Lethia had no choice but to follow Renar, his grip on her wrist unwavering as they stepped out of the elevator and crossed the lobby.
Doctors and nurses dipped their heads in acknowledgment as he passed, though their gazes lingered on Lethia with something unreadable.
She quickly realized how much attention they were drawing, and instinctively, she tried to pull her hand free. But Renar's grip only tightened, possessive, a silent command for her not to let go.
Outside the main entrance, they stood side by side as a driverless car rolled to a stop in front of them.
Lethia had only ever seen automated valet cars on social media and advertisements. This one continued to baffle her—it was indeed an Ashenhold icon.
The door swung open on its own, and without a word, Renar gestured for her to get in.
The car shot forward the moment they were inside, leaving behind nothing but an awkward silence.
"Did you—"
"You can cry." Renar cut in, flicking on the audio system. A rock-pop instrumental filled the space.
Lethia turned her face toward the window, and the tears spilled freely. The scene felt painfully familiar—except this time, she reached for the handkerchief in the compartment herself. She hated how easily she broke down in front of him.
"You should've just let me put my claws on him if you heard everything."
"First, I overheard it by accident. Second, I'd rather not deal with another hospital penalty because of your violent tendencies."
"But—" Her voice cracked, swallowed by quiet sobs.
She knew now, her child wasn't Varrel's. But what unsettled her even more was Karmen's claim about their affair. Why had he lied? She needed answers. She needed to meet him soon.
"And violence won't help you here," Renar said flatly. "You can report what your ex-husband did and let the law take care of him. Swapping donor sperm in IVF is a major medical malpractice crime."
"But I have no proof."
"Will you give up then?" His voice sounded like a challenge. "And... Right now, Varrel Quinnel is one of the most influential figures from the Countryside. His popularity is only growing here. If you go after him recklessly, it'll only backfire and make you look worse."
Renar had a point. Lethia also realized she couldn't act recklessly if she truly wanted to destroy Varrel.
Her impatience, her rebellious streak—she had let them blind her to the real enemy lurking right under her nose.
She needed to be smarter this time, to trace the red string carefully. And Karmen was the first key.
"What happened with your cousin was already a big enough mess. Luckily, you smashed the CCTV. So there's no evidence of your attack. And evidence is everything here. We don't live by brute force like the wolves from the Countryside." Renar added.
Lethia frowned. "Are you... someone important at the hospital?"
Renar chuckled. "Took you long enough. Getting curious about me now?"
She sniffed, rubbing at the last traces of dried tears. "I know you're a Lycan doctor with some amusing superpower and surely a part of some crazy riches. But that's it, right? You're not... some kind of important or influential Lycan?"
She studied his side profile, but all he gave her was a small, knowing smirk.
"Is there any rich person who isn't important?"
He had a point. But when she said important or influential, she meant the kind of Lycans who ran the werewolf world across the country.
Dealing with wealthy people was one of her usual tasks as a marketing manager in her father's company. She was one of them—once.
But politicians from Lykon Haven? That was an entirely different kind of headache, and one she avoided to deal with.
"You know what I mean—"
Her words were cut off by the sudden ring of Renar's phone. He held up a hand for silence before answering. A woman's voice filtered through the car's speakers.
At first, Lethia barely paid attention. But the mention of election made her mind reeled. 'Just how important was he?'
"You're not part of Lykon Haven, are you?" she asked the moment he ended the call.
Renar turned to her, a slow, smug grin spreading across his face.
"And if I am? You can't back down now, mate."
Lethia shuddered at his ambiguous answer, though the way he called her mate sent hyperactive butterflies swarming in her stomach.
She convinced herself that the way her body fluttered around Renar was just the effect of her pregnancy hormones. She was not the type to get flustered so easily—even Varrel had taken a full year to break past her walls.
Before she could snap back at him, her thoughts were derailed by the sight of an elegant sign, its letters adorned with sapphires, towering above them: Tuffin Resort & Apartment.
Lethia gaped. The sheer grandeur of the gate alone was overwhelming, but it was nothing compared to what lay beyond.
The moment they entered, an artificial waterfall greeted them, cascading into a man-made river so clear it gleamed like a newborn's tears.
She had never seen a real waterfall before, only glimpses of Tuffin's renowned artificial one on television and social media.
Stealing a glance at Renar, she caught the knowing smile on his lips, as if he had expected her awe.
Yet, the further they drove in, the more speechless she became. She had never seen luxury on this scale—not in the Countryside.
She wondered just how rich Renar had to be to belong in the Tuffin circle.
His car descended into an underground parking area, where each space had its own private garage-style entrance.
Lethia stepped out, watching as Renar insisted on carrying her suitcase. He led her into a private elevator, which opened directly into his penthouse.
She barely held back her amazement as sleek, advanced cleaning robots moved about, tidying up the space, while a robotic chef rolled forward, smoothly placing a steaming cup of coffee in front of Renar and a fresh glass of orange juice for her.
"I bet you don't feel lonely living here with all these robots around," Lethia mused, settling into a seat as she took a sip of her juice.
Renar, having shrugged off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, took a slow sip of his coffee before glancing at her with a smirk.
"Who said I live alone?"
Lethia froze mid-sip. Her mind flickered back to the moment before she had been stabbed—when she had paid for Renar's wet chick at Holae Street. 'Right... his girlfriend.'
Renar's smirk deepened. "Or... do you wish it was just the two of us living here?" He lounged back on the sofa across from her, crossing one leg over the other as he took another deliberate sip of his coffee, his gaze teasing.
"No!" Lethia hastily set her glass down on the table. "You—You live with your girlfriend, don't you? Or—are you married? Wait, I remember you mentioning women before. So, are you not single?"
She clenched and unclenched her fists, panic creeping in. How had she not considered the possibility? A man as dangerously attractive as Renar couldn't be single. Or worse—what if this wasn't just his home? 'What if it was his harem?'
Renar chuckled, low and amused. "Finally getting curious about me, are you? What if I am taken? Are you planning to back off?"
He leaned forward, eyes dark with amusement. "But what should I do? I've got no intention of letting you go anywhere."