That night, I couldn't sleep.
Not because I was scared. Not even because of the unfamiliar bed or the soft glow of the city lights outside the massive window. But because something inside me had shifted. Like a string pulled too tight for too long had finally slackened.
Kian hadn't said anything more after dinner. He simply stood, thanked me for joining him, and disappeared into what I assumed was his office. No demands. No pressure. No unspoken expectation that I follow him or prove anything.
I'd cleaned up the plates like second nature, out of habit really—because that's what I used to do in every home I cleaned. But when I tried to carry the dishes to the kitchen, a staff member gently took them from my hands and nodded without a word.
It hit me then: I didn't have to serve anyone here.
Not even him.
Now I lay under the silk-soft sheets, staring at the ceiling, arms loosely curled around one of the fluffy pillows. My body felt too warm, not from heat but from something deeper. Comfort, maybe. A full belly. A quiet room.
And something else.
📢 System Notification[Comfort Level: 78%][Environment: Stabilized][New Task Unlocked: Share a personal story with Kian]🎯 Reward: 100 Points🧩 Bonus: Activate Emotional Bonding Thread (First Link)
A personal story?
I rolled over, pressing my cheek against the pillow. "That's not fair," I whispered under my breath. "I'm still trying to understand me, and now you want me to hand my heart over like a prize ticket?"
The system didn't answer.
Of course not.
It never did when I was being sarcastic.
Still… I couldn't deny it. Something inside me did want to talk. Maybe not about everything, but… something. Something real.
The next morning, the sunlight bled in softly through the blinds—none of that harsh slum-window light that used to jab me awake. This light was gold-tinted, filtered, like it had manners.
I stretched slowly, blinking at the clean ceiling above me. No stains. No cracks. No peeling paint. Just smooth, blank luxury.
I padded barefoot out into the open hall and was halfway to the kitchen before I saw him.
Kian was seated on the sleek black couch, barefoot in lounge pants and a dark shirt, typing into his tablet with one hand while sipping coffee from a white ceramic mug.
He looked… normal.
Not intimidating.
Not CEO-like.
Just… a man. Quiet and calm in the early light.
He noticed me but didn't speak, simply offered a small nod as if saying: You're safe. Come sit.
So I did.
I sat at the far end of the couch, tucking my legs beneath me. For a few moments, we said nothing. The silence was different from yesterday's—this one felt... companionable.
"I haven't had coffee in over a year," I blurted out.
Kian looked up, surprised. "Why not?"
"Too expensive," I said, trying to keep my voice light, like it wasn't a big deal. "Even instant stuff was a luxury."
He paused, then set down his tablet and mug on the table. "That's going to change."
"I'm not expecting you to fix everything," I said, quickly. "I just meant... it's weird to have all this. I keep waiting to be thrown out."
"You won't be."
I nodded, not sure what to say.
Then, remembering the system's task, I forced myself to speak. "Do you want to know something about me?"
Kian's head tilted slightly. "Always."
I hesitated. My throat went tight. But I pushed forward.
"When I was twelve, I used to hide in the janitor's closet at school during lunch," I began. "I told everyone I had work. Or errands. But it was because I hated being around people who had real lunches. Sandwiches, fruit, drinks... I had a half piece of dry bread most days. If I was lucky, I found an apple on sale."
Kian didn't interrupt. He didn't even blink. Just… listened.
"It was cold in there. Smelled like bleach. But it was quiet. No eyes staring, no pity. Just silence."
He didn't ask a single question. Just leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees.
"…I don't know why I'm telling you this," I mumbled.
"Because I need to know," he said, simply.
📢 System Notification[Task Complete: Shared a personal story]+100 Points💫 Bond Energy: 13.7%💖 Emotional Thread Activated (Link 1/5)
Something fluttered in my chest. I wasn't sure if it was from the points, or the fact that Kian hadn't said something like "That's sad" or "I'm sorry". He just accepted it. All of it.
He reached forward slowly, giving me time to pull away if I wanted, and placed a mug in my hands. It was warm.
"I had the kitchen prepare something lighter than coffee. Cinnamon oat tea. Sweet. Mild. Calms the stomach."
I blinked at him. "You… asked for that?"
"You're my omega," he said, but this time not like a claim. More like a truth. "That doesn't just mean you live here. It means I care."
And somehow, the words didn't feel possessive.
They felt… earned.