Chapter 40: The Uniform

Conor stepped out of the shower, letting the hot water clear away the last remnants of his earlier sparring session. The physical exertion had done its job, tiring his body enough to keep the restless energy at bay, but his mind was still spinning.

The events of the day—Kerrigan's words, the Duke's subtle but undeniable judgment, and his own growing doubts—had left him feeling unsettled.

He grabbed a towel and dried off, his thoughts drifting back to the conversation he’d had with Kerrigan on the helicopter. He had replayed it in his mind countless times, searching for clues or reassurances that her words hadn’t meant what they seemed.

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that maybe she had been right to question their relationship. After all, what did he have to offer a noble? He was just a commoner from Bayan Province, a man who had clawed his way up in the world of business but still didn’t belong in the noble circles Kerrigan moved in.

As CEO of Vokrizin, he cou