Before going to bed, he firmly decided to forget about the situation altogether; he had more important things to worry about. A few weeks later, Soren handed over all the responsibilities to him, and now Nolan felt the actual pressure of his position. It seemed that Freya had forgotten about the incident from that night, and since Nolan never brought it up, it was pushed aside. As autumn turned to winter, their professional relationship evolved through small moments—shared coffee breaks, late-night work sessions, and quiet conversations that revealed more than either intended to share.

Nolan had been quite busy with work, leaving him no time to think. The end of the year was approaching, and there was a lot to do. After pulling an all-nighter, he sat at his desk, weary and bleary-eyed. Freya was about to leave the office when she noticed Nolan, his eyes resembling those of a panda as he yawned repeatedly. Concerned, she offered to drive him home. Nolan initially refused her kind gesture but eventually gave in to her insistence. He got off on the main road, preferring to walk the rest of the way.

As he disappeared around the corner, Freya was about to start her car when her gaze landed on Nolan’s bag on the seat. Deciding to return it to him, she drove toward his house. A few streets in, she noticed some burly-looking men surrounding someone. As she tried to see what was happening, she realized they were beating someone up. Her eyebrows knotted in concern as she dialed the police helpline. A few minutes later, sirens wailed, and the men fled. She got out of the car and approached the victim.

****

Nolan walked slowly toward his house, dragging his feet, lethargy evident in his gait. Suddenly, he bumped into someone and looked up, his pupils dilated and fists clenched. He found himself surrounded by loan sharks. Panic surged as he remembered he had promised to pay part of his debt the day before, but he had forgotten due to his workload and hadn't even returned home the previous night. Before he could utter a word, a fist crashed into his stomach. He coughed violently and bent down, only to have someone yank his hair, forcing him to look up. Pain radiated through various parts of his body.

As the police sirens approached, the loan sharks threw him down and fled, cursing him as they left. Nolan lay battered, aware that his face must be bruised. His only thought was how he would show up at the office the next day. Before he could dwell on it further, he heard footsteps. His chest heaved, and his palms clenched as he slowly sat up. His eyes locked with Freya's, and he hurriedly dropped his head, not wanting to see the pity in her eyes or acknowledge how pathetic he felt.

Freya slowly sat down in front of him, her trembling fingers cupping his face as she gazed at him intently. She pursed her lips and gently helped him stand up, driving him silently to his house while Nolan refused to look at her. He sat sideways in the passenger seat, his gaze transfixed on the window, his blue eyes devoid of their usual glimmer. Huffing and sighing, Freya helped him inside. He settled on the couch, crouching and silent. Freya examined the house; it was neat but sparsely furnished and decorated. She spotted the medical box, fetched it, and took out supplies to gently clean his visible wounds. After finishing, she looked at him, hinting for him to take off his shirt. “I can do it myself,” he whispered. “Lan, let me help you,” she said, tucking his long hair aside. After a moment of hesitation, he resigned himself to her care.

Freya then went to the kitchen, searching for recipes to make something for him to eat. It took her nearly an hour to cook a simple meal, as she wasn’t used to cooking. Setting the table, she softly called him. Nolan looked at the piping hot meal; a flicker of glimmer returned to his eyes. He took a spoonful; though it had an ordinary taste, to him, it was the most delicious meal. He continued eating slowly.

After a while, Freya heard a light sob and turned to him, seeing tears streaming down his face. Not a word was exchanged; she simply sat beside him, silently accompanying him as he cried out his sorrows. Once Nolan calmed down, he felt embarrassed about his emotional outburst. Freya gently asked if he wanted to talk about it. He softly declined, still uncomfortable discussing his problems. Understanding his reluctance, she gently ushered him to bed, saying she would leave soon after clearing the dishes.

Before she left, her eyes darted toward his room; she could see him soundly asleep. On impulse, she tiptoed toward him, covered him with a blanket, and dropped a light kiss on his forehead before quietly exiting the house.

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