Micah''s narrowing eyes glinted coldly, yet he made no move. Instead, he took out a brand-new phone from his pocket and casually spun it in his hand. "Where''s my phone?"


    Sadie had bolted over 200 meters before realizing she didn''t have her phone with her. Today, she had given all her cash to Micah, and now she was penniless. She looked around. Her ce was over 50 kilometers away, so walking back wasn''t an option.


    She had no phone or money and couldn''t get back. What now?


    It waste at night, and only those 24-hour convenience stores were still open. All other shops were closed.


    There was nowhere to hide.


    Moreover, there were no payphones or taxis in sight.


    Sadie let out a long sigh and turned back, thinking, ''Screw it. Wrestling with this devil is still better than being homeless on the streets.''


    ...


    "Sir, what brand of pads would you like?" the store clerk asked cheerfully.


    "Doesn''t matter." Micah nced at his watch. "She''ll be back in under three minutes."


    "Do you need overnight or regr?" she asked.


    "Either." Micah''s brow furrowed in irritation.


    "And do you want the kind with wings or without?" she probed further.


    Micah rubbed his forehead, feeling a headacheing on. "Just mix it up, okay?"


    "Mix it up?" she pressed. "Like, a mix of each brand and type, or a mix of winged and wingless, or maybe—"


    "Enough!" Micah snapped, on the brink of losing it.


    "Sir, if you don''t specify, I don''t know what you want..." The clerk''s voice trailed as she persisted in fine-tuning her inquiry. Micah''s fists clenched.


    "PureSoft, overnight, one pack, thank you!"


    A familiar voice broke the awkward standoff.


    Sadie witnessed the scene from the doorway, aplex mix of feelings swelling inside her.


    He had stepped out to buy pads for her, and she had been thinking of running away.


    The clerk paused, then asked, pointing towards Micah, "Together?"


    "Uh-huh." Sadie nodded, embracing Micah''s arm with familiar ease.


    Micah red at her and whispered, "I thought you took off?"


    "Like I could ever escape your grip." Sadie stuck out her tongue at him, took the pads from the clerk, and nudged him. "Pay up!"


    Micah pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket, threw it on the counter, and they left together.


    Back in the car, Sadie looked at the sanitary products and snorted withughter. "Never thought you''d be out shopping for me. I assumed..." "Shut it!" Micah grumbled, not in the mood to talk.


    His first time in a convenience store turned out to be an errand for feminine products. It made people treat him like a criminal, followed by an inquisition by a relentless clerk. The whole experience left him feeling utterly humiliated.


    Sadie pursed her lips and didn''t dare to speak, just feeling how foul his mood was.


    Micah drove to the Cloud Hotel, the familiar spot, and booked their usual room. He pushed her into the bathroom, tossed the pads her way, and closed the door. Then, he headed to the shower. After the shower, Sadie wrapped herself in the warmth of freshly sanitized clothes that had beenid out for her.


    Despite the soothing hot water bath, she shivered with cramps.


    Stepping out of the bathroom wrapped in her bathrobe, Sadie found Micah leaning against the couch, nursing a drink, again.


    "Drinking again?" she remarked, copsing onto the bed and pulling the covers tightly around her.


    "Come here!" Micahmanded.


    "I''m too exhausted..." Sadie murmured, clutching her pillow and curling into the nkets.


    Micah turned to look at her and saw her huddled up, shivering under the covers, which made him frown with concern.