I didn't sleep the whole night.
Instead, I stayed outside Calyx's house, parked just far enough away to keep out of sight but close enough to see the faint glow of the lights inside.
He didn't leave. He didn't even step outside.
At some point, the music stopped. The lights in the living room dimmed, and silence took over. But even as the world around me settled into sleep, I remained wide awake.
It was only after hours of waiting, scrolling through my phone to distract myself, that I found out he had bought this place recently.
A one-bedroom bungalow.
The house itself was modest, nothing extravagant. Far from what we used to have together. But the land it sat on—it was bigger than expected, stretching beyond the walls of the house, open and quiet.
I couldn't help but wonder…
Was this what he wanted? A space away from everything, from everyone?
A place where he could be alone?
And why did it feel like—despite everything he said about not loving me—he was running away, too?
-
I hadn't received any updates from Kaiser, Fifth, Uno, or Dos since last night. I knew the mission was already in motion, but the silence felt heavier with each passing hour, pressing down on me like an invisible weight.
But I couldn't let that get to me. They could handle it. Dos was relentless, precise—if anyone could infiltrate Shadestone without a trace, it was him. And once he did, we'd have the information we needed.
Still, I hated waiting. I hated not knowing.
I decided to freshen up before resuming my watch on Calyx. Thinking about the mission those four had to carry out made my body itch, the need to act gnawing at me.
One of Calyx's security personnel had given me an hour to use one of the houses adjacent to his. The space was quiet, unfamiliar, but for a brief moment, I let myself sink into the stillness. I washed away the grime of the previous night, tied my damp hair back, and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
But even as I stared at my own reflection in the mirror, I still felt exhausted.
The kind of exhaustion sleep wouldn't fix.
The kind that came from constantly bracing for the worst.
By the time I stepped back outside, the morning sun was already creeping higher, warming the cool Melbourne air.
And then I froze.
Calyx was leaning against my car, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locked onto me.
My heart stuttered. I hadn't expected to get caught—not yet, anyway. Maybe I hadn't been discreet enough, or maybe, deep down, I hadn't planned to be.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
I tried to assess his expression, but as always, Calyx was unreadable. He wasn't angry. Not smug, either. Just… watching me. Like he had been expecting me all along.
"How…" I started but faltered, unsure of what to say. I exhaled and settled for a neutral, "Good morning."
His lips twitched slightly, amused. "I thought I was hallucinating last night. But no, you're really here."
There was no accusation in his voice, just quiet observation.
I kept my expression blank, willing myself to stay composed. "Did you even sleep?" he asked.
I shook my head. "I wanted to make sure you got to sleep peacefully."
Calyx studied me for a beat longer before letting out a quiet chuckle, though something unreadable flickered in his gaze. "You really love me that much, huh?"
The teasing edge to his voice didn't quite mask the weight beneath it.
I crossed my arms and leaned against the car beside him. "Don't flatter yourself," I muttered, but the exhaustion in my voice made it sound less convincing than I intended.
Calyx tilted his head slightly, gaze searching mine. "You're guarding me like I'm some fragile piece of glass, Severa. It's unnecessary. My security detail is enough."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "That's not the point."
"Then what is the point?" he asked, his voice quieter now, more careful.
I hesitated.
How could I explain?
That it wasn't just about keeping him physically safe. That it was about knowing he wasn't alone in all of this. That if Shadestone had even the slightest connection to him, he was more vulnerable than he realized.
That despite everything—despite the hurt, despite the impending divorce—I still wanted to be the one looking out for him.
Because if I didn't… who would?
Calyx exhaled, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "I don't need you to do this, Severa. Especially not now."
"Because the divorce papers are almost finalized?" I forced a dry laugh, though it barely made it past my lips. "So what? Just because we're ending things legally, I'm supposed to stop caring?"
His jaw tightened. "It would make things easier."
"For who?" I shot back. "You? Me?" My fingers dug into my arms as I hugged them to my chest. "Because it doesn't feel easier. It feels worse."
