RIA'

n come

nuinely thought I

adable, those dark brown eyes fixed on me calmly as thoug

tand what exactly was going on inside his head.

ity crash

a

sibly go home w

rous st

lse did. But this was still a man who had stood there emotio

sure I would be

owed ne

hat to expect. My mother might not care about me the way she should, but she was stil

. Showing up at their doorstep in the middle of the night with nowhere else to go f

lost in thought. And somehow,

go back to the home you hate so much..." He slowly walked past me toward the black SUV parke

oice I made. But somehow, I could tell he already knew I

the car while frustration ba

have to m

how felt safer than returning home. Yet a

ttoos. The armed men following behind him like bodyguards. The calm way he ordered people's deaths

as my thoughts tangled toget

Sylvester had already entered

." My eye

ted suddenly. "Stop

ce, I broke into a r

e it slowed down again. One of the me

de. The warmth of the car instant

around

ched in my life. Black leather seats. Soft golden lighting. A faint s

d closely behind us while only Sylvester, t

e filled the car

arm resting against the door while

en look at m

catingly quiet. I nervously

I say s

I sta

, my consc

tly. "Thank you for

remained completely s

kwardly before

e jacket too. You really

l no

felt like I was t

at him c

he a

no

ionl

ly could

y...thank

enly p

I bl

actly are

y earned me

and leaned his head back

lk too much?" he as

tly rushed

way toward the window in

the empty streets while silence returned once

he muttered. "But you've already as

it the inside

ng," he continued calmly. "And we'r

ded q

es

sounded

dn't even introduced myself. Meanwhile, this man ha

oward him

a," I said softly.

is mouth twit

you're

n in embarra

sor

sure you already heard them say it earlier." His gaze

aped my lips befo

I admitted quietly. "I thin

er smiled. And honestly? Seeing a man l

pped embarra

-

ostly in silence. Not uncomfo

the expensive watch resting around his wrist. At the sharpness of his jawline whenever city lights flashed across hi

tes later, the dri

here,

e window and nearly

legant lights illuminated the enormous building behind them. Snow covered the edges of t

rted slight

use. It was prac

opping at the entrance. I stepped out slowly, immed

air of slippers, though my slippers were actually new p

h. I suddenly became hyperaware of how ordinar

owed Sylvester inside. But the moment I entered

ing room while elegant black furniture decorated the space beautifully. A crystal ch

d expensive. Spo

entally walked into the

s I stood near the entrance awkwardly,

nly a voic

serious problem. Lugard's family has complete

oked

His eyes widened slightly. For a second, neither of us spoke. Then his expression s

mfortable, Sylvester stepped in front of

calmly. "And she'll be

blinked

efore he quickly controlled himself.

genuinel

otten whatever urgent issue he

back of his neck brie

iends were messing up with her. So I finally got rid of them. She didn't want to go back