t day a

unch in the dining room; everyone e

up just the

eady noon," Susan remarked dismiss

structed the kitchen

t two intense gazes fixed on him. He looked up a

give me indigesti

noon?" Susan asked with a smile

, not r

to pick up some things. You'll accompany her

stion. "There's no need for trouble. It'

n firmly rejected. "What if th

give them more time alone together, but also

" Rocky replied with unexpected calm,

his word and accompanied Sophia to

rk blue car trailed them at a distance, following a

red on Sophia as he absentmin

fe and social circles were straightforward, e

le could she possi

d the door, she f

and peered inside-wha

rn through every corner. The chaos was comparable to t

job, Rocky mused, his sha

rglary. What were these

her heart. The pain spread deeply as she bent down to pick up a shattered photo frame-a family p

ories, a treasured sanctuary. Now, it was all destroye

did I do to deserve this? she won

g with grief. Rocky, strangely affected by her sor

and pulled her roughly into his ar

the ruins of her home through tear-blurred eyes

elt the depth of her loss reflected i

composure broke completely, and she wep

his thin shirt, leaving a b

before her cries

y, patting her shoulder. He unde

r eyes red and swol

y wordlessly took her hand and led her away, not

d her emotions, and fragments of memory returned

iscreetly, surprised

physical mementos, the joyful times you shared with y

y but was fortunate to have loving

Sophia nodde

isn't the time for grief. You should think carefully-w

r reappeared. They're being careless-using the

ill couldn't come up with an a

r unusual lately?" he pressed, being more specific. "

a said with

rs would likely show themselves soon. "It's fine

rom her, why had they tried to kill her outright instead of in

side one more time,"

won't break down

she blushed.

ve back, his sharp eyes checking the rearview mi

r, and they were soon back

specific?" he asked,

emed unlikely, she clung to a sliver of hope

was met with the same devasta

laimed, "Damn it! Who would do this?

unreasonable desires-she had always lived e

her what was re

tom of this soon-" Rocky's words c

reen glow flickered ben

reath. Had those

through the air-a spec

wear 'Poison'?" Rocky asked

" Could it

ends who used that perfume, but she

could finish, a famil

Are you

indee

oom, Sophia asked urgent

he doorway, staring in shock a

her voice. "Oh, thank goodness you're safe! Wh

but paused when she noticed Ro

e pursuit, the attack-but carefully omitting any mention of

er if you keep your distance. I don't

you're in real danger here! Someone's trying to kill yo

? What went wrong?" So

he police," So

ait for them to come after you, are

Rocky stated calmly,

see this through, he knew he c

y sounded

er once, a few more times w

's presence made

ky reminded softly. "Staying longer

uided Zoey toward the door. "You s

y hesitated, rel

reful," Sophia urged, waving h

ay longer. "Alright, since we'

s go. And..