Noah and Miles did their best to take care of Luca. They took turns ensuring he ate regular meals, even if his appetite was diminished by the emotional turmoil.

Noah didn't mind too much because at least they fed him and kept the tears away from his eyes and that made it easier for them to deal with him. The only downside for them was that it forced Noah and Miles to watch over Luca every moment they weren't busy.

He was so small, so fragile, and they knew exactly how weak a man who had been through as much as him could be.

Luca's body shook whenever the tremors hit, his face contorted in silent agony and pain, and there were times when he cried in his sleep.

Those moments left them feeling sick, guilt overwhelming them. No one should ever have to endure something like that.

Luca decided to take an extended period of leave this time, providing a police report of the assault and stalking as a reason. The company was sad to let Luca go on a leave, but they understood they wouldn't be able to get one of their main tv hosts back otherwise.

It also made sense that Luca wouldn't want to return. He'd probably prefer some peace and quiet for a while, rather than being trapped in a studio for hours.

"He's getting worse," Luca would hear Noah say to Miles from time to time.

It didn't matter that much to him. He was lucky that he was even allowed to stay here under their care. All Luca wanted to do was lay down and hide under his covers.

He didn't need anything else.

He just needed time.

He needed time to think about what had happened to him. Time to try to process the shock of everything that had happened since he came back to that place.

He wouldn't even be able to call that his safe place anymore. It stopped being his safe place the moment Theo appeared. It was never his safe place if Theo knew about it without Luca knowing that Theo knew about it.

"Taya?" Kai's voice rang out as he entered the house.

Noah and Miles lived in a really nice mansion. It was the right size for the two of them and the occasional guests.

Noah and Miles lived in a really nice mansion. It was the right size for the two of them and the occasional guests.

The mansion has an open-concept layout, as the driveway and pathway are combined into one. The mansion was raised so the short flights of steps led to the big windowed living room and kitchen, as well as the pool it was facing.

There was also an outdoor dining area adjacent to the pool as well as a conversational pit next to both. When Luca first entered the area, he got a clear glimpse of the pool, as the side was open to the world to see and noticed that the pool also acted as a walk that helped direct the pathway.

Upstairs emphasized on an L-shaped design, with the outer part of the L being Noah's and Miles's bedroom. There was a balcony surrounding three sides of the bedroom and that was also wide windowed for the world to see. The bedroom was next to three other rooms, each of them being a guest room with their own bathroom.

On the other side of the L, was a theater room and game room. It depended on the mood since it was always open, overlooking the pool unless otherwise.

Although it was quite big, it wasn't too big where sound didn't easily travel.

Hence, Luca could hear Kai.

"Dae, lower your voice. Luca is upstairs sleeping," Noah said.

"Taya is here?" Kai asked, confused.

"Why would Luca be here?" Wei asked. Luca didn't realize Wei also came.

Noah sighed, trying to maintain composure. "It's a long story, but Luca needed a place to stay, so here he is."

Kai's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, that happened."

Wei, looking perplexed, questioned, "What happened?"

Noah hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "There's been a lot going on in Luca's life. He found out about some serious invasions of his privacy, and things got complicated."

Kai looked at Wei and then at Noah, before sighing with resignation. "When the two of you were on vacation, Lucy, Gabe, and I found out some stuff about Theo. It wasn't good at all, and the two told Luca before he left. None of us know what happened."

"How bad was the stuff?" Wei asked, confused.

"Bad enough for us to rescue him," Miles sighed as he walked into the view of the entranceway. "You guys should come in. There are already too many bugs as is."

"So you know more about what happened, Dae?" Miles asked Kai once they sat in the living room.

Kai looked a bit hesitant as he began recounting the recent events. "Well, it started with Lucy interrogating Taya. Her recent boyfriend, Gabe, knows quite a lot of people since he moved around a lot and I guess he knew Theo. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was that Theo was showing up in several photos. Several old photos."

The air in the room grew heavy as Kai continued, "Theo had been stalking Taya for a while, invading his privacy with hidden cameras in his apartment. Lucy said they even found one in the bathroom, and that's just messed up."

Noah interjected, "That makes more sense. He wouldn't tell us and we only had part of the phone call before we sprung into action to get him back."

Kai nodded solemnly, "Lucy and Gabe decided it was best to let Taya know, but we didn't know anything else after that. Technically, we didn't know Taya's next move since Taya refused to believe it."

Wei, who had been quietly absorbing the information, finally spoke, "How's Luca holding up now?"

Miles sighed, "Not well. Physically, he's okay, but emotionally, he's a wreck. It's going to take time for him to heal. We're just trying to be there for him, you know?"

