Third Person's POV
The twilight air had grown crisp as the two of them walked side-by-side toward Liora's apartment building. Liora kept stealing quiet glances at Ronan, her heart fluttering as a dark blush bloomed across her cheeks. Ronan, completely aware of the intense gaze, simply smiled to himself, walking with an effortless, peaceful grace.
An invisible, magnetic closeness had settled between them. As they walked, a deep, overwhelming desire sparked within Liora's chest, she desperately wanted to reach out, slide her fingers into Ronan's, and walk hand-in-hand. But a heavy wave of hesitation held her back. She had absolutely no idea how the enigmatic billionaire would react to such sudden intimacy.
But the moment Liora tentatively reached her hand out, her fingers brushing against the fabric of the man's coat, Ronan understood instantly.
Letting out a soft, breathy chuckle, Ronan reached down and firmly caught Liora's hand, tightly intertwining their fingers. A radiant, breathless smile instantly broke across Liora's face at the secure, warm grip.
Before Liora could even process her own happiness, Ronan drew their joined hands upward. Without breaking his stride, he lifted the back of Liora's hand to his lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the smooth skin.
The tender gesture sent a violent jolt of electricity straight to Liora's core, causing her already profound feelings for the man to grow exponentially.
As they navigated the quiet sidewalk, their hands securely locked together, Ronan found himself drifting back to the words of the luxury jewelry boutique owner. Girlfriend. Lovers. He had spent his entire existence operating in a cold, ruthless corporate reality; he had never once in his wildest dreams imagined having a girlfriend. Foreign concepts like romance, love, and lovers simply didn't belong in his vocabulary.
Yet, looking down at the beautiful girl walking beside him, Ronan knew with absolute certainty that the universe was rewriting itself. Everything was changing because Liora had arrived.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
By the time they finally arrived at the entrance of Liora's apartment building, the dark night had completely stolen the sky, and a brilliant, glowing moon was rising above the city line. Standing beneath the dim streetlamp, Ronan pulled out his phone to call his personal driver, instructing him to bring the car around to take him back to the Brown mansion.
Turning back to the girl, Ronan smoothly extended the magnificent bouquet of deep crimson flowers he had been shielding. Liora's eyes widened to the size of saucers, her breath catching in her throat as she looked from the blossoms to Ronan's calm face.
"I-Is this... for me?" Liora whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Ronan offered a soft, elegant nod.
Liora's face flushed a furious shade of crimson. Red roses were universally recognized as a declaration of romantic devotion, a gift strictly meant for a lover. Trembling, she accepted the heavy arrangement, bringing the velvet petals close to her face to take a deep, shaky breath of their sweet, intoxicating fragrance.
"Thank you, Ron." Liora murmured softly, using the affectionate shorthand.
Ronan's lips curved into a beautiful, genuine smile. At that exact sight, Liora's heart began to hammer frantically against her ribs. Today was Valentine's Day. Looking at the moon, looking at the roses, she realized there would never be a more perfect, defining moment to lay her soul bare. The overwhelming emotion swirling in her chest was undeniable, it was love. Pure, unadulterated love.
Nerves violently gripped her throat, and she instinctively bit down on her lower lip, trying to ground herself. Ronan's brow furrowed slightly, his sharp eyes instantly picking up on the sudden, rigid shift in Liora's posture.
"Is something wrong, Liora?" Ronan asked gently.
Liora forced a fragile, incredibly awkward smile onto her face. "I-I actually... I have something I really need to tell you, Ronan."
Hearing his full name leave the girl's lips in such a serious, vulnerable tone, Ronan's own heart gave a violent, erratic thud. A sudden, inexplicable wave of panic crashed over his mind. He could inherently deduce exactly what Liora was on the verge of saying. But why on earth was he suddenly so terrified? Taking a deep, sharp breath, Ronan desperately tried to stabilize his racing thoughts.
"W-What is it?" Ronan asked, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat.
An absolute, heavy silence descended over the sidewalk, stretching out for what felt like an eternity. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut to banish the fear, Liora finally gathered every ounce of her courage and let the words tumble out into the night air.
"I-I think... I-I love you."
