Chapter 144

There was no response, only the sound of the call disconnecting. Even though the door hadn't yet opened, I knew I'd guessed correctly. A moment later, it swung open, revealing Hayden in gray loungewear. My new neighbor. So, he hadn't been absent these past few days; he'd been living directly across from me, quietly watching over me. He wasn't pulling late shifts; he was arriving early, staying in that apartment. Yet, he hadn't spoken a word. It all clicked—he must have decided to rent the apartment while fixing my pipes. Seeing him, everything made sense.

"Come in," Hayden said calmly, showing no embarrassment. Honestly, there was nothing wrong with him renting the place; I was overreacting. But I couldn't simply say, "Hey." I stood at the doorway, staring intently. "Don't you owe me an explanation? What's going on?"

"Come in, and I'll explain," he replied, stepping aside.

I swallowed my frustration and entered. Despite knowing deep down he was doing this for me, anger bubbled up. Anger that he'd been subtly manipulating me. Stepping inside, I hesitated. I'd been here before—I remembered the apartment's appearance. But now, it was drastically different. All the belongings were gone; the living room was bare, except for a couch. It looked ransacked, not lived-in.

"Where did all the stuff go?" I blurted.

Hayden glanced at me. "Did you come in here before?"

He was dodging my question, further fueling my irritation. I glared. Under my gaze, he gestured toward a side room. "I packed everything up and put it in there."

So, all he needed was a couch? Normally, you'd have a TV stand, a small table—somewhere to put a coffee cup or your phone. If he was so minimalist, why hadn't he packed up my parents' things when staying in their room in Chiverton?

But I didn't ask that. Instead, I went for the obvious question: "Why did you rent the apartment across from mine?"

Hayden didn't hesitate. "The rent was cheap."

True, the rent here wasn't bad.

"But there are plenty of other apartments. Why this one?" As I asked, I recalled overhearing him on the phone that day. Looking back, I realized how naive I'd been. He must have thought I was an idiot.

Hayden met my gaze, unflinching. "Because you live across the hall."

Blunt, as usual.

I scoffed. "You're creepier than that blind date guy—you actually moved in next door."

Hayden's brow furrowed slightly. "I'm not like him. I'm here to protect you. He wasn't."

That was true, and I couldn't argue. But I snapped, "But you're still up to no good."

Hayden was silent for a few seconds, then said, "...Yeah."

He admitted it! I shouldn't have been surprised, considering his background—a soldier, someone who faced things head-on.

I didn't know how to respond. It only fueled my anger. "What does 'yeah' mean?"

"It means I'm weaving my way into your world." His words sounded oddly poetic.