“Van, did you even hear what I just said?” Devandra’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Vania jolted, the pen in her hand pausing mid-sentence. “Uh… yeah, yeah, I heard you.” She tried to smile, but her eyes were clearly distant.

Devandra sighed and leaned back in his chair. “You’re zoning out again. Since when do you get distracted this easily?”

“I’m just… tired,” Vania replied quickly, her hands busy straightening the stack of documents on the table, avoiding his gaze.

But what was swirling in her mind wasn’t just the case files. It was Arga’s calm smile, the warmth in his eyes, even the low tone of his...