Jocelyn closed the taxi door, slipped her key into the new lock, and pushed. The door sighed open, revealing a hush so wide it seemed to swallow her footsteps.

She thought Yannick must still be at work, so she didn''t give him a call.

She settled onto the couch, pulled the slender gold card Nichs had given her from her coat, and nested it deep inside her purse like a secret.

She then sent Yannick a message: "I found Nichs. He''s safe—I''m home."

Assured he knew her whereabouts, Jocelyn had nothing left to do. She cleaned every surface until it shone, then dozed through the long afternoon. As evening crept in, she tied an apron, chopped vegetables, and filled the table with dishes meant for two.

Minutes stretched into an hour; steam faded, and the foody cooling under the kitchen light. Worried, she dialed Yannick.

At that moment, Yannick had just reached his destination, phone vibrating in his palm with Jocelyn''s name shing across the screen.

He had seen her earlier text, felt a knot of frustration tighten, and chosen silence. Now, after a pause heavy enough to hear his own breath, he epted the call.

"Jocelyn." Yannick''s voice sounded lower than usual.

"Yannick, you''re not home yet? Still working overtime?" She spoke quickly, unable to hide the worry hitching each word.

He stared at a sky the color of bruised copper while fresh snow cracked beneath his boots. It felt colder than it should have in the early evening. "Yeah... an unexpected business trip came up. I''m out of town and won''t be back for a while."

"Oh—okay." Her disappointment slipped through before she could catch it. "Just stay safe, get some rest, and don''t push yourself too hard."

Her concern tangled inside him. He crouched by a frozen embankment and, without thinking, tore at brittle weeds stabbing through the ice.

"I know," he murmured.

"Then I''ll let you go so you can work," she said, already lifting the phone from her

ear.

"Wait." His voice sharpened. "I''m actually not that busy-stay on the line with me for a bit."

The invitation hovered between them like tentative peace.

"So what really happened with Nichs? He vanished overnight." Yannick searched for something neutral to say andnded on blunt curiosity.

"I honestly don''t know," she admitted. "He was staying in his private vi. We

talked, shared a meal, but he never said why he''d disappeared."

Yannick''s jaw tightened; irritation red before he could smother it. "I told you he was fine, but you didn''t believe me."

"You''re right. I was overthinking," she conceded without defense.

"Forget it. When I''m back, I''ll take you out for a meal, okay?"

Jocelyn pressed the phone to her ear, heat stinging her eyes-gratitude and guilt folding together inside her chest.

"Yannick, I''m sorry." She whispered the words as though an apology could warm the cooling dishes behind her.

"Why are you suddenly apologizing?" Yannick asked, the words spilling out before he could steady his voice. He forced a shaky smile, yet something sharp twisted beneath his ribs. If she is softening me up to say she wants out, one more breath will tear me apart.

"I''m not apologizing for any mistake, Jocelyn replied, calm bat earnest. "I only want you to know

that from now on, try ng? very best to be the wife you deserve.  s

Yannick dropped into a crouch, elbows bnced on his knees, the grin that burst across his face so wide it almost hurt.

"Then I promise," he said, voice rough with relievedughter, "I''ll be the husband you deserve."

The call ended. Warm energy rushed through him like sudden sunlight after weeks of rain, lighting a joyful spark in his eyes.fn8672 This text is hosted at find~novel/fn8672

Only the weeds beneath his shoes suffered for his earlier nerves; everyst dey plucked and limp at his feet.

With his private storm calmed, Yannick turned to work. Calvin had handed him an urgent task.

He slid behind the wheel, engine humming, and followed the winding road until he reached a

marble-terraced hillside vi

gleaming against the green. From a shaded bend, he drummed a slow thoughtful rhythm on the steering wheel, studying the distant house and everything it might conceal.  s