Book 2. Chapter 41

41

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Alessa told her driver to speed up, feeling increasingly tense. She tried calling Rican again, but he still didn't answer, making her more anxious by the second. "Can you please go faster, Uncle?" she pleaded with the driver, uncle, she called him uncle since he was the age of her father. If her father were alive today.

Finally, the car pulled up in front of her home. Without wasting any time, Alessa jumped out and rushed inside. She quickly scanned the room but didn’t see him downstairs. Heading upstairs to their room, she opened the door—and there he was, lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

Alessa glanced at the clock—it was only 9 p.m. and Rican was already in bed, apparently asleep. Confused but assuming he must be exhausted, she walked over and gently caressed his head.

"He must be tired," she thought.

Her phone suddenly rang, interrupting the quiet moment. She answered quickly.

"Hey, did you get home safely?" Xavier's voice came through the line.

His rough v