The Heart System

Chapter 543: Chapter 543

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and noticed the battery was practically dead. With a quiet sigh, I walked over to the dining table and picked the charger up off the ground. The cable was slightly chewed, nothing too bad, but it wasn’t supposed to be down there. Mik, probably. I plugged it into the outlet and connected it to my phone. The screen lit up faintly as it started charging. I dropped into one of the chairs, turning slightly so I could still see Minne while she worked.

”What’s the cucumber for?”

She smiled faintly, glancing over her shoulder. ”Breakfast for you, Master. It will be ready in a few minutes.”

”Nice. I’ll take it.”

She went back to slicing, the steady rhythm of the knife against the cutting board filling the quiet space between us. For a moment, things felt... normal. Simple. No chaos, no problems, just a quiet morning with rain outside and food being made.

Minne hesitated for a second before speaking again. ”Um... are you okay, Master?”

I raised an eyebrow slightly. ”What do you mean?”

She tilted her head just enough to look at me again, her expression careful. ”No more... bad nightmares?”

I let out a small chuckle and leaned back in the chair. ”No, no. Nothing like that.”

Not exactly a lie, but not the full truth either.

”I’m glad,” she said softly, clearly relieved.

I nodded, watching her for a moment before letting my gaze drift toward the window again. The rain hadn’t let up at all. If anything, it sounded heavier now, tapping against the glass like it had something to prove.

I rubbed the back of my neck and exhaled quietly.

”Yeah,” I muttered to myself. ”Let’s just hope it stays that way.”

Minne moved with quiet efficiency behind the counter, finishing up the last touches of breakfast. She placed a clean plate on the table first, then arranged a simple but neat spread. Sliced cucumbers lined one side, fresh and evenly cut. Next to them, she added a portion of chicken salad, lightly seasoned, the smell mild but inviting. A couple slices of toasted bread followed, still warm, and finally a small glass of juice she must’ve poured while I wasn’t looking.

She stepped back slightly, hands clasped in front of her. ”It’s ready, Master.”

”Thanks,” I said, pulling the plate a little closer.

I picked up a slice of cucumber first and popped it into my mouth, the crunch cutting through the quiet. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was good. Simple, clean, exactly what I needed right now. I grabbed a fork and took a bite of the chicken salad, chewing slowly while staring blankly at the table.

For a moment, things felt still again.

Then my phone buzzed.

I glanced over my shoulder. The phone was still on the floor near the outlet, charging where I’d left it. The screen lit up, vibrating slightly against the ground.

Carrie.

Minne noticed it too. Her eyes shifted from me to the phone, then back again, curious but not saying anything.

I let out a quiet breath, grabbed another slice of cucumber, and stood up. I chewed as I walked over, crouching down to pick the phone up from the floor. The screen kept flashing her name.

I answered it.

”Carrie,” I muttered.

”Morning,” she replied. There was a slight pause before she continued. ”Is it a bad time? You sound... off.”

”Just eating,” I said, swallowing the last piece. ”What’s up?”

”I wanted to ask what you’re planning to do about Jack,” she said. ”Do you have anything in mind?”

I got up. ”I’ll handle him,” I replied. ”He’ll regret crossing paths with me. Just like you did, I guess.”

”Hey,” she said, her tone softening a little. ”I’m actually glad we crossed paths.”

That caught me off guard for a second. I didn’t react to it, though. I wasn’t in the mood to unpack whatever that meant, so I let it slide like I hadn’t really heard it.

”Anything else?” I asked.

”N-no,” she answered quickly. ”I just wanted to check on you. That’s all.”

”Alright,” I said. ”Thanks again for setting up the meeting. I’ll talk to you later.”

”Yeah... later.”

I ended the call and stared at the screen for a second before letting my hand drop. Then I walked back to the table while rubbing my face.

I picked up my fork and continued eating like nothing happened.

Minne shifted slightly where she stood, clearly holding herself back before finally speaking. ”Um... is everything okay, Master?”

”Yeah,” I replied between bites. ”Carrie called. She wanted to know if I had a plan for Jack.”

Minne hesitated. ”Do you... have one?”

I stopped for a second, fork hovering just above the plate. Then I gave a small nod, more to myself than to her.

”Yeah,” I said quietly. ”We’ll see.”

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

Apparently, Jack Kuinn had his hands in a lot of businesses around Uptown, and one of them happened to be a sex shop. Funny enough, I’d actually bought a few things from here months ago. Back then, it was just another place. Now, it felt like a lead.

From what Carrie told me, he stopped by here often... very often, to pick up... certain items. That alone made this place worth checking out.

I still remembered the pregnant worker. Layla. The same girl who had accidentally seen Carrie and me in that car. Thinking about it now made me cringe a little. She had seen way more than she should have. Still, she kept quiet, which I appreciated more than I probably ever said out loud. Things could’ve gotten messy otherwise.

I pushed the door open, a soft chime ringing above me as I stepped inside.

The shop was dimly lit, the kind of lighting that tried to be subtle but ended up making everything feel a little more intimate than necessary. Shelves lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged boxes, bottles, and packages with suggestive branding. Some items were displayed openly behind glass cases, others tucked away more discreetly. There were mannequins in the corner wearing lingerie, posed in ways that clearly weren’t accidental. A faint scent of something sweet lingered in the air, probably from candles or oils they sold.

Near the middle of the shop, I spotted her.