Kai glanced at Noah, "What about Theo? What's going to happen to him?"

Noah's expression hardened, "We made sure that Theo will not be able to get anywhere near Luca. He's in custody at the moment, but the amount of evidence shown is substantial."

"How old were the pictures that it became alarming?" Wei asked.

Kai sighed, "About 10ish years ago. It doesn't make sense but apparently it started from back then. He would appear everywhere, like random events in Taya's life that seemed coincidental. It's unsettling to think how long this has been going on without anyone realizing."

Noah's eyes widened, "no wonder he refuses to go back home."

Kai nodded, "Taya doesn't like people invading in places he considers sacred but Theo has been doing this for a while."

"And Theo knew exactly where Luca's condo was regardless of never being invited inside," Noah continued, and his eyes grew even wider, "he went inside dae's home?"

Kai shuddered at the thought, "Lucy said she found a couple cameras in his room."

Noah clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes, "This is beyond messed up. If I could, I would strangle him to death."

"Please don't. You're a doctor and you took an oath," Wei said. He was quieter than usual as he thought about the situation.

Kai wondered if he was feeling anything like they were. The fact that someone was out there watching them while they slept was scary enough.

"It is beyond messed up," Noah agreed vehemently, but didn't voice his thoughts again.

"Why don't we get started with lunch?" Miles recommended, "do you think you could get dae to come downstairs, Wei? It's fine if he doesn't but some human interaction would help."

Wei hesitated but agreed, "I will."

"Don't do any funny business Taya!" Kai yelled as Wei started heading up the stairs.

Wei rolled his eyes as he started to climb up the stairs and headed towards to one of the inner guest bedroom.

Most of them were locked, so that no one uses them, but this one had its door opened slightly.

"Luca?" Wei knocked as he peeked inside.

Luca had happened to wrap himself into a blanket and had the back of his head facing the door.

Wei cautiously stepped into the room, aware of the fragile state Luca was in. The room was dimly lit, curtains drawn to create a cocoon of privacy.

"Hey, Luca," Wei spoke gently, choosing his words with care. "Mind if I join you for a bit?"

He received no answer so Wei decided to sit by the foot of the bed, ready to leave whenever Luca tells him to.

The room was filled with a heavy silence as Wei sat quietly, giving Luca the space he needed. The dim light cast shadows on the walls, creating a somber atmosphere. Wei glanced around, noticing the personal touches in the room that reflected Luca's taste.

After a few moments, Wei spoke softly, "I'm sorry what I said to you when we saw each other in the park. I know this isn't a good apology and you don't have to accept it. I wasn't in a good headspace and I know that isn't a good excuse but still."

Luca continued to face away, wrapped in the blanket. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the words exchanged between the two.

"I've been going through a lot myself, but it doesn't excuse what I said. I want you to know that I care about you, and I'm here for you. Whatever you need, whenever you're ready to talk, I'm here."

The room remained quiet, the weight of the unspoken pain lingering. Wei decided to give Luca more space, realizing that words could only do so much.

"I'll head back downstairs," Wei said, standing up from the foot of the bed. "If you need anything or if you want to join us later, just let us know. T'Miles is making us lunch today."

As Wei left the room, gently closing the door behind him, he carried the heavy emotions of the moment with him.

Luca more than likely hated him.

He couldn't help but feel regret after he snapped at Luca that day-forcing Luca to choose between his recent lover and ex-lover.

He walked downstairs and was met with the solemn faces of his taes and his dae.

"Still no?" Miles asked as he was directing Noah to cut the carrots.

Wei shook his head. He moved to the kitchen, offering to help his taes.

Noah shook his head, "go help set the table outdoors. Maybe Dae will come downstairs."

Wei nodded, accepting Noah's suggestion. He moved to the dining area, quietly arranging the plates and utensils on the table.

The atmosphere in the kitchen was subdued as Miles and Noah worked together. Kai glanced over at Wei, offering a supportive nod.

When everything was ready, the four of them sat around the table to have lunch. They knew not to bother Luca, as he was still healing.

Miles had went far to create a comforting meal, perhaps hoping that the aroma of good food might coax Luca out of his solitude.

The table was set with care, the dishes arranged artfully, and the scent of the meal wafted through the air.

Kai, being that one person not liking the mood, made an effort to strike a conversation. "So... you paid your bills?"

"What the-," Wei started coughing as he choked on his food. "You don't got no bills!"

Kai grinned mischievously, "How do you know that?"

Wei, recovering from his momentary coughing fit, narrowed his eyes at Kai. "Because I live with you, and I'm your brother."

