[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603220ECDF1-621":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},621,63,"Chapter 63: \"Do I Need to Be Boosted?\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The morning of New Year’s Day was traditionally meant for house calls and well-wishes, but Violette Ellis had slept right through it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her first conscious action was to grope blindly across the mattress for her phone. Before she’d drifted off the night before, she’d fretted about sending the customary New Year’s texts to Roman’s parents. Now, with the sun already halfway to its zenith, any hope of a morning greeting had long since passed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A quick glance at her screen revealed a message from Catherine Palmer: their private jet had secured a flight path early this morning, and the family was off to Hawaii for a holiday. As for why they hadn’t dragged Violette and Roman along? Violette was on rotation at the station through the second and fourth day of the break. Where she stayed, Roman stayed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She dragged herself downstairs to the central hall, her legs feeling like overcooked pasta, and collapsed onto a sofa. A servant promptly appeared with a bowl of bird’s nest porridge and a red date and lotus seed tonic, noting that Roman had requested them specifically.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before she could finish, the low rumble of an engine pulled into the garden, followed by the metallic click of a car engine cutting out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The butler intercepted the newcomer. A moment later, Roman walked in, his strides long and decisive. He caught sight of her spooning the tonic into her mouth, walked over, and reached out to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette was wearing a knit sweater with a deep sweetheart neckline. As he tucked the hair away, a vibrant, flushed mark near her collarbone was exposed to the light. Roman’s gaze darkened for a fraction of a second, his expression unreadable, before he smoothed the fabric back into place, covering the evidence.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Where were you so early?\" Violette asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Handing out holiday bonuses to the staff on shift at V-Oasis.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Generous,\" she mumbled, tilting her head. \"Why doesn't my station do that for me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She went back to her tonic. She’d heard lotus seeds were good for the heart—at the rate she was burning the candle at both ends, she was fairly certain she was a hair’s breadth away from a cardiac event.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"And my parents?\" she added after a beat. \"Did you see them when you woke up?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mom mentioned needing to pick up a few things. I had the driver take them into the city.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Strange. You’ve already done a security sweep of the pantry—we aren't running low on anything.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Perhaps they just found the estate too quiet and wanted a walk through the shops.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was a plausible enough excuse. They didn’t think twice about it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">By noon, the luxury SUV that had taken Catherine and Charles Ellis shopping pulled back into the garden, idling next to Roman’s signature black Bentley. Catherine emerged with enough bags that she looked ready to open a warehouse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette watched from the balcony, stunned. \"Mom, you're not moving in, are you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Don't be ridiculous. Your father and I are just staying for the holidays,\" Catherine replied, her tone shifting slightly. \"This is for you two. Specifically, for Roman.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">There was even more in the trunk. The servants scurried to unpack the haul, and as the bags were opened, the scent of earth and herbs filled the air. There were black beans, black rice, black sesame, deer antler velvet, gecko, medicinal roots, and a host of other strange, dried substances.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette stared, horrified. \"Mom, what is all this?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s for soup,\" Catherine said, instantly pivoting to maintain Roman’s dignity in front of the help, claiming it was for Charles’s health.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When the soup was finally served, there was a bowl for Charles and a bowl for Roman. Roman looked at the dark, viscous liquid with a flicker of confusion.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Catherine smiled warmly. \"Your father can't finish his alone. It’s for vitality. You should have some, too. Build your strength up.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was a thick, muddy-brown brew. Roman, ever the stoic, drank more of it than the supposed patient. He didn't recognize all the ingredients, but he certainly recognized the deer antler velvet. He didn’t bat an eye. He drank it every day for a week.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Catherine watched him, noting no outward reaction, though she did observe that he seemed to be spending much more time in the swimming pool. Thinking her concoction was working, she didn't find the extra effort a chore at all.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette, busy with her shift, remained blissfully ignorant of the undercurrents swirling through the house. She had her own headaches to deal with.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Every day, a bouquet was delivered to the station, and it was becoming a nuisance. Yesterday it was Alpine roses; today, pink \"Sweet Akito\" roses. Every time the cleaning staff passed her office, they’d chirp, \"Violette, your husband is just so romantic!