Yvienna was quietly munching her food when a familiar, intoxicating scent drifted through the air. It was unmistakably his—the warm, manly fragrance that sent her heart into a frenzy. Her eyes betrayed her, stealing a glance at Kyle. Unconsciously, her gaze trailed from his sharp eyes to the bridge of his nose and finally lingered on his lips. A sudden memory of that embarrassing day when he stole her first kiss surged through her mind. She gulped, her cheeks heating at the thought.
Kyle, as if sensing her presence, turned his head. His sharp hazel eyes locked onto hers, and he raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked, his tone casual but with a teasing undertone.
Yvienna quickly shook her head and looked away, but before she could escape the moment, his hand reached out, gently tilting her chin back toward him. She froze as his thumb brushed her skin, his gaze flickering over her face. The air between them grew thick, her heartbeat drumming wildly in her ears. Without realizing it, she closed her eyes.
A sudden touch on the corner of her lips startled her. When she opened her eyes, Kyle was grinning mischievously. "What were you expecting?" he teased, wiping a speck of food from her lip. Then, with infuriating ease, he added, "Do you miss this?" He grabbed her hand and pressed her fingers to his lips, his grin widening.
"Y-you fool!" Yvienna stammered, trying to pull her hand away, but he tightened his grip, leaning closer.
His hazel eyes drew her in, their proximity electrifying. Yvienna's mind screamed for her to pull back, but her body betrayed her. Her lips parted, and when Kyle kissed her, it wasn't the quick peck she'd braced herself for. His lips moved with deliberate purpose, coaxing hers to respond.
His hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Yvienna hesitated, overwhelmed by the intimacy, but his warmth and scent disarmed her. Slowly, she surrendered, letting him guide her. Their tongues entwined, and the world around them faded away. When they finally pulled apart, gasping for air, their eyes met.
Kyle's gaze darkened, his lips curling into a smirk before he leaned in to steal another kiss. His hands ventured beneath her shirt, but he stopped himself, pulling back abruptly.
"I-I'm sorry," he murmured, brushing her hair gently with his fingers. His eyes softened with an emotion Yvienna couldn't quite place. He rose to his feet, pointing at the medicine on her bedside table. "Take that before you sleep," he instructed before pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. Without another word, he left the room, heading toward the guest room.
Yvienna sat frozen, her mind spinning. What just happened? Her fingers brushed her lips, still tingling from the kiss. "Did I… do something wrong?" she whispered, confused by Kyle's sudden retreat. Her cheeks burned at the memory of his touch.
"But he was gentle," she reassured herself. "And he kissed my forehead… so, it wasn't bad, right?"
Shaking her head, she forced herself to drink the medicine before collapsing onto her bed. She tried to sleep, but the memory of his kiss replayed in her mind, making her blush anew. "Damn you, Kyle," she muttered, pulling the blanket over her head.
The morning comes, and after a quick shower, Yvienna carefully gathers the dishes from the previous night. She was heading toward the kitchen when the aroma of freshly cooked food greeted her. Following the scent, she found Kyle in the dining room, setting the table.
Their eyes met, and Kyle smiled, walking toward her. "Let me take that. Are you feeling better now?"
Yvienna avoided his gaze, the memory of their kiss flashing in her mind. "I-I'm fine now. Thanks for taking care of me," she mumbled.
Kyle took the dishes from her and disappeared into the kitchen.
"Oh, my dear, you're awake!" Her mother's warm voice filled the room. "How are you feeling? Do you still have a fever?"
"I'm fine, Mom," Yvienna replied with a reassuring smile.
Her mother hugged her before instructing the maid to set her a plate. As they sat at the table, Yvienna couldn't help but notice her mother's unusually kind demeanor toward Kyle.
"Where's Dad?" Yvienna asked, glancing around.
"He's busy at the hotel. He's sleeping in his office again," her mother explained. "I'm visiting him later. Do you want to come?"
"B-but I have class—"
Kyle interrupted her. "Don't worry. I already told your professor you won't be attending today. You need to rest."
Yvienna's mother smiled at Kyle. "You're so thoughtful. Why don't you join us later, Kyle?"
Yvienna's eyes widened, and even Kyle looked surprised. It was the first time her mother had been so welcoming toward a stranger.
"I appreciate the offer, ma'am, but I need to head home," Kyle replied politely.
An hour had passed, and Kyle was now on his way home, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he sped down the road. His father's urgent message had left him tense and on edge.