Liora's POV
The truth is, I have always been a profoundly fragile person. I am someone who is inherently terrified of massive conflicts, completely intimidated by high-ranking, powerful figures. I spent my entire life trying to stay as far away from trouble as humanly possible. And physical intimacy, actual sexual activity, always terrified me to my core. My fragile, sensitive body simply couldn't handle the intensity of it.
Because of that, I forced myself into isolation, avoiding people entirely. My existence was a constant battle; malicious strangers on the streets constantly tried to take advantage of my physical beauty, and I had to deal with predatory people like Samuel at university. If it wasn't for Ethan constantly stepping in to shield me from the worst of them, I wouldn't have survived.
But then, a single, mysterious accident completely shattered the weak, fearful trajectory of my life. I call it mysterious because by all laws of nature, I was absolutely supposed to die in that violent wreckage. Yet, I lived. I survived because of Ronan. He became my ultimate anchor. My absolute strength.
The very first moment my eyes landed on Ronan that day, I was completely, helplessly attracted to him. And honestly, how could anyone blame me? He possessed the number one most handsome face in the entire world. Initially, I tried to rationalize the heavy thumping in my chest as simple fan infatuation. I thought I was just starstruck.
But the way he behaved around me quickly destroyed that theory. He protected me, not just once, but repeatedly, throwing his own body into danger for my sake. I had never felt that profound, unconditional sense of safety from anyone in my entire life.
I watched the way he smiled, that rare, breathtakingly beautiful boxy smile. And when I realized that I was the sole reason that smile appeared on his face, a wave of pure ecstasy would wash over me. If that isn't love, then what is? I just didn't comprehend the true depth of it back then. I foolishly thought it was just the innocent devotion a fan holds for their idol.
But after our first real kiss, I completely abandoned that ridiculous delusion. Idols and fans don't cross that boundary. The moment I realized just how deeply addicted I had become to his touch, how my entire soul craved his presence, I knew I was profoundly in love with him.
And today... oh my god, today he actually got physically aroused because of me! He lost his control just from holding me! Doesn't that mean he harbors those exact same intense, passionate desires for me too?
All of this blossomed because of these extraordinary, unexplainable powers we received. We still haven't been able to decipher the cosmic reason why or how we inherited such supernatural gifts. We both agreed to never use them under normal circumstances because they are entirely unnatural in a normal world. But we broke that rule whenever we needed to save each other's lives. That shared secret, that otherworldly link, is exactly what pulled our souls so close together. I absolutely love these powers.
And today was Valentine's Day. Spending the entire afternoon wandering the streets with the person I cherish more than life itself felt like a beautiful, hazy dream. We got to know each other on a deeply personal level, talking casually without the cold corporate walls between us. I was so incredibly happy. My secret, burning desire to just walk down the street holding his hand had finally come true. And when Ronan lifted my hand to kiss it... I silently cried out to the universe, begging that if this was a dream, please never let me wake up.
I made that exact same desperate wish the moment he handed me those deep red roses. My heart practically screamed with joy. A red rose is the ultimate, timeless symbol of romance. To me, it felt like a silent, beautiful confirmation that he loved me back, even if he was too guarded to put it into words.
I couldn't let this beautiful day slip away into the night without trying. Today was the perfect day. I made the executive decision to be brave, to be the first one to cross the line. So, swallowed by a terrifying fear of his reaction, I finally let the truth go.
"I-I think... I-I love you."
My heart was hammering so violently against my ribs I thought it would burst. Oh my god, what is he going to say? I nervously opened my eyes to look at his face, expecting a warm smile, or perhaps a breathless confession of his own.
But what I saw entirely shattered me.
Ronan looked completely, utterly terrified. He was staring at me with a look of pure, unadulterated panic, as if he were staring at a ghost. Before I could even process the horror in his eyes, all my beautiful hopes were violently dashed. Ronan took a sharp, frantic step away from me. Without uttering a single syllable, he violently turned his back on me and bolted down the street, jumping into his waiting car and speeding away into the darkness.
I stood frozen on the sidewalk, the heavy bouquet of roses suddenly feeling like lead in my hands. My mind went entirely blank. What did that mean? What did his terror represent? Doesn't he like me? At all?
Ha... of course. He doesn't want to love me. He actually despises the thought of me that way, doesn't he?
Please, Ronan... just answer me. Don't leave me like this. I thought to myself, the hot tears finally spilling over my lashes.
