Chapter 713

“Naomi, wait-” Lydia called after her, but the girl didn’t stop.

Her footsteps echoed, quick and uneven, almost as if she were running away.

Cale didn’t follow. He only glanced at Liu, who had been silently observing the exchange. “Liu, you know what to do.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cale let him leave. Lydia turned to him, something unfamiliar flickering in his expression. “You’re not going to just let her go, are you?”

“She’s not leaving this house,” Cale said shortly.

“But don’t force your will on her, Cale.” Lydia stepped closer, her hand gently brushing along his arm, trying to ease the tension she could clearly feel in him.

Cale looked at her. “I can.”

Lydia fell silent. It was the first time she had seen this side of him, one that left no room for compromise.

She drew a breath, trying to steady the moment. “Cale… when all of that happened earlier, she was terrified.”

“If she’s afraid, then she should know where to seek protection properly,” he replied.

Lydia shook her head softly. “But that explains why she’s acting like this. She doesn’t want us to get dragged deeper into whatever’s coming after her.”

Cale didn’t respond. He looked away briefly, as if holding something back.

Lydia slipped her fingers between his, lacing their hands together and holding on firmly. “Let’s talk about this in our room. You’re tired, aren’t you?”

Cale studied her for a few seconds, then gave a small nod.

They turned, starting toward the staircase that led to the second floor, where their bedroom was. But before they could take more than a few steps, a loud noise broke from upstairs.

A door being forced open. Rushed footsteps. The sharp sound of something hitting.

Lydia immediately turned. “Is that Naomi?”

Cale said nothing. He was already moving, heading for the stairs.

By the time they reached the upper floor, Daniel stood in front of Naomi, blocking her path. The girl’s face was pale, her breathing uneven.

“Let me through,” she demanded.

“I’m sorry, Miss Naomi. I can’t,” Daniel replied firmly.

“I have to go,” Naomi said, trying to push past him. “You don’t understand-”

Daniel stepped closer, blocking her firmly, keeping her from moving beyond the doorway.

“Enough.”

Cale’s voice cut through the tension, stopping everything.

Naomi turned, her eyes locking instantly with his cold gaze. “I said I have to go,” she repeated, this time with unwavering resolve. She had already made up her mind. No matter what, she would find a way to meet Falcon.

+25 Bonus

How could she stand by and let that man drag this kind family into danger? From the beginning, this had been her responsibility to settle with him. No one else should be involved.

“And I said no,” Cale replied without hesitation.

“I’m not going to stay here and wait for him to come,” Naomi pressed.

“You don’t have a choice.” Cale stepped closer, his movements calm, but his eyes anything but.

“I do.” Naomi held his gaze, her breathing quickening. “And I’m still leaving.”

Cale didn’t answer right away. He closed the distance between them until he stood directly in front of her, facing her defiance

head-on.

“Go ahead and try,” he said quietly. His voice wasn’t raised, but it was enough to make the air around them feel tighter, heavier.

“You don’t have the right to stop me,” Naomi shot back. Even though she felt the weight of his presence, she forced herself to push against it.

“No, I don’t,” Cale answered. “But I’m not finished.” He turned slightly. “Daniel.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Make sure she stays in her room.”

Naomi’s eyes flashed. “You can’t lock me in.”

Cale didn’t look at her again. “Make sure she doesn’t leave.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Cale-” Lydia tried to intervene.

“You’re going too far!” Naomi snapped, her face flushed. “You can’t just lock me up!”

“I can,” Cale said, stepping forward and guiding Naomi firmly back into her room. “Go inside and calm down. You’re better off resting than causing a scene tonight.”

Naomi glared at him, frustration, anger, and helplessness clashing in her eyes, but she had no way to fight him. In the end, she slammed the door shut hard enough to echo through the hallway.

From inside, her voice rang out, sharp and raw.

“I hate you!”