The house felt different without him in it.
Layla stood in the foyer for a few seconds after Elias left that morning, listening to the echo of the door closing, the quiet rebalancing of the air.
Titan nudged her leg again.She looked down.
"You're not subtle too," she murmured.
The dog huffed softly and trotted toward the living room, glancing back to make sure she followed.
The living room was washed in morning light now, clean and architectural. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked manicured grounds, trimmed so precisely they didn't look natural anymore. Nothing in Elias's world was wild even the trees seemed disciplined.
Titan leapt onto the large rug and flopped down heavily.
Layla hesitated before sitting cross-legged on the floor beside him.
"You live in a mansion," she told him. "Do you even know that?"
Titan's tail thumped once.
Layla scratched behind his ear again, slower this time. It felt strange to be here alone.
Strange—but not uncomfortable.
There was no tension pressing against her ribs the way there was at home when Liam's name flashed across her screen.
No unpredictable anger waiting around corners.
Here, the quiet felt structured and predictable.
Layla's phone buzzed on the coffee table which made her heart jumped instinctively, but it wasn't Liam.
It was Chloe.
Chloe:
Are you alive?
Layla smiled faintly.
Layla:
Yes. Of course.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Chloe:
That's the vaguest answer you had ever answered.
Layla:
I'm really safe.
There was a pause before the reply.
Chloe:
That's not what I asked.
Layla stared at the message.
Then typed:
Layla:
I know.
She set the phone down without sending anything else.
Titan shifted closer, resting his heavy head on her thigh.
Layla exhaled slowly.
"Am I safe?" she asked him quietly.
Titan didn't answer and didn't move away either.
By late morning, the house had settled into a rhythm.Somewhere in the background, she heard distant movement—Maria, most likely with soft footsteps and the clink of dishes.
Layla felt awkward just wandering around so she decided to do something normal.
She went upstairs, retrieved her laptop and schoolbooks from her bag, and returned to the dining table.
She opened her laptop and stared at the blinking cursor.It felt surreal to write about economic policy while sitting in a house owned by a man who probably influenced it.She almost laughed at the irony.
Titan lay beside the table, occasionally lifting his head when she shifted.
"You're supervising," she told him.
He blinked slowly as Layla focused and for the first time in days, she worked without distraction.
No Liam texting,no fear of confrontation in the hallway,no pretending to be fine but just quiet concentration.
She finished her history outline,completed her math problem set and drafted half of her literature essay.
The normalcy of it grounded her because this was still her life.
School,grades and of course college applications.
She wasn't disappearing into Elias's world entirely.She was just… stepping sideways into it.
When she finally closed her laptop, the afternoon light had softened.She leaned back in her chair and stretched while Titan immediately stood as he wagged his tail.
"Okay," she laughed. "You win."
Titian led her to the backyard which was larger than most parks she'd seen.Titan ran full speed across the grass, powerful and graceful.
Layla watched him, smiling despite herself.
"You're terrifying," she called out. "And dramatic,just like your owner."
Titan barked once, circling back toward her.
She crouched slightly, bracing for impact but instead of knocking her over, he slowed at the last second and nudged her gently.
Layla laughed again.The sound felt lighter than it had in weeks.
By evening, the sky turned a muted gray-blue.
The house shifted again—lights warming automatically, shadows stretching longer.
Layla checked the time and noticed Elias would be back soon.
The realization made something in her chest tighten—not with anxiety but with anticipation.
She packed her school bag carefully,closed her laptop and smoothed the papers inside as if she were finishing something significant.
Titan followed her from room to room, as if he sensed her restlessness.
"You're waiting too, aren't you?" she asked him.
His ears perked at the sound of an approaching engine.
Layla's heart jumped as the car door shut outside.
Titan bounded toward the front entrance and Layla followed—but slower because she didn't want to look eager.
The door opened and Elias stepped inside, removing his jacket with practiced efficiency.
He looked exactly the same as he had that morning—composed, controlled.
Untouchable.
Titan reached him first, tail wagging.
Elias bent slightly, rubbing the dog's side before straightening.
That's when he saw Layla standing a few steps away.
Her chest tightened and without thinking, she moved toward him.Two quick steps,almost a run.Then she stopped herself abruptly and regained composure.
"Hi," she said evenly.
Elias's gaze flickered briefly over the movement she had cut short.
"Hello."
"How was work?" she asked.
"Productive."
"That sounds vague."
"It is."
Layla smiled faintly while Titan circled between them, as if sensing the current in the air.
"I did my assignments," she added quickly.
"All of them,well,most of them."
"That's good."
"You don't sound impressed."
"I expected you would."
There it was again.
Expectation.
She wasn't sure whether she liked that he always anticipated her—or liked that she kept meeting those expectations.
