Their eyes met.
No sudden movement. No words.
Just a quiet, fragile moment—sweet, warm, dangerous. The kind that made breathing feel too loud.
Caleb didn't look away. Neither did Maya.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then Maya blinked.
The spell broke.
She shifted slightly, realizing where she was. Her body tensed, hesitation clear on her face. She sat up slowly, fingers clutching the sheet.
Caleb watched her, saying nothing.
After a brief pause, Maya spoke—soft, almost casual, as if trying to pretend the moment never happened.
"…How did you sleep last night?"
Caleb sat up slowly. His expression was calm—controlled.
"It was… fine," he said. Nothing more.
He didn't tell her that it had been the first time in a long while he slept without waking up restless. Some things stayed locked inside.
His gaze drifted back to her.
Maya was sitting at the edge of the bed now.
Caleb paused, then asked quietly,"…What are you doing here?"
A beat.
His eyes flicked to the pillow beside his. "Did you sleep here?"
Maya shifted uncomfortably, biting her lip. "I… I didn't mean to sleep here," she said quickly, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness.
But as she met his gaze, her expression softened, warmth spreading across her features."…But last night," she continued, quieter now, sincere, "you looked like you needed someone."
Caleb's eyes flickered for a fraction of a second—a shadow of something softer hiding behind his usual calm.
He didn't smile. He didn't say anything.
Instead, he leaned back slightly, running a hand through his hair, his gaze fixed on hers."…I see," he said finally, voice low, measured.
A long pause hung between them, filled with the quiet weight of what was left unsaid.
Then, almost casually, he asked,"…So… did you stay here the whole night?"
Maya hesitated, her fingers twisting the edge of the sheet. She glanced away for a moment, then met his eyes again, a shy honesty in her gaze.
"…I… I just stayed nearby," she admitted quietly, "Couldn't sleep… and… you seemed… like you needed someone."
Her words hung in the air, heavier than she intended.
Caleb's eyes narrowed slightly—not in anger, but in thought. He leaned back against the headboard, silent for a moment, absorbing her words.
"…Is that so," he murmured, voice calm but carrying a weight only she could feel.
Maya's cheeks warmed, her heart fluttering. She wished she could look away—but something in his gaze held her there.
The room was quiet again, the morning light spilling over them, soft and intimate, as if the world outside had paused.
Maya's chest tightened. Her heart was beating too fast, and she knew she couldn't stay there a second longer.
She stood up abruptly. "I… I'll go… make breakfast," she said, voice awkward, cheeks burning red.
Caleb's eyes followed her, sharp but not unkind. Her blush didn't escape him. A faint, almost amused curve tugged at the corner of his lips.
Maya quickly turned and hurried out of the room.
From the doorway, Caleb watched her go. The corners of his mouth lifted into a subtle, knowing smile.
During breakfast, Maya poured tea into their cups, still feeling the warmth from the morning's awkward moment. Caleb watched her for a moment, then finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"I think… many days have passed," he said, calm, measured. "Shall we go back to the mansion? I have many things to take care of."
Maya nodded, a small, polite smile on her face. "Okay," she replied softly.
The moment was simple, but it carried a subtle understanding—life moving forward, yet the morning's closeness still lingering between them.
END Of Episode 21.