It's almost 2 a.m. when Damien gets home. He's tried looking for Darla in the nearby area but to no avail. She didn't pick up her phone either.

He doesn't understand. What happened?

He slumps on the couch, allowing himself to rest after a long day.

“I think I know why you are exhausted.” Emily's voice suddenly comes. Damien's shoulders jerk up in shock.

“Nana, why are you not asleep yet?”

Emily hums. “Let me guess. Darla went missing, right?’

Damien frowns, more alert now. “How did you know?”

“I was the one who told her to leave.”

Damien immediately stands up, his exhaustion disappears into thin air. “What do you mean?”

“I just wanted to test her. She understood what I meant. Don't worry, she's safe. I have someone looking after her.” Emily hands Damien a piece of folded paper. Written there is Darla's whereabouts.

“Don't let her wait for too long, Damien. Or you'll lose her forever.” Emily pats Damien's shoulder once before leaving the living room.

Damien spares the paper a quick glance before sprinting out of the mansion.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Damien greets his teeth as he stares at the trembling woman in front of him. He had given her his jacket, but it doesn't seem enough.

It suddenly rained when Damien was looking for Darla. The woman must not have expected the rain, hence the reason she is soaked wet right now.

“Do you think it's funny to run away like this?”

Darla groans. “I didn't run away! I'm just staying here until I get a new apartment.”

Damien scoffs. “It was really easy for you to leave, huh? You pledged loyalty to me!” 

“Well, you didn't need me there anyway. What's the use of staying?”

Damien shakes his head. He's about to reply when Darla's stomach grumbles. “I'm hungry.” Her voice comes out tiny. “I was looking for a stall when it suddenly rained.”

The tall man stands up. “Wait here, I'll buy something. Don't run away again!”

Darla groans. “I'm not running away!” She looks to the other side and mumbles, “Not like I have the energy to, anyway.”

“I heard that. You're done for if you're not here by the time I return.” Damien warns before leaving the room.

Darla had rented a hotel room for the night, and she knows Damien is going to drag her back to the apartment. She sighs. 

Fifteen minutes later, Damien is back with a hot takeaway. “Here, eat this.” He places the paper bag in front of Darla. 

Darla doesn't waste a second. She's truly hungry.

“You know what?”

Darla hums, asking Damien to continue.

“This night reminds me of the first time we met.” 

Darla pauses, the gears in her brain working hard to rack up the memories from ten years ago. She nods. “Yeah. You found me shivering and starving in the middle of heavy rain. I would have died if you didn't save me.”

Then, she lets out a chuckle. “And you bought me instant noodles that night. All restaurants were already closed so you had to buy from the convenience store.”

Damien smiles. That was the beginning of their story. 

“Finish the food and take a shower. I'll send you back to your apartment.” Damien stands up. He pulls out the resignation letter in his pocket.  “Your resignation is declined. I told you, Darla. Once you are in, you have no way out.”

He places the letter in front of Darla, satisfied seeing the woman's confused looks. “Eat up. I'll wait for you at the lobby.”