Chapter 9: Shadows Collide
The mansion felt different that night. The calm, controlled atmosphere had been replaced by a tight, electric tension. Feifei had barely settled into the routine of staying close to Royalty when the alert went off.
"Someone's in the house," Royalty muttered, moving faster than her eyes could follow.
Feifei's stomach dropped. "What? How?"
"They've been waiting for the right moment," he said, voice low and dangerous. "Stay close."
The sound of a door crashing open echoed through the halls. Security cameras flickered to life.
And then he appeared. Daniel — the rival. Feifei's heart froze. He moved with a calm precision that chilled her blood.
Royalty didn't hesitate. He was on Daniel in a second, tackling him to the ground with the effortless skill of a man who had faced danger his entire life. Guards swarmed in, but the fight was already over. Daniel was captured, bound, and furious, glaring up at Royalty with every ounce of defiance left.
Royalty's eyes flicked to Feifei. "You okay?"
She nodded, though her hands shook. "Yeah… I—"
"You scared?" he asked softly, brushing a stray hair from her face.
Her lips parted, breath shaky. "A little… but I'm fine. I trust you."
That admission hung between them, heavier than any threat. The danger was gone, but the tension between them remained—thick, charged, undeniable.
Later, in the privacy of his room, everything changed.
_______
Royalty leaned against the doorway, watching her as she tried to steady her pulse. His presence was overwhelming, magnetic, and every inch of her wanted him closer.
"I love you," he murmured, voice low, almost a growl.
Feifei froze, heart hammering. "…You… you love me?"
He stepped closer, so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. "Yes. I've loved you for longer than you know."
Her chest tightened. "I… I care about you too," she admitted softly, eyes glistening. "…But I hesitate. You… you've used me before, and I don't know how to tell my parents about you."
He reached out, cupping her cheek. "Then we'll face them together. And I don't use you—I protect you. Everything else doesn't matter."
Her chest heaved. She hesitated, staring into his eyes, searching for the man behind the danger. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," he said, stepping closer, brushing his forehead against hers. "More sure than anything."
And in that quiet moment, she believed him.
The next day, Royalty drove her home. The mansion felt distant, the danger momentarily gone. Her parents waited, skeptical but relieved to see her safe.
Royalty re-introduced himself, calm and commanding, explaining the situation without revealing everything. Feifei's parents were cautious, but they could see how he cared for her. Slowly, she felt a weight lift—the debt, the threat, the shadows of her family's past.
Finally, as they walked back to the car, Feifei turned to him.
"I… I like you too," she admitted softly, voice barely above a whisper.
Royalty smiled, his hand finding hers naturally. "I was hoping you'd say that."