Kaye arrived at the port, her heart racing as the taxi pulled away, leaving her alone in the bustling place. She scanned the area anxiously, searching for Warren amid the throng of people.
"Kaye!"
Her head snapped in the direction of the familiar voice. Warren was rushing towards her, a look of concern etched on his face, trailed by imposing figures that hinted at the dangers lurking in this place.
"Why did you come here? I told you it's dangerous," he said, his voice laced with worry as he reached her side.
She glanced nervously at the intimidating men behind him, understanding why Warren had been so adamant about her staying away from this perilous environment.
"You've been away for so long. I was worried sick. I kept asking Mikhail to give you a break, but he wouldn't listen to me. How are you?" she said, her words tinged with both relief and frustration.
Warren let out a weary sigh. "I'm sorry for making you worry. Let's go inside the office," he said, gently taking her hand in his.
As they made their way to the office, Kaye sank into the couch, her eyes wandering around the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Are you eating well here?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
Warren nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I'm doing fine."
"When will your task be finished? I want you to come home as soon as possible," she said, her tone pleading.
"It's not that simple. I'm still waiting for the report from the family's affiliates in Japan. Once everything is settled and there are no issues, I'll come home," Warren explained, his expression reflecting the weight of his responsibilities.
Kaye pouted, her frustration bubbling to the surface. Warren noticed her upset demeanor and sat beside her, gently caressing her face.
"Did you miss me?" he asked softly, his eyes searching hers.
Kaye nodded, her heart heavy with worry and longing. "I don't understand why Mikhail keeps sending you away. What's his problem?" she frowned.
Warren's gaze fell, his voice tinged with resignation. "Kaye... I think I know the reason."
"Really?" she replied.
"I've noticed it recently. I think he's deliberately sending me on multiple missions to keep us apart," Warren explained, his words hanging heavily in the air.
Kaye's eyes widened in shock. "W-What?"
Had Mikhail discovered her feelings for Warren?
She lowered her head, her guilt consuming her. "I-I'm sorry... because of me, you're facing so many hardships. I'll talk to him."
"And say what? Lie?" Warren questioned, his voice tinged with frustration.
Kaye sighed, feeling the weight of their predicament.
Warren gently took her hands in his. "Kaye, let's be honest with him about our feelings. He'll understand."
"I doubt it. I know him. He won't accept it. And my other husbands... they won't either. I'm so sorry," she said, her voice laced with regret.
Warren sighed, his heart heavy with uncertainty.
"SIR!" The door burst open, startling them both.
"What's wrong?" Warren demanded, his instincts kicking into high gear.
"We're under attack!" the man exclaimed, panic evident in his voice.
Gunshots echoed in the distance, sending shivers down their spines.
"Shit!" Warren cursed, his eyes darting to Kaye. "You need to get out of here!"
He swiftly called for his men. "Protect the Underboss' wife! Get a car ready for her!"
The men sprang into action, and Warren grabbed Kaye's hand, pulling her towards the exit, their hearts racing as danger loomed around them.
.
.
"WHAT???" Mikhail bolted upright, his heart pounding in his chest, panic seizing him at Warren's report.
Warren called him and delivered urgent report, Mikhail was in panic as he learned that Kaye was with him and they were under attack by enemies. Gunshots echoed through the phone line, sending a shiver down Mikhail's spine.
"Fuck! Protect her at all costs!" Mikhail barked, hurling his phone across the room in frustration. "Kira!" he called out urgently.
Kira hurried to his side, a concern etched on her face.
"Prepare the men and arm them. We need to get to the port as quickly as possible!" he ordered, his voice filled with urgency.
"Yes, sir!" Kira responded.
They dashed out of the room and piled into the car, Mikhail's knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. Anguish and rage coursed through him as he cursed vehemently, his mind consumed with thoughts of what could be happening to his wife. Why had Kaye gone to that place without informing him?
"Fuck!" he roared, pressing harder on the accelerator, determination driving him forward as he raced against time to reach the port and ensure Kaye's safety.
.
.
"You're bleeding!" Kaye exclaimed, her voice laced with panic, as she inspected Warren's wound. They were trapped, outnumbered by their enemies.
"Don't worry about me. I already called your husband; he's on the way now," Warren reassured her, though his own pain was evident in his eyes.
Tears welled in Kaye's eyes once more. Why did danger always seem to find Warren? Why was his life constantly in peril?
The sound of more gunshots reverberated through the air, causing Kaye to scream and cover her ears as she watched helplessly as Fuentebella men fell lifeless to the ground.
The enemies closed in on them, their sinister grins sending a chill down Kaye's spine.
"Hahaha, now we can finally take our revenge!" one of them taunted.
Just as they were about to pull the trigger, Mikhail and his group arrived, unleashing a merciless barrage of gunfire that quickly silenced the enemy. Mikhail rushed to Kaye's side, his expression filled with worry, though blood still stained his face.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern, as Kaye trembled in fear.
