He caught the look on her face and smirked lazily.
"What?" he asked. "Am I that handsome that you got lost staring at me?"
"Yeah… no—no, I mean no," she said quickly, pulling herself together. "Why didn't you wake me up? It must've been uncomfortable, holding me like that."
"You were sleeping so peacefully," he replied. "I didn't want to disturb you. Honestly…"He smiled faintly. "Seeing you like that made me happy."
Then he hesitated, his expression shifting as he searched her face."I was worried you might still be stressed. I heard you had a hard time after the year Lisa died."
He gently tapped her forehead.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly. "Do you want to sleep a little longer?"
"No, no. I'm fine," she said, shifting as if to get up.
"Lara."
He pulled her back onto his lap before she could move away.
"I swore I'd protect you," he said, his voice quieter now. "And I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. That night… when you walked in wearing that red dress."
He didn't look away.
"I know it might be one-sided. I know you may not feel the same."A brief pause."But that doesn't change anything for me. I'll still love you. I'll still protect you. No pressure. No rules. You don't owe me anything."
He smiled—soft, honest, not expecting anything in return.
Something in Lara shifted.
Why does he make it so hard to keep my guard up?
Her chest felt warm, tight in a way she didn't want to deny anymore.
I think I'm falling deeper for him, she realized.
"Daisy and Rain should already be near the airport," Zain said gently. "If we don't leave now, you might miss the flight back to City A."
Lara stood up. Zain stepped back and left the room, giving her space.
As the door closed behind him, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Damn it, Lara," she muttered.
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Back in City A — Lara's office
"Daisy…" Lara began, fumbling for the right words. She hesitated, then said it anyway."Zain seems to be a nice guy."
Daisy blinked. Once. Twice.
"What?" she asked. "You just called Zain a nice guy?" She leaned back in her chair. "Weren't you the same person, three days ago, calling him irritating?"
Lara shrugged, trying to sound casual. "You know… sometimes perceptions change."
"Sure," Daisy said with a grin. "They definitely do."
Lara pretended not to hear the teasing lilt in her voice. Just then, her phone buzzed on the desk.
"Oh?" Daisy said immediately. "Let me guess—Zain?"
"No. Nick," Lara replied without looking up.
She read the message. "Nick got a new government project—a new military base. He'll be taking over the abandoned site in City C."
"Oh," Daisy said slowly. Then, as if remembering something, she added,
"By the way—I saw his hand bandaged this morning when he dropped you off. What happened?"
Lara paused for half a second.
"He got hurt yesterday," she said evenly. "Said it was a small kitchen accident. Cut his palm."
Daisy hummed, clearly unconvinced—but she didn't push.