Just as she was about to give up hope, she heard the roar of a motorcycle behind them. She turned to see Erik speeding after them, his face set in a determined scowl. He had seen the car take off and had jumped on his bike to follow them."Erik!" Aiko tried to call out, but her voice was still muffled. She watched as Erik closed the distance, weaving in and out of traffic skillfully.The driver of the car saw Erik coming and swerved, trying to throw him off. Erik dodged, his bike skidding to the side before he righted it and accelerated, pulling up alongside the car.Aiko's heart leaped as Erik reached out, grabbing onto the door handle. He yanked it open, throwing himself into the car with a force that sent the vehicle swerving again. The man in the back seat turned, his eyes widening in surprise as Erik lunged at him, throwing a punch that sent him reeling.The driver shouted, trying to regain control of the car, but Erik was already on him, wrestling for control of the wheel. The car swerved wildly, and Aiko felt herself being thrown against the door as the vehicle careened toward a ditch."Hold on!" Erik shouted, his voice filled with urgency. He managed to wrest the wheel away from the driver just in time, steering the car back onto the road. But in the chaos, the driver slammed on the brakes, sending the car skidding to a stop.Aiko felt the jolt of the impact as the car came to a sudden halt, her body slamming against the seat. Erik was thrown forward, crashing into the dashboard with a sickening thud. The driver used the moment to scramble out of the car, but Erik, dazed and bleeding from a cut on his forehead, managed to grab him by the collar, pulling him back.Aiko's mind raced. She had to do something, had to help. With her hands still tied. She struggled to free herself from the bindings, her heart pounding in her chest. The man in the backseat remains unconscious. Erik, meanwhile, had managed to pull the driver out of the car and was grappling with him on the ground. The man fought back fiercely, and Erik, weakened by the crash, was struggling to keep up. The two men rolled across the gravel, trading punches, each trying to gain the upper hand.Aiko finally managed to free her hands and pushed the door open, stumbling out of the car. She ran over to Erik, who was now pinned beneath the driver, the man's hands around his throat."Erik!" Aiko screamed, grabbing a rock from the ground and smashing it against the driver's head. The man let out a grunt of pain and rolled off Erik, clutching his head as he staggered back.Erik gasped for air, struggling to his feet as Aiko reached out to help him. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.Erik nodded, though he was clearly in pain. "I'm fine," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "We need to get out of here. Now."Aiko nodded, and they hurried back to the car. Erik dragged out the unconscious man then climbed into the driver's seat, wincing as he turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, and Erik floored the gas, speeding away from the scene.As they drove, both Aiko and Erik went silent, not knowing what to make out of the situation. Aiko grabbed her seatbelt tight and stared straight into the road with empty thoughts. Erik glanced at her, his eyes softening despite the pain etched across his face. "Are you alright?," he said quietly. "I won't let anything happen to you, Aiko. Not while I'm here."Aiko snapped out of her empty thoughts and glanced back at him. "Thank you, Erik. You saved me again." The split seconds of multiple events have put her in shock, speechless no less. As she looks back at the windshield, she felt a surge of emotion at his words, a warmth spreading through her chest. She knew Erik was different, that he was someone she could trust, someone who would always be there for her. But as they sped through the darkened streets, she couldn't shake the feeling that this will never end. Whoever had sent those men wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted. But what is it that they wanted? The hospital? Her life? Back at the estate, Erik and Aiko stumbled into the main house, their clothes torn and dirty from the fight. Haruto and Hana rushed over, their faces filled with concern and relief."Aiko! Erik! What happened?" Haruto demanded, his eyes scanning them both for injuries.Aiko quickly explained the kidnapping attempt, her voice trembling as she recounted the events. Haruto's expression darkened with each word, his fists clenching in anger."We need to call the police," Haruto said firmly. "This is getting out of hand."Erik shook his head, wincing as he pressed a hand to his bleeding forehead. "No police. We don't know who we're dealing with yet. Calling the authorities could make things worse."Haruto looked like he wanted to argue, Aiko interrupted, her eyes pleading. "Father, please. Trust Erik. He saved me."Haruto hesitated, his gaze flicking between Erik and Aiko. Finally, he answered, though his expression remained tense. "This has gone too far Aiko. I trust you to finish this project on your own without my power, don't get me wrong, but I can't just sit and do nothing when your life is in danger. We need to take precautions at the very least."As Haruto went to speak with the staff about tightening security, Hana led Erik to a nearby chair, gently directing him to sit. "Aiko, bring the first aid kit." she said softly.Aiko reached out to the first-aid kit behind her and sat beside Erik, her eyes filled with worry. "Erik, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." Searching for wound cleaning solution and a gauze pads.Erik shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the pain. "Don't be ridiculous, Aiko. None of this is your fault. I'm just glad you're okay."As Aiko cleaned the cut on Erik's forehead, Hana watched him closely in silence, she acknowledge Aiko's interaction with this foreign man. Aiko realized then that she cared for Erik more than she had let herself admit. He was more than just her protector—he was her friend, her confidant, and perhaps something more.Erik winced as Aiko applied a bandage to his forehead, his eyes flicking to Aiko when she paused. "I'll be fine," he assured her, his voice soft. "It's just a scratch."Aiko stood up to pre-diagnose Erik's should and arm. "Ah!" Erik let out softly, as Aiko's hands were positioned between his shoulder and arm.Aiko grinned, "Just a scratch, huh?" Her playful tone puts a smile on Erik's face. "It looks like you might have fractured your ribs."Hana felt both grateful and entertained by their interactions, her daughter seems to feel quite relaxed around this man, as if they are have know each other for a long time. Hana finally stood up from her seat, "Aiko, take Erik back to his room I will the physical to have a look."Aiko nodded.Erik smiled, his eyes filled with warmth. "You saved me. Now, we're even."As they make their way to Eriks guest room, the house buzzing with activity as everyone scrambled to secure the estate, Aiko felt a sense of resolve settle over her. She couldn't figure out what was the motivation of the intruder. How will they benefit from taking her life or the hospital? But even as she repeated those thoughts, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that this is getting more dangerous. As Aiko and Erik made their way to his guest room, the house was buzzing with security guards. Erik moved gingerly, trying to hide the pain in his side, but Aiko could see through his attempts. She felt responsible, and the weight of it gnawed at her, but Erik's occasional glances and soft reassurances were enough to keep her grounded.They reached the door to his room, and Aiko hesitated for a moment. Erik smiled, trying to ease the tension. "You know, I'm not going to collapse right here, Aiko. You can let me in."Aiko chuckled softly, sliding the door open and following him inside. Erik sat carefully on the edge of the bed, wincing as he shifted. Aiko bit her lip, feeling guilty for not catching his pain earlier. "You really shouldn't move so much," she said, her voice softer than usual, betraying her concern.Erik leaned back slightly, exhaling as if the simple act of sitting had exhausted him. "Maybe you're right," he replied, his voice laced with a teasing tone. "I might be weaker than I thought. Perhaps I'll need a bit of extra care tonight."Aiko rolled her eyes but smiled. "So you were pretending to be hurt all these times, Erik? You've been through worse, haven't you?""True," Erik admitted, smiling through the pain, "but if I pretend to be a little more hurt, maybe you'll stick around longer."Aiko laughed, a sound that felt light and relieving after the tension of the evening. "You're funny, you know that?" She stepped closer, shaking her head, and