Kane and Kara rushed into the ward, their faces etched with worry. But when they saw Kian sitting up in bed, seemingly unharmed, a wave of relief washed over them. Cyruss turned to Kian, his voice low and conspiratorial as he spoke.
"I told them what happened on my way here." he murmured.
Kian simply nodded in understanding, his gaze softening as he looked at his younger siblings who had come rushing to check on him after hearing about the attack.
"Brother Kian," Kara began, concern lacing her voice, "Are you alright? Brother Cyruss said some crazy man attacked you last night."
Kara moved closer to the bed and gently cupped Kian's face before pressing her hand against his stomach. A wince flickered across Kian's features at the touch; it was still tender from where he'd been kicked.
"Ahhh, I'm so sorry brother!!!" Kara exclaimed, her eyes wide with remorse.
Kian offered a reassuring pat to the back of her hand, assuring her that he was fine. Meanwhile, Kane remained unconvinced, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"You weren't hurt by any weapon," Kane pressed, "Were you? In a physical fight like that, if someone manages to overpower you... it means they aren't just an ordinary person."
Kian nodded reluctantly but chose not to elaborate further for now. He wasn't ready to share all the details until he had pieced together more information himself.
"He seemed... mentally unstable," Kian finally said vaguely, choosing his words carefully as he avoided mentioning Yohan or his stalker connection altogether - knowing full well how impulsive Kane could be. He didn't want to risk his younger brother acting rashly and making things worse.
"Do you need help digging up information on that guy?" Axel asked, his voice laced with concern as he stood beside Kane at Kian's bedside.
Kian's gaze met Axel's, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps if I encounter difficulties in gathering information, I'll seek your aid."
If anyone could aid him in catching the stalker, it would be beneficial. However, he needed to consult Yohan first; this was Yohan's problem after all, and he didn't want to make decisions without his consent.
Axel nodded understandingly at Kian's response. He had expected rejection from the usually stoic individual but instead received an unexpected glimmer of hope. The fact that Kian hadn't rejected him suggested that the perpetrator was indeed a formidable foe.
As they lingered for a few tense minutes, Kian finally sent them away. "I'll be discharged from the hospital soon," he announced, his voice firm. "You don't need to stay."
Kian's gaze fell on Kane.
"Especially you, Kane. You have work commitments; it would be best if you returned to your duties." He turned to Kara next. "Kara, since you've chosen to join us here, please accompany Kane to his workplace."
Kane's eyes widened in protest, but he knew better than to defy his older brother's authority. Kian was the future head of the Xu family, and his word was law.
Kara shot her brother a disapproving glance before reluctantly following Kane out of the room, leaving Axel standing alone beside Kian's bed.
"Why didn't you follow them?" Kian asked Axel, who sat perched on the chair beside his bed, legs crossed.
Axel shrugged. "Brother Cyruss told me to stay here while he picked up some food for you," he explained casually. "I'll catch up with Kane after he gets back."
Kian suddenly noticed Cyruss was no longer in the room. He glanced at Axel, a man whose age matched Kane's but carried himself with an air of seasoned experience and unwavering professionalism. Even though Axel was technically on long-term leave from work, he still found time to guide Kane - a selfless act that spoke volumes about his character despite having his own responsibilities to attend to.
A comfortable silence settled between them as they both seemed content in each other's company. While Axel seemed perfectly content in the stillness, Kian's eyes widened in surprise as he read a message on his phone.
Axel noticed the change in Kian's face and became curious.
"Is there something going on?"
Kian nodded and was busy typing, replying to message on his cell phone. After he finished typing, he thought for a moment and turned to Axel. He looked out towards Axel with those piercing hazel eyes that could dissect a business deal and leave no stone unturned.
"How are things at your security company?" Kian asked, his voice low and steady like ever-flowing water. "Any major contracts come through recently?"
Axel gave a wide grin. "Things are running smoothly, Kian. We just secured the security contract for that new luxury condo development downtown - big win for us."
He paused, gauging Kian's interest before adding. "I've also been looking into some new tech – facial recognition software that integrates seamlessly with our existing systems." He knew Kian was always interested in cutting-edge security solutions.
"It could be useful... Especially for... sensitive situations."
Kian's gaze sharpened. "Sensitive situations?" he echoed, his voice low and measured.
"Yeah," Axel said, nodding knowingly - letting a hint of seriousness creep into his tone. "You know how it is sometimes – certain people need an extra layer of protection."
"Speaking of protection..." Kian began slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I have... someone I know who requires some extra protection." He didn't elaborate further, but Axel knew better than to press for details. Kian was notoriously private when it came to personal matters.
Axel leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. "What kind of protection are we talking about? Just basic perimeter security or something more…discreet?"
Kian's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he met Axel's. "I need you to install some additional security measures at their apartment. There's someone dangerous following them, and they need to be protected."
Axel's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise, but he kept his expression neutral. "Dangerous how?"
"Let's just say it requires... discreet protection." He looked back at Axel with an intensity that belied his usual calm exterior. "I want you to secure their apartment building, make sure there are no vulnerabilities."
Axel's lips thinned into a thoughtful line. "I can do that," he said, his voice low and steady. "We have the best surveillance systems and security personnel in the city. We can set up whatever you need – cameras, motion sensors, even off-duty officers if required."
He leaned back again, tapping his fingers against his knee thoughtfully. "But tell me more about this 'situation'. What kind of danger are we talking about? Knowing your friend's needs will help us tailor our approach."
Kian hesitated for a moment longer before replying, choosing to keep details vague. "It's… complicated," he finally admitted. "Just know it requires utmost discretion and vigilance." He paused, meeting Axel's gaze directly with an unwavering intensity that spoke volumes despite the lack of specifics. "This is not something I want compromised."
Axel nodded, his expression understanding. "I get it," he said quietly. "Discretion is key in situations like this." He paused, considering the request further. "I'll make sure to assign our top team to handle the security detail."
Kian's gaze never wavered from Axel's, his eyes burning with an unspoken intensity that only a select few could decipher.
"I trust you," Kian said finally, his voice low and even.
Axel smiled slightly at the implicit trust between them. "Don't worry," he assured him with a reassuring smile. "Leave it to me."
****
The hospital elevator hummed softly as Kane let out a wide yawn. Kara, ever the playful sister, couldn't help but grin teasingly at him.
"Didn't sleep well last night?" she asked playfully. "What were you up to?"
Kane chuckled and flicked her nose with his finger.
"It's precisely because I was tired that I went straight to bed after entering my room yesterday." He paused for a moment, letting out a soft sigh before adding in a hushed tone. "It's just that...again I dreamed about..." His words trailed off into silence.
Kara leaned closer, her curiosity piqued by her brother's cryptic statement. She urged him to continue their conversation as the elevator doors slid open revealing the bustling hospital hallway beyond.
The two siblings emerged, their laughter echoing down the corridor. But as Kane turned away from the elevator doors, he failed to notice a figure with shimmering silver hair stepping into the elevator beside him. When he glanced back, it was too late - the doors had already closed, concealing the person he longed to see most.