Under the mid-morning sun, the Lamborghini purred softly as Kasra navigated the open lanes on I-495. Traffic was light, and the drive felt effortless. Kasra focused on the road, but his mind wandered to the man beside him.

  “Seven,” Kasra began, breaking the silence, “I’ve decided to replace the backseat of your Sport. The blood… it seeped through.” He paused, his fingers tightening slightly on the steering wheel. “It’ll take about a week.”

  Seven didn’t flinch, as if discussing the weather. “No rush. I won’t need it for a while.”

  The conversation shifted, but the heaviness lingered. Kasra cast him a sidelong glance, his gaze sharpening. “When do you think Sana can be discharged?”

  “When she moves her bowels without complications, she’s good to go,” Seven replied without hesitation, his eyes fixed on the passing scenery, his expression unreadable.

  Kasra absorbed the answer in silence. After a moment, he spoke again, softer this time. “I apologize for Sana’s behavior. This... situation… It’s thrown her for a loop. She’s usually well-behaved, never this capricious. This isn’t like her.”

  A chuckle, deep and unexpected, escaped Seven’s throat. “Don’t sweat it. She’s lively,” he admitted, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Adorable, even.”

  Kasra shot him another look, an unnamed emotion stirring in his chest. There was something in Seven’s voice, a tenderness that made Kasra unsure if he should ask the next question, yet he did.

  “Do you... like my sister?”

  Seven’s gaze remained on the passing surroundings, distant and pensive, as if lost in a memory. “Yeah,” he said, the word almost a sigh. “But don’t worry… I know I’m out of her league. Once James is recovered, I’ll disappear.”

  The bluntness caught Kasra off guard. He hadn’t expected Seven to have already considered a self-imposed exile.

  “I’ll cut off all contact.” Seven’s resolve grew firmer.

  He thought, It’s easier than pretending I can handle seeing her in the arms of another. That would just be torture.

  Kasra’s brow furrowed. He hesitated but then decided to push back gently. “You’re jumping to conclusions. My family isn’t what you think… This morning, Kimi told us he was dating Kate. Our parents didn’t even blink.”

  Seven let out a dry laugh, his lips quirking slightly. “It’s different. Sana and Kate are girls; marrying up is expected. But I’m an orphan. What parent wouldn’t mind their daughter marrying down?”

  Kasra’s response came with quiet insistence. “My parents aren’t concerned with status, Seven. It’s your character that matters. That’s why none of us were ever forced into blind dates.” He paused, his tone softening. “We’ve noticed the chemistry between you and Sana. I just wanted to get a read on your feelings.”

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  For a fleeting moment, Seven’s eyes flickered with something unspoken. “Rest assured, I’d never hurt her. These next few months… they’ll be the best memories I’ll ever have.”

  The car fell quiet again, a mutual understanding settling between them. Kasra couldn’t help but sympathize with Seven’s circumstance. He knew better than to push further. Time, perhaps, would bring clarity.

  They entered the sprawling estate, its grandeur understated yet unmistakable. Kasra first led Seven to the gourmet kitchen, a space designed by celebrated chef José Andrés, outfitted with sleek marble countertops, neutral-toned custom cabinetry, and state-of-the-art appliances.

  “This is the kitchen,” Kasra said, his voice echoing slightly in the expansive room. “The prep kitchen’s just behind this wall.”

  Seven took it in, nodding thoughtfully as he scanned the space. “And the outdoor kitchen?”

  Kasra gestured toward the glass door leading to the patio. “It’s more of a grill and barbecue area.”

  “That’s all I need,” Seven assured him, his mind already planning. “Is it okay to ask the kitchen staff for help if I need it?”

  Kasra smirked. “Of course. I’ll text you their contacts. They’re at your service.”

  The kitchen opened into the great room, a double-volume space awash in natural light, the high ceilings giving it an airy, open feel. They crossed through it to Sana’s suite, just off the great room.

  Her suite stretched along the entire east wing on the ground floor. There was an office, an ensuite bathroom, and a dressing room overlooking the Potomac on one side and French doors facing the circular driveway on the other.

  Reaching the door at the end of the suite’s long corridor, Kasra pushed a button by the wall. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a vast, open space—its previous life a six-car garage.

  The room was stark; the only thing in there was a California King bed facing a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass panels that framed the Potomac landscape, the view breathtaking even in its simplicity.

  “Her room is almost empty,” Seven noted, a hint of approval in his voice. “We’ll place her hospital bed near the windows. She can get some sunlight and enjoy the view, even in winter.”

  Kasra agreed, watching as Seven’s mind worked through the logistics. “We’ll also need a place for the massage table,” Seven added. “James and Sana will both need it, so it shouldn’t be in either of their rooms.”

  Kasra considered this matter, instantly suggesting, “Why don’t we get a massage table for each room?”

  “That works, too.”

  After leaving Sana’s suite, they descended to the upper basement, where James and his family would stay. This space, directly below Sana’s entire suite, had once been part of a double-volume basketball court, but an additional floor had been built, converting it into two floors with three spacious guest suites and a laundry room for each floor. All the rooms were bare, awaiting their transformation.

  Seven surveyed each guestroom with a critical eye, his focus sharp. “We’ll put him in the largest room. There should be enough space for both his hospital bed and massage table. If Esme’s staying with him, get her a bed that would fit the space.”

  Kasra made a mental note. “We’ll measure it out before we buy anything.”

  Their last stop was the indoor pool. Both men paused at the short flight of steps leading to the poolside, the water glistening under the soft light. “We’ll need a ramp and a pool lift,” Seven noted.

  ......

  As they left the pool area, Seven’s thoughts drifted back to Kasra’s words from the car—the gentle probing about Sana, the quiet acknowledgment of the chemistry he couldn’t deny.

  His heart felt unsteady, awakened to something forbidden yet irresistible. He reminded himself that once James recovered, he would step back. Still, the pull of his feelings lingered, insistent and disorienting.

  He wondered how long he could keep it in check. Every glance at Kasra set his instincts on edge, screaming that the coming months would be like walking an endless tightrope over a bottomless abyss.

  Author’s Note:

  read ahead of Royal Road and Scribble Hut, you can catch early-access chapters over on my Patreon:

  Heads-up on timing

  Starting next week, uploads will go live at 8 PM SGT (Singapore Time) — that’s 8 AM EST / 5 AM PST — so my US readers can enjoy them at a more comfy hour.