Chapter 2158

Jason followed her inside. The hallway light died the moment they crossed the threshold, yet he left the door gaping a few inches—an unspoken gesture of courtesy in a building that smelled of mildew and strangers.

He cleared his throat, voice low enough to avoid echoing down the stairwell. “Chelsea, what exactly happened between you and your parents?”

Chelsea dropped into the cramped couch that barely fit in the narrow living room. “Nothing serious. They just decided I’m no longer their daughter,” she said, tone breezy, before lifting her chin toward the ajar door. “And why haven’t you shut that thing?”

Jason scratched the back of his neck. “Closing it with you inside feels improper.” Chelsea’s laugh burst out, light and teasing. “You’re way too old-fashioned…”

With an exasperated shake of her head, she stepped past him, pressed her palm to the wood, and pushed the door shut until the latch clicked.

She turned the lock with a decisive flick, then smirked. “What are you afraid of? We’re a couple, and nobody in this area knows who we are.”

Jason opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off before a single syllable escaped. “And besides, this place is a melting pot of all sorts. What if some dodgy man targets me?”