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The problem, of course, was that the flowers weren't from Roman. They were from someone she preferred not to name. At least he had some shred of decorum—the cards were never signed. They only ever said: *Wishing you happiness.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette texted him: *Stop sending these. I don't like them.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Blake Pierce replied: *What do you like now?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette: *I like you to stop sending things.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Blake: *You used to only say the first four words.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The man was shameless. Exactly as he had been when he first pursued her. Violette dumped the flowers on the office staff and deleted the chat log, finally feeling a sense of clarity. At least he had the sense not to resort to blatant, public stalking.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She finished her shift and headed home. Living at Blue Springs Estate for the holidays meant that even if she left on time, she didn't get home until after eight. The mornings were even worse; to clock in by nine, she had to leave by seven, which meant a six-o'clock wake-up call.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Every night, she had to issue the same decree to Roman.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No, not tonight,\" she would say, with the firm precision of a briefing.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman would simply nod, read his book for a while, and settle into bed beside her with calm, practiced patience. Yet, in the hazy, half-awake hours of the night, Violette would catch the sound of footsteps pacing. She’d struggle to open her eyes and notice the chill radiating from his skin when he returned, as if he’d just spent a long time submerged in the pool in the dead of winter.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Finally, her day off arrived.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That evening, after finishing a cup of black coffee, sleep was elusive. She felt the mattress depress as Roman lay down.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Did my mother talk to you?\" she asked, her face pressed into the pillow.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The once-a-day tonic had increased to a pre-sleep routine.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman said, out of the blue, \"Your parents seem to really want a grandchild.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing as her parents couldn't walk past a toddler in the neighborhood without cooing, Violette didn't think the comment was out of place. \"Everyone their age is like that,\" she muttered.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">No wonder they’d been force-feeding him that tonic all week.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What about you?\" Roman asked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'm fine. I don't have any specific feelings about children,\" Violette said, rolling over and hooking an arm around his waist. \"Did my mother say something to you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He didn't answer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette realized Catherine had likely been working on Roman behind the scenes, and she felt a wave of helplessness. She lifted her head, resting it against his chest, and murmured, \"We're only staying here for a few more days. Just humor them for my sake, okay?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She thought it sounded like a reasonable request.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">To anyone else, it sounded remarkably like something a heartless spouse would say.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Fine,\" Roman said softly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He held her close, his heartbeat steady beneath her cheek. As the room grew quiet, the air thick with silence, he finally drew his hand away and reached for his robe.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As he touched the door handle, Violette sat up. \"Hm? Where are you going?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Swim—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The first syllable was a reflex, but he bit back the rest.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Swimming?\" Violette asked, bewildered. \"At this hour?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman froze in the doorway, silent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette crawled to the foot of the bed, kneeling on her shins to look at him. Her night vision was poor, but she could just make out the gray silk of his robe, which shimmered like flowing water in the dim light.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Do you have some kind of body-image anxiety?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was the only reason she could fathom for someone going for a midnight swim.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman leaned against the frame, his face swallowed by the darkness. His voice was cool and measured. \"Before bed, your mother called me over to finish a bowl of that tonic.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Violette’s mind flashed to the mountain of items her mother had bought. She hadn’t known what half of them were—Catherine had claimed they were for \"general health.\" But Violette knew the reputation of deer antler velvet. She’d heard the boozy, bloated executives at her work dinners joke about that sort of thing too many times.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She’d brushed it off as a harmless supplement. But hearing Roman say it now, the context shifted violently.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">What kind of supplement required a midnight dose?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"No way. My mother wouldn't...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her voice trailed off, turning into a whisper. She suddenly felt like a gazelle on the savanna, staring down a predator. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">From the shadows, Roman’s voice was slow and deliberate. \"As for whether I need to be 'boosted'—I think you know the answer to that.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272919268]