The Heart System Chapter 579

Turning, I began my descent down the hallway, making my way towards the stairs. Each step required careful placement, aimed at avoiding any sections of the wood that appeared worn or unsound. The house was eerily silent, amplifying every minor sound to a degree far beyond its actual volume.

About halfway down, I halted.

Footsteps.

Someone was moving about on the floor below.

I crouched slightly, leaning just enough to peer over the banister. The very same individual I'd observed earlier was present, traversing the living room area. He carried the air of a security guard, proceeding at a leisurely pace, calmly surveying the surroundings without any appearance of haste.

I waited until his back was turned and he had vanished into another room before resuming my movement.

The remainder of the journey down seemed to stretch on longer than it ought to have, yet I arrived at the bottom without making a sound. Upon reaching the ground floor, I wasted no time. Proceeding directly towards the main entrance, I kept close to the wall, staying out of any direct lines of sight.

The door was closed, but unlocked.

Quickly surveying the vicinity, I noticed a small shelf adjacent to the door. A bowl rested upon it, containing several keys. I carefully selected one, choosing the one that appeared to fit the primary lock.

I inserted it and turned with deliberation.

Click.

I froze momentarily, listening intently.

Silence.

No response.

Releasing a soft sigh, I returned the key to its exact position, ensuring no trace of disturbance was apparent. Then, I stepped back from the door.

That particular obstacle was now managed.

My next objective was to exit without encountering the guard.

I moved towards the rear corridor we had previously identified. However, before reaching it, I heard footsteps once more. This time, they were closer.

Damn it.

Swiftly scanning my surroundings, I spotted a decorative, artificial apple on a small table near the living room's entryway. Acting on impulse, I picked it up and tossed it lightly across the room, aiming for the far side of the living area.

It landed on the floor with a muffled thud.

The reaction was instantaneous.

"What the hell?" the guard grumbled, altering his course and moving towards the source of the sound.

This was my chance.

Turning, I slipped into the back corridor, moving with speed yet maintaining caution.

Unlocked. Excellent.

I pushed the door open just enough to pass through, then stepped outside and gently pulled it shut behind me.

The cool night air immediately greeted my face, carrying the mingled scents of the sea and damp earth. I didn't linger. Continuing along the side of the house, I stayed low, utilizing the overgrown yard for concealment.

My gaze shifted upwards towards the second story.

A few moments later, the master bedroom window slid open slightly, and Cora emerged with careful movements. She lowered herself using the windowsill, then dropped the remaining distance to the ground, landing softly.

"You okay?" I inquired.

"Yeah..."

We moved in tandem now, swift and silent. I climbed over first, then reached down to assist her. She followed with practiced ease, and we both dropped onto the road on the opposite side.

We maintained our pace for a short while, putting distance between ourselves and the house before either of us spoke.

Finally, after some time had passed, I exhaled slowly and glanced back.

The house appeared undisturbed. No lights flickered on, no one rushed out, not a single indication that anything amiss had occurred.

"That was a bit too close for comfort," I commented quietly.

Cora nodded beside me. "But we didn't leave anything behind."

I let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah. Thanks to you."

A small smile touched her lips, evident relief coloring her expression.

And just like that, we had vanished without a trace.

The ultimate espionage operative.

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

Tucking the keycard back into my pocket, I unlocked my phone the moment I stepped inside. The familiar warmth of the penthouse enveloped me, replacing the outdoor chill, and carried the subtle aroma of food, hinting at something sweet Minne might have been preparing earlier. I launched the application Cora had installed for me, waiting for it to initialize while casually shrugging off my jacket. I hung it on the coat rack near the entrance, adopting an air of normalcy, despite the lingering accelerated beat of my heart.

As the application finished loading, I entered the living room.

Jasmine and Kim were seated at the dining table, both engrossed in their respective laptops, the glow of their screens illuminating their faces. Their fingers flew across the keyboards with practiced speed, completely synchronized with their ongoing tasks. Noticing my arrival, they briefly lifted their heads, offered casual smiles, and immediately returned their focus to their screens, as if I had merely returned from an ordinary evening out.

"Hey, girls," I greeted, approaching the table. "Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"Nope," Jasmine replied, her eyes still fixed on her screen. "We waited for you... hold on, which shortcut was that again, Kim?"

Kim leaned in slightly, indicating her screen. "Alt plus shift, then click. Not the other one, or you'll mess it up."

Pulling up a chair, I settled in, allowing myself a moment of calm. Concurrently, the application on my phone finally finished loading, displaying the camera feed.

The scene was the bedroom.

The bed remained pristine, silent, and utterly unremarkable.

I peered at it for a beat, searching for any ripple of movement where there was none. No Jack, no Robert. Not a hint of anything as of yet. It was logical, of course. They wouldn't be present at this hour. Nevertheless, the sight of that vacant room, following all that we had accomplished, felt profoundly unreal. We had truly succeeded.

I suppose a check would be necessary tomorrow. At the appropriate time, ideally. Hopefully, I would find them both in the same bed, engaged in precisely the act I needed them to be... something 'sinful.'

"Welcome back, Master."

My gaze lifted to find Minne positioned at the entrance of the hallway, her hands clasped gently before her.

"Forgive me, I didn't hear you arrive," she murmured.

"Hey," I offered with a smile, pocketing my phone after locking it. "Where is Tessa?"

"She is currently showering," Minne responded. "I shall commence with dinner preparations immediately."

"Thank you, honey."

She gave a slight nod and proceeded towards the kitchen, her movements already imbued with that characteristic quiet competence.