Chapter 548
Chapter 548:
“I did.” Kailey had no interest in meaningless chatter. “Go ahead and focus on your work. I’m not a fan of noise, but you’re tolerable.” Inwardly, she reminded herself she wouldn’t let him circle back later and blame her for any business fallout.
A faint crease formed between Lyman’s brows. His gaze sharpened, though he offered no reply.
Boarding was called not long after. Once they settled into their lounge seats, the brief silence stretched thin. The instant she buckled in, Kailey lowered a sleep mask over her eyes — not because she was tired, but because she had no interest in exchanging another word with him.
Far above the ground, the plane cut cleanly through dense cloud cover, steady at ten thousand meters.
Evening shadows had already pooled across Aslesall by the time the wheels touched down.
No sooner had Lyman powered on his phone than he was fielding calls, his voice clipped and efficient as one conversation bled into the next. Watching the sharp focus settle over his features, Kailey finally spoke, her tone restrained. “You should get on with your schedule. Let the driver drop me off p>
𝖳𝗵𝗲 𝘮𝗈𝘀t 𝗽оp𝗎l𝘢𝗋 𝗇𝗼𝘃e𝗹𝗌 𝗈𝗇.с𝘰m
Silence followed as he fixed her with an unreadable stare.
Couldn’t he tell she was just trying to be thoughtful?
Perhaps the thought showed on her face, because a faint, almost teasing curve tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Go back and get some sleep.” Without waiting for a reply, he slipped into another waiting car. As it pulled away, its shadow glided across her eyes.
She drew in a slow breath, then turned to the bodyguard beside her. “Let’s go p>
Their car headed toward Mountain View Residence.
Wrapped in a haze of distant lights, the city seemed swallowed by an oppressive dark. She reached the gates just before eleven, and the sight of the house turned her stomach. This place had never been home. It had always been nothing more than a prison.
Kailey dismissed the guards with a curt “Go get some rest,” then walked to her room.
Instead of flipping the light switch, she let the thin wash of moonlight guide her. She crossed to the wardrobe, fingers rifling through hangers until she dragged out a simple shirt-and-pants set. In this chill, the outfit was far too light. None of that mattered tonight.
Jaw set, she stripped and dressed in swift, efficient motions.
Outside, darkness thickened until it pressed against the windows.
Across the hushed courtyard, a silhouette slipped between shadows — Kailey following the path Benny had once used, palms scraping against stone as she hauled herself toward the garden wall. Before swinging a leg over, she cast a sharp glance behind her. Nothing stirred.
A quiet breath slipped past her lips.
From here, catching a cab to the mountain would take hours on empty highways. If she left now, could she possibly return before dawn?
No time remained for second thoughts. She dug into her pocket and pulled out the cash she had secretly swapped for smaller bills during a shopping trip, slipping away while the bodyguards were distracted. The stack came to roughly three thousand. That would have to be enough.