Isadora remained silent for a moment before shrugging.
“You don’t have to worry about me.” Valen frowned.
“Why?” “Because who has time for a poor university student?” she said with a light smile.
“I have classes, hospital internships, exams, bills…” She counted them off on her fingers.
“I barely have time to sleep.
I seriously doubt anyone planning an assassination is going to look at my schedule and think, ‘Yes, let’s add Isadora to the list.'” Valen stared at her.
She smiled back.
“What?” “You’re taking this surprisingly well.” “I’m not.” She picked up her glass and took a small sip.
“I’m just too tired to panic.” The rest of the dinner passed without anything particularly unusual happening, and by the time Valen drove her home, it was already ten.
They stopped at the bottom of her apartment building.
Isadora unbuckled her seat belt and turned toward him with a small smile.
“Thank you for dinner.” “You’re welcome.” For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then Valen’s gaze dropped.
Something small and red had appeared on Isadora’s chest.
His entire expression changed.
“Bend down!” She barely had time to process his words before Valen grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her down, throwing himself over her.
BANG!
The bullet tore through the space where her head had been a second earlier and slammed into the building behind them.
Isadora gasped.
“What—” “Stay down.” Another shot struck the car, making the metal shudder.
Valen pulled her toward the passenger-side door, keeping her low as they moved behind the vehicle.
He positioned himself between her and the street, his body shielding hers as his hand went for the gun tucked beneath his jacket.
“Don’t move.” Isadora nodded frantically.
Valen lifted his head just enough to scan the surrounding buildings.
His eyes moved across windows, balconies, rooftops.
Then he saw it.
A faint silhouette on the rooftop across the street.
The shooter was already moving.
Valen leaned around the car, raised his weapon and fired.
BANG!
The figure jerked backward before disappearing from sight.
Valen didn’t move immediately.
He kept his gun raised, watching the rooftop and waiting for another shot.
Nothing.
Then hurried footsteps approached from the other side of the street.
“Boss!” Ruel appeared with his weapon already drawn.
“Boss, are you alright?” “Yes.” Valen’s eyes remained fixed on the buildings.
“Check everywhere.
Rooftops, alleys, surrounding buildings.
I want to know if there’s anyone else.” “Yes, Boss.” Ruel immediately signaled the others and split them up to search the area.
Only when they were gone did Valen finally look down.
Isadora was still on the ground, her fingers gripping the front of his jacket.
She was pale—far paler than she’d been a few seconds ago—but at least she was conscious.
Valen helped her sit up.
“Are you alright?” She nodded slowly.
“I think so.” She drew in a shaky breath, then another.
Her eyes wandered toward the bullet hole in the car before moving to the spot where the first bullet had struck the building.
“Okay…” She swallowed hard.
“That was definitely not a normal dinner.” Valen stared at her.
Despite the fear still written across her face, a nervous smile somehow found its way onto her lips.
“So…” “What?” She hesitated before raising one finger.
“About that roommate offer again…” Valen’s eyebrow lifted.
“I’ve reconsidered.” By morning, Isadora stood in the middle of her apartment, looking around as if she were seeing it for the last time.
Her eyes moved slowly from the tiny kitchen to the worn-out sofa and finally to the little dining table beside the window.
The place wasn’t luxurious or spacious, but it was hers.
She had spent enough time there to fill every corner with memories, even the ones she didn’t particularly want to remember.
She sighed.
Maybe she was going to miss it.
Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night, to the moment she’d finally given in.
“About that roommate thing…” Valen had looked at her expectantly.
Isadora had rubbed the back of her neck, suddenly less confident than she had been a few minutes earlier.
“I think you were right.” She’d given him a nervous laugh.
“I’ll live with you.” “Good choice.” She’d rolled her eyes.
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself.” Valen hadn’t bothered to hide the satisfaction on his face.
“But,” she’d added, pointing a finger at him, “once I’m no longer in danger, I’m going back to my own place.” He’d studied her for a moment.
“I know you have influence as a Da Costa.
You’ll investigate and find out who wants us dead.” Something in his expression had hardened at the word us.
“Us?” “Yes, us.” She’d shrugged.
“They shot at me too, remember?” He hadn’t had an argument for that.
“Fine.” “Good.” The memory faded, and Isadora looked around her apartment one last time before reaching for her luggage.
A man sent by Valen was already waiting downstairs to drive her to the Da Costa manor.
The journey didn’t take long, but the moment the gates came into view, Isadora began to wonder if she had made a terrible mistake.
The manor stood behind enormous black iron gates, surrounded by perfectly maintained gardens that seemed to stretch endlessly.
Carefully trimmed hedges lined the long stone driveway, while tall trees stood on either side like silent guards.
A large fountain occupied the center of the front courtyard, its water catching the morning sunlight.
And then there was the manor itself.
Elegant stone walls, towering windows, dark wooden details and massive columns framed the entrance, making the entire place look less like a home and more like something pulled straight out of a movie.
Isadora stared through the car window.
“Wow…” The car came to a stop in front of the entrance.
She stepped out with her luggage and slowly looked up.
“Okay…” A small nod.
“This is definitely not student housing.” Before she could even reach for the doorbell, the massive front doors opened.
A man stood waiting on the other side.
He appeared to be in his late fifties, dressed in an immaculate black suit, crisp white shirt and dark tie.
His silver hair was neatly combed back, and his posture was so straight that Isadora instinctively straightened her own.
“Good morning, Miss Matthew.” His voice was calm and perfectly composed.
“I’m Anthony, the butler of the Da Costa household.” “Good morning.” Anthony gave her a respectful nod before glancing at her luggage.
“Master Valen is not here at the moment.
He instructed me to show you to your room.” “Oh.
Okay.” She followed him inside.
The moment she crossed the threshold, Isadora stopped herself from staring too obviously.
The entrance hall was enormous.
Polished marble stretched beneath her feet, elegant chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, and grand staircases curved toward the upper floors.
Everything around her looked expensive enough to make her afraid of accidentally touching it.
As they walked deeper into the manor, Isadora couldn’t stop looking around.
Anthony noticed.
“You are free to go wherever you wish, Miss Matthew.” She looked at him.
“Really?” “Almost everywhere.” Her steps slowed.
“Almost?” Anthony turned his head toward her.
“There is one place you are not permitted to enter.” “Where?” “The third floor.” Isadora frowned.
“Why?” “It belongs exclusively to the young master.” She glanced toward the staircase.
“Only him?” “Yes.” They continued walking, but curiosity had already taken over.
“And if I go there anyway?” Anthony’s expression remained completely calm.
“He might kill you.” Isadora stopped.
She stared at him.
“…Excuse me?” Anthony simply continued walking, as though he’d just commented on the weather.
Isadora swallowed and hurried after him.
“Right.
I’ll stay on the safe floors.” After another few minutes, they finally stopped in front of a large double door.
Anthony opened it and stepped aside.
“Here is your room, Miss Matthew.” Isadora walked inside.
Her eyes widened.
The room was bigger than her entire apartment.