"I'm going home tonight," she said.
"Yes."
"Is Liam—"Layla tried to ask as she shifted her weight slightly.
"He's not near your house or washed through her.
"You're sure?" Layla asked as relief washed through her.
"Yes."
"Okay," she nodded.
Silence settled for a moment between them.
"I'll take you home," he said finally.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
Even Titan knew before she did.Layla had
zipped her bag and slung it over her shoulder when the dog stood up from his spot and walked nearer to her.
"You're really dramatic Titian," she murmured softly.
Titan stopped in front of her, blocking her path like a wall of fur and muscle.
Elias was already near the door, slipping his watch back onto his wrist with mechanical precision. He didn't look at them yet.
Layla crouched slightly in front of Titan.
"I'm not moving in," she told him quietly. "I'm just going home."
Titan huffed, as if unimpressed by that distinction.She reached up and cupped his massive face between her hands.
"You scared me this morning," she reminded him gently. "Growling like you owned the place."
His tail thumped once against the floor.
"And then you decided I was acceptable," she continued, scratching behind his ear. "I appreciate that."
Titan leaned forward and pressed his head against her shoulder, almost knocking her off balance.
"You weigh as much as I do." Layla said as she laughed softly.
From the doorway, Elias watched without speaking.
Layla buried her fingers into the thick fur at Titan's neck, her voice lowering instinctively.
"You're loyal to him, aren't you?" she whispered.
Titan didn't move away.
"And I think I understand why."
She didn't mean to say that out loud but it slipped out anyway.
After a moment, she pulled back slightly and tapped his nose.
"I'll see you soon, okay? Don't forget me in twenty-four hours."
Titan licked her hand in response while Elias stepped closer then.
"He won't," he said calmly.
"How do you know?"Layla asked as she looked up at him.
"Because he doesn't forget what he accepts."
The words lingered between them longer than they should have.
Layla stood slowly and Titan immediately moved to her side again, following as she walked toward the door.
"You're escorting me now?" she asked the dog as gave out a small laugh.
Elias opened the door, cool evening air spilling into the foyer.Titan stopped at the threshold,disciplined and waiting for command.
"Stay," Elias said softly.
Titan obeyed instantly, sitting just inside the doorway—but his eyes never left Layla.
Layla hesitated before stepping out.Something about leaving felt different tonight.
She turned back one last time.
"Bye, Titan," she said quietly.
The dog gave a low sound—not a growl, not quite a whine but recognition.
She smiled faintly.
"I'll come back."
Elias's gaze flicked toward her at that but he didn't comment as he closed the door gently behind them.
The drive felt quieter. The city lights blurred past the window as Layla leaned back in the passenger seat.
She talked,about school,about a teacher who graded unfairly and about Chloe's ridiculous theory that their math instructor was secretly in love with the principal.
Elias listened,occasionally responding with short, precise comments but mostly listening and she realized something important.
He never interrupted her or dismissed what she said as trivial,even when she rambled, he let her finish.That kind of attention was rare.
She shifted slightly in her seat, turning toward him.
"You're not bored, are you?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
She studied him.
His profile in the passing light looked almost sculpted.
"You're very quiet," she said.
"You're very talkative."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
She rolled her eyes slightly.
"You like that I talk."
He didn't answer which felt like agreement.
Without thinking, she reached out and adjusted the sleeve of his jacket which had folded slightly at the wrist.He glanced down at her hand.
She didn't pull it away immediately,instead, she smoothed the fabric gently.
"You always look put together," she murmured. "It's almost intimidating."
"It's intentional."
"I know."
Her fingers lingered a moment too long before retreating.
A few minutes later, she reached out again—this time brushing invisible lint from his shoulder.
Then later, resting her hand briefly against his arm when she laughed at her own story. It was just an instinctive, unplanned touch but each time, Elias stilled slightly,not pulling away,or encouraging,just… allowing.
"You touch me often," he observed quietly.
Layla froze.
"I do not."
"You do."
"…Maybe."She said as she hesitated
"Why?"
"Because it's automatic," she admitted softly.
Silence filled the car.Then he said,
"Be careful."
"With what?"
"Habits."
"I'm not a habit."
"No,you're not." Elias said as he gave at a small smile.
They reached her neighborhood sooner than she wanted. Elias slowed the car, stopping at the fa
r end of the street—out of sight from her house.
"Thank you," Layla said softly as she gathered her bag.
"For what?"
"For allowing me stay."
"You're welcome."
She reached for the door handle and opened it.Cool night air slipped inside but she didn't step out immediately,instead, she hesitated.
Something pulled at her as she turned back.Her heart pounded in her ears but she didn't think or analyze.She leaned across the console and pressed her lips to his.