CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER 342: I HAVEN’T EVEN BRUSHED OR WASHED UP YET

Cyrus calmly turned toward the door, his movements unhurried, almost deliberate. Not a flicker of tension touched his face; it was as though he had expected the knock all along.

Where another might have stiffened or braced, he simply shifted, the loose fall of his hair catching the light as his gaze swept toward the sound.

There was no panic, no irritation—just that steady composure that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking, yet impossible to look away.

But no.

Not Zyran.

The broad-shouldered figure who stepped through wasn’t wearing smugness or chaos like a cloak. It was calm, cool, collected.

It was Kian.

The moment Glimora realized, she froze mid-crouch, tail flicking twice before she released a loud huff. Her fur smoothed back down as if to say, Fine. You’re not worth my claws. She turned her head away dramatically, practically pouting.

Isabella blinked at her little companion, then pressed her lips together, trying so hard not to laugh.

Cyrus, however, didn’t even try to hide it. His lips curved in a small, sweet smile as his pink eyes softened, landing on Isabella like he couldn’t help himself.

Isabella caught it, felt it, and—before she could stop herself—smiled back.

The two of them sat there, quiet and amused, sharing the tiniest spark of understanding, while Glimora sulked in Isabella’s lap like the most betrayed creature alive.

Kian’s gaze shifted slowly, deliberate as always—from Isabella, to Cyrus, then back again. It wasn’t rushed; it was the kind of look that made people feel weighed, measured, catalogued in silence. And though his expression didn’t waver much, inside, something small tugged at him.

He felt... off. Not because Isabella had ignored him at first (he was used to her mercurial moods), but because he could swear something subtle had shifted in the air between her and Cyrus. The easy way she smiled at him. The way Cyrus, of all people, allowed himself a faint warmth. It was there. Kian noticed it. He always noticed.

And yet, he didn’t point it out. Not now. Not while her laughter still echoed faintly in the room.

Finally, Isabella’s head lifted and her eyes locked on him. The delayed recognition made her gasp softly, her lips parting into a smile so bright it could’ve lit a cavern. "Good morning, Kian!"

Her tone was soft and joyful—too joyful for someone who usually greeted the day with a dramatic groan. It was like the cheerful babbling of a baby seeing something new, innocent and untouched. It hit so hard that even someone deaf to warmth would’ve felt it.

Kian’s carefully constructed mask cracked just slightly. His lips didn’t move, but his eyes softened. For him, that was monumental.

Across the room, Cyrus was still wearing a faint smile, leftover from teasing Isabella earlier. The expression lingered even now, as if her mood was infectious. Kian’s eyes flicked to him, sharp and curious, and the faintest tension passed between the two men.

Cyrus, ever calm, gave him a small nod—acknowledgement, maybe reassurance, maybe something more.

Isabella noticed it instantly. Of course she did. Her brows knit, her smile faltered, and she froze mid-thought. Her mind raced in a thousand frantic directions. That nod—it was too quiet, too knowing. And suddenly it clicked.

Were these two... plotting?

Behind her back?

ABOUT her?

Her stomach dropped. She didn’t care if Kian wanted to be all stoic and mysterious; that was his entire brand. But Cyrus? Her sweet, gentle, perfect Cyrus? Oh no. No, no, no. That was betrayal. That was heartbreak.

Her lips parted, ready to demand an explanation, when Cyrus rose gracefully to his feet. He didn’t look at her right away, which only made her blood pressure spike higher. When his eyes finally landed on Kian, his voice came out steady and maddeningly calm:

"Do not let her leave this room until breakfast is served. I don’t want her snooping around."

He spoke so sweetly, as if he was talking about the weather. Worse, he looked happy about it—like the words themselves amused him.

Isabella’s mouth fell open. She blinked once. Twice. What?!

Before she could launch into her tirade, Cyrus was already moving toward the door.

"Hey! Ayee! I haven’t even brushed or washed up yet!" Isabella’s voice rose, sharp with indignation.

All she got in response was his melodic laugh, soft and light and utterly unbothered, echoing as he slipped out.

"Unbelievable!" she muttered, throwing her hands up before dropping into a pout. She exhaled hard through her nose, cheeks puffing like an annoyed child.

The room went quiet again, but then she felt it—the weight of Kian’s gaze pressing against her. Slowly, she tilted her head back up. He was watching her with that usual stoic expression, unreadable yet heavy, though something faint lingered there too. Softer, gentler than before.

She scowled instantly. "Heh. You’ve started spoiling my Cyrus, haven’t you? Turning him into a bad and secretive person like yourself?"

Her words came sharp, laced with mock irritation, but her eyes sparkled just enough to reveal the playful jab beneath.

Kian didn’t answer right away. He never did. He let the silence drag, long enough for her to squirm a little. But inwardly, something shifted.

Because everything about that statement—coming from her lips, her voice—hit him wrong. Unsettlingly wrong.

Spoiling her Cyrus.

Turning him into someone else.

The thought of it twisted something in his chest.

...

Hello, it’s me again!

First, I want to say I’m so sorry for replying late to comments—or sometimes not at all—and for even missing a day of uploading Chapters.

The truth is, I was recently admitted into the hospital, and it left me very weak. On top of that, I ran out of stockpiled Chapters (which I’m not proud of). With my mother’s passing and the responsibility of caring for my siblings, the stress caught up to me. But I want you to know: I’m doing better now, and I have no plans of giving up on writing. I’ll definitely continue.

Writing means so much to me—especially this novel. Every day, I pray nothing happens that will force me to drop or leave it unfinished.

I also want to let you all know about the change in my Privileged Chapter pricing. Technically, I didn’t "increase" it—I simply adjusted it to the recommended price that most authors use. Before, it was lower because I was a new author and wanted to make it affordable for everyone. I’m truly sorry to those who can’t afford it now, but I had to make this change because I also need to support myself and my family. If you do have the coins to purchase privileges, I’d be so grateful—not just for me, but for all authors, because this job is tough and often doesn’t pay well.

That said—I’m back! 💖 I’ll do my best to rebuild my stockpile when I can. If my health slows me down, please bear with me. But I promise I’ll keep trying to upload Chapters every single day.

Thank you all so much for your patience, your love, and your support. I really do love you all. 💕