Kaye stirred in the unfamiliar surroundings of Timothy's bedroom, her thoughts still foggy from sleep. The realization dawned upon her that she was in Timothy's condo, and a silent question lingered: had he carried her all the way from the car to his room?
As she perused the room, her eyes lingered on a family picture. "Is he an only child?" she queried, her curiosity evident.
Stepping out into the kitchen, she found Timothy engrossed in cooking.
"You're awake," he noted as he caught sight of her.
"Good morning," she greeted with a warm smile.
"Come, have a seat. The food is almost done," Timothy invited, gesturing toward the table.
Taking her place, Kaye observed him and couldn't help but ask, "Are you living alone?"
Timothy, wearing a smirk, arranged the food on the table and replied, "Yeah."
"Why don't you hire a maid? Your unit is too big to live alone," she suggested.
His playful expression lingered as he suggested, "Then why don't you live with me?"
Her cheeks flushed upon hearing his proposal. "W-What are you saying?" she stammered.
Timothy grinned, his playful demeanor evident. "You said my house is too big for one person, so why don't you stay here from now on?"
"T-That's so sudden," she responded, averting her gaze.
Timothy chuckled. "Haha! Okay, I understand that you still don't want to live with me. I guess you still don't trust me."
"It's not like that. Of course, I trust you. But living with you is..." she faltered, unable to articulate her thoughts.
Timothy's expression shifted to seriousness as he approached her, kneeling in front and gently taking her hand, kissing it tenderly. "Kaye, why don't we live together? I've been thinking about it, especially after what happened to you. I'm afraid those people will come after you since you witnessed their crime. Stay with me, Kaye. I can protect you."
"Timothy... I'm sorry, but I can't," she responded.
"But why?" he pressed, seeking understanding.
"We aren't married. If people find out that you're living with someone, won't it create issues?" she explained, her concerns laid bare.
"Then let's get married," he suggested, surprising her with the unexpected proposal.
"W-What?" she said.
"Why? Don't tell me you will also refuse? Damn it, Kaye! What's wrong with you?" Timothy's anger escalated, prompting him to stand up.
"T-Timothy, please don't misunderstand. It's not like I don't want to marry you; it's just so sudden. Why don't we take it slowly?" she explained, trying to ease the tension.
"Slowly? Kaye, I love you so much. What do I still have to do to prove to you how much I love you?" Timothy's voice grew louder, expressing his deep emotions.
"Please don't get mad, Timothy," she implored.
"How will I not get mad if you're like this?" he retorted.
"I... I'm sorry," she apologized, lowering her head.
"Kaye..." he kneeled again, caressing her face. "I love you..." he declared, attempting to kiss her, but Kaye avoided it, introducing a new layer of complexity to their emotional exchange.
He stared at her, then burst into laughter. "Hahhaa... I get it," he said, standing up. "You don't love me, right?"
She stood up hastily. "No! That's not true!"
"Then why, Kaye? Why?" he asked, his frustration evident. "Am I not enough for you? Or do you love someone else? Just be honest with me!"
"I'm just not ready, why can't you understand?" she pleaded.
"Not ready?" In response, he forcefully kissed her on her lips.
Kaye, taken aback, tried to push him away, but his strength prevailed. In desperation, she decided to bite his lip.
"Fuck!" Timothy cursed, his hand instinctively reaching for his injured lip.
"I-I'm sorry..." she stammered, tears welling in her eyes. "I think... I have to leave now..."
The atmosphere thick with tension.
She was on the brink of leaving, but Timothy forcefully grabbed her arm.
"T-Timothy... it hurts!" she exclaimed.
"You are not going anywhere, Kaye. You will stay here!" he declared, his grip tightening.
Kaye trembled in fear as she observed him, questioning if this was the Timothy she knew. His eyes held a menacing intensity.
"You will live here from now on!" Timothy insisted, pulling her towards his room.
"T-Timothy! Let me go!" she pleaded, her desperation audible.
But he remained unmoved, pushing her inside the room. "I'm sorry, Kaye. But I'm only doing this for your own good," he explained as he closed the door and locked it.
