"I don't care what they want," Mike interrupted, his gaze never wavering from the task at hand. "You're more important to me than any of their petty power struggles or their precious legacy."
Kiara felt a surge of affection for the young man, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Mike, I... I don't know what to say."
Mike flashed her a reassuring smile as the last restraint fell away. "You don't have to say anything, Kiara. Just let me get you out of here, and we'll figure the rest out later."
Helping Kiara to her feet, Mike guided her towards the door, his expression etched with a fierce determination. Kiara followed, her mind reeling with a thousand thoughts.
As they made their way down the dimly lit corridor, Kiara couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. "Mike, your family, they... they're going to be furious with you. Are you sure you want to do this?"
