“Miss Mills, how-how are you here?” Davy, just as surprised as I was, asked Thea.


    Thea adjusted her nightgown and replied, “I live here.” Her eyesnded on the key in “Don’t you knock when you enter someone else’s house?”


    my


    hand.


    Davy stepped forward, flustered. “No… this ce was prepared for Ms. Kemp by Mr. Dolton.”


    As he spoke, he fumbled with his phone and dialed Alvin, but in his panic, he identally hit the speakerphone button. “Mr. Dolton, the house in Saltwater Spring…”


    Before Davy could finish, Alvin cut him off. “That house was given to Thea.”


    A smile slowly spread across Thea’s face, almost as if it were growing right before my eyes…


    “What about Ms. Kemp…” Davy asked, but again, before he could finish, Alvin interrupted, “I’ll arrange something else for Zoe. And… don’t let Zoe know about this.”


    Davy, looking embarrassed and a little red in the face, nced at me. It was as if he thought the person who owed me an exnation wasn’t Alvin, but him.


    He didn’t dare to say more. He probably realized he’d acted impulsively-he should’ve checked with Alvin before bringing me here. But now, it was toote to do anything about it.


    I didn’t call attention to the situation. If I did, Davy’s job would definitely be on the line.


    Times were tough with the economy, and manypanies wereying off staff. Finding a good- paying job wasn’t easy.


    Plus, Davy had only just started dating a girlst month-if he got fired now, that rtionship would probably end before it even had a chance.


    In moments like this, I wasn’t angry or upset. Honestly, I almost admired myself for staying so


    calm.


    Davy awkwardly ended the call and looked at me with guilt written all over his face. “Ms. Kemp…” “It’s not your fault,” I said, pausing for a moment before adding, “Davy, why don’t you sit down and have some coffee while I talk to Miss Mills?”


    I didn’t ask Davy to leave because I didn’t want Thea to try pulling some act, like fainting or pretending to be sick. I needed to handle this on my own.


    Once Davy was out of the way, I casually nced at Thea. She was watching me with a mix of wariness, suspicion, and a clear determination to confront me.


    But I didn’t y into her game. Instead, I looked around the apartment.


    It was probably over 200 square yards-spacious but simply decorated, with attention to the little


    details. The floor-to-ceiling windows were especially striking, with a cozy sofa and a small coffee table in front, just like the one in a painting I’d once done.


    The morning sunlight filteredzily through the ss, casting a warm, rxed glow that immediately made everything feel slower and calmer.


    This apartment was in the best part of Seastone, in a prime location. To the left, I could see the CBDmercial district and the Dolton Building.


    To the right, the vast ocean stretched out, the waves rolling gently, with flocks of seagulls soaring freely in the sky. This was my dream home.


    Davy had said this house was a gift from Alvin. It seemed he had put some thought into it after all. But now, it seemed like that good intention had backfired.


    I looked around the living room and then moved on to the other rooms-the bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen-all open-n, exactly how I liked it. Theyout was practically identical to the painting I’d once created.


    I didn’t say anything. I just kept observing, which made the two people in the room increasingly ufortable.


    Especially Thea. She said, “Zoe, you must’ve heard by now. This house is mine. Please leave. I need


    to rest.”


    I pulled my gaze away from my inspection of the apartment and looked at her, remembering the bedding she’d picked out yesterday. “Has Alvin slept here?”


    Thea pressed her lips together, and I smiled faintly. “Or should I ask more directly? Have the two of you slept together?”


    “Zoe, why are you speaking like that?” Thea’s pale face flushed slightly, a touch of feigned pride in her expression.


    C