He didn't come back. The suffocating walls of my apartment felt entirely unwearable in that state, so I slowly turned around and began walking aimlessly through the chilly night air, my legs carrying me toward the river Thames. I slumped onto a secluded wooden bench facing the water, staring blankly at the dark waves shimmering beautifully beneath the moonlight.
Was everything I believed just a cruel, delusional lie? Ah... I couldn't comprehend any of it. Did his frantic escape mean an absolute, total rejection? Was I simply too hasty, too desperate? The tears flowed completely unchecked, blurring the beautiful lights of the city.
I sat there on that cold bench for hours. One hour, two hours, completely lost to the freezing wind, staring at the endless water.
Suddenly, a sharp, incredibly familiar ache throbbed violently through my head, the unmistakable, cosmic spark of our supernatural connection. My eyes flew wide open. That specific pain only ever meant one thing: Ronan was drawing near.
I immediately leaped up from the bench, my eyes frantically scanning the dark, deserted riverbank. And then, through the shadows, I spotted him.
Ronan was sprinting toward me with terrifying speed. He abruptly halted a short distance away, completely out of breath, resting his hands heavily on his knees as his chest heaved for air. He didn't take his eyes off me for even a fraction of a second.
I stood rooted to the spot, entirely confused, staring at his disheveled frame in utter bewilderment. But the words that tore from his throat in the next heartbeat caused the air to completely leave my lungs.
"Liora!! I love you too!!!"
Flashback
Third Person's POV
Ronan ran. He ran as if the absolute fires of hell were snapping at his heels, fleeing from the raw, beautiful vulnerability of Liora's gaze. The exact moment his personal driver pulled up to the curb, Ronan had thrown himself into the backseat, demanding they drive straight to the Brown mansion. Throughout the entire chaotic ride, silent, heavy tears had streamed down his face, blurring the passing city lights.
The moment the car screeched to a halt at the estate, Ronan bolted inside. He collapsed heavily onto the grand velvet sofa in the center of the living room, his chest heaving as he gasped for air, his mind spinning in a state of pure, frantic shock.
"What on earth is wrong, little master? You look exactly like a man who has just seen a terrifying ghost." Miss Scott asked, stepping into the living room and freezing at the sight of his frantic state.
But instead of pulling up his usual cold, corporate armor, Ronan leaped up from the sofa and threw his arms completely around Miss Scott's frame, burying his face against her shoulder. Miss Scott flinched violently in absolute shock, her hands hovering in the air.
"L-Little master-"
"Please, don't talk to me like that!" Ronan cried out, his voice cracking into a raw, incredibly vulnerable childlike tone. "Why can't you just call me 'son' or 'grandson' like Liora does? Didn't you say it yourself during lunch... that I am exactly like your own grandson?"
Miss Scott's eyes widened to the size of saucers, a profound wave of emotion sweeping over her at the billionaire's sudden, heartbreaking transformation.
"O-Of course... my boy. My son." Miss Scott whispered, her own eyes instantly filling with warm tears. She gently reached up, tenderly stroking the back of Ronan's head as he clung to her waist. Within seconds, she could feel the heavy, damp warmth of his tears soaking straight through the fabric of her apron.
"My boy? Sweetheart, you're crying." Miss Scott murmured with deep maternal concern, guiding him gently back toward the couch. "Tell me what happened, my son."
"She... she told me she loved me, Aunty." Ronan sobbed, the words tearing from his chest as all his walls completely crumbled.
Tears of pure, unadulterated joy spilled from Miss Scott's eyes. This was the very first time in history that the stoic, isolated Ronan Brown had ever spoken to her with such raw, familial trust. Sitting down closely beside him, she gently guided his heavy head down to rest on her lap, smoothing his dark hair.
"But sweet boy, that is a beautiful thing." Miss Scott reasoned softly. "Why on earth are you crying over a confession? Did you tell her how much you love her back?"
Hearing that, Ronan sat up violently, his eyes wide and completely lost. "I... I love her? Aunty, how can you be so sure? What even is love? How am I supposed to know what it feels like?"
Miss Scott's heart ached with profound sadness for the boy, realizing the absolute depth of his emotional stuntedness. Ronan let out a shaky, entirely miserable sigh, staring at his trembling hands.
