In Isadora’s Apartment The man didn’t touch the breakfast.
Not a single bite.
He didn’t trust food prepared by a stranger, no matter how much she claimed to have saved his life.
His gaze hardened at the thought, and somehow, that alone annoyed him.
He reached for his phone, only to find nothing.
His phone was gone too.
His jaw tightened as he looked around the room carefully.
It was small, simple, clean—definitely not a place where someone like him belonged.
His eyes moved toward the door again.
Isadora Matthew.
The name repeated itself in his mind.
He needed answers.
Who was she?
Why had she helped him?
And how had she managed to keep him alive for an entire week without taking him to a hospital?
He slowly pushed himself out of bed.
Pain immediately shot through his abdomen, but his expression didn’t change.
He simply stood there, one hand pressing against the bandage.
The wound was healing.
Whoever had treated him knew what they were doing.
His eyes narrowed.
A medical student.
That was what she had said.
He walked toward the mirror, where his reflection stared back at him—pale, tired, but alive.
He reached for the bandage and checked it carefully.
Clean stitches.
Proper dressing.
No signs of infection.
She really had treated him.
He let out a quiet breath.
Then a loud noise came from somewhere outside the room.His hand immediately went to his gun.
His body tensed as his instincts took over.
He moved toward the door without making a sound and opened it slightly.
Nothing.Just an apartment.
Normal.
Quiet.
He slowly lowered his weapon.
A cat suddenly ran past him.
He froze.
The animal stopped, turned around, and stared directly at him.
The man stared back.
Neither moved.
His expression darkened.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” The cat slowly blinked before turning around and walking away as though he didn’t exist.
He watched it disappear around the corner.
He already hated this place.
But something was more disturbing his mind than the annoying cat.
“I need a phone.” If she had seen anything that night, she would be a target too.
And if someone had followed them… He clenched his jaw.
I hope they didn’t.
By evening, Isadora finally returned home.
Tomorrow was the beginning of her internship, and as a final-year medical student, she was used to spending months rotating through different hospital departments.
She was exhausted.
All she wanted was a shower and her bed.
She dropped her bag near the door and walked into her bedroom.
Then stopped.
The man was still there, In the exact same position And the breakfast she’d left that morning Untouched.
Isadora slowly raised an eyebrow.
“Great.” She walked over to the table and looked at the plate.
“You haven’t touched it.” She glanced at him.
“Or do you think I poisoned it?” He didn’t even look at her.
“Give me your phone.” Isadora blinked.
“My phone?” “I need to make a call.” She studied him for a moment.
Then, surprisingly, handed it over without asking any questions.
He took the phone and quickly dialed a number.
The call connected almost immediately.
“Yes.
I’m alive.” His eyes shifted toward Isadora.
“Your address.” Isadora’s eyebrows lifted.
“My address?” He waited.
She sighed and gave him the address.
Valen repeated it to the person on the other end.
“Okay.
I’m waiting for you tomorrow.” He hung up.
Isadora stared at him.
“Who was that?” “None of your business.” She rolled her eyes.
“Fine.” She folded her arms.
“But at least tell me your name.” He looked at her.
“I just saved your life.
I think I deserve an explanation.” For a moment, he remained silent.
Then he finally answered.
“Valen Da Costa.” Isadora’s eyes widened.
“Wait…” She stared at him.
“Da Costa?” Her expression changed completely.
“Are you talking about the Da Costa Buildings?” Valen said nothing.
Her mouth slowly fell open.”The Da Costa family?” Silence.
Isadora looked at him again.She knew that name.Everyone did.
The Da Costa family was one of the most influential families in the country.
Her eyes moved slowly toward the man sitting across from her.
“You’re a Da Costa?” Valen’s gaze remained on her.
“Yes.” She stared at him for a moment.
That Da Costa?
He showed absolutely no reaction, as if his family name meant nothing.
“You’re rich,” she said, almost to herself.
Valen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“And?” Isadora hesitated.
“Nothing.” She looked at him again.
Suddenly, his cold attitude, his arrogance, the way he spoke to people… it all made sense.
“I think I understand now.” “Understand what?” “Why you’re like this.” His expression hardened slightly.
“Like what?” She chose her words carefully.”Arrogant.” A beat of silence passed.
“And rude.” Valen said nothing.
Isadora glanced away.
“I mean… rich people tend to be like that.” His eyes remained fixed on her.
“You’ve known many?” “No.” “Then that’s an interesting conclusion.” Isadora shrugged.
“It’s just what I’ve noticed.” “From where?” She looked back at him.
“Movies.” For a second, neither of them spoke.
Valen leaned back carefully, still watching her.
He couldn’t tell whether she was genuinely that blunt or simply trying to make him lower his guard.
Either way, he didn’t like not knowing.
Isadora, completely unaware of his thoughts, simply looked at him and thought: Yep.
Rich and arrogant.
“With that kind of attitude, I’m not surprised someone tried to kill you.” Silence.
Her eyes slowly widened.
Did I just say that out loud?
Valen’s gaze turned colder.
Isadora immediately looked away.
“…I meant, hypothetically.” Valen’s gaze remained fixed on her.
“Why did you save me?” Isadora blinked.
“You didn’t know who I was,” he continued.
“Yet you still saved me.” He couldn’t understand it.
What kind of reckless person found a bloodied stranger alone on a dark street and decided to bring him home?
Valen had spent his entire life surrounded by people who always wanted something from him.
Money.
Power.
Protection.
No one did anything for free.
Yet this woman had risked herself for a complete stranger.
He studied her carefully, still trying to figure her out.
“I told you,” Isadora finally said.
“My future profession doesn’t allow me to just leave someone to die.” Valen’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s your reason?” There was genuine disbelief in his voice.
Isadora nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Yes.” Valen stared at her.
Unbelievable.
Before he could say anything else— BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Someone slammed against the door.Valen’s entire expression changed.The faint traces of curiosity disappeared instantly.
His body tensed despite the pain shooting through his injuries, and his eyes locked on the door.
Another violent knock echoed through the apartment.
BANG!
Isadora froze.
“Who is that?” Valen didn’t answer.
His gaze swept across the room, calculating.
Give me more motivation!