She nodded weakly, finding solace in his comforting presence. Mikhail's jaw clenched with anger as he noticed her trembling. He fired another shot into the lifeless body of their enemy before helping Kaye to her feet.
"Let's go home," he said gently, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
Kaye embraced him tightly, seeking reassurance in his embrace.
Mikhail cast a stern glance at Warren. "We'll talk about this later," he warned before leading Kaye away.
Meanwhile, Kira helped Warren to stand, offering him support as they made their way to the waiting car.
.
.
When they returned home, Mikhail instructed Kaye to rest in her room before heading to the living room to confront Warren. With a fierce blow, he landed a hard punch on Warren, his anger boiling over.
"What the hell was she doing at the port?" he demanded, his voice seething with fury.
"I-I'm sorry... It's my fault she ended up there," Warren admitted, his tone heavy with remorse.
"Because of you, Kaye was almost killed again! Do you want her to leave this world? What if we had arrived too late and she had been shot? What will you do?" Mikhail grabbed Warren's collar, his teeth gritted in frustration.
Warren was speechless, the weight of Mikhail's words hitting him hard. He knew he was wounded and unable to properly protect Kaye. They were fortunate that Mikhail had arrived just in time.
"Tss..." Mikhail pushed him away forcefully, causing Warren to stumble and fall to the floor. Benjamin rushed over to help him up.
"Do you think I didn't notice? I know what's going on between you two," Mikhail continued, his gaze piercing. "But I will never allow you to have Kaye. I've had enough. If you continue to see her, I'll be forced to exile you from the family and banish you from this mansion. You have no place here as her husband. She will never accept another one," he declared before storming upstairs.
Warren could only watch in silence as Mikhail disappeared from view, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Are you alright?" Benjamin asked, concern etched in his features.
"Do I look fine?" Warren replied sharply before making his way to the kitchen, his mind weighed down by the gravity of the situation.
Benjamin sighed, knowing that things were about to get even more complicated.
.
.
Mikhail found Kaye already asleep in her room. Gently, he covered her with a blanket and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. His attention then shifted to the crib where Eros lay, peacefully unaware of the turmoil surrounding him. As he gazed at the child, a mixture of conflicting emotions surged within Mikhail. Despite his acceptance of Eros as part of their family, the reminder of the child's lineage, born of the despicable Timothy, tightened his fists in anger.
With a heavy heart, Mikhail quietly left Kaye's room, his resolve firm. Dialing his phone, he reached out to Kira, seeking an update on the situation.
"How's everything there?" he inquired, his voice edged with determination.
(We've already ambushed them and taken out all of the Boral Family's men. Only the Boss, his wife, and their children remain alive. What are your orders for them?)
Mikhail's jaw clenched as he formulated his instructions, his tone unwavering.
"Break the Boss's bones in his arms and legs. Do the same with the eldest son. Make it clear that if they dare to attack us again, they will meet the same fate as the others," he commanded.
(Understood, sir.)
After ending the call, Mikhail took a moment to gather his thoughts. Retrieving a cigarette from his pocket, he lit it and smoked it.
.
.
....
The following day, Warren found himself summoned to Mikhail's office. Mikhail's expression was grave, his demeanor serious as he sat behind his desk. After taking a contemplative puff from his cigarette, Mikhail finally broke the tense silence.
"Stay away from my wife," he commanded, his voice firm and unwavering.
Warren clenched his fists, anticipating this confrontation. "And what if I don't want to?" he challenged, meeting Mikhail's intense gaze head-on.
He could see the anger simmering in Mikhail's eyes, boiling with rage at his defiant response.
"You know the power I hold," Mikhail warned, his tone laced with authority.
"I'm not scared," Warren declared, his resolve unshaken. Having lived a life surrounded by danger, a mere threat from Mikhail failed to intimidate him.
Mikhail scoffed incredulously. "You really have nerve."
"I've served the Empress since she was young. I vowed to never leave her side until my last breath. A threat from the Emperor won't make me abandon my beloved Empress," Warren explained, his loyalty unwavering.
"Your Empress? Have you forgotten that the one you made a vow with was my cousin Aria, not Kaye?" Mikhail countered, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"I've made a vow with Kaye. I've protected her from the shadows, even taken lives for her safety. I've done everything for her," Warren asserted defiantly.
Mikhail laughed derisively. "You're proud of killing?"
"And what about you? You're willing to kill for her too. We're not so different," Warren retorted, a smirk playing on his lips.
Mikhail's anger boiled over, his fist slamming onto the table. "We're not the same!" he shouted, his frustration evident.
"I know what you did to her in the past!" Warren gritted his teeth. "After discovering her true identity, you manipulated her into doing your bidding. You abused her! Or should I say, raped her?" His accusation hit Mikhail like a blow.
Enraged, Mikhail lashed out, his punches landing squarely on Warren's face. Despite the onslaught, Warren only laughed bitterly.
"What now? I struck a nerve, didn't I? You're lucky she fell for you after what you did to her. If only I had discovered it sooner, she wouldn't have suffered. You abused your power over her, you bastard," Warren taunted.