"Timothy! Please let me out!" Kaye shouted. "I'm begging you! Please!" her cries echoed, trapped within the confined space, heightening the suspense in this unexpected and tense situation.
Timothy sank onto the couch, his attention drawn to the folder delivered earlier in the morning. Opening it, he scrutinized the contents once more.
"Tsss..." he hissed, frustration evident, crumpling the papers in his hands. "Fuck! How the hell did this happen?"
Driven by the urgency of the situation, he swiftly ordered an investigation into the events of the previous night. Upon reviewing the CCTV footage, it was revealed that the men chasing Kaye belonged to the Fuentebella Family. To his astonishment, the underboss's image was captured on the CCTV. What caught him off guard was the uncanny resemblance of the Fuentebella son to Mikhail, the crown prince of the Serolf Empire from his past life.
Determining the potential threat, Timothy sought information from the Fuentebella underboss, named Mikhail Fuentebella, who happened to be an heir for the position of Boss. The resemblance extended beyond mere facial features; their names mirrored each other. While uncertain if it was a mere coincidence, Timothy recognized the need to act swiftly, knowing that Mikhail would likely search for Kaye.
In response to the looming danger, he resolved to hide Kaye from the Fuentebella heir. His drastic plan unfolded — to marry Kaye by force and escape to Spain, seeking refuge and a new life. The intensity of his determination was fueled by the fear of losing Kaye to the impending threat.
"Kaye is only mine..." echoed his possessive resolve.
.
.
....
"How is it?" Kurtis asked.
Tristan had come to the hospital today. Shaking his head, Tristan expressed his frustration.
Kurtis sighed. "If we only knew her name, it would be faster to find her."
"But we only know that her name was Kaye, and we're not sure how many people in this city have the same name as her. We didn't even get the chance to know her complete name in the past. I feel like I'm not a good husband," Tristan said, his remorse palpable.
Kurtis tapped his shoulder. "Don't lose hope; we will find her soon."
Tristan could only nod.
Kaye... Just where are you?
The door opened, and Cedie entered with bruises on his face.
"What the hell happened to you?" Kurtis asked, concerned.
"Tsk. This is nothing," Cedie said, sitting down on the couch.
"Did you get in a fight?" Tristan inquired.
"Tsss... Those fuckers!" Cedie began.
"Tell us what happened," Kurtis urged, grabbing the medicine kit.
"Four of my classmates tried to bully me," Cedie explained.
"What? But why?" Tristan asked.
Kurtis began to treat his bruises.
"They said I don't have a mom," Cedie answered.
The two paused, exchanging a glance.
"They said my mom left me with another man. I don't know why the hell they said that. They don't know anything about me," Cedie said.
"Yes, they don't know about you. But fighting won't solve anything," Kurtis said.
"So, I will just let them bully me and punch me?" Cedie retorted.
"You should have told your teacher what happened," Kurtis suggested.
"Tsk. Even the teacher thinks the same way. I can tell it on their face. This body of mine grew in an orphanage; I was only lucky that I found you. They think that Cedie's parents abandoned him, and his dad got him back out of guilt, but his mom never returned. Those people pity me," Cedie continued to explain.
"You know that's not true. I will talk to your teacher," Kurtis assured.
"Really?" Cedie asked.
"Yeah," Kurtis said, finishing treating his bruises. "Are you hungry? Why don't you buy some snacks at the canteen?" He handed money to Cedie.
"Alright," Cedie went out.
They watched the door close.
"I feel bad for him," Tristan said. "Living inside a child's body is more difficult."
"I know he misses his master too. When I checked him in his sleep, I saw him crying and calling Kaye," Kurtis shared.
"I hope we find her soon. The longer the days pass, the heavier the feelings of loneliness I feel. I miss her so much," Tristan expressed.
"I miss her too, and it also pains me every time I think that we will never find her. I don't want to give up. I'm still hoping that we will find her," Kurtis said.
"But what if... she found a new lover?" Tristan asked, voicing a fear.
