The mansion was silent at 2:47 AM.

Liam’s eyes snapped open in the dark, wide awake, no sleepiness at all. He’d been trained to wake like this—ready, alert, already assessing threats.

Next to him, Ayla was sleeping soundly, curled up on her side, one hand tucked under her pillow. Her breathing was soft and steady, and her face looked calm in a way it hardly ever did during the day.

He took a moment to watch her, soaking in the shape of her cheek and how her dark curls spilled across the white pillowcase.

I’m sorry.

The thought popped up almost reflexively, a programmed guilt for the person he was about to leave behind.

No. Not just a person. Ayla was so much more than that.

He pushed the thought away. Feelings had no place in his job.

Moving quietly, Liam slipped out of bed. The mattress stayed quiet, and the sheets didn’t rustle. He was as silent as a ghost.

He got dressed in the dark, pulling on black jeans, a dark shirt, and his boots, which he left loosely laced for a quick escape. Then he grabbed his pre-packed bag stashed in the closet and slung it over one shoulder.

At the bedside table, he paused to take out a small notepad and a pen from his pocket.

I’m sorry. I have to go. Don’t come looking for me.

— L

He left the note folded, barely visible in the dim light filtering in through the curtains.

With one last look at Ayla, whose lips slightly parted in her sleep, he noticed her trusting, vulnerable expression.

He turned away before guilt could set in.

The door opened without a sound. Liam had checked the hinges during dinner, noted which floorboards creaked, and memorized every camera angle in his mind. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He moved through the hallway like smoke, smooth, quiet, and unseen.

Down the stairs. Past the guards at the east wing entrance. They never caught sight of him. He knew their routine, their blind spots, and exactly the three seconds when both would be distracted.

Through the kitchen. Out the service door.

And just like that, Liam slipped into the night, leaving behind only questions and a woman who would wake up with a broken heart.

*****

The morning sun streamed into the guest room, warming everything up.

Ayla stirred and instinctively reached out for Liam.

Instead, her hand met only cold sheets.

Frowning, she kept her eyes shut and patted the space next to her. Nothing. Just an empty mattress, and the spot where he’d been was already cool.

He’s probably in the bathroom, she thought, still half-asleep.

But when she finally opened her eyes, she saw the bathroom door wide open. It was dark and empty.

"Liam?" she called out, her voice rough from sleep.

Not a sound in return.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Babe?"

Still no answer.

A knot of worry began to twist in her chest. She tossed off the covers and padded to the bathroom to check it out.

Empty. The mirror was still fog-free. The towels were fresh.

"Okay, he must’ve gotten up already," she told herself, trying to shake off the anxiety. "Maybe he went to grab some coffee or something."

She missed the folded note sitting on the side table.

Ayla went through her morning routine like a zombie—showering, throwing on comfy jeans and a soft sweater, and brushing her hair. All the while, her mind kept wandering back to where Liam was.

Maybe he just couldn’t fall asleep. Maybe he went for a walk.

But that nagging feeling wouldn’t leave her.

She stepped out of the guest room and walked down the hallway. She heard familiar voices coming from the living room—warm and inviting.

When she turned the corner, she saw Aylin and Zayden on the couch. Aylin was cozied up against him, her legs tucked underneath her, while Zayden had his arm casually around her. They were chatting softly, Aylin’s face lighting up as she laughed at something he said.

"—not my fault you can’t cook," Zayden joked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I’m not that bad! I just—" Aylin spotted Ayla and broke into a smile. "Morning, sleepyhead! Is Liam up? Breakfast is ready."

That question hit Ayla like a splash of cold water.

"He’s... not in the room," she said slowly. "I thought he might already be outside?"

Aylin’s smile faded. "Wait, what do you mean, not in the room?"

"I mean, he wasn’t there when I woke up. The bed felt cold, ...like he’d already been gone for a while." Ayla tried to laugh, but it sounded off. "Maybe he’s just checking out the mansion?"

Zayden sat up straighter, his playful vibe shifting to something serious. "Are you really sure he’s not in the room? Not in the bathroom or out on the balcony?"

"I’m sure," Ayla answered, her voice shaky with worry. "I looked everywhere."

Zayden and Aylin exchanged a quick glance that said a lot without words.

Aylin put her hand on Zayden’s knee, giving it a slight squeeze to tell him to keep calm. Don’t freak her out. Not yet.

Aylin stood up and walked over to Ayla, trying to act chill. "Did you try calling him?"

Ayla quickly pulled out her phone. "Yeah, I... wait." She dialed his number and held the phone to her ear.

It went straight to voicemail. Her stomach sank.

"His phone is off," she whispered. She quickly opened WhatsApp. Last seen: yesterday at 11:47 PM. Status: offline.

"His WhatsApp is off too."

The room went quiet.

Zayden was already up, pulling out his phone. "Stay here."

He strode toward the foyer, talking to someone on the line in a firm, no-nonsense tone. "I need a full sweep of the mansion. Guest wing, grounds, garage—everywhere. Ten minutes."

Aylin wrapped her arm around Ayla’s shoulders. "I’m sure he’s fine. Maybe he just needed some air, and his phone died."

But Ayla wasn’t naive; she could hear the fake cheeriness in her sister’s voice.

"Something’s wrong," Ayla whispered. "I can just feel it."

*****

Twenty-eight minutes later, Lucas, Zayden’s head of night security, was standing in the foyer, shaking his head.

"Boss, we’ve looked everywhere in the mansion. Every room, every closet, the gardens, the garage. He’s not here."

Zayden’s jaw was tight. "Did anyone see him leave?"

"Nope, boss. All the guards say there was no movement after 2:00 AM. No alarms went off, and the cameras didn’t catch anything weird."

"That can’t be right," Zayden said bluntly. "No one just leaves this house without someone noticing."