Empire of Nothing

Nova woke to the scent of coffee and a blanket that wasn't hers.

She blinked hard against the sunlight pouring in through Zane's living room window. Someone had placed a pillow under her head, and her bag sat neatly by the couch, untouched.

For the first time in days, she hadn't woken up holding her breath.

Zane sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, phone in hand. He looked up when she stirred.

"Morning, runaway."

Nova groaned. "Please don't call me that."

"Too late. It's your new nickname. Unless you want 'The Great Escape'?"

She shot him a dry look. "You're the worst."

"And you're here," he replied gently. "So… talk?"

Nova pulled the blanket tighter. "There's nothing to talk about."

He didn't push.

Instead, he handed her a mug of warm coffee. Not perfect. Not sweet. But enough to feel like someone remembered she existed.

Meanwhile…

Back at the mansion, the silence cracked.

It was Max who noticed first.

He knocked on her door with his usual "Rise and shine, sleeping menace" joke.

No answer.

He knocked again. Still nothing.

He peeked in.

Empty bed. No bag. No shoes. No Nova.

His stomach dropped.

He called out, "Ethan?"

Footsteps.

Soon, all three brothers were standing in her room.

Still. Silent.

Ryder's jaw tightened. "She left?"

"She ran," Max said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"She didn't even leave a note." Ethan frowned. "No calls. No message."

"She didn't need to," Max muttered.

Ryder stepped back, face hard. "She'll come back when she's done pouting."

"No," Ethan said quietly. "She won't."

Nova sat on the back porch at Zane's house, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands, coffee cooling in her lap.

She wasn't sure how long she'd stay.

She didn't know what came next.

But for the first time in that glass-and-marble prison they called a mansion…

They finally noticed she was gone.

Too bad for them—

Nova wasn't sure she ever wanted to go back.