Chapter 12: He's not your boyfriend?

Nova walked into the house, tossing her bag casually onto a side cabinet. Tristan followed her in. The place was modest—just a two-bedroom, two-bathroom setup with a living room. This was it? Tristan stood at the doorway, his face unreadable as he surveyed the small apartment. It was the smallest place he'd ever set foot in. Could people really live here comfortably? "Come on in and sit down, I'm just going to check on my grandma for a second." Nova looked around the living room, didn't spot Margaret, and then noticed Tristan still hovering by the door. She gestured for him to come in. "Is that Nova I hear?" Margaret emerged from her room, leaning on a cane, her silver hair softly framing her face and her usual warm smile in place. "Oh, what's this?" Margaret paused as she walked into the living room and saw Tristan, her expression turning to one of surprise. "Grandma, let me explain..." Nova started, but she was too late. Margaret walked straight up to Tristan, looking up at the tall, handsome stranger with a kind smile. "He's your boyfriend, isn't he? Please, have a seat." Tristan looked down at Margaret, his features softening. "Thanks, you first." They both sat down on the sofa and to Nova's surprise, they started chatting like old friends. Nova was stunned. What was happening here? How did they suddenly get along so well? She couldn't let her guard down, worried Tristan might say something he shouldn't. "Grandma, this is... he's a colleague of mine. He recently ran into some trouble and doesn't have a place to stay... he's new around here..." Nova quickly interjected, trying to manage the situation. Given Margaret's heart condition, the last thing Nova wanted was to give her any kind of shock. Margaret had taken an instant liking to Tristan the moment she saw him. His polite and dignified demeanor won her over right away. Hearing about Tristan's predicament, Margaret immediately felt empathy for him. "He's not your boyfriend?" Margaret asked, turning to look at Nova with a mix of surprise and a hint of accusation in her eyes. It was as if she was asking, "Why don't you try a little harder to win him over?" Nova couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement. She wanted to, sure, but it wasn't like she had the magic touch or anything. Catching sight of the cramped living conditions, Margaret bit her lip, embarrassed, "But, you know, there's hardly any space for him to sleep here." "How about he takes your room, and you sleep with me tonight?" Margaret suggested. Margaret's room was snug, the bed barely big enough for one, let alone two. It would be a tight squeeze, and Margaret would likely end up with a stiff back by morning. Tristan didn't immediately answer. Instead, his eyes rested on Nova, reading her anxious expression like an open book. He knew what he had to do. "Don't worry about it, grandma. I'm at work most of the time anyway, so I won't be crashing here all the time," Tristan said calmly, his gaze shifting to the lone three-seater sofa. He smiled gently, "I'll just crash on the couch." Margaret immediately protested, "That doesn't seem right..." "Really, it's fine. Nova's been incredibly kind to offer a roof over my head. I'm more than grateful for that." Tristan reassured her, his words soothing Margaret's concerns. Pleased, Margaret announced she'd go to the kitchen to whip up something for dinner. Nova moved to join her. That's when a sharp knock on the door echoed through the small house. "I'll get it," Nova said, hurrying to the door. She opened it to a sea of dark uniforms—police officers. Her heart missed a beat. She glanced back at Margaret, ensuring she was still busy before stepping outside, the door left slightly ajar. "What can I do for you, officers?" Nova asked, her voice tinged with nervousness. "You're Nova?" one of the officers asked in a firm tone. Nova, feeling the weight of their authority, barely managed a nod, her throat dry. Was this about Victor? As if summoned by her thoughts, one of the officers flashed a document in front of her, clearing his throat. "You've been reported for assault causing serious injury, with witnesses to back it up. We need you to come with us for questioning." Nova's heart sank. It was exactly what she feared. There was no running from this trouble now. Despite her regrets, she knew there was no turning back. The moment she had retaliated against Victor, she knew someone like Victor wouldn't let it slide. "Could I... just have a moment to say goodbye to my grandma?" Nova pleaded, her eyes begging for a bit of compassion. "My grandma has a heart condition; she can't take any shocks. I promise, just a few words and I'll be right out," she added hastily. Inside, Tristan overheard the exchange from his spot near the slightly open door. He walked up calmly, and just as he stepped out, he bumped right into Nova. "I..." Nova started nervously, her voice faltering. "Go back inside. I’ll handle this," Tristan said, his face set in a determined expression Nova had never seen before.