A strange feeling crept into Suzy’s chest. Was this little thing... following her?

"Alright, we’re ready to go!" Leonard’s voice snapped her out of it.

She tore her gaze away and stepped forward, but after a few paces, she couldn’t resist turning back.

The white snake was still there. Coiled in the same spot, flicking its tongue, staring straight at her.

She was certain now. It was watching her.

Slowly, she lifted her hand and beckoned. If it came to her, she wouldn’t mind taking it in. Keeping it in her space wouldn’t be a problem.

To her surprise, the little snake seemed to understand. It shot toward her at astonishing speed, reaching her feet in the blink of an eye.

Suzy crouched down and reached out.

The moment her fingers touched it, the snake coiled itself around her hand as if it belonged there.

With a single thought, she sent it into her space.

Neither Leonard nor Thomas noticed a thing.

The three of them boarded the speedboat and headed toward Starlight Towers.

The acid rain had just stopped, and most people were still hiding indoors. The return trip was smooth.

Still, since they had departed from the same place and were heading to the same destination, they inevitably crossed paths with Wendy along the way.

When they arrived at Starlight Towers, Suzy jumped off first, with Leonard and Thomas following behind.

The moment they steadied themselves, another boat docked behind them.

Wendy stepped ashore. She had already suspected it during the journey, but seeing it confirmed still made her mind explode.

Not only did Suzy live here, but they were also in the same building.

Her expression shifted instantly as she hurried forward. "Suzy!"

Suzy paused and turned back.

Wendy forced out the words, her voice tight. "You live here too?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Suzy nodded coolly.

Wendy’s face flickered between pale and flushed, her emotions tangled. She hadn’t expected Suzy to be this close all along.

But... that also meant opportunity. If Suzy lived here, then getting closer to Leonard and Thomas would be much easier.

Suzy had no intention of lingering. After hiding the speedboat, she headed upstairs without another word.

There was no point concealing anything anymore. If not for this unexpected encounter, she would have continued avoiding Wendy.

Wendy remained where she stood for a long moment until Liam’s voice broke the silence.

"As agreed, these are yours. I’m heading up." He set down a bag of supplies on the steps and walked past her.

This had been their deal. He used her boat to gather resources, and in return, he paid her with supplies. No debts between them.

Soon, his figure disappeared around the stairwell.

The rainwater outside was cold, but the fire burning inside Wendy was hotter.

Her expression darkened. Suzy must have been living comfortably here for quite some time.

Thinking about her own situation back at the Kale family, and then comparing it to Suzy’s current life, it was unbearable.

She, the supposed heroine, was doing worse than a mere side character.

...No. No need to rush. In the end, she was still the heroine.

Wendy repeated that to herself over and over. It was normal for a protagonist to be suppressed in the early stages. Perfectly normal.

Since they lived in the same building now, there would be plenty of opportunities.

Leonard, Thomas, Liam... all of them would belong to her eventually.

As for Suzy...

She slowly opened her eyes, a cold glint flashing through them.

Just you wait.

***

The moment Suzy pushed open her door, her entire body relaxed. Nothing inside had changed.

"I’m finally back..." She kicked off her shoes and stepped barefoot onto the warm floor, letting out a long breath.

The temperature inside the safehouse remained perfectly comfortable. The air was clean, free of the damp, rotten smell outside.

The sky beyond the windows was still gray and heavy, but the soft golden light inside made everything feel steady, safe.

Leonard came in behind her, sighing deeply. "Finally. That trip felt worse than a war."

It was Thomas’ first time in Suzy’s home. He paused slightly at the entrance.

The place was far more comfortable than he had expected. Far better than where he lived.

"Come in," Suzy said, glancing back at him with a small smile. "What are you standing there for?"

Only then did he step inside. His gaze swept across the room before settling briefly on her face.

She found him a pair of clean slippers and gestured for him to make himself at home.

"Sit for a bit. I’ll grab something to eat," she said.

He nodded.

Meanwhile, Leonard had already started checking the house’s systems. Fortunately, everything was still functioning properly.

"I’ve already heated some water. We can take a hot shower in a bit," he called, continuing his inspection.

When he finished and came back, his eyes flickered slightly as they landed on Thomas sitting on the sofa.

He walked over and patted his shoulder. "Sit tight. I need to talk to Suzy for a minute."

Thomas didn’t ask questions.

Leonard headed into the kitchen.

Suzy was already pulling ingredients out from her space.

When she saw him, she smiled. "Uncle, what do you feel like eating?"

"Suzy." His voice dropped, expression serious. "We need to talk."

He shut the kitchen door behind him.

Seeing his demeanor, she had a pretty good idea what this was about. She set down what she was holding.

Leonard took a deep breath, fixing his eyes on hers. "Alright. Explain. What’s going on between you and Thomas?"

Suzy blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Don’t play dumb." He frowned. "You revealed your space right in front of him. And you said he could be trusted. What exactly happened between you two these past few days?"

She fell silent for a moment. Then she smiled.

"Uncle... didn’t you already guess?"

His expression stiffened. Guessing was one thing. Hearing her confirm it was another.

"So... you two really..." He gestured vaguely, unable to find the words.

Suzy nodded calmly. "Yeah."

Leonard went quiet.

After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Are you sure he’s someone you can trust? In times like this... people aren’t what they seem."