"That never stopped others in 'am i the a-hole' threads," Kai shrugged as he kept eating.

"You haven't stopped reading those? They're too unrealistic!" Wei cried.

"Excuse me? Unrealistic? They're practically our bedtime stories at this point!"

Miles chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Maybe we should submit our own story to that forum," he suggested, tossing a playful carrot stick at Kai. "See if anyone believes the 'miracle child with no bills' scenario."

Kai, ever the devil's advocate, grinned. "Oh, they'd tear us apart! They'd call us fake, boring, unrealistic. 'Nobody's life is that perfect,' they'd say, ignoring the fact that sometimes, even in the midst of chaos, there are pockets of quiet, ordinary happiness."

He paused, his gaze drifting to Luca's closed bedroom door. "Like a good home-cooked meal, shared with the people you love."

Wei, always the pragmatist, snorted. "Yeah, well, good meals don't pay the rent, miracle or not. So, spill it, Kai. What's the deal? You secretly inherited a fortune from a long-lost aunt that I didn't happen to know of?"

Kai's grin widened, mischievousness dancing in his eyes. "Maybe," he teased, dragging out the word. "Or maybe I'm just a really good sugar daddy."

Miles chuckled as he spoke, "Kai, be nice. We all know that your sugar daddy is sugar brother."

Noah snorted, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "Kai, you're a menace," he said, though his eyes sparkled with amusement.

Kai gasped in mock betrayal, "How could you say that? I'm a delight!"

"Not really," said Luca as he stepped out from the kitchen sliding doors to the patio.

"Luca!" Noah beamed, "Hey, glad you could join us."

Luca's entrance brought a wave of relief and joy, washing away the tension that had settled over the dining table. His presence, even with the lingering shadows of his ordeal, was a beacon of hope.

Miles' words were a balm, offering both comfort and nourishment. "We saved you a seat," he said, "I made some of your favorites." The simple gesture spoke volumes, a testament to the unspoken understanding and care that bound them together.

Luca's smile, small but genuine, mirrored the flicker of life returning to his eyes. The familiar faces, the comforting aroma of home-cooked goodness, all conspired to chip away at the walls he'd built around himself.

But Kai, ever the mischievous imp, couldn't resist rekindling the playful banter. "Taya, how could you say I'm a menace!" he whined, a mock hurt dripping from his voice.

Wei, as always, was his perfect counterpoint. "He's right, Kai," he shot back, a playful glint in his eyes. "Menace is an understatement. You're a walking disaster area."

The laughter that followed Wei's witty retort was the sweetest sound Luca had heard in days. It was a melody woven from threads of relief, affection, and the stubborn refusal to let darkness have the last word.

Even Kai, for all his playful teasing, couldn't quite hide the concern etched in his eyes. It was a subtle shift, a flicker of protectiveness that warmed Luca from the inside out.

"You guys are too much," Luca said, his voice still rough but tinged with a newfound lightness. "Always picking on your poor, innocent sugar baby."

Miles winked, the lines around his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Don't worry, Luca," he said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. "We'll protect you from the big, bad sugar daddy."

"What!" Wei screeched. "Why are we talking about this!"

Everyone laughed as Wei was trying to hide inside himself.

"Let's change the topic guys," Noah laughed as he passed over some of the soup towards Luca.

"Let's make this depressing. Taya, what are you going to do now?" Kai asked.

Everyone sans Luca glared at Kai who gave a shrug. "You guys wanted to change the topic."

"It's fine. I'm not going to break that easily," Luca smiled, grateful for the attempt to lighten the mood. He took a moment, tasting the warmth of the soup, appreciating the effort that went into making it.

"Well," Luca began, setting the spoon down, "I know I need to move out. I'm going to sell everything from that condo or donate if it cannot be sold."

"Isn't that too drastic?" Miles asked as he looked at Luca curiously.

Wei shook his head, understanding Luca's decision. He remembered a long time ago that Luca had a sanctuary.

There was an abandoned section in a park and no one liked going there. Luca made that his home and got upset when he noticed something amiss.

Luca sighed, reflecting on the weight of his decision. "It's not just about the condo, Miles. It's about reclaiming my space, my sense of security. I can't go back to a place that's been violated in such a personal way."

Noah nodded, acknowledging Luca's need for closure. "You're doing what's best for you, Luca. We'll support you in whatever decision you make."

Kai, ever the practical one, added, "And hey, if you need help selling stuff or moving, we're here for that too. We can make it a team effort."

"Doesn't Theo work at the company too?" Miles asked.

