The rain hadn't stopped.
Drops tapped against the tall glass windows of Adrian Knight's mansion, painting the night in silver streaks.
Maya stood at the entrance, holding her bag tightly, her shoes squeaking on the marble floor.
Everything around her looked like another world — quiet, grand, elegant — and completely unfamiliar.
Adrian placed his coat on the hanger and looked at her.
"You don't need to be afraid," he said calmly. "No one will hurt you here."
"I'm not afraid," she replied softly, though her voice trembled. "Just… not used to places like this."
He smiled faintly. "Then consider it temporary. Until I find out who's behind that threat."
Maya nodded, still uncertain. The house felt too quiet — too close to him.Adrian gestured toward the hallway. "Your room is the second on the left. There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry."
"Thanks," she murmured. "For everything."
He was already walking away when she added quietly, "You didn't have to do this."
He stopped, turning slightly. "Maybe not," he said, his voice low. "But I wanted to."
---
🌙 Later That Night
Maya couldn't sleep.
Every creak of the house felt like an echo of her own heartbeat.
She slipped out of her room and wandered toward the balcony, where moonlight fell across the marble.Below, in the living room, she saw Adrian — still awake, sitting on the couch, a glass of water beside him. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, hair tousled, eyes lost in thought.
Maya hesitated, then stepped down quietly.
"You're not sleeping?" she asked softly.
Adrian looked up, startled. "Neither are you."
She smiled faintly. "Guess I'm not used to security systems and marble floors."
He chuckled. "Or maybe you're worried about me."
Her cheeks flushed. "Maybe."
A comfortable silence settled. The rain outside softened to a whisper.
Then she noticed the note still lying on the table — the one with the threat.
"You shouldn't let this control you," she said quietly.
"I'm not," Adrian replied, looking at her. "But if it keeps you safe, I'll let it control me for a while."
Their eyes met — steady, warm, dangerous.
The kind of gaze that feels like gravity.
Maya stepped closer, barely realizing it. "You really believe you can protect everyone?"
He smiled faintly. "Not everyone. Just you."For a heartbeat, they stood too close, the world fading around them — just the hum of rain and the rhythm of two uneven breaths.
Maya looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "That sounds like a promise."
Adrian's tone dropped lower. "Maybe it is."
---
Moments Later
A loud crack of thunder broke the silence.
Maya jumped slightly, and before she could move, Adrian instinctively reached out — his hand finding hers.
Their fingers tangled, warm and trembling.
Neither pulled away.For the first time in years, Adrian felt something he couldn't define — peace, and fear, at the same time.
Maya met his eyes and whispered, "You don't have to stand alone anymore."
He smiled softly, his thumb brushing against her hand. "Neither do you."