Chapter 72: After the Storm

It was almost nine in the morning.

The apartment had finally gone quiet.

Soft sunlight poured through the spotless windows, stretching across the bedroom floor in long golden bands. Dust motes drifted lazily through the warm light, and somewhere outside, the city was beginning to wake. Cars moved along the street below, distant voices carried through the open window, and the occasional horn broke the peaceful silence.

Jason sat quietly beside the bed.

His attention was fixed on Sabrina.

She was still asleep.

Her breathing had settled into a slow, steady rhythm, and the tension that usually lived in her expression had disappeared. Without her confident smile, teasing voice, or commanding presence at the gym, she looked surprisingly peaceful.

Jason watched her for several seconds before a small smile appeared on his face.

Then he remembered something.

He had been so caught up in everything that had happened that morning that he hadn’t even checked her information panel.

He closed his eyes.

System, open Sabrina’s information panel.

A familiar electronic chime sounded in his mind.

Ding!

Name: Sabrina Cole

Gender: Female

Age: 31

Appearance: Exceptional

Personality: Passionate, confident, and warm

Hobbies: Yoga, fitness, and binge-watching TV shows

Affection: 100 — Permanently Locked

Relationships: 2

Relationship Status: In Love

Physical Condition: Healthy

Current Condition: Resting

Jason’s eyes lingered on one line.

Affection: 100 — Permanently Locked.

A satisfied smile slowly spread across his face.

At least he didn’t have to worry about Sabrina suddenly changing her feelings toward him.

His life had become complicated enough already.

In his previous life, he’d somehow managed to maintain several relationships at once. For a while, he’d thought he could handle everything.

Then one mistake had turned his carefully balanced life into complete chaos.

He had learned that lesson the hard way.

This time, however, the system gave him something he’d never had before.

Certainty.

Jason glanced at Sabrina again.

She shifted slightly beneath the blanket.

A few seconds later, her eyelashes fluttered.

She slowly opened her eyes.

For a moment, she simply stared at the ceiling, clearly unsure where she was or what time it was.

Her thoughts seemed to be moving through fog.

Then she turned her head.

The moment she saw Jason sitting beside the bed, her expression softened.

"Stinky little brother..."

Her voice was quiet and sleepy.

"Why are you already awake?"

She tried to sit up.

The movement was slow and careful, and she immediately paused when she realized she was still exhausted.

Jason instinctively reached out to steady her.

"Easy."

Sabrina gave him an embarrassed look.

"I’m fine."

"You don’t look fine."

"I said I’m fine."

Jason smiled.

"You’re terrible at lying."

She rolled her eyes.

"Maybe I just don’t want you making a big deal out of it."

Jason studied her for a moment.

Then his expression softened.

"You really are something."

Sabrina’s cheeks warmed.

"What?"

"You somehow look beautiful even when you’ve barely woken up."

She immediately pulled the blanket a little higher and glared at him.

"You really can’t go five minutes without flirting, can you?"

Jason laughed.

"I was complimenting you."

"That’s what all troublemakers say."

But despite her complaint, there was a smile hiding in the corner of her mouth.

She liked hearing it.

More than she wanted to admit.

After everything that had happened between them, Sabrina had begun to understand just how deeply she had fallen for him.

It wasn’t simply attraction.

It was the way Jason treated her.

The way he listened.

The way he could make her laugh when she was having a terrible day.

The way he had stepped between her and danger without hesitation.

And, perhaps most importantly, the way he made her feel like she was still allowed to be a woman with dreams of her own.

She had spent years putting everyone else first.

Her daughter.

Her work.

Her responsibilities.

Somewhere along the way, she’d forgotten what it felt like to simply be happy.

Jason had reminded her.

She looked at him quietly.

"I want you to come over more often."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds like an invitation."

"It is."

She smiled.

"But don’t get too smug about it."

Jason chuckled.

"I’ll come whenever I can."

Sabrina’s smile grew.

"You’d better."

Then Jason remembered something.

"You still owe me plenty of training sessions."

She stared at him.

For a second, she looked completely serious.

Then she burst out laughing.

"That’s what you’re thinking about?"

"Of course."

Jason shrugged.

"You’re my coach."

Sabrina shook her head.

"The gym is crowded, noisy, and exhausting."

