Chapter Four

 TWO YEARS LATER

"Get the car ready for me," a young man ordered, his deep, resonant voice sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it. Not only was it attractive, but it also had the power to fuel people's fantasies.

"Yes, sir!" The driver nodded, and within moments, the garage door was open, revealing a sleek and beautiful midnight-blue sedan. The young man wore a charcoal gray suit that accentuated his tall, lean frame; his movement’s exuded grace, akin to that of a dancer, as he slid into the driver's seat. A slight, mischievous smirk graced his lips, adding to the aura of mystery surrounding him.

The engine purred to life, and with a gentle press of the accelerator, the car smoothly merged onto the road. Rome's silver hair fluttered in the wind as it caressed his face, and his canines slightly peeked out from his lips.

Aftera few minutes, they drove past a small cafe and the driver was told to stop. Rome blinked and went into the cafe, it looked cozy from outside. The scent of freshly brewed coffee, the soft melodies of calming music, and the hushed hums of gossip floated into his ears… Or, never mind. These weren't soft hums of gossip, rather, it was a full blown argument.

Rome thought this would be a quiet cafe but it was the opposite, however, he didn't leave and instead took a free chair, leaning on his palm, his silver hair brushing against his hand.

"Sir, could you please leave? Your presence is making other customers uncomfortable. The coffee you ordered isn't from here, and we've explained it to you several times," a young lady implored, her voice slow and pleading, though it was loud. Her eyes held a hint of fierceness, showing her struggle to control her anger.

"I've told you, if you can't refund my money, I won't leave," the man replied gruffly, crossing his arms. He was the largest and most imposing person in the café, making anyone think twice before confronting him. He was well aware of his size and the intimidation it carried.

"Sir, I already told you that you can't…"

Suddenly, the sounds of something breaking sounded throughout the café. Crash! Crash! Two vases on the counter shattered, and the deafening sound shocked everyone, causing them to flinch. The lady addressing the man stepped back, her eyes locked on the man who was cracking his knuckles and chuckling.

He was there purely to cause trouble, and his claim about buying a takeaway coffee with ants from the café was clearly a ruse.

"Sir, you..."

"You know what? I don't even need the money anymore. How about I just trash everything here? When I'm satisfied, I'll leave. Is that okay with you?" He grabbed another object and hurled it at the wall. As it smashed, a person near the impact area gasped; her face had been grazed by a shard of glass. Blood trickled down her face, and she stared in shock, the sight of her blood making her dizzy.

She abruptly stood up, moving backward, oblivious to the scattered shards of glass on the floor. Her legs trembled as she continued to bleed, and, after a moment, they gave way, causing her to fall directly onto the broken glass. She had a blood phobia. Rome's eyes narrowed as he witnessed the girl's frantic struggle. As she began to fall, he stood up immediately to catch her, but someone beat him to it.

A dark blurry figure was suddenly holding the girl and in concern, she asked, "Are you okay?" Maya whispered to the girl she had just caught, who was now panting due to her fear. Seeing the girl wasn't responding, Maya sighed and turned to the person sitting next to her. "Do you know her?" Maya inquired, and the person nodded fervently, also rising to assist the girl. "Take care of her." Afterward, she stood up, dusted off her clothes, and approached the commotion, her expression blank.

"Maya? Are… Are you done with what you were doing?" Anya, the lady who had been at the counter, asked, her eyes wide with fear, and sweat dripped down her eyebrows. She appeared genuinely frightened, understandably so, considering that such a large and intimidating individual had suddenly caused trouble.

Maya glanced at the imposing man, her eyes tracing his muscles, bulging veins, and the tattoos on his upper arm and around his neck, featuring a dragon motif. He exuded an intimidating presence.

Meanwhile, Rome stared at the woman standing in front of him in shock, his eyes betraying his recognition. When he saw her face, he somehow immediately recalled bumping into her at the airpor; her scent was just as it had been that day. However, she had undergone a significant transformation.

Her stomach was now flat, and there was no sign of her previous pregnancy. As her scent was now mixed with the scents of two others, it was safe to assume that she had given birth.

"Anya, I'll handle this. Please escort the customers to the side to keep them safe," Maya responded to Anya's question with a small smile that concealed a hint of darkness and anger. Seeing Anya's concern, Maya wrapped her arms around her friend's shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. "I'll be fine, go ahead."

"Okay," Anya reluctantly agreed, and she hurriedly led some customers to a safer area. They were curious about how Maya would handle the situation and had already called the police. Once they were away from the counter, Maya sighed and turned to the burly man.

"Are you finished here, or would you like to leave before I call the cops on you?" Maya asked and silence pervaded the entire café, the man did not say anything, he was only staring at her and for some reason, he felt very scared. But he would not show it; after all, what can a frail woman like her who has just given birth do to him in her condition. So, he moved closer to her, his height towered over her frame which was smaller in comparison.

Rome sat up in curiosity, what would she do? And how will she take care of this guy?