Luca shook his head, "he's an intern and he recently completed the internship. However, due to the restraining order and everything, I doubt he'll have a chance to work there again."

"You're taking a month's break right?" Kai asked.

Luca nodded, "I told I'Leila the vanilla version of everything that happened, and she said she'll handle it if anything comes up."

"What are you going to do now?" Wei asked.

Luca stared at Wei, a thoughtful expression on his face. The question lingered in the air, and for a moment, the weight of uncertainty settled over him. He took a deep breath before responding.

"I don't have a detailed plan yet," Luca admitted, "but I know I need this time to heal, to process everything that happened. I know it's a bit too much for a relationship that barely lasted a month but..."

"No, you're not overreacting. This happened to be something brewing for a while now," Noah stated.

Luca's shoulders relaxed slightly, finding solace in Noah's unwavering support. "Yeah," he sighed, "I just need to focus on me for a bit. It won't be long before I move out, though. Thank you, Taya, for letting me crash here."

Miles, ever the anchor, shook his head with a gentle smile. "No, you're fine," he said, his voice a balm to Luca's unspoken anxieties. "Stay as long as you need."

"We're family, Luca," he added, his eyes holding a quiet intensity. "You're always welcome here, for as long as you need."

The weight of those words, heavy with love and acceptance, visibly moved Luca. A lump formed in his throat, gratitude threatening to spill over. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "All of you."

As the meal continued, the atmosphere gradually shifted. Laughter, like sunshine breaking through storm clouds, began to weave its way into the conversation. Stories were shared, jokes were cracked, and the tension that had shrouded the room slowly dissipated.

Then, Kai, ever the master of unexpected propositions, chimed in. "Taya," he said, a glint in his eyes, "why don't you work at the studio? It might help you get your mind off things. Plus, it could be therapeutic after someone," he shot a pointed glare at Wei, "decided to unleash their inner vandal."

Wei, predictably, scoffed. "Are you seriously suggesting Luca cleans up after you for free? That's a new low, even for you, Kai."

The playful banter sparked a smile across Luca's lips. It was a small smile, fragile as a newborn butterfly, but it was there nonetheless. A flicker of life returning to his eyes, a testament to the power of family, of laughter, of love that refused to be dimmed.

"Actually," Luca interjected, his voice tentative yet hopeful, "that might not be a bad idea." He looked at Kai, a hint of challenge in his gaze. "So, what exactly needs cleaning? And don't expect me to scrub the floors."

Kai grinned, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes brighter than ever. "Challenge accepted, Taya. But be warned," he added with mock seriousness, "the studio has seen some... creative messes in its days. Brace yourself."

Luca chuckled, his shoulders squaring with a newfound determination. "Bring it on, Kai. I'm ready for anything."

"Speaking of studios," Miles interjected, his voice gentle, "I think Kai might be onto something. We could definitely use an extra hand at the studio. You're great with video content and angles, you also have a film degree that's very lowkey. I know you've been itching to get back into things."

A collective gasp escaped the table, eyes widening at Miles' revelation. Even Kai, the ever-unflappable provocateur, seemed momentarily stunned.

"Film degree?" Wei echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Luca, you never mentioned that!"

"Yeah, well," he mumbled, his voice barely audible, "it wasn't exactly... relevant."

"That's crazy Taya! You could have been directing or something!" Kai said in amazement.

Miles laughed, "that's not how it goes dae, but with a film degree we could have had you starting on your own films."

The sudden shift from playful banter to stunned revelation left Luca flustered. His cheeks burned as he met their surprised gazes, the weight of their unspoken questions settling on him like a heavy cloak.

"It just... never seemed like the right time to mention it," he mumbled, feeling like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Kai's eyes sparkled with newfound mischief. "Taya! I thought I knew all your secrets. How could you hide this from us?"

Luca, still slightly embarrassed, shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal. I just never pursued it professionally."

Noah, ever the voice of reason, chimed in, "Well, it's never too late to start, Luca. Maybe helping out at the studio could be a stepping stone. Who knows, it might reignite your passion for it."

Miles, ever supportive, added, "Seriously, Luca, we'd love to have your input. And if you want, we can even collaborate on some projects."

Luca's initial embarrassment melted away as he felt the warmth of his friends' encouragement. "Maybe," he said, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Let's see how the cleaning session goes first."

Kai chuckled. "One step at a time, Taya. First, we conquer the creative mess at the studio. Then, who knows? Big studios might come knocking at our door."

As they continued to talk and plan, the weight of recent events lifted further, replaced by a sense of possibility and the enduring strength that came from the bonds of friendship.