"It is you. Thank you for saving me back then."
She looked at me with a smile, but there was also relief. I slowly glanced at Kieran, who returned to his work, then back at Karina, who was still smiling at me.
Karina seems to be scared of her twin brother.
Not that it is new. Wasn't it the same with my siblings? They are in fear of my barbaric tendencies.
But Karina is in fear of her twin because of his whole being. Not just because of some tendencies.
She is in fear because he is Kieran Sinclair.
The moment she saw me, she looked as if she could finally breathe, like she had been running for her life just to reach me.
"I was just doing what I am supposed to do as your sister-in-law," I replied.
She shook her head, maintaining her smile.
I couldn't help but blink since she has Kieran's facial features but acts opposite to his personality. I somehow can imagine his face with this bright smile.
Once again, I glanced at Kieran. This man would surely cause more hearts to break if he were to smile this way.
Would I see that someday?
"Even if that is the case, I still want to thank you properly."
I snapped back from my thoughts when Karina spoke again.
"Very well. You're welcome. I am glad you are safe. But I have a question myself."
It was a question I had been wondering about since I looked for her.
"What is it?"
"Don't you want bodyguards?"
Since she is a direct bloodline of the chairman and CEO of Sinclair Empire, I feel that they should have bodyguards. Especially with what happened to Kingsley Conglomerate.
They should already know that dangers are always around, sometimes even too close.
She smiled while sighing, "I did before, but nothing happened the few times I returned. So I thought it was truly unnecessary. He was the one who put bodyguards on me. I should have listened."
She pointed at Kieran. I nodded. He knew, but she became careless.
And carelessness is something he does not welcome.
Nevertheless, he still showed care for her when she was kidnapped, and they could not track her down.
"So that is why you are scared of facing him now?" I commented, causing her eyes to widen.
"What?" I asked.
"I mean, you were careless, and he already gave you the warning for your safety by putting guards on you. But you did not listen, so now you are scared to be reprimanded by him- No, instead, you are scared to have a stare down with him."
Karina bit her lower lip. I got it right.
"Well, he is not doing that now. Though you should listen-" I stopped, frowning at my words.
It is because this guy does not speak, so for her to listen is not the case, right?
"To do what he makes you do. Because obviously that is for your safety."
She blankly looked at me.
"I mean, if you do not wish to receive his ice-cold stare, then you should do just that," I said, picking up my cup and taking another sip.
"Yes, I will," she replied after a while.
She looked at me drinking my coffee before her eyes landed on the newly put coffee machine.
Then she looked back at me, something I ignored since I think she wanted to speak with Kieran about what Melissa forgot or something.
"A- Anyway," she stammered.
"Mom forgot to ask for your number."
"My number?" I asked, pointing at myself.
Karina nodded her head, "The only reason I came here today was to ask for your contact information from Kieran. I'm glad I get to meet you instead."
She looked proud that she took the courage to come to Kieran's office today.
"Here," I put out my phone for her.
After taking my number, she stood up.
"That is all. I'll just contact you."
"Okay," I replied, though I don't think there is anything for us to talk about in the future.
She left without even saying goodbye to her brother.
"What did you do to her to make her so scared of you?" I asked, looking at Kieran.
He looked up and raised an eyebrow, but he was not looking at my face. Instead, it was a little lower.
He was looking at my neck.
"Because you are cold and ruthless?" I answered my own question.
He looked back at what he was signing.
It seems that he truly has more reactions when it comes to his family. He even made an effort to show me the answer to my passing question.
...
"Kieran is changing," Karina said when she came across Michael after stepping out of the office.
"Wasn't that obvious the moment you saw Lilith Kingsley in his office?" Michael chuckled at the first words she spoke upon coming out.
"But there's a wound in her neck. It seemed fresh, based on the blood on the band-aid," Karina continued.
"Did you not know about her when you came here?" Michael asked.
"I heard about her family."
"What about her? As Lilith Kingsley?"
"I only know what most know. She is the most problematic child of Leonard Kingsley and Hannah Crow."
"That on itself is the answer. Kieran allowed her in because she is an abnormality in his monotonous world," Michael explained.
"She can face him even with his ruthlessness?" Karina was in disbelief.
Michael paused before sighing.
"With how she wished to take down every person who got involved in the death of her family. Do you think she'd fear Kieran's ruthlessness?"
Karina fell silent before looking back at the closed door.
Somehow, she felt bad for Lilith. Not only because she lost her family, but also because she had lost most of her emotions, facing death as if it were just a puppy.