Silence stretched between us, thick with everything unsaid.
For a moment, I thought he would argue. Tell me to leave. Tell me to stop doing this to myself.
But instead, he let out a long breath, pushed off the car, and pulled open the passenger door.
"Come with me."
I blinked, thrown off by the sudden shift. "What?"
"I'm taking you to work," he said, already walking toward the driver's side. "You want to keep an eye on me? Fine. But you're not doing it from a distance. Get in."
I hesitated, fingers hovering over the door handle.
This was dangerous—not in a physical sense, but emotionally. Letting myself stay close, letting myself get drawn back into his orbit when I knew exactly where this was headed.
Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe this was just another level of self-inflicted torture.
But either way, I wasn't leaving him alone.
With a quiet breath, I opened the door and slid inside.
I accompanied Calyx all the way to his office. People stared as we passed, their gazes heavy with curiosity.
Calyx ignored them.
I tried to do the same, but I couldn't shake the awareness prickling at the back of my neck. These people knew my face. They knew I was Calyx's wife—at least, legally, I still was. But they didn't know about the divorce. We had kept it out of the public eye, and my brothers and Kaiser had made sure it stayed that way.
Still, speculation was inevitable.
The whispers followed us, hushed but persistent. I caught glimpses of sideways glances, exchanged looks, murmured conversations that cut off the moment I walked past.
But I wasn't here to play into their assumptions.
Once we reached his office, only two of his security detail remained stationed outside. The moment the door shut behind us, I exhaled quietly, relieved to be out of the public eye.
Calyx's secretary followed us in—a woman I vaguely recognized but had never properly met during our marriage. She was professional, efficient, and barely spared me a glance before handing Calyx a few documents.
Calyx took them with a nod, flipping through the pages as he made his way to his chair. I lingered near the door, my arms crossed.
Then, without looking up, he spoke.
"Do you need coffee? Or do you even drink coffee?"
The question caught me off guard. Before I could answer, he immediately dismissed it.
"No, you're not getting coffee." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. He gestured toward a door on the side of the office. "You need sleep. There's a small bed in there. Use it."
I blinked at him. "Excuse me?"
"You can't guard me if you're sleep-deprived," he said simply, setting the papers down. "Go rest."
I scoffed. "I'm not here to take naps, Calyx."
"And I'm not interested in arguing with a sleep-deprived, stubborn woman," he countered, leveling me with a look. "I meant what I said. You need rest."
"I'm fine," I insisted, crossing my arms tighter.
He sighed, leaning back in his chair, arms resting on the armrests. "Severa, when was the last time you actually slept? And I don't mean closing your eyes for an hour and calling it rest. I mean real sleep."
I hesitated, refusing to answer.
"Exactly." He exhaled, shaking his head. "You're running on fumes. That's not how you protect someone. That's how you get yourself killed."
My jaw clenched. "I know my limits."
"Do you?" He arched a brow, studying me carefully. "Because from where I'm sitting, you're past them."
I hated that he could read me so easily.
Calyx leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You don't have to prove anything to me, Severa."
I stiffened. "That's not what this is about."
"Then what is it about?"
I opened my mouth, then shut it, frustration curling in my chest.
He sighed again, softer this time. "Look, I know you don't trust my security detail. I know you think you have to be the one watching over me. Fine. But you're no good to me if you're dead on your feet."
"I'm not—"
"You are," he cut in, shaking his head. "You won't admit it, but you are."
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. I wasn't going to win this argument. And the worst part? He wasn't wrong.
"You'll let me know if anything happens?" I asked, reluctant.
His expression softened just slightly. "Of course."
I glanced at the door he had pointed to earlier.
This felt like a surrender. Like I was letting my guard down when I couldn't afford to. But I also knew my body wouldn't hold out forever.
After a long pause, I muttered, "Fine."
Calyx smirked. "Good girl."
I shot him a glare, but he only chuckled as I finally made my way to the side room.
I wasn't sure if I'd actually sleep.
But for now, at least, I could close my eyes.