The moment he stepped into their house, his voice thundered, "Mom?! Where is she?!"
Cassandra appeared in the living area, her tone calm but dismissive. "Kyle, calm down. She's in her bedroom."
Ignoring her, Kyle's eyes scanned the space until he noticed someone unexpected. His gaze darkened as he snapped, "What the f*ck are you doing here, Cassandra?!"
"Kyle! Don't be rude to your fiancée!" his father shouted from across the hall.
Kyle rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond. Instead, he hurried upstairs, his focus solely on his mother. When he entered her bedroom, his chest tightened at the sight of her lying pale and weak on the bed.
"K-Kyle…" her faint voice called out as she slowly regained consciousness.
He rushed to her side, his hands trembling slightly as he knelt beside her. "What did that man do to you?"
"N-nothing, son," she whispered, shaking her head weakly. "I just… I just don't want you to marry a woman you don't love."
Kyle's jaw clenched, his frustration boiling beneath the surface. It all came back to this—the damn arranged marriage. He looked around the room, realizing it was unusually quiet. "Where are my siblings?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"I sent them to your grandmother's house," his mother explained softly. "They'll stay there for now. Your father can't even take care of them properly."
Kyle nodded, letting out a frustrated sigh. Their grandparent's house wasn't far, closer to the university, but he hated that things had come to this. Hugging his mother gently, he murmured, "Why don't you stay there too? It's safer."
But she shook her head weakly. "I can't, son. He'll do everything to bring me back here."
Kyle's eyes darkened at the thought of his father's controlling behavior. His anger simmered, but he pushed it aside for now. "Are you thirsty, Mom?" he asked softly. She nodded, and Kyle pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before leaving to fetch her some water.
As he entered the kitchen, he was met with Cassandra's piercing gaze. "Why didn't I see you yesterday? Did you skip class?" she asked sharply.
Kyle ignored her as he filled a glass, his jaw tightening in frustration.
"That's not for you to know," he replied coldly, turning to leave.
Before he could take another step, Cassandra grabbed his arm. "Why are you so cold to me?" she asked, her voice trembling with forced emotion.
Kyle yanked his arm away with disgust. "Don't touch me," he said firmly, moving to exit.
But Cassandra's voice suddenly rang out, loud and theatrical. Her cry startled him, and he turned just as his father stormed into the kitchen, his expression livid.
"What's going on here?!" Greg barked, his voice filled with suspicion.
"What the heck is this, Cassandra?!" Kyle looks at her with confusion.
His eyes narrowed. He knew she was up to something.
"H-he said he doesn't want to marry me, Dad!" Cassandra sobbed, tears streaming down her face.
Greg turned his furious gaze to Kyle. "Kyle?! Is that true?!"
Kyle let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. "She's lying. I never said that. But even so, I will not marry her,"
Before Kyle could leave the kitchen, Greg grabbed his arm, causing the glass in his hand to slip and shatter on the floor.
"What is your problem?! Are you a fool, Kyle?!" Greg shouted. "Don't you dare disrespect your fiancée like that!"
Kyle glared at his father, his voice sharp and unyielding. "She is NOT my fiancée, and I will never marry her!"
The next thing Kyle knew, his father's fist connected with his face. Cassandra gasped in feigned horror, but Kyle didn't flinch. He merely glared back at Greg, his jaw set in defiance.
"You're testing my patience," Greg growled. "Try me, Kyle, and I'll make sure you're out of this house for good!" Kyle smirked, his expression laced with bitterness. "Go ahead," he shot back. "I'm not afraid of you."
Their argument was interrupted by a weak, trembling voice. "W-what's happening?!"
Kyle's head snapped toward the stairs, his gaze landing on his mother standing there, leaning against the railing for support.
"Mom! Why are you out of bed?!" Kyle rushed to her side, but Greg grabbed his collar, pulling him back.
"Stop it, Greg! You're hurting him!" his mother cried, her voice cracking.
Greg gritted his teeth, his anger boiling over. "You will marry her, understand?!"
"No, I will not!" Kyle shot back, his voice echoing through the house.
Greg raised his fist again, but before he could land another punch, Kyle's mother collapsed.
"Mom!" Kyle shouted, breaking free from his father's grip to catch her before she hit the floor.
For a moment, everything stopped. Greg and Cassandra stood frozen as Kyle cradled his mother in his arms, his heart pounding with fear and anger.
"This is your fault," Kyle spat, glaring at his father. "If anything happens to her, I swear you'll regret it."