?


    After dinner, N yed with Mason for a while before asking Lydia to prepare him for bed. She stayed up in the living room, engrossed in a book, waiting for Damon to return.


    ...


    Ruby went to the police station, only to be told she couldn''t see Sullivan. She tried asking about the situation but couldn''t gather any information. Frustrated and helpless, she returned home.


    That night, she tossed and turned, unable to find restful sleep.


    The following morning, she woke up feeling heavy and groggy.


    When N saw her tired eyes and dark circles in theb, she asked, "You didn''t sleep well?"


    "No," Ruby admitted.


    "Because of Sullivan?" N pressed.


    Ruby hesitated before nodding. "I went to see himst night, but I couldn''t. I don''t even know what''s going on."


    After a brief pause, N said, "Ruby, have you considered that you might be... a bit too concerned about him?"


    "N, he''s saved me twice. How can I not care?" Ruby replied firmly.


    "I get it. But this situation is out of your hands," N said with a sigh.


    She had asked Damon about itst night.


    Sullivan had embezzled a significant portion of thepany''s drug research fund-an amountrge enough to guarantee a lengthy prison sentence. Ruby''s face turned pale. "I understand. I just want to do what I can."


    "There''s only so much you can do," N said gently. "You can send him what he needster, but there''s not much else you''ll be able to do."


    Ruby lowered her gaze and replied slowly, "Got it. Thanks, N."


    Following Sullivan''s arrest, his team was left without a leader. Thus, thepany temporarily reassigned his responsibilities to N, adding to her already heavy workload.


    Although she didn''t arrive hometer than Damon, her evenings often stretched past 8:00 p.m.


    Understanding her increased burden, Damon expedited the hiring process for a new team leader for Sullivan''s group.


    Within three days, a recement was appointed a no-nonsense northern woman around N''s age, known for her straightforward and efficient work style.


    With the new leader in ce, coordination between both teams improved significantly.


    During lunch, N couldn''t hide her


    surprise when she learned of


    Damon''s involvement. She had


    thought of him as someone who et


    strictly adhered to rules and


    elhe


    fairness, not one to intervene for her. At the same time, warmth filled her heart.


    That evening, Damon surprised her further by skipping overtime-a rare urrence-and riding back home with her. Even on the drive, he worked on documents until they


    reached the vi.


    "You''ve been really busy," N remarked as they walked to the door. "Buddy misses you. He says it''s been ages since he''s seen you."


    A flicker of guilt passed through Damon''s eyes. He resolved to take the uing Sunday off to spend with her and Mason.


    "Soon, things will settle down," he said reassuringly.


    "Mm. I just think you''ve been working too hard, and I haven''t been much help," N replied.


    Damon stopped and turned to her, his gaze soft. "You don''t have to do anything. Just having you by my side is all the support I need." He would handle everything else.


    Blushing under Damon''s warm gaze, N quickly looked away.


    Amused, Damon smirked and raised a brow. "N, we''ve been together for some time now. How are you still this easy to embarrass?" N rolled her eyes and shot back, "Not everyone is as shameless as you are!"