Ria hesitated, her breath catching in her throat before she tapped gently on the doorbell. Her heart hammered against her ribs as her eyes remained locked on the wolf-engraved handle.

The heavy wooden door swung open, revealing a tall, slender man wearing a chef's jacket.

"I... I came to see whoever lives here," Ria stammered, her voice shaking. "Someone has been sending me gifts, and the trail brought me straight to this house."

The young chef looked at her in confusion. Before he could respond, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. The man from the SUV—tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a dark suit—stepped into view.

He caught sight of Ria...