Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 45: :Written on the wall

Chapter 45: :Written on the wall

"Unbelievable."

Ava gritted her teeth, hands clenching at her sides.

Lucas Bai had walked in, taken over her bed, and passed out like he owned the place.

Fine.

If he wanted to steal her space—

She’d take his.

Ava turned sharply, storming toward his bedroom.

She had never bothered stepping inside before as what ever was behind the doors was something she really didn’t need to see.

Lucas wasn’t the type to leave things out in the open so she had always gave him privacy, the less she knew the better.

She pushed the door open—

And froze.

The room was dark, cold, sterile.

But that wasn’t what stopped her.

It was the walls.

Every inch of the far side was covered—

A full-scale investigation.

Thin red wire connected maps, notes, data files. Scattered reports pinned side by side, a digital screen flashing with classified records.

Ava’s stomach twisted.

At the center?

A single photo.

A woman and a talk man

Beautiful, late twenties.

Sharp cheekbones, black hair in an elegant twist, dark eyes filled with quiet calculation.

Ava’s pulse slowed.

She didn’t need a name.

She already knew.

Lucas Bai’s ex-fiancée.

The woman who had taken his place in Level One.

Ava’s eyes flicked to his bed—the one piece of furniture in the room that should’ve made it feel human.

But the sheets?

Untouched.

No signs of use. No blankets pulled back.

Like he didn’t sleep here at all.

Ava stared at the wall of obsession for exactly three more seconds.

Then—she turned around and walked out.

She didn’t slam the door. Didn’t touch a single thing.

Because this wasn’t her problem.

Lucas Bai could waste his nights chasing ghosts if he wanted to.

But she wasn’t about to lose sleep over something she didn’t have control, his final plan what ever madness he came up with that she can work with but not the planning.

Ava headed straight for the couch, dropping onto it with a sharp exhale.

It was too small. Too stiff. Uncomfortable as hell.

But at least it wasn’t in the middle of whatever war Lucas was still fighting.

She yanked the throw blanket over herself, eyes shutting.

Fine.

He could keep her bed.

But the second he woke up, they were going to have a talk. She really needed to renegotiate her contract agreement again because this wasn’t working for Ava anymore.

Ava had just started drifting off, body finally settling into the lumpy couch, when—

A shadow moved.

She felt it before she saw it—

The shift of air. Body Heat. The steady weight of footsteps.

Lucas Bai.

Ava’s eyes snapped open just as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her.

"What the hell—"

She barely had time to react before she was lifted effortlessly off the couch.

Lucas didn’t speak.

Didn’t acknowledge her waking up.

Just—walked.

Carrying her like she weighed nothing, moving on pure instinct.

Sleepwalking.

Ava twisted, trying to shove at his chest. "Bai, put me down."

Lucas didn’t even flinch.

Didn’t pause. Didn’t break stride.

Just carried her straight back to the bedroom, dumped her onto the mattress, and—

Collapsed onto her.

Ava stared, heart pounding.

Lucas let out a deep sigh, shifting slightly—

Then—he wrapped an heavy arm around her waist, pulling her against him like a human-sized body pillow.

Ava’s entire body locked.

"Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me."

Lucas buried his face against her shoulder, completely dead to the world.

Warm. Heavy. Unmovable.

Ava swallowed hard, every nerve on high alert.

She should push him off.

Should kick him back to his side of the bed.

But her arms were pinned, and Lucas Bai, even in sleep, was too damn strong.

Ava exhaled sharply, glaring up at the ceiling.

Fine.

She’d let him have this one. A decision she would regret in the morning

Ava slowly woke up to warmth.

Solid. Heavy. Unmoving.

For half a second, her mind lagged, caught between sleep and reality.

Then—Lucas shifted.

His breath brushed against her neck, slow and steady, arms still loosely wrapped around her.

Ava stiffened.

Right.

Lucas Bai. Human-sized problem.

She twisted slightly—only to find golden eyes watching her, half-lidded with sleep, a lazy smirk already forming.

"Morning, Beauty." His voice was low, rough from sleep, dangerously smooth.

Ava’s eye twitched. "Get off me."

Lucas didn’t move.

Instead, he stretched slightly, like a cat refusing to leave a warm spot.

"But you’re so comfortable."

Ava shoved at his chest. "I am not a pillow, Bai."

Lucas grinned, eyes still half-lidded. "Could’ve fooled me."

Ava gritted her teeth. "Lucas."

"Mmm." He pretended to consider something, then smirked. "If I let go, will you run?"

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Why the hell would I run?"

Lucas tilted his head, still watching her like he was thoroughly amused.

"Because you seem awfully flustered, Beauty."

Ava’s jaw locked.

"I will stab you."

Lucas chuckled, finally loosening his grip. "Now, now. No need for threats so early in the morning."

Ava tore herself free, sitting up so fast she nearly got dizzy.

Lucas?

He stayed exactly where he was.

Arms folded behind his head, golden eyes still gleaming with amusement, completely unbothered.

"You’re in a good mood, Bai." Ava muttered, rubbing her temples. "Should I be worried?"

Lucas grinned. "What can I say? I slept great. The bed os very comfortable."

Ava shot him a glare. "Of course you did. You stole my damn bed."

Lucas huffed a quiet laugh. "To be fair, I don’t think you put up much of a fight."

Ava grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

Lucas caught it without even looking, smirking as he propped it behind his head.

"See? Sharing is nice."

Ava inhaled sharply. This man. This infuriating, smug, impossible man.

Lucas sighed dramatically, stretching again. "We should make this a habit, don’t you think?"

Ava grabbed the nearest object on the floor—a spare boot—and hurled it at him.

Lucas laughed.

And —despite everything—Ava found herself fighting a smirk.

Lucas caught the boot midair, still grinning like he had all the time in the world.

Ava crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "You’re enjoying this too much."

"Of course I am, Beauty." Lucas tossed the boot aside, pushing himself up with effortless ease. "I don’t get to wake up next to you every day."

Ava rolled her eyes so hard it nearly hurt. "And you won’t. Ever again."

Lucas just smirked, stretching lazily before ruffling his damp hair.

"Well, in that case, let’s make today special."

Ava frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lucas tilted his head, golden eyes gleaming. "I’m taking you out."

Ava blinked. "Out where?"

"Breakfast. Real food. And after that?" Lucas smirked. "I’ll show you the real Level Two."

Ava studied him carefully. "I thought you wanted me to stay inside."

Lucas shrugged. "I changed my mind."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

Lucas leaned in slightly, voice smooth. "Because, Beauty, you’ve been cooped up too long. And it’s about time you saw how things actually work around here."

Ava crossed her arms. "You just want me to fix something, don’t you?"

Lucas grinned. "Not this time."

Ava didn’t believe him for a second.

But... she was getting tired of staring at the same four walls.

And if Lucas Bai was willing to play tour guide for once?

She wasn’t about to turn that down.

Ava exhaled, cracking her neck.

"Fine. But if this is a trap, Bai, I’m charging extra."

Lucas laughed, already moving toward the door. "Oh, Beauty. You wound me."

Ava grabbed her jacket.

Time to see what Level Two was really made of.