"Stop thinking like that! She loves us; she will never fall in love with someone else!" Kurtis asserted.
"I just can't help it..." Tristan looked away.
Kurtis sighed, massaging his temple. "Tomorrow, let's find her again. I found a place where they investigate someone and give you information if you pay them."
"Is that legal?" Tristan asked.
Kurtis shook his head. "It's the only place that can help us. They said they can do everything."
"Alright, let's try our luck there," Tristan agreed, a spark of hope flickering in their hearts.
.
.
....
The door swung open, and Timothy entered, discovering Kaye sitting in the corner of his room, tears streaming down her face. He joined her on the floor, gently stroking her hair. "I'm sorry..."
Kaye looked up at him, her voice choked with sobs. "Why do you have to do this?"
"I'm really sorry, but I hope you understand that I'm doing this for your own safety. Those men who chased you last night were part of Fuentebella," Timothy explained.
Her eyes widened in realization.
"I hired someone to investigate it, and they said they are still searching for you. That's the reason why I want you to live here, so they can't find you. I planned not to tell it to you because I don't want you to get scared, but you refused my offer, so I was forced to lock you up here. I'm very sorry," Timothy clarified.
"I... I didn't know," Kaye said, calming down and wiping her tears.
"Please, Kaye... Stay with me. You are safe with me," he pleaded.
Kaye nodded. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding you."
Timothy hugged her tightly. He then smirked, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
.
.
....
Days passed, and Kaye remained in Timothy's condo, prohibited from leaving for her safety. She worked from home, a discreet arrangement her PD approved after learning about her situation. Kaye chose not to disclose her current residence to him.
"I'm home," Timothy's voice echoed through the condo.
Kaye paused her work upon hearing him and looked up as he entered her room, kissing her forehead.
"Welcome home," she greeted.
"You're still working?" he inquired.
"Yup, but this is almost done," she replied.
"Let's eat first; I brought your favorite food," he offered.
"Really? Now that you mentioned the food, I'm hungry," she admitted.
He playfully pinched her nose. "Then let's go to the dining room. I'll prepare this."
They moved to the dining room and started eating. In the midst of their meal, Kaye brought up Tin's upcoming wedding.
"By the way, Tin's wedding will be on Sunday." she said.
"Hmm... Two days left," Timothy noted.
"I'm just hoping... If you will allow me to attend her wedding," Kaye requested.
"No," Timothy replied without hesitation.
"But Timothy, it's my friend's wedding," she pleaded.
"But it's dangerous out there! What if they found you?" he explained.
"But..." Kaye lowered her head. "I will be careful."
"Still no," he firmly stated.
She sighed in disappointment.
"Just call her, and I will send gifts to her on your behalf," he suggested.
She had no choice but to nod, feeling upset that she wouldn't be able to attend her friend's wedding.
.
.
....
At the Dragons' Office.
"What do you mean you can't find her?" Mikhail asked.
"According to our men, Miss Kaye was not in her apartment and also not showing up at her workplace. It seems like she's hiding," Kira reported.
"Tss... How did this happen?" Mikhail muttered.
"When we checked the CCTV from the street near the club, the last person that we saw with her was the Mayor of this city, Mayor Timothy Villamayor," Kira explained.
"What? Can you tell me information about that man?" Mikhail asked.
Kira handed a folder to him, and as he read it, he was surprised to see the Mayor's photo. Why the hell did he resemble Gilmesh? What the fuck is going on?
"What is her relationship with the mayor?" he asked.
"According to the information we got, they were dating," Kira answered.
"WHAT???" Mikhail slammed the table. "What did you say?"
Kira cleared his throat. "They were dating, sir. It seems that it wasn't known by the public, but some people saw them together. I even went to the places they visited before to confirm this," Kira said.
Mikhail was too shocked. How did this happen?
Kaye? Why? I thought you only loved us? Why are you with someone else? Have you forgotten about us now?
No... He has to clarify these things; maybe there is a misunderstanding here.
"Find her! Find the place where she's staying right now. And look at the mayor's place," he ordered.
He had a feeling that Kaye was there.
Damn it!