"I know these are incredibly stupid, foolish questions that no normal adult should ever have to ask, Aunty. But I have lived entirely without feelings since I was a small child. I don't comprehend emotions. Because I don't possess them. The only things I have ever known intimately since childhood are cold, negative entities like sadness and heavy loneliness, never things like genuine happiness or warmth. I didn't have a mother or a father there to give those things to me."
He paused, looking up at Miss Scott with red, tear-stained eyes that broke her heart.
"But from the exact day Liora tumbled into my life... everything shifted. Before her, I didn't even know how to properly smile. She gave me things that all the billions in my bank accounts could never buy for me, Aunty. I am an entirely different person whenever I am around her."
Ronan swallowed down a sob, his voice dropping into a whisper. "If my mother were alive today, this is exactly the conversation I would be having with her. But I am telling these things to you. Aunty, please tell me... what am I feeling? What are these overwhelming sensations? What is love supposed to be like?"
Miss Scott offered a profoundly tender, loving smile, her hand gently cupping the side of his face.
"My dear son, I cannot give you a single textbook definition of love. Because love doesn't possess one. It changes shapes and forms from person to person. Different people love in entirely different ways. But I know one absolute truth. Son, listen to me very carefully, okay?"
Ronan nodded rapidly, hanging onto her every word like a child seeking guidance.
"Love is the most breathtaking, powerful force in this entire universe. Absolutely nothing can defeat what is truly called love. And that exact beautiful, terrifying feeling is precisely what you hold for Liora, my boy. You love her. Anyone with eyes can see it simply by looking at the way you gaze at her."
Ronan swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Do I... do I really love her then?"
Miss Scott couldn't help but let out a soft, beautiful chuckle at his innocence. "Of course you do, son. Let me ask you this: Do you believe she should be by your side forever?"
Ronan nodded instantly, without a shred of hesitation.
"Do you want to see a bright smile on her face every single day?"
"Y-Yes. More than anything."
"And do you desperately want to be the sole reason that smile exists?"
"With every single fiber of my being, yes."
"Then that means you are deeply, profoundly in love with her, son." Miss Scott concluded beautifully, patting his hand. "She is the exact reason you have changed for the better, and she is the sole source of your happiness. Trust the loving bond between the two of you, Ron. Trust me."
Ronan lingered on her words, a small, fragile doubt holding him back. "B-But... I haven't even known her for very long. The time has been so short."
Miss Scott smiled gently, leaning forward to stroke his hair comfortingly. "Son... love has absolutely nothing to do with time. It is entirely about depth of feeling. Love is about what you feel in your soul. Time is completely irrelevant."
The profound truth of her words crashed through his consciousness like a wave. He stared at Miss Scott, his eyes brimming with fresh tears, but this time, they were tears of pure, unadulterated happiness.
"That means... I really do love her." he whispered, a brilliant, breathtaking boxy smile finally breaking through his tears.
"Thank you... thank you so much for talking to me like this, Aunty." Ronan said, his heart bursting with gratitude. "I have absolutely no one else in this world to share these things with."
He threw his arms around Miss Scott one final time, squeezing her tightly before springing up from the couch. Wiping his tears away frantically with the backs of his hands, he turned on his heel and bolted completely out of the mansion, driven by pure, manic desperation to find Liora, entirely forgetting his keys, his personal driver, and his fleet of luxury cars in his frantic rush.
He began sprinting at full speed toward Liora's apartment building, his heart hammering with the fear that he had ruined everything. But halfway down the avenue, an intense, magnetic tug violently flared within his chest. His supernatural instincts came alive, flooding his mind with a powerful psychic intuition: Liora wasn't inside her apartment. She was close. At the river Thames.
Ronan immediately pivoted, redirecting his sprint toward the riverbank. He pushed his body faster than human limits allowed, his lungs burning until he finally spotted the exact silhouette he had been praying to see. The girl's beautiful blonde hair was shimmering flawlessly beneath the bright moonlight.
He watched from a distance as Liora suddenly bolted upright from the bench, clearly triggered by the sharp throb of their psychic connection, desperately searching the darkness.
The exact moment those wide, tear-stained eyes locked onto his disheveled frame, Ronan gathered every ounce of air left in his lungs and screamed the truth across the distance:
"Liora!! I love you too!!!"
End of Flashback