Chapter 2049

Jocelyn closed the taxi door, slipped her key into the new lock, and pushed. The door sighed open, revealing a hush so wide it seemed to swallow her footsteps.

She thought Yannick must still be at work, so she didn't give him a call.

She settled onto the couch, pulled the slender gold card Nicholas had given her from her coat, and nested it deep inside her purse like a secret.

She then sent Yannick a message: "I found Nicholas. He's safe—I'm home."

Assured he knew her whereabouts, Jocelyn had nothing left to do. She cleaned every surface until it shone, then dozed through the long afternoon. As evening crept in, she tied an apron, chopped vegetables, and filled the table with dishes meant for two.

Minutes stretched into an hour; steam faded, and the food lay cooling under the kitchen light. Worried, she dialed Yannick.

At that moment, Yannick had just reached his destination, phone vibrating in his palm with Jocelyn's name flashing across the screen.

He had seen her earlier text, felt a knot of frustration tighten, and chosen silence. Now, after a pause heavy enough to hear his own breath, he accepted the call.

"Jocelyn." Yannick's voice sounded lower than usual.

overtime?" She spoke quickly,

bruised copper while fresh snow cracked beneath his boots. It felt colder than it should have in the early evening. "Yeah...

catch it. "Just stay safe,

crouched by a frozen embankment and, without thinking, tore

"I know," he murmured.


I'll let you go so you can work," she said, already lifting the phone from

ear.

"I'm actually not that busy-stay on the line with me

invitation hovered between them like

Nicholas? He vanished overnight." Yannick searched for something

she admitted. "He was

but he never said why he'd

flared before he could smother it. "I told you he was fine, but you didn't

right. I was overthinking," she

When I'm back, I'll take you out for a

heat stinging her eyes-gratitude and guilt folding together inside her

whispered the words as though an apology could warm the cooling

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