Unfortunately, a loud crash of thunder drowned my voice, and his response was also muffled due to it, so I couldn’t hear it clearly. But I thought I caught the word “okay.”

When the storm calmed, he finally let go.

Just as I was debating how to ask him to stay longer, he reassured me in a soft voice, “Go to sleep. I’ll stay right here.”

He brought in a blanket and curled up on the small sofa in the corner of the room.

Seeing this six-foot-plus man squeezed into that tiny space, I felt a pang of warmth.

“It’s okay, I can manage on my own—”

But before I could refuse, he cut me off, gently saying, “Goodnight,”

Listening to his even, steady breathing, I fell asleep. For the first time in five years, I felt truly at peace on a stormy night.

Sienna's POV

I woke up the next morning to the smell of breakfast. Howard had already prepared everything.

Noticing the dark circles under his eyes, I was about to thank him when a notification from my boss caught my attention.

[Boss: Sienna, the proposal you submitted this time was excellent! The higher-ups are really impressed! And because of that, your performance review for the year has been approved!]