Chapter 1722: Staying up late with someone

Meanwhile...

Haines sat on the couch in the living area, eyes fixed on the table where his phone rested, arms propped on his legs. After the conversation, he had been sitting there alone, thinking about everything he’d heard.

’So, Noel... ’he thought. ’She...’

Another deep breath escaped him, still unsure how to fully process it. Learning what happened to his former lover had given him a kind of closure he never knew he needed. But just when he thought there was nothing more to uncover, he realized—

This was far from over.

Even so, it all started to make sense.

It explained why Noel had always felt a little distant, even when she was physically close. Why she seemed restless at times. Why she’d sometimes look at him with guilt or longing, even while in his arms.

Why her story had never quite added up.

Why she had been in the place where she died.

It now made sense to Haines—and it was clear what her answer would’ve been had he asked her that night to be with him.

She hadn’t left to fix things and come back.

Noel had left that day with no intention of returning.

A bitter laugh slipped from him as he shook his head and briefly closed his eyes.

"There’s no need to think about that," he murmured to himself. "What we had..."

The past they shared—something he had once considered the best years of his life—might have just been an illusion. An illusion he’d held onto all these years because he never got to see what would have happened if she hadn’t disappeared.

With that, Haines pushed himself to his feet and dragged himself toward the bedroom. But just as he reached for the doorknob and opened the door, Grace was already standing on the other side—doing the same.

She was barely awake, hair slightly messy. She blinked slowly up at him and let out a shallow breath.

Haines paused, meeting her gaze. "Grace, why are you—? It’s too early to be up."

"I know," she frowned, pushing the door wider as she took a slow step forward.

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest.

"Why aren’t you in bed?" she mumbled, yawning. "I was trying to hug you, but you weren’t there. I thought you just went to the bathroom, but you were taking forever to come back."

Eyes still closed, she pressed closer. "Thought you left... and I felt kind of sad at the thought."

Haines looked down at her, his expression softening. A small smile curled at the corner of his lips as he returned the embrace.

"Let’s go back to bed," he whispered. "I’m not going anywhere."

"You’d better not—or I’ll become a very grumpy wife."

A quiet chuckle escaped him. Hand in hand, they sauntered back to bed.

Maybe Haines hadn’t been wrong after all.

Maybe everything with Noel was just an illusion—one he convinced himself to believe in. His past with her had given him memories he’d never forget, and lessons he’d always carry.

It was a part of his past.

A part of himself.

But it wasn’t the best part of his life.

Because if that had been the best...

Then these recent days with Grace would have to be the best-est.

Because now, he was somewhere he was loved, accepted, wanted, and appreciated. And honestly? He’d never felt anything like that in his life until Grace came barging in, loud and bold.

His heart was finally in the right place.

And his hand held someone who held him back.

---

[Skyline Plaza: Finn’s]

When Finn returned home, he found himself tiptoeing inside. Despite how large the house was—and how unlikely it was for any noise to reach the master bedroom—he still moved discreetly.

’I feel like I just committed a crime,’ he told himself, heading straight for the bedroom.

He didn’t bother turning on the lights as he set his things down and quietly approached the bed to check on Nina. But the moment he reached it, the bed was empty.

"Nina?" he called, quickly switching on the bedside lamp.

The light blinked on, confirming it.

Nina wasn’t there.

His heart skipped a beat. Panic flooded him. Even though bodyguards were stationed around the residence, someone could have snuck in. Someone could have taken her.

Jonathan had placed a bounty on her head.

Without thinking, Finn bolted from the room to alert security. He didn’t even consider checking elsewhere in the house—his mind went straight to the worst.

But just as he reached the lobby, he froze.

"Finn?"

He turned slowly.

Nina stood there, holding a glass of water.

She blinked, walking toward him. "Finn, are you okay? You look pale—"

The rest of her sentence disappeared as Finn stepped forward and embraced her tightly.

The water in her glass spilled slightly, sloshing over the rim before she managed to steady herself. She blinked again, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against her chest.

"Finn?" she said gently, one hand reaching for his back. "What’s wrong?"

"Mhm." He huffed against her, eyes shut and voice low. "Mhm, everything’s fine. Just... panicked when I didn’t see you in bed."

Nina let out a small laugh, tapping his back. She leaned back to meet his eyes.

"I woke up and didn’t see you either," she said. "So I asked the guys outside where you were. They said you went to Zoren’s house. But I couldn’t fall back asleep, so I started sketching some designs for the vacant rooms—we still haven’t finalized the themes for those."

She smiled. "Where would I go, anyway? You and Penny already have a battalion of guards watching me. Besides, it’s the middle of the night."

Finn sighed, nodding. "Just... being paranoid."

"How about I show you my designs?" she offered with a hum, already lacing her fingers with his. "I doubt we’re getting any sleep soon. Might as well distract ourselves."

"..." Finn just stared at her, then nodded.

With that, the two returned to their room—but not before Finn refilled her glass.

He may have left Zoren’s home to get some rest...

But none of them were really in a place to rest, not after everything that had happened. It was a good thing they all had someone who would stay with them, and happily stay up with them.