Chapter 5 ( Steven's POV ) That night ... I couldn't sleep . 55 vouchers Which , okay , wasn't exactly new . Insomnia and I were on a first - name basis ever since the accident . We'd spent countless nights together , brooding and bargaining with ceiling shadows , trying to forget the noise of the crash and the silence that followed . But this time , it felt different . My body wasn't in agony . My legs weren't on fire . There was no overwhelming pain radiating through my spine like a bitter storm . Just a dull ache , the kind that whispers instead of screams . And the thing that pissed me off the most ? I had ... progress . Today - no , yesterday - I actually did my full basic routine without dripping sweat like a dying athlete or growling at gravity . It wasn't perfect . It wasn't easy . But it wasn't hell either . And I hated it . Because it made me feel normal . And then it made me feel pathetic . Doing small , mundane exercises like I was some fragile old man . Breathing hard just from lifting my damn arms . Like I wasn't the same guy who used to push Ferraris past 200 mph on tracks lined with fire and screaming fans . That version of me ? Gone . Buried under muscle atrophy , guilt , and pity . Especially the kind I gave myself . So yeah , I was grumpy . Bitter , Sharp - tongued . But I didn't expect her to deal with it . And she did , That annoying , loud , little woman who looked like chaos in sneakers and talked like she ran her own sarcasm empire ... she didn't flinch . Not once . Not when I insulted her . Not when I growled . Not even when I told her to get out . She finished her food , burped like a goblin , and walked out like a goddamn queen . And somehow ? 11:25 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 5 She haunted me . Even in my dreams . :. : 71 55 vouchers At around 3 a.m. , my exhaustion finally won . I fell asleep - and immediately found myself in the most bizarre , unsettling dream imaginable . She was there . Madison Luis . Except in the dream , she wasn't just my PT . She was yelling at me again - fierce , wild - eyed , calling my name like she owned me . Telling me to stand. To move . To stop acting like a " sad , rich statue with trust issues ." At some point , I think she slapped a croissant out of my hand . I jolted awake at 8 a.m. , heart pounding , eyes dry . Like a zombie , I wheeled myself out of bed , ran a hand over my face , and made my way into the kitchen . Empty . Dead silent . No banana . No sarcastic commentary . No tiny woman judging my espresso preferences or side - eyeing my fridge . I checked the living room . Still no sign . No loud footsteps . No clipboard slaps . No angry humming of Britney Spears under her breath while she searched for resistance bands . Did she quit ? I frowned . Not because I cared . Obviously . It's just - she had a mouth on her . The kind of mouth that wouldn't back down just because someone yelled . The kind that stayed , insulted you harder , then brought you your pain meds like it was all part of her grand routine . But now ? Gone . By 12 noon , the penthouse was still a damn tomb . So , naturally , I did what any grown man in crisis does . I called my mother . She answered on the second ring . 11:25 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 5 " Mother , " I grunted . " I need food . The fridge is still empty ." She was quiet for a beat . Then sighed . " Wait ." Click . She hung up . No ' hello . No ' how are you . ' No mention of Madison . I stared at my phone , scowling . Weird . 71 E55 vouchers Madison was loud . And obnoxious . And chaotic . But also dependable . Consistent . Annoyingly present . She wasn't the type to disappear without a fight . So where the hell was she ? And why did this place suddenly feel ... Too quiet without her ? Dammit . ( Madison's POV ) The whole day ? I was packing . Well ... if you could call it packing . It was more like - gathering all my worldly possessions that didn't smell like garlic fried rice or existential dread and stuffing them into two sad boxes and one beat - up luggage . Mrs. McL.con - aka Queen Elise , Empress of Elegant Threats and Designer Manipulation - had told me very directly over the phone : " Only pack what you absolutely need , darling . We'll handle the rest . " And by " handle the rest ," she meant : She already scheduled a spa day for me . Booked a personal shopper for my upcoming day off And casually mentioned that her stylist would " fix whatever damage retail poverty has done to my wardrobe . " So yeah . Apparently , I was about to be adopted by rich luxury . Which was great ... but also kind of made me stare at my sad little pajama set like it had personally failed me . 11:25 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 5 In the end , I packed the essentials : : . I set of PJs ( aka my oversized unicorn tee and ratty shorts ) . My PT uniform ( which still smelled vaguely like hospital - grade peppermint oil ) . 5 okay - ish shirts and pants that weren't entirely shameful . A week's worth of undies . 2 pairs of shoes , both of which had seen better years . And my essentials : charger , toothbrush , and attitude . Two boxes . One luggage . That's it . Everything else ? Apparently , I was about to be sponsored by drama and Dior . EX 65 youchers I hailed a taxi and , by 5 p.m. , I was standing at the front door of Steven McLeon's penthouse , ringin ' the doorbell like I owned the damn place . He opened it . And oh - his face ? Pure confusion . A blend of rich - boy disbelief and mild panic . Eyebrows up . Hair tousled . Espresso mug in hand . The man looked like he'd just been ghosted by his own shadow , He blinked . I smirked . " Hey , roomie , " I said with full sass as I wheeled my boxes in like I was checking into a five - star hotel . Tl be living here now He stood there , stunned , like I'd just announced I was pregnant with his emotional support monkey . " You're what ? " I strolled past him like I paid rent , headed straight for the nearest guest room beside the kitchen - because duh , coffee proximity was top priority . " Your mom hired me . Full - time . PT - slash - personal - assistant . Penthouse comes with the job . You can take it up with her . " 11:25 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 5 He followed me , fuming like an over - boiled espresso pot . " Wait - wait ! This is my home ! " " Tell that to your mother . She signed the contract ." " You can't just- " " I can , I did , and I even brought my own soap ." I flopped onto the bed and - oh my god . It was heaven . Mattress ? Cloud . Blankets ? Warm hug from a billionaire's guilt . Carpet ? Softer than my childhood memories . Meanwhile , Steven was pacing in his chair like he was about to sue the air . " I'm calling her . " " Do it , " I yawned , rolling onto my back like I was sunbathing on luxury . A few minutes later , I heard him in the living room - arguing with his mother . Loud . Furious . And completely ignored by said mother . I caught snippets : " You didn't tell me she'd live here- " " No , I don't need - Mom ! She called my espresso machine stupid ! " " This is my home , not a dormitory for sarcasm gremlins ! " And me ? 55 vouchers I was smirking , wrapped in 800 - thread - count linens , contemplating if I could steal a croissant from the fridge later , Because while Steven was busy spiraling ? I was busy living . Let the games begin . 11:25 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 6