Morning came with a deceptive gentleness.
A soft golden hue stretched across the trainee dorm windows, painting the city in a warm glow — as if nothing in the world was wrong. As if the night hadn't ended with a kiss that tasted like danger and devotion. As if Titan Star wasn't sharpening its knives behind corporate smiles.
Lian sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, hands clasped so tightly his knuckles had turned pale.
Last night had been real.
Rian's kiss.
Rian's warmth.
Rian's promise.
Tonight is ours.
Those words still burned beneath Lian's skin.
But morning brought reality.
And reality brought fear.
He knew today would be worse. Titan Star would not stay quiet after their press conference. They would double down. Push harder. Twist every narrative they could.
And worst of all — he and Rian had to pretend to be strangers again.
Lian rubbed his face. "You can do this," he whispered to himself, though his voice shook. "You have to."
