bwas /balready on his bsecond /bp around the massive property.

“Morningb,/b” Max replied, shifting ufortably. Their interactions always felt awkward without Jade around.

Zach slowed to a walk, his breathing controlled. “You should join me sometime. Good way to start the day.” His tone was cool, distant.

“I’d like to. My leg’spletely healed now,” Max said, straightening his posture. “I can run and jump like everyone else.”

“Good for you.” Zach’s eyes fixed on the horizon. “You should take advantage of that. Build up some muscle.”

Max swallowed his irritation. “Maybe I’ll join you tomorrow morning?”

Zach shrugged. “Sure. I guess I can slow down for you. Consider it a favor for your sister.”

A brief silence fell between them before Zach asked, “Speaking of Jade, heard anything from her? When’s sheing backb?/bb” /b

“Still in Venezu, I think.”

Zach nodded. “See you tomorrow. Six AM sharp. Don’t bete.”

After breakfast, Max settled in Ethan’s home office with hisptop. The room was impably decorated with dark mahogany furniture and floor–to–ceiling bookshelves. Ethan moved between conference calls and emails, asionally barking orders to Connor through his earpiece. Despite his packed schedule, he still made time to help Max with advanced programming concepts.

“Try using a recursive function here,” Ethan suggested, pointing at Max’s screen. “It’ll clean up your code significantly.”

bMax /bnodded, making the adjustment. “Like this?”

“Exactly.” Ethan’s phone buzzed again. “Excuse me.” He stepped away to take the call, his voice dropping to a serious murmur.

Max continued working on his code, absorbed in the challenge of optimizing the algorithm. A few minutester, Ethan returned and settled into the chair beside him. Max nced up briefly and noticed Ethan staring at his phone screen. It wasn’t a business email or bdocument/b–it was a photo of Jade in a gold evening gown at some formal event, one eyebrow slightly raised, her smile dangerous and alluring. The way Ethan looked at that photo said everything.

Alexander was the first person Jade saw when she returned to the Haxton estate. He was instructing the security team at bthe /bgate when

O

bher /bbtaxi /bbpulled /bbup/b.

‘bMs. /bbMorgan/bb?/bb” /bHis beyebrows /bbshot /bup bin /bsurprise. “We weren’t bexpecting /bbyou/bb./bb” /b

bJade /bbstepped /bout, stretching after the long flight. “That bwas /bthe point.”

He quickly dismissed bthe /bsecurity team. “Let her in anytime, understood? Ms. Morgan has unrestricted ess bto /bbthe property/bb./bb” /b

The guards nodded, looking appropriately chastised.

b“/bbIs /bmy brother insideb?/bb” /bbJade /baskedb, /bshouldering her small duffel bag.

b“/bIn the main library with Mr. Haxton.” Alexander gestured toward the house. “Would you like me to announce byour /bbarrival/bb?/bb” /b

“No need.b” /b

Jade found her way to the massive library where Max was hunched over aptop,pletely absorbed in whatever he bwas /bcoding. bA /bbsmall /brobot stood sentinel beside him, its camera eyes swiveling toward her as she entered.

b“/bIntruder! Intruder!” it chirped in a cartoonish voice.

Max looked up, his eyes widening. “Jade!”

He leaped from his chair and rushed over, nearly tripping in his excitement. Jade reached out and pinched his cheek.

“All done with exams and still working so hard? I hear you crushed it. Princeton’s basically a sure thing now.”

Max’s face flushed with pride. “This is Maxi,” he said, gesturing to the robot. “Ethan gave it to me as a graduation present.”

Jade examined the robot, which was now circling her legs like a mechanical cat. “Cute. Speaking of Ethan, where is he?”

b“/bDownstairs in the gym. He’s been spending a lot of time theretely.” fn9a16 This update is avable on find(?)ovel/fn9a16

“Has he, now?” Jade raised an eyebrow. “I think I’ll go say hello.”

She found her way to the basement level gym, pausing at the doorway. Ethan was working a heavy bag, his gray t–shirt darkened with sweat, his muscles rippling with each precise strike. His technique was professional–not shy, but devastatingly effective. Jade stood silently, appreciating the view as he unleashed abination of hooks and uppercuts.

Something made him pause suddenly. He caught the returning bag with both hands, holding it steady as he slowly turned toward the door.

His eyes locked with hers, disbelief washing over his features.

“Jade?”

She stepped into the gym. “Surprised?b” /b

Ethan released the bag, wiping bsweat /bfrom his brow with the back of his hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you wereing bback/bb?/bb” /b

bAnd /bmiss that look on byour /bbface/bb? /bNot a chanceb./bb” /b

b“/bWant to bspar/bb?/bb” /bbhe /basked, gesturing to the mat.

b‘/bbAfraid /bbI’d /bhurt byou/bb?/bb” /b

bEthan /bughedb. /bb‘/bAbsolutely. I’m not stupid enough to get bin /bthe bring /bwith youb./bb” /b

He grabbed a towel and draped it around his neck. “You could’ve called. I would’ve picked you up at the airport.b” /b

‘I got it covered. bDidn’t /bbneed /bthe helpb./bb” /b

*Still. His voice softened..“It’s good bto /bbsee /byou.”

They stood awkwardly for a moment, neither sure what to say next.

“Is this it?” Jade finally asked. b“/bbA /bmonth apart and all we have is small talk?”

Before he could answer, she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips against his. He froze for a split second before his barms /bencircled her waist, pulling her tight against him. His kiss was gentle but insistent, not demanding but thoroughly iming her nheless. Her usualposure began to crumble as he deepened the kiss, his breath hot against her skin.

When they finally broke apart, he didn’t, release her. Instead, he wrapped her in a tight embrace, his chin resting on her shoulder.

b“/bIs that supposed to be my constion prize for the past month?” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.

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