"Thank you, Mr. Lee."
Kassandra stepped out of the car and closed the door.
Ryan looked at her through the window.
"Resume work tomorrow morning."
Kassandra blinked.
"What?"
But before she could say anything else, the car had already driven away.
She stood there staring at the disappearing vehicle.
"What the hell?"
A moment ago she was suspended.
Now she was expected to return to work.
Humans were truly confusing.
The moment she opened the apartment door—
"Baby!"
Larissa rushed over.
"You're finally back!"
Kassandra jumped slightly.
"I was worried sick."
Larissa grabbed her shoulders and looked her over.
"I thought your boss had done something to you."
Kassandra laughed.
"He's not as bad as you make him sound."
The words slipped out before she realized it.
Immediately, Larissa narrowed her eyes.
"Oh?"
Kassandra froze.
"What?"
"That's interesting."
Larissa crossed her arms.
"You just defended him."
"I did not."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
Kassandra quickly looked away.
Unfortunately, that only made Larissa more suspicious.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Baby..."
"What?"
"Did something happen between you two?"
Kassandra's mind instantly replayed the scene from earlier.
Falling.
Ryan's arm around her waist.
Those dark eyes staring directly into hers.
Her face immediately grew warm.
Larissa gasped dramatically.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You're blushing!"
"I'm not blushing."
"You are!"
"I'm not."
Larissa pointed at her face.
"Your cheeks are red."
Kassandra touched her face.
They were indeed warm.
A little too warm.
"It's because I walked home."
"You came home in a car."
Kassandra froze.
Larissa grinned victoriously.
"Got you."
"Larissa!"
"What happened?"
"Nothing happened."
"Then why are you blushing?"
"Can you stop asking questions?"
Larissa's smile widened.
"Never."
Kassandra groaned.
"This is exactly why I don't tell you things."
"Oh, so there are things to tell?"
Kassandra immediately realized her mistake.
Larissa laughed.
"Baby, you're making this too easy."
Kassandra pointed toward the hallway.
"Go away."
"What?"
"I want to take a shower."
Larissa followed behind her.
"So something definitely happened."
"Go away."
"Did he hold your hand?"
"No."
"Your waist?"
Kassandra nearly tripped.
Larissa's eyes widened.
"Oh my God, it was the waist."
"Larissa!"
The apartment echoed with laughter as Kassandra hurried into her room and slammed the door shut.
Outside, Larissa leaned against the wall, smiling.
Inside, Kassandra pressed a hand against her chest.
For some reason...
Her heart was still beating faster than usual.
"Good morning, Boss."
Kassandra greeted as Ryan entered the office.
Ryan paused briefly.
His eyes landed on her for a second longer than usual.
Then he looked away.
"Good morning."
Kassandra blinked.
That was unusual.
Ryan normally walked straight into his office without saying anything.
"Get me a coffee."
His voice returned to its usual cold tone.
"Okay, Boss."
A few minutes later, Kassandra returned with the coffee.
"Here's your coffee, Boss."
Ryan looked up from the documents on his desk.
"Put it on the table."
"Yes, Boss."
As Kassandra turned to leave, Ryan suddenly spoke again.
"You have a lot of unfinished work."
Kassandra stopped.
"I know, Boss."
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He returned to his documents.
"You can leave."
Kassandra stared at him for a moment.
Then she quietly left the office.
The moment she sat down at her desk, she buried her face in her hands.
"Ugh."
She looked at the pile of files waiting for her.
"So much work."
Her eyes narrowed toward Ryan's office.
"This is all his fault."
First, he suspended her.
Then, he canceled the suspension.
Now she had twice as much work as before.
Humans were impossible to understand.
Especially her boss.
"Dammit."
Ryan gripped the edge of his desk.
The familiar pain spread through his body.
His Cold Poison was acting up again.
And this time, it was worse.
Only a few days remained until the Full Moon.
That was when the poison became most active.
Ryan lowered his head, trying to suppress the pain.
The temperature in the office began to drop.
Frost slowly formed on the edge of the desk.
His breathing became heavier.
"Damn it..."
At that moment, the office door opened.
"Boss, I need you to check this document."
Kassandra walked inside.
She stopped.
Something felt wrong.
"Boss?"
Ryan didn't respond.
His head remained lowered.
"Boss, are you okay?"
Ryan clenched his jaw.
"Leave."
His voice sounded weak.
Kassandra frowned.
"But you don't look okay."
"Leave my office."
"No."
Ryan slowly raised his head.
His face had turned pale.
For a moment, Kassandra almost didn't recognize him.
"Boss—"
"Go."
The word came out through gritted teeth.
Kassandra immediately became worried.
"Wait, let me call for help."
She turned toward the door.
Suddenly—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
"Don't..."
Ryan's voice was barely audible.
Kassandra looked back.
Ryan was trying to stand.
But the moment he took a step forward—
His body gave out.
"Boss!"
Before he could hit the floor, Kassandra caught him.
Ryan collapsed against her shoulder.
His body felt freezing cold.
Far colder than any normal human should be.
"Boss?"
No response.
"Ryan?"
Still nothing.
Kassandra's expression changed.
The necklace around her neck glowed faintly.
Princess...
Little Flame's voice echoed in her mind.
His condition is getting worse.
Kassandra frowned.
What is wrong with him?
A brief silence followed.
Then Little Flame spoke again.
He has been poison,.
and
There's no cure for this poison, this is the most dangerous poison in the world.
Kassandra looked down at the unconscious man in her arms.
At that exact moment—
The frost spreading across the office suddenly stopped.
The freezing temperature began to rise.
Little Flame sounded shocked.
Princess...
The poison is calming down.
Kassandra blinked.
What?
Because of you.