Love Unspoken

As dusk descended, the solar-powered lamps encircling the farmhouse flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the secluded property.

Returning from the house, Kyle carried two sandwiches and a bottle of water, which he handed to Quinn.

She accepted them with a grateful nod, taking small bites of the bread, her mind swirling with Kyle's words.Suddenly, the flash of headlights pierced the darkness outside the yard. Quinn ceased her chewing, her eyes fixated on the quivering light beyond the gate. Moments later, a Maybach rolled into view.Quinn froze, the bread slipping from her grasp onto the ground.She stared at the car, as if attempting to see through it.

Kyle Astor was equally taken aback, disbelief etched on his face as he watched the vehicle and the figure emerging from it.Alexander stepped out of the car, forcefully slammed the door shut, and strode towards the house without sparing Quinn a glance.

Not even as he passed her by. The breeze stirred by his coat carried the scent of gardenia to her nostrils, and that's when Quinn realized this was no illusion, no dream.

in the yard.Quinn remained crouched there, an

brought the winter cold from outside, causing the room's temperature to plummet

thing tomorrow morning," he demanded, "defuse the bomb on her ankle."Gasping for breath, Walter coughed twice, raising his hands in a plea for

he managed to utter, "Don't worry, I'm a man of my word."Alexander responded with a cold, disdainful sneer before taking a seat across from Walter. ---Meanwhile, outside the room, Kyle Astor was pressing his ear against the door, straining to eavesdrop on the conversation within. His efforts,

himself, "Oh man, what do we do now? If this delays us all night, Alexander will miss the shareholders' meeting."Quinn, standing nearby, gazed at the firmly shut

back and forth outside the door. ---A whirlwind of emotions churned

some rest. Quinn tugged at Kyle's sleeve, squatted down, and with her finger dipped in water, she wrote on the ground: I need to use the bathroom."Uh... do you want me to come with you?" he asked, understanding

beyond the yard, a nagging feeling of unease settling in his gut. Ten minutes

of anyone. He ventured further, searching all the likely places someone