Chapter 8
Mira wasn’t sure how long she’d been staring at the ceiling.
The room was too quiet—too still, too warm—nothing like the cold palace she had braced herself for after what happened. She’d prepared for insults, accusations, disappointment. Anything that fit the reputation of the man whose child she might be carrying.
Instead, she lay in a soft bed beneath a warm blanket. A glass of water waited on the side table. And outside her door stood a silent guardian.
It frustrated her. It softened her. It confused her all at once.
Why is he being nice?
She turned onto her side and tucked her knees in. Moonlight slipped through the curtains, brushing her face in silver. She blinked at it, her thoughts spiraling.
He’s my family’s rival. Everyone says he’s cold. Ruthless. Unreachable.
So why… why does he look at me like I’m not a mistake he wants to erase?
Her fingers drifted to her stomach without permission.
Too early. Too unknown. Too terrifying.
Even if I am carrying his child… he could’ve ignored me. Could’ve sent me away. Instead, he chose gentleness. Responsibility.
Since when does a man like him care?
Her throat tightened for reasons she didn’t want to name.
She curled deeper into the blanket, as if she could hide from her own thoughts.
Outside, the house lay in a controlled silence—engineered, intentional. Every footstep measured. Every whisper muted. The tension of his world pressed in from all sides, yet none of it touched her room.
Was it concern? Guilt? Obligation?
Or something she didn’t yet have the courage to admit?
Her eyes finally closed, heavy with exhaustion but too anxious for true sleep.
Somewhere deep in the mansion, a phone rang.
And the night broke.
He sat in his office with rigid shoulders, tie loosened, shadows carving sharp lines across the room. Midnight had a way of sharpening everything—the air, the silence, the truth.
Ryan entered without knocking.
“Sir,” he said tightly. “You need to hear this p>
Cassian lifted his gaze. He already knew it wasn’t good news.
“It’s about the rumor p>
His jaw clenched. “Play it p>
Ryan placed the phone on the desk.
A recording crackled to life. A low voice whispered, laughing in a cruel, familiar way.
“Spread it. The story about him and that girl. Make it big. Make it messy p>
Not an accident. Not a leak.
A deliberate strike.
A muscle jumped in Cassian’s jaw. “Who is it p>
“A runner. Name’s Nalen. Small-time,” Ryan replied. “But he’s not the mastermind. Just the courier. The real one stayed hidden p>
Cassian pushed his chair back—slowly. Too slowly.
“Where is Nalen p>
“Old warehouse. We’ve already cornered him p>
Cassian stood.
“Prepare the car p>
The night wind cut across his face as he reached the warehouse. His men surrounded the building like shadows—silent, precise. When they saw him, they lowered their heads.
Inside, Nalen was tied to a chair, shaking. Sweat slicked his skin despite the cold. He attempted a smirk. It didn’t hold.
“Boss,” he croaked, “I-it was just a rumor. People were already talking p>
“You spread it,” Cassian cut in, stepping into the dim light. “And you enjoyed it p>
Nalen swallowed. “I—I didn’t mean p>
Cassian grabbed his collar and yanked him forward. His fist connected with Nalen’s jaw. The chair skidded across the concrete.
Nalen coughed, blood spilling.
Ryan didn’t blink.
Cassian advanced, each step echoing.
“You thought it was funny?” he asked quietly. Too quietly. “Dragging her name through your filth p>
“I—I was told—paid p>
“By who p>
Silence. Trembling.
Cassian crouched and seized Nalen’s chin, forcing his gaze up.
“Look at me p>
Nalen squeezed his eyes shut.
Cassian backhanded him hard enough to draw a cry.
“I said look at me p>
This time, Nalen obeyed—wide-eyed, broken.
Cassian leaned closer. His voice was steel.
“You can play with my reputation. You can play with my enemies. But you will never touch her name again. If you do, I’ll break every bone in your body. Try her, and see if you ever walk again p>
Nalen whimpered.
“And whoever you’re protecting,” Cassian continued, jaw tightening, “tell them I’m coming p>
He stood. Ryan handed him a handkerchief. Cassian wiped the blood from his knuckles and exhaled—slow, dangerous.
“She’s already been through enough,” he murmured.
The room stilled.
He wasn’t talking about the rumor.
“What now, sir?” Ryan asked.
“Clean this mess. Find the mastermind.” Cassian turned away.
“And you p>
Cassian paused at the doorway, night air spilling in.
“I’m going back p>
“To her p>
Mira woke to the soft click of the door.
Not loud. Not sudden.
Enough to make her heart leap.
Cassian stepped inside, jacket gone, sleeves rolled, hair tousled by the wind. Dried blood marked his knuckles.
Her breath caught.
“You’re hurt p>
“It’s nothing,” he said, sliding his hands behind his back.
She sat up, the blanket slipping. “Where were you p>
“Handling something p>
A pause.
“Nothing for you to worry about p>
But she did.
He approached slowly, like someone nearing something fragile.
“You should be asleep,” he murmured.
“I couldn’t.” Her voice wavered. “My mind wouldn’t stop p>
“About today p>
She nodded.
He sat on the edge of the bed—not too close. Close enough that she felt his warmth.
“Mira,” he said quietly, “you’re safe here. Nothing outside this room matters. And whatever they’re saying out there—it won’t touch you. Not while I’m here p>
Her stomach fluttered.
She looked at his knuckles again. “You fought because of me p>
He didn’t deny it.
“I won’t let anyone use your name,” he said. “Not now. Not ever p>
Her heart pounded.
“Why?” she whispered. “Why do you care p>
For a moment, he only watched her—measuring how much truth she could bear.
Then he reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair from her cheek.
“You still don’t understand,” he murmured.
His fingers lingered a second too long.
Her chest tightened—fear and something else, tangled together.
He withdrew and stood.
“Rest,” he said softly. “I’ll be right outside p>
At the door, he paused.
“And Mira?” His voice lowered. “If anyone tries to hurt you again—rumor or truth—they answer to me first p>
The door closed.
Mira pressed her hand to her racing heart.
What was he doing to her?
What was she doing to him?
And why did the knowledge that he stood guard outside her door make her feel safer than she had in years?