The night descended upon the city like a velvet blanket, quietly slipping through the gaps between buildings. The streets breathed in silence, broken only by the distant hum of rare cars. The air carried the fresh scent of asphalt, cooled after the daytime heat.
Kael was the first to open the door. But, taking just one step inside, he suddenly froze. Auren, following him, almost bumped into him, but then immediately sensed the reason for his sudden stop.
In the hallway, like a statue carved from marble, stood a woman. Tall, with perfectly styled hair and a gaze that sent a chill down one's spine. Her posture was flawless — not just entering rooms, but ruling them.
"When did you come back?" Kael's voice sounded unexpectedly quiet. There was a hint of surprise in it and something that resembled vulnerability.
"Tonight," she replied briefly, holding his gaze for a moment, then shifting her focus to Auren.
The cold, piercing look slid over her, not just assessing but comparing, as if the shadow of a familiar figure was emerging, unsettling memories.
"Who is this?" she finally asked.
"Auren," Kael answered, his response controlled, after a short pause.
The name hung in the air like a challenge. The woman squinted slightly, her lips twitched, forming a thin, almost imperceptible line.
"Auren..." she seemed to taste the name. It seemed to carry too much to be left unacknowledged. "So, you've returned."
Auren didn't look away. Everything inside her tightened, but her face remained calm, even indifferent.
"Sorry, I didn't realize Kael had personal space. I thought you were watching his every move."
Kael shot her a look — tense, complicated, as if he didn't know which side he should be on.
The woman, briefly flashing irritation, quickly regained her icy composure.
"You've always been bold. But boldness doesn't make you worthy," she cut in, as though ending the conversation.
Auren tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint, almost mocking smile.
"Perhaps. But unlike some, I remember what it's like to earn your place."
The woman narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She simply shifted her gaze to her son, then back to Auren.
"We'll talk in the morning."
Turning, she slowly made her way toward the stairs. Her heels clicked rhythmically on the floor, as if counting down the time until their next confrontation.
When she disappeared from view, Kael ran a hand over his face and exhaled.
"Well," Auren shook her head and smiled tiredly, almost with irony, "I almost missed this."
Kael looked at her — his eyes full of everything: gratitude, confusion, and something deeper.
"You're serious?"
"No," she snorted. "I'm just trying to add a bit of irony to this."
He didn't answer. He only stared — long, intently, as though he were seeing her for the first time.
She was no longer that girl who quietly endured whatever was thrown at her.
And his mother had already realized that.
Kael was silent, gazing at her in the half-light of the hallway. At that same girl who had once silently endured everything placed upon her.
But now, standing before him, was a different Auren.
"You've changed," he finally spoke. His voice was calm. No reproach. No surprise. Just a fact.
Auren raised an eyebrow. A shadow of surprise flickered in her eyes.
"For the better?"
Kael smiled, almost imperceptibly.
"Very much so."
She studied him carefully, as if trying to decide whether he meant it. Then her lips twitched, softening into a faint half-smile.
"Well... glad you noticed."
Silence fell between them again, but this time there was no tension. And Kael suddenly realized: he was looking at her not through the lens of the past.
He was seeing her again. And he liked what he saw.
The morning was quiet, but there was tension in the air. The house was filled with coldness, despite the morning light, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee couldn't dispel the invisible heaviness hanging in the atmosphere.
Kael entered the living room with a cup of coffee in his hands and found his mother sitting with a cup of tea. She sat motionless, like a statue, her gaze as cold as her face, not allowing anyone to read her thoughts.
"When did you get back?" he asked, sitting across from her.
"Last night," her voice was steady, but there was hidden reproach in every word. "Just in time to see you bring in unwanted guests."
Kael tensed but didn't show any emotions.
"Auren wasn't an unwanted guest. She lives here."
His mother raised an eyebrow, her face reflecting surprise, as though she had heard something absurd.
"You allowed her to return under this roof?"
"I don't see the problem," Kael replied calmly.
She put her cup down with a barely audible clink.
"Of course, you don't see it. You've always been too soft when it came to this girl."
Kael smiled, but there was already a shadow of tension in his eyes.
"I don't think anyone would call me soft."
"You just don't want to admit the obvious," his mother tilted her head slightly, scrutinizing her son. "You need to be careful, Kael. People don't change that quickly."
He clenched his fingers but restrained his irritation.
"She's changed."
The woman scoffed, and a moment of uncertainty appeared on her face, as though she doubted his words.
"Maybe. But that doesn't mean she's right for you."
Kael slowly set his cup down on the table and leaned forward. His gaze turned firm, his voice confident.
"I'm not a child anymore, mother. And I don't need your approval to decide who can be close to me."
She straightened up, still maintaining her calm exterior, but in her posture, in the way she moved, Kael sensed tension.
"You've always been stubborn," she said, not hiding a hint of bitterness. "But stubbornness doesn't always equate to wisdom."
"Maybe," he shrugged. "But it doesn't equate to weakness either."
Their eyes met — hers cold and calculating, his steady but resolute.
