Chapter 106 How Does He Know I'm Home?

Chapter 106 How Does He Know I'm Home?

Stephanie's POV

"Miss, you have visitors."

The voice pulled me from the haze of sleep. My eyes blinked open, and sunlight was already spilling across the edge of my bed, warm and intrusive.  

A maid stood at the doorway, her posture stiff, her expression hesitant—as if she wasn't sure whether to step inside or run.

"Who?" I pushed myself upright, rubbing at my temples. My head still throbbed from last night; I'd been up until the early hours, and the remnants of exhaustion clung to me like smoke.

"It's Mr. Luke Tucker… and…" She hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the floor. "Another gentleman. Strong presence. We didn't dare keep them waiting."

Half my drowsiness vanished in an instant.  

Another gentleman with a strong presence?  

Karon came to mind immediately. I couldn't think of a second person who could make the staff of Valerius Estate use the word "dare" in that trembling tone.

Still, I couldn't jump to conclusions.  

"Where are they?"

"In the front hall. Mr. Tucker said he's been calling you, but you didn't answer. He said it's urgent, so they came straight here." She swallowed. "The other gentleman hasn't spoken… but when he stands there, it feels like the temperature in the front hall drops several degrees."

My gaze darted to the nightstand.  

My phone lay there, lifeless, black screen reflecting nothing.  

Damn it.  

I'd crashed straight into bed last night without charging it.

"Tell them I'll be down in a minute," I said, throwing back the covers and swinging my legs over the side. "And have the kitchen bring coffee."

"Yes, Miss." She disappeared down the hall.

I made for the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, pulling on a set of casual home clothes. The moment I plugged in my phone, the screen lit up—notifications flooding in.

Five missed calls from Luke.  

Two from Chloe Humphrey.  

Several from numbers I didn't recognize.

My eyes lingered on Luke's calls… but my fingers moved on their own, dialing a different number.

My pulse quickened, each beat sharp and insistent.  

The call connected on the third ring.

"Awake?"

Karon's voice slid through the receiver—lower than usual, edged with a coolness that made my skin prickle.

I froze for half a second.  

He knew I'd just woken up.  

So the man in the front hall was indeed him.

"Yeah," I murmured. "You're at my place?"

"Front hall," he said. "Luke couldn't reach you, so I came along."

Came along.  

The words sounded like a flimsy excuse.

"My phone died," I explained. "I'll be down right away."

"No rush." His tone was unreadable. "Where are you?"

"My room."

"Mm." A pause. "I'll come up."

What?  

Before I could react, the line went dead.

I stared at the screen, my thoughts stalling.  

He was coming up.  

To my room.  

The idea sent a flush creeping across my cheeks.  

No. He was probably just making sure I was okay. After all, if I'd called him five times without an answer, I'd be worried too.

I drew in a deep breath, forcing my heartbeat into something resembling calm.

I was halfway to the door when a knock sounded.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Karon filled the frame—broad shoulders, tall enough to shadow the space.  

He wore a deep gray tailored suit, the top two buttons undone at the collar, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing forearms corded with lean muscle. His gaze swept over my face, lingering for several seconds.

"Sleep well?" he asked.

"Well enough." I nodded. "Why are you here?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.  

That simple motion sent my pulse into chaos.

"Luke said your phone wasn't working. He was worried." His voice was calm, almost disinterested. "I happened to be nearby."

Nearby?  

Valerius Estate was in the outskirts. What business did he have here so early?

I swallowed the question and simply nodded.

"Should I go down to see him?"

"No." Karon crossed to the window, pulling back the curtain to glance outside. "Change your clothes first."

I glanced at my outfit. It wasn't sloppy—clean lines, comfortable yet neat.

"What's wrong with this?" I asked.

"There are reporters outside." His eyes darkened, a glint of cold steel flashing there. "Camped at your gate."

Reporters?  

A knot tightened in my chest.

"What kind of reporters?"

"A man named Eli," Karon said, voice dropping another degree. "Sent by the Lightwood Pack."

My breath caught.  

Bennett.  

He'd sent someone to stake out my home.

"He wants an interview," Karon continued, his tone edged with contempt. "About you and me."

I inhaled sharply, forcing the anger back down before it could spill over. 

Bennett. That lunatic. What the hell was he trying to pull?

"I'll go talk to him," I said, moving toward the door.

Karon's hand shot out, stopping me.  

"No need." His voice was firm. "Luke is handling it."

I looked up at him. His expression was composed, but beneath it, I could see the restrained burn of fury.

"You're angry?" I asked.

A pause. "A little."

His honesty caught me off guard.

"Because of the reporter?"

"Because someone doesn't know when to stop," he said evenly. "And they dared to touch what's mine."

My heart slammed hard against my ribs.  

"What's mine," I murmured.

The words dropped into me like stones into still water, sending ripples through places I didn't want to examine.

"Karon…"

"Change," he cut me off. "I'll drive you to the office."

He turned toward the door, pausing just long enough to add, "And charge your phone next time."

The door closed behind him with a soft click.

I stood there for several seconds, mind spinning, before shaking myself back into motion.  

A quick change into a sharp, fitted suit, hair smoothed into place, and I stepped out into the hall.

Voices drifted from the front hall as I descended the stairs.

"…You'd better come clean, or you'll regret it."

Luke's voice—colder than I'd ever heard it.

At the bottom of the stairs, I saw him facing a middle-aged man in glasses. The man's complexion was ashen, beads of sweat glistening at his hairline.

Karon sat on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, coffee cup in hand. He looked relaxed, but the air in the room was heavy, pressing down on everyone present.

All three turned toward me as my footsteps reached them.