Kerrigan slowly woke to the first light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains of the Lokir estate. The previous day’s discoveries still weighed heavily on her mind, the pieces of a puzzle she had only just begun to assemble.Faolan stirred at the foot of her bed, her head lifting as Kerrigan stretched and sat up. Her eyes were alert, ready for whatever the day might bring.She dressed quickly, the early morning chill of the old manor biting at her skin as she moved through the quiet corridors of the mansion. She found herself drawn back to the private library, the room where she had uncovered so much of her parents’ hidden past.As she stepped inside, she wasn’t surprised to find Conor already there, seated at the desk with a stack of letters in front of him.“Couldn’t sleep?” Kerrigan asked, her voice still rough from sleep as she joined him.Conor looked up, offering her a small, tired smile. “Not much,” he admitted. “There’s too much going on in my head. After everything we f

Kerrigan sat in her office at Dragon Corporation, staring at the papers spread across her desk but unable to focus on any of them.The past few days had been a whirlwind—returning from the Duke's estate, the revelations at Lokir, and now back to the grind of running one of the kingdom's largest corporations. Yet, amidst all the chaos, there was one thing that weighed on her mind more than anything else: Conor.Since they’d returned from her grandfather's estate, Conor had been different. He was still there, of course—always by her side in meetings, quick to offer support when needed—but something had shifted.The easy camaraderie they once shared, the unspoken connection that had always been a comfort, seemed strained now, almost mechanical. He had become more professional detached, more distant, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had profoundly changed, and it was her fault.Kerrigan sighed, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back in her chair.

Kerrigan stared at the brief message Conor had sent a few hours later. It was just a few lines—detached, professional—reporting that Emily was safe in Jinstain and responding well to treatment.There was no warmth, no personal touch, just the facts. It was exactly what she had asked for, but it still stung.She knew Conor was pulling back, creating distance between them, but it didn’t make it any easier to accept. It was like he had drawn a line, one she wasn’t sure how to cross.She had planned on meeting with him and giving Theo good news together about Emily, but it seemed she was on her own. That hurt more than she was ready to admit.A knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. It was Theo Bryant, looking more worn out than usual, the strain of the past few weeks evident in the lines of his face.“Mr. Bryant,” Kerrigan greeted him with a nod, trying to mask her own weariness. “Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”Theo sat down, his movements slow and deliberate. “You

Conor woke early, the darkness of the early morning still lingering as he stared at the ceiling of his hotel room. Sleep had been elusive, his mind filled with thoughts of the previous night's dinner with the interns and the growing distance between him and Kerrigan.The decision weighed heavily on him, and he knew he couldn't delay it any longer. He needed clarity, and that meant making a difficult choice.He quietly dressed in his running gear and left the room, missing that familiar companionship of Faolan trotting at his side.The cold mountain air of Velyki even in summer hit him as soon as he stepped outside, the bite of the wind coming off the high peaks a sharp reminder of the reality he was facing.He set off at a brisk pace, the rhythmic pounding of his feet on the pavement providing a small measure of comfort. Faolan kept pace with him, her breath visible in the frosty air, as they wound through the city streets.Conor pushed himself harder than usual, trying to outrun the

Kerrigan stared the stacks of documents piled high on her desk. Despite the warmth of the sun streaming though her window, there was a chill in the room, a coldness that had settled in the pit of her stomach since Conor’s departure. His absence was more palpable than she had expected, a constant reminder of the tension that had built between them over the last few weeks.Faolan, ever her loyal companion, lay curled up atop her feet on the rug under her desk, ears twitching at every sound. The dog’s presence was a small comfort, but it did little to ease the weight on Kerrigan’s shoulders. She had so much to deal with, and without Conor by her side, it felt like she was carrying the burden alone.Kerrigan sat back in her chair, staring at the various documents and reports that required her attention. The cleaning staff’s intel had been insightful, revealing troubling details about David Grain, one of the swing vote board members. The knowledge weighed heavily on her mind, especially no