"You must understand that you're taking on the responsibility for all the consequences of your decisions," she spoke, slowing down slightly but still leaving a shadow of warning in her voice.
"I've always understood," Kael leaned back in his chair, his gaze unwavering.
She didn't respond. Kael knew this conversation wasn't the last.
The feeling of irritation began to rise in his chest. Conversations with his mother always reminded him of a chess game, where every move was carefully thought out. But today, he didn't want to play. It was hard to breathe in this room, full of cold severity and unspoken expectations.
He silently stood up, not having taken a single sip of his coffee. His mother didn't say a word, but her gaze was heavy and penetrating.
As he exited the room, Kael felt the tension slowly start to dissipate. But in the hallway, he bumped into Auren.
She had just woken up. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she held a glass of water in her hands. Seeing him, she raised an eyebrow.
"Already running away from her this early?" she asked, a hint of irony in her voice.
Kael smiled, shaking his head.
"Guess you could say that."
Auren studied him carefully, as if trying to read his mind.
"What, couldn't stand it?"
He held her gaze for a moment, then snorted.
"More like didn't want to."
Silence fell between them — not awkward, but strangely palpable. Kael suddenly realized she wasn't just standing there. She was different from the Auren he had known.
He reached out his hand, stretching slightly, and suddenly realized how heavy the morning conversation had been. He stepped toward the stairs, about to go up, but then Auren spoke again.
"Where are you going?" she asked, taking a sip of water.
"To my room," he answered calmly, not turning back.
"You going to work today or not?" a slight curiosity slipped into her voice. "We worked late last night, so if you decided to take the day off, I need to know."
Kael stopped, smiling wryly, and looked over his shoulder.
"Worried about me, secretary?"
Auren rolled her eyes.
"More like worried about everything being normal before you show up, boss," her voice held a light mockery.
Kael slowly descended one step, leaning his head a little closer to her.
"So you're afraid everything will go wrong without me?"
Auren shrugged, unbothered.
"Just know how you like to show up unexpectedly and find reasons to complain."
Kael chuckled quietly, shaking his head.
"I don't need to find reasons. You create them."
"Of course..." Auren narrowed her eyes, but her lips twitched into a smile.
"Relax, I'm not skipping out," he grinned. "Just going for my jacket."
Auren crossed her arms, pondering for a moment.
"And what if I told you I've already checked the weather forecast and it'll be warm today?"
Kael raised an eyebrow, pausing for a beat.
"Then… I'll go for my phone."
Auren burst out laughing.
"Alright, alright, go before you change your mind."
Kael shook his head and walked toward his room. But his smile remained on his face, light like a memory of how pleasant it was to see her.
When he reached the top of the stairs and entered his room, he suddenly felt like he was rushing for no reason.
It was just Auren.
Kael took a deep breath, straightened up, and slowed down. He wasn't in a hurry.
He walked confidently, and when he reached the bottom, his gaze met Auren's. She was standing in front of the mirror, fixing her hair. Strands slid through her fingers, carefully pinned in place. Every movement was sharp and familiar. But for some reason, Kael caught himself thinking he was looking at her differently.
She really had changed.
Kael unconsciously held his gaze longer but caught himself and walked downstairs, reminding himself of who he was here — the boss.
He approached her, and as though just noticing her, he spoke:
"Taking a long time?"
Auren looked at him in the mirror, raising an eyebrow.
"Aren't you in a hurry?"
Kael chuckled shortly.
"Not at all."
Auren smiled but didn't believe him. She continued gathering her hair, and Kael caught himself once again unable to look away.
But then Auren muttered a quiet curse, frowned, and shook her head. Kael thought it was directed at him, but when he turned, he saw that her hair had caught on the zipper of her jacket. She was trying to free it, but unsuccessfully. Kael didn't hesitate.
"Stop," he said, approaching her.
Auren froze, her look full of surprise. Kael carefully took a strand of her hair and slowly freed it from the tight teeth of the zipper. Her hair was softer than he had expected, sliding through his fingers.
"All set," he spoke a little more quietly than he intended.
Auren looked at him, blinking, and slightly shook her head, as though brushing away unnecessary thoughts.
"Thanks," she said briefly. But instead of just walking away, she began to gather her hair into a ponytail.
Kael watched as her fingers deftly worked through the strands, twisting them into a neat knot. Every gesture was light and confident, and he noticed how her face softened. The shadows on her cheeks, the curve of her neck, and even the way she lightly bit her lip to secure the hair tie.
It was just a moment, but Kael suddenly realized he was holding onto it longer than he should.
Auren glanced at the mirror to check her work, then grabbed her bag.
"You ready?" she asked over her shoulder.
Kael exhaled sharply, not finding the right words immediately.
"We're going in the same direction anyway," he said faster than he meant. "Let's go together."
Auren squinted, as if sensing something in his voice, but just shrugged.
"As you wish."
Kael nodded and walked to the door. And only when they stepped outside did he realize he had been staring at her the whole time.