CamilaI could see how hard Ronan was trying to ease my worries, and the effort he was putting into protecting us was both touching and endearing. His concern for our safety, his desire to shield us from any potential harm, made me smile despite the heaviness of the situation.“I’ll be fine, Ronan,” I assured him, my voice soft yet firm. “Just make sure you come home to me in one piece.”“I will, Malishka, I promise,” he replied, his smile warm and comforting as he glanced at me through the rearview mirror before taking a turn.His words lingered in the air, a promise that felt like a lifeline in the midst of all the uncertainty. Despite everything, I felt a sense of peace, knowing that Ronan was doing everything he could to keep us safe. And that, for now, was enough.We arrived at the estate, and I was immediately struck by the sight of the heavily guarded gate.It was clear that something serious was happening. My heart began to race as I instinctively reached out to touch Katya, ho
RonanThe shock of Marc's death still lingered, a heavy weight in my chest, but I forced myself to push through. I drove to the house, my mind racing, especially with the Lieutenant beside me—a man I didn't recognise, which only added to the unease.Once we arrived at the house, I called out for Kenneth and Oliver, who quickly responded."Welcome home, Sir," they greeted me. Kenneth’s voice filled with genuine relief. I knew his words were more for Camila than for me. My presence meant that Camila was home, but I also knew she wouldn’t be staying here for long."Help Camila bring the things in," I instructed, already moving toward my study, the Lieutenant close behind me. As I closed the door, I took a moment to gather myself, trying to push aside the chaos swirling in my mind."Tell me what's really going on, Lieutenant," I demanded, needing straight answers. He sighed heavily before speaking."Sir, we don't have all the details, but our intelligence suggests there's a targeted effort
RonanThe moment Lieutenant Orlov left, I sank into my chair, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.My hands trembled as I reached for my phone, dread creeping in as I prepared to learn the truth. I knew I had to call Abel—he was the only one who might be reachable right now, given that the rest of my friends were likely in the same precarious position as me, all of us holding the same rank except for Abel, who hadn’t yet been promoted.I dialled his number, my heart pounding as I waited for him to answer. When I finally heard his voice, it was strained, barely holding together."Ronan," he said, his voice cracking under the weight of grief."I just heard about Marc. Is it true?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. I could hear him sigh on the other end."I’m afraid so, Ronan. We left the club together," he said, his voice breaking as he spoke. I could hear the pain, the guilt, the disbelief, and it mirrored my own. I had no words of comfort to offer, no way to
RonanAbel arrived as he said he would, and we spent most of the night talking about Marc. It was his first time visiting my house, but he wasn’t in any state to notice or admire the surroundings.Grief hung heavy between us, making everything else seem trivial. I couldn’t bring myself to entertain him properly—our shared sorrow overshadowed any attempts at hospitality.This time, I didn’t let Camila serve us. I made sure Kenneth and my butler, Oliver, took care of everything instead.Abel was deeply shaken, more than I had expected.I could see the fear in his eyes, the way his hands trembled slightly as he spoke. He kept pleading with me to stay safe, his voice laced with desperation.He didn’t want to lose another friend like we had lost Marc. I hadn’t realised just how hard Marc’s death had hit him.It had affected me too, of course, but I’d kept most of it inside, processing it quietly. Unlike Abel, I had Camila and Katya to comfort me, to help bear the weight of the pain."Will
Ronan"Once I resume work, I'll put in the paperwork and have them come pick Arya up from here," I said, watching Abel's eyes widen in surprise."You mean she’s here?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.I nodded, feeling the weight of the situation more heavily than ever."Yes, in the servant’s quarters. I didn’t know what else to do, Abel. I couldn’t have her wandering around, especially with everything going on. If she goes missing and the government demands I turn her over, and I can’t, I’ll be in serious trouble. I really didn’t have a choice. I wasn’t home, so I just told them to put her in the servant’s quarters."Abel sighed, shaking his head. "You really aren’t lucky with women, it seems. She should have just turned herself in. I heard she was sloppy at the Red Cross, which is why they let her go so easily; otherwise, she’d still be free. But she wasn’t even doing her job properly."I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes at him. "You seem to know an awful lot more than I d
RonanMorning arrived, and I dressed in silence, feeling the absence of Camila’s usual presence as she didn’t come to help me get ready.Having a guest in the house meant pretending that things were different now, and it sucked.As I headed downstairs, I found Camila at the dining table, carefully setting places for two. I considered telling her not to bother, but the look in her eyes stopped me. She wanted to do this, and I couldn't take that away from her."You made breakfast?" I asked, approaching the table.She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips."Kenneth helped with the crepes," she said just as Abel walked in, fully dressed and ready for the day.The moment he saw Camila, he whistled, his surprise evident. It seemed Joseph and Marc had never told him she was staying with me.Did they suspect and choose to keep it to themselves? I wouldn’t put it past Marc; he was always a step ahead."You brought Camila here after everything that happened?" Abel asked, making himself comfo
RonanI arrived at my father's estate, and as I walked into the house, the first person I saw was Glenda.The years had taken their toll on her; she looked tired and had aged noticeably. Her posture was humble, with her head bowed, a shadow of the woman I once knew."Good morning, Master Ronan," she greeted me, her voice soft and respectful.The anger I once felt toward her had faded. The possibility that she hadn’t drugged the decanter, as I once believed, had made me realise how unfair my judgments might have been.I hadn't yet investigated the matter fully, but I knew that someday I needed to get to the bottom of it."Good morning, Glenda," I replied, offering a small smile. "Camila sends her love."Her face brightened at the mention of her daughter, a spark of life returning to her weary eyes."I’m glad she isn’t causing you trouble, Master," she said, almost as if relieved. Perhaps she had feared I had come to complain about Camila, and her reaction made me wonder what burdens sh
RonanI walked into my father's office and found him buried in documents, his expression tense and focused. The situation with the Kavistanians was clearly weighing heavily on him, as it was on all top military officers."Father," I said, breaking the silence. He looked up at me, his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and relief."I heard you hid away. Did you know? Did your ex tell you what was coming?" he asked abruptly, skipping any formalities. I could also see a tinge of fear in his eyes. If in anyway I was in league with Arya, that would get me into trouble.I shook my head."No, I didn't know. I just wanted to get away and spend some time with my daughter. I needed peace and quiet, and it seems that desire might have saved my life," I replied, settling into the chair across from him.He studied me for a moment, his eyes searching for something—perhaps reassurance that I was truly okay. Then he sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly."I'm glad you're alive, son. Y