She glanced around her apartment.

"Home is much better."

Jason smiled.

"So you’re offering private lessons?"

"Maybe."

Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

"But don’t expect me to let you get away with being lazy."

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

They smiled at each other.

The comfortable silence returned.

Then Jason leaned back.

"We should still go to the gym."

Sabrina’s expression changed immediately.

"The gym?"

"Yeah."

"Today?"

Jason nodded.

Sabrina stared at him as though he’d just suggested something completely ridiculous.

"Jason, I can barely move."

"I noticed."

"Then why are you talking about going to the gym?"

"Because you’re my coach."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You’re enjoying this way too much."

Jason laughed.

Sabrina grabbed a pillow and lightly threw it at him.

He caught it easily.

"You’re impossible."

"That’s what you like about me."

She opened her mouth to argue.

Nothing came out.

Her cheeks slowly turned pink.

"Maybe."

Jason grinned.

Sabrina immediately looked away.

"Don’t push your luck."

---

A moment later, another thought crossed Jason’s mind.

He could already imagine Sabrina teasing him about going to the gym.

But he wasn’t planning to pressure her.

She needed time to recover.

He had already asked a lot from her, and no amount of system rewards was worth ignoring how tired she was.

Besides, he had other responsibilities waiting for him.

He couldn’t spend every hour of the day with Sabrina.

Just then, the system chimed again.

Ding!

Congratulations, Host!

One of your relationship targets has reached maximum affection.

Affection is now permanently locked.

New Mission: Spend meaningful one-on-one time with Sabrina during a training session.

Mission Reward: $100,000.

Jason’s eyebrows lifted.

A hundred thousand dollars wasn’t pocket change.

His business was still growing, and every additional dollar could be put to good use.

But Jason wasn’t desperate enough to push Sabrina just because the system offered him money.

He glanced at her.

She was already looking exhausted.

Tomorrow, he decided.

There was no reason to rush.

Jason reached over and gently touched her cheek.

Sabrina looked at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

He smiled.

"You should rest today."

Her expression softened.

"You’re not going to the gym?"

"Not today."

She seemed surprised.

"But you were just talking about it."

"I changed my mind."

Jason gave her cheek a gentle squeeze.

"You’ve done enough."

Sabrina stared at him.

Something warm spread through her chest.

She hadn’t expected that answer.

"You really are different."

Jason smiled.

"Is that a compliment?"

"Don’t get excited."

She gave him a small smile.

"It is."

Jason nodded.

"Then I’ll accept it."

For a moment, Sabrina simply looked at him.

Then she whispered,

"Stinky little brother..."

"Hm?"

She hesitated.

"Don’t disappear on me."

Jason’s expression softened.

"I won’t."

He paused before adding with a playful smile,

"But you have to stop calling me that."

Sabrina blinked.

"Why?"

"Because we’re not exactly in the same relationship we were when we met."

Her cheeks turned pink.

"Then what am I supposed to call you?"

Jason leaned slightly closer.

"Jason works."

She smiled.

Then, almost too quietly to hear, she said,

"Husband..."

Jason’s eyes widened slightly.

Sabrina immediately buried her face against the pillow.

"I can’t believe I said that."

Jason laughed softly.

"Say it again."

"No."

"Come on."

"Absolutely not."

He smiled.

"Fine."

Jason leaned back.

"You can say it whenever you’re ready."

Sabrina peeked at him from behind the pillow.

There was a shy smile on her face.

"You’re so annoying."

"And yet you like me."

She sighed.

"Unfortunately."

Jason laughed.

He leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"You’re exhausted. Get some sleep."

Sabrina’s eyes slowly closed again.

"Stay for a little while?"

Jason nodded.

"Of course."

She relaxed.

Within minutes, her breathing became slow and steady again.

Jason remained beside her, quietly watching the morning sunlight move across the room.

For once, he didn’t feel the need to chase another reward, another mission, or another advantage.

He simply sat there.

And for a man whose life had suddenly become more complicated than he could have imagined, the quiet morning felt strangely peaceful.

Then Jason remembered one more thing.

Zara was waiting for him at home.

He smiled to himself.

I can’t neglect anyone.

His expression turned mischievous.

Balance. That’s the key.

With that thought, Jason leaned back in his chair and waited patiently for Sabrina to wake.