It was one of those rare mornings neither of you had to rush.

Sunlight poured through the bedroom windows as Ronan sat on the edge of the bed, one ankle resting over his knee, lazily replying to emails on his laptop. Every so often, he'd glance toward the bathroom just to make sure you were still there before returning to the screen.

Today was supposed to be simple.

Breakfast.

Shopping.

Peaceful.

Until—

"RONAN!"

Your scream echoed through the entire estate.

His laptop hit the bed before he even realized he'd thrown it.

Within seconds he was through the bathroom door, shoving it open hard enough for it to bounce off the wall.

"What happened?"

His eyes immediately swept over you, checking for blood, injuries—anything.

You simply pointed toward your vanity.

"There."

Three ants wandered across the marble.

Then you pointed toward the windowsill.

"...And there."

A long trail of ants disappeared into the corner of the frame.

Silence.

A second later, Kolya appeared in the doorway with Yan and half a dozen armed guards behind him.

Everyone stopped.

Kolya looked at the ants.

Then at you.

"...Ants?"

"There are so many."

Yan leaned around the doorway, spotted the trail, and immediately bit the inside of his cheek.

One guard whispered, "We deployed an emergency response..."

Another muttered back, "...for insects."

"They made Mrs. Markov scream," a third answered quietly.

"...Fair point."

Ronan sighed, grabbed a tissue from the counter, and stepped toward the vanity.

The second he reached for the ants—

"Ew! Ronan!"

You screeched, jumping backward so quickly you nearly slipped before instinctively latching onto Kolya's arm.

"I hate bugs!"

Kolya froze.

Completely.

His hands hovered awkwardly before carefully steadying you.

"...Mrs. Markov, they're very small."

"I don't care!"

Yan finally snorted.

Ronan slowly turned around.

His gaze landed on you.

Then on Kolya.

Then on the hand supporting your arm.

The room suddenly became very quiet.

Kolya noticed immediately.

"So..." he said carefully, already letting go, "you can have your wife back."

Without a word, Ronan crossed the room, slipped an arm around your waist, and pulled you against his chest instead.

You immediately buried yourself against him, clutching the front of his shirt while trying to keep your feet as far from the floor as possible.

"They're going to crawl on me."

"They won't."

"They're absolutely going to crawl on me."

Ronan simply tightened his arm around you, keeping you tucked securely against his side while he finished wiping the ants away one-handed.

Even after they were gone, you stayed glued to him.

"You can let go now," Yan said.

You looked at the floor suspiciously.

"No."

Ronan didn't seem to mind.

If anything, his hand rubbed slow circles against your back.

One of the guards spoke into his radio.

"False alarm... correction." He paused, listening. "Wait, what?"

Everyone looked over.

"The kitchen found ants."

Another radio crackled.

"...West hallway too."

Then another.

"Housekeeping reports ants near the laundry room."

A fourth voice chimed in.

"We've got a trail near the garage entrance."

Yan blinked.

"...They're everywhere."

Kolya pinched the bridge of his nose.

Within minutes, radios came alive across the estate.

"North wing confirmed."

"Dining room windows."

"Pantry."

"Servants' entrance."

One guard looked at another.

"So... she wasn't overreacting?"

The other shrugged.

"Turns out Mrs. Markov discovered an invasion."

Yan folded his arms with a grin.

"The ants picked the wrong estate."

Ronan looked toward Kolya.

"Call pest control. Today."

Kolya was already dialing.

"And have maintenance inspect every window and door."

You remained firmly attached to Ronan's chest.

"I'm not going back in there."

"You don't have to."

"What if they're in our bedroom?"

"They won't be for long."

You looked up at him hopefully.

"You promise?"

"I'll make sure of it."