Morning felt different.
Not louder. Not brighter.
Just… heavier.
Liora noticed it in the small things.
The way she checked her phone before even getting out of bed.
The way silence didn't feel calm anymore—but waiting.
No calls.
She stared at the screen a second longer than needed.
Then locked it.
"Still nothing?"
Adrian's voice came from the doorway.
Liora glanced up, slightly startled. "You walk too quietly."
"I live here," he said casually. "I'm allowed to."
She exhaled softly, sitting up.
"No calls," she replied.
He nodded once, though his expression didn't fully relax.
"That's good."
"Is it?" she asked.
That made him pause.
Liora tilted her head slightly. "If it just stops like that… doesn't that feel strange too?"
Adrian walked in, leaning lightly against the wall.
"Maybe whoever it was got bored."
"Or maybe they didn't."
A small silence settled between them.
Then—
Adrian pushed off the wall and walked toward her, reaching out without hesitation.
His fingers brushed against her wrist, grounding, warm.
"You're overthinking," he said, softer this time.
Liora looked at his hand for a moment.
Then back at him.
"…Probably," she admitted.
He didn't let go immediately.
"Come on," he said. "If you stay here any longer, you're going to convince yourself someone's hiding in the walls."
She raised a brow. "That's not funny."
"It worked, though."
A faint smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
"Barely."
"Still counts."
The rest of the morning moved slower than usual.
Not because anything had changed—
but because Liora couldn't fully shake the feeling from last night.
She stayed closer to Adrian without realizing it.
Not clinging.
Just… near.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
At one point, as they walked through the living room, he casually reached for her hand.
Not dramatic.
Not forced.
Just natural.
She didn't pull away.
"You're quieter today," he said.
"You've said that twice now."
"Because it's still true."
She glanced at him sideways. "You're very observant."
"I have to be."
"Why?"
He shrugged lightly. "Because you don't always say what you're thinking."
Liora went silent at that.
Not because he was wrong.
But because he wasn't.
By afternoon, the uneasiness had faded—slightly.
Enough for things to feel normal again.
They stepped out together this time.
The city moved around them like it always did—busy, alive, unaware.
"See?" Adrian said. "Nothing's happening."
Liora nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
But her grip on his hand tightened just a little.
Later that evening—
The apartment felt warmer.
More alive.
Adrian had insisted on cooking again, despite Liora offering to help.
"You're not touching anything," he said.
"I can cook."
"I know."
"Then why—"
"Because last time you said that, you almost burned the pan."
"That was one time."
He glanced over his shoulder. "It was a very memorable time."
She crossed her arms. "You're exaggerating."
"I'm really not."
A soft laugh escaped her.
This one lingered longer.
Better.
Dinner was… easy.
The kind of easy that didn't need effort.
Small conversations. Light teasing. Comfortable silence.
For a moment—
everything felt normal again.
Safe.
"By the way," Adrian said, setting his glass down.
Liora looked up.
"My parents are coming back in a few days."
She blinked slightly. "From their trip?"
"Yeah."
A small pause.
"And?" she asked.
"And," he continued, "they want to meet you properly."
Liora straightened slightly.
"They've already met me."
"Not like this."
That was true.
Before, it had been brief.
Formal.
Nothing personal.
"They're… excited," Adrian added.
That caught her off guard.
"Excited?"
"Very."
"…Why?"
He gave her a look.
"Because you're the person I'm marrying."
The words were simple.
But they landed differently this time.
Not heavy.
Not forced.
Just… real.
Liora looked away slightly, hiding the faint warmth in her expression.
"…That's a lot of expectation," she murmured.
Adrian stepped closer.
"They already like you," he said quietly.
She glanced back at him.
"And if they don't?" she asked.
He didn't hesitate.
"Then that's their problem."
A small smile finally appeared on her face.
"You're very confident."
"I have good reason to be."
There was something softer in his tone now.
Something honest.
For a moment—
Liora forgot about the calls.
Forgot about the unease.
Everything felt… right.
Night came slowly.
The city lights flickered on, one by one, painting the skyline in soft gold and distant motion.
Inside—
the apartment returned to quiet.
Liora sat on the couch, her phone resting beside her.
She hadn't touched it in a while.
She didn't want to.
But her eyes kept drifting toward it anyway.
Waiting.
Listening.
Nothing.
"…See?" she whispered to herself. "It's over."
The words felt fragile.
Uncertain.
Somewhere else—
far from the calm of her apartment—
a phone rang.
Not hers.
A different one.
The room it echoed in was dim.
Almost dark.
UNKNOWN MAN'S POV
A young man sat alone, leaning forward slightly, the faint glow of the screen reflecting in his eyes.
The name on the screen wasn't "Unknown."
It was saved.
"Mom."
The ringing stopped.
He answered.
"…Hello," he said softly.
Silence.
He smiled.
"I called her again today."
No response.
His expression didn't change.
"She answered this time."
A pause.
Longer.
"…She still doesn't recognize me," he continued, his voice calm. "But she will."
His fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
"She just needs time."
Silence filled the room again.
But to him—
it wasn't empty.
It never was.
"I told you, didn't I?" he murmured. "She was always meant to be mine."
A faint, distant sound crackled through the line.
Barely there.
Unnatural.
But he didn't question it.
He never did.
"I won't rush it," he said gently. "I'll do it properly."
His smile softened.
"Just like you taught me."
The call ended.
The room fell silent.
And in that silence—
something twisted quietly into place.
Not loud.
Not visible.
But growing.
Closer.
The person he was talking to...was his mom, it's normal right? No...she is dead.
End of Chapter 3