"Shut up!" Mikhail continued to pummel him, unable to deny the truth of Warren's words.
He won't be able to escape from the fact that he really did force Kaye in the past. But he loves her so much that he only did it because he's obsessed with her and doesn't want to lose her.
The commotion drew Kira and Benjamin into the office, their presence breaking up the fight.
"What's going on?" Benjamin demanded, his tone edged with concern.
"Tsk. Whatever you say, I will never accept you!" Mikhail spat at Warren, his words dripping with disdain.
But Warren merely smirked in response before exiting the office, leaving a tense atmosphere behind.
Sighing heavily, Benjamin understood the underlying cause of the conflict. He followed Warren out of the office.
"Are you alright, sir?" Kira asked, concern evident in his voice.
Mikhail merely rolled his eyes and left the office, Kira trailing after him, the tension palpable in the air.
.
.
At the mansion, Kaye was filled with worry when she saw Warren's face covered in bruises.
"What happened to you? Did you get into another fight again?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.
"This is nothing. Don't worry about me," Warren reassured her, squeezing her hand gently.
"I'm the one who did that," Mikhail interjected as he arrived.
"What? But why?" Kaye questioned, shock evident in her voice.
"Because he loves you," Mikhail stated bluntly, his gaze shifting between Kaye and Warren.
Kaye was stunned into silence. Mikhail had found out? She glanced at Warren, who held her hand tightly, further fueling Mikhail's anger.
"I love her, and you can't do anything about it," Warren declared defiantly, his eyes locked with Mikhail's.
Mikhail turned his attention to Kaye. "Kaye, you need to choose. Stay away from him, and I will forget everything he said. But if you choose to accept him..." His voice trailed off, his fists clenching with pent-up emotion.
"W-What will you do?" Kaye stammered, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I will no longer see you as my wife," Mikhail admitted, his words heavy with sorrow.
Kaye's tears flowed freely as she processed Mikhail's ultimatum. He would leave her if she chose Warren? It was unbearable.
She glanced at Warren through her tears, seeing his silent plea for her not to leave him. Yet, she found herself ready to let go of his hand.
Warren held her tightly, desperation evident in his actions. "Kaye... Please, no..." he pleaded, even dropping to his knees before her. "D-Don't do this..." Tears streamed down his cheeks, mirroring Kaye's anguish.
Kaye's heart ached as she watched Warren cry and beg for her. She couldn't abandon him after all he had done for her.
Turning to Mikhail, she pleaded, "H-Hubby... P-Please..."
But Mikhail remained silent, his expression unreadable. Kaye bit her lip, feeling torn between the two men she loved.
Her other husbands arrived and witnessed the emotional scene, their shock palpable.
"Mikhail, what's going on?" Raon demanded, confusion etched on his face.
"That bastard wants Kaye," Mikhail spat, his gaze never leaving Warren.
The men were taken aback by Mikhail's declaration. "What?" Haru exclaimed, disbelief coloring his tone.
"Kaye, you have to choose now," Mikhail declared.
"Choose for what?" Tristan asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Mikhail's gaze turned cold as he regarded Tristan. "Whether she will choose us or accept that bastard," he clarified, his tone cutting.
The men fell into a stunned silence, grappling with the weight of the situation.
"Do you want Kaye to accept another lover?" Mikhail challenged them, his voice tinged with bitterness.
Raon sighed heavily, unable to meet Mikhail's gaze. "No," he admitted reluctantly.
The others remained speechless, their hearts heavy with pain.
Kaye continued to cry, feeling torn and overwhelmed by the impossible choice before her.
"Kaye, why can't you choose?" Mikhail's voice rose in frustration, echoing through the room.
Closing her eyes, Kaye sobbed uncontrollably, her tears flowing unchecked.
"Because you love him too, right?" Mikhail's accusation cut through the air, causing Kaye to gasp in shock.
She tried to deny it, but Mikhail wouldn't let her. "Kaye, don't deny it! I heard you in the hospital! You said you loved him ever since we were in the Serolf Empire!"
The revelation left the men speechless, their hearts shattered by the truth.
"I-I'm sorry," Kaye whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
"So choose, Kaye... Choose!" Mikhail's voice reverberated with urgency.
Wiping her tears, Kaye took a deep breath and helped Warren to his feet. She looked into the eyes of each man in the room, her heart breaking at the pain she saw reflected back at her.
"I'm sorry..." she muttered softly before slowly walking past them, holding Warren's hand tightly.
"K-Kaye..." Tristan called out, his voice filled with anguish.
She cried but ignored them, unable to bear their pain. The door closed behind her, leaving the men in stunned silence. Warren hugged her tightly.
Inside the mansion, Mikhail's rage exploded, and he threw objects in a fit of frustration. Unable to accept that Kaye had chosen Warren, he stormed upstairs, consumed by his emotions.
The other husbands remained in shock, tears streaming down their faces. Kaye had left them? It was a reality they couldn't fathom.
Tears fell from their eyes as they struggled to comprehend why Kaye had made such a heartbreaking decision. Kaye... Why?