Retreating to her room, Madelyn stripped off her soiled clothes and stood in front of her wardrobe, contemplating her attire. Through the thin wall dividing her from the outside world, Zach’s voice carried in.

“I’ve got urgent business at the company this time. If I can wrap it up early, I’ll rush back to you!” he said.

Understandingly, Jadie replied, “I’m fine, Zach. Go do what you have to. I’ll be here waiting for you.”

“Alright. If you get tired, you can sleep in my room. I just changed the sheets and blankets.”

“Alright, I’ll remember that.”

left. She was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the door to her room suddenly swung open. Startled, Madelyn’s hand froze mid-air, holding her dress, her face flushed a fiery red. Her hands fumbled, clutching her clothes tightly around her. Zach, standing by the door, glanced at her

years, shared countless intimate moments, bared their souls and bodies to each other; there was no part of her that Zach had not seen. But for some inexplicable reason, in that very moment, Madelyn’s heart fluttered in disarray. It was as if she was meeting Zach for the first time, her composure slipping away. She

her skirt, forcing herself to regain her composure. “Bro, do

slightly, voice low and gravelly. “Here’s a shopping card, a gift from our business partners. If you need clothes, jewelry or

“Thanks, bro.”

hard. A primal urge, animalistic and restless, stirred within him. After a few seconds, he finally stepped away, gathered his meeting documents, and got into his car. As he turned the ignition, his hands tightening around the steering wheel,

if I were out

suppressed the turmoil within him, pressed the

to descend the stairs for a relaxing break when she swung open her door to find Jadie about to ascend. Their eyes met, two worlds colliding with no common language. Even though she carried a guilt over Jadie’s demise in their past life, making friends was a bridge too far for Madelyn. She decided on a path of courteous indifference, to simply coexist

the face of the lingering awkwardness, Madelyn

a soft, fleeting smile, quickly saying, “I’m tidying up Zach’s room, clearing out things he doesn’t

on the staircase

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