The sky grew darker, and Zephyr Mercer, waiting in the Fourth District, began to worry.

’She’s still not back. Did something happen to Paige Summers?!’

Earlier, Aunt Cynthia had contacted him. She said Paige had given the slip to the guards she’d sent for secret protection and had disappeared, asking if he knew where she was. She sounded panicked, and from the sound of it, she was on the verge of launching a massive search.

Normally, it wasn’t his place to interfere, but thinking of Aunt Cynthia’s relationship with Paige, he had to offer some comfort. He suggested she wait a bit longer, lest she accidentally interrupt Paige if she was on an important errand. He also promised to notify her first if he heard anything.

He said this because he subconsciously felt that Paige wouldn’t appreciate Aunt Cynthia’s methods.

Aunt Cynthia had heeded his advice, but his own confidence was dwindling.

Just as his mind was wandering, the sound of a vehicle startled him. Thinking it was Paige, he whipped his head around, only to be met with disappointment.

Directly across from the building’s entrance, a vehicle that looked like it had been through a long journey came to a stop.

A tall man jumped down from it. He stood still for a moment, scanning his surroundings. After a quick glance in Zephyr’s direction, he unhurriedly entered the building.

Yet that seemingly casual glance made the hairs on Zephyr Mercer’s arms stand on end. He’d unconsciously gone on full alert!

Only after the man’s figure disappeared into the entryway did Zephyr secretly let out a breath and relax.

’That man doesn’t look much older than me, but his presence is so powerful. He must be the scion of some great family! But his face is unfamiliar. Is he new to Central City? Is he here looking for someone, too?’

As he was speculating, the man came back down after just a short while.

Thinking the man had probably failed to find who he was looking for, just like him, Zephyr Mercer smirked with a hint of schadenfreude. But then, a bad feeling washed over him.

’...He’s not here for my future wife, is he?!’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It had to be said, Zephyr Mercer’s sixth sense was quite strong.

Paige Summers had already left the Third District by this time. The reason she was late was that she had carefully chosen a place to dispose of Evan Pierce’s body.

Sure enough, her headache had eased considerably afterward and no longer hindered her movements.

She let out a long sigh of relief, resolving never to do something like that again!

’Still, Shawn Monroe must have a real headache now, losing a capable subordinate... But this isn’t over. The Nora Lowell situation isn’t resolved, so I can’t rest easy. Claire Chapman will be back soon, too. I’ll probably have to ask him for help then.’

As she mulled this over, she was approaching her residence when she spotted a somewhat familiar vehicle in the distance.

Her eyes flew wide open.

Just as she was wondering, the man getting out of the car decisively confirmed her suspicion.

Marcus Monroe!

It really was him!

He saw her too. A joyous smile broke across his usually stern face as he walked toward her.

He was incredibly fast, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

And just before Paige Summers could get the words "What are you doing here?!" out of her mouth, the happily smiling man suddenly pulled her into a hug!

Paige’s body instantly went rigid.

She was rarely this close to a man and was momentarily stunned. She knew she should push him away immediately, but an oddly inappropriate thought popped into her head: ’His body is so firm... but he’s so warm, it’s... comforting...’

After his initial excitement, Marcus Monroe was even more satisfied when he saw that she, though uncomfortable, didn’t push him away. Without realizing it, the corners of his mouth pulled up even wider!

He couldn’t see his own expression; otherwise, he would have found it unbelievable. Who knew he could smile so extravagantly!

He had originally planned to come find her right after leaving The Dead City, but he couldn’t make the trip on time. Word came from Southreach that some urgent matters needed his attention. That was a faction he had painstakingly built over several years and the foundation for his future ambitions. He couldn’t just ignore it, so he had to rush over.

The round trip took time, and he had been growing anxious.

After all the trouble to get here, after finally seeing her, it was inevitable that he would lose his composure.

His plan to make her gradually accept him was completely forgotten in that moment as he pulled her directly into his arms. And it was then that he felt the empty, hovering feeling in his heart finally settle.

A man and a woman stood there, locked in a silent embrace. To an outsider, it might have been a beautiful scene. But to Zephyr Mercer’s eyes, it was like sharp thorns stabbing into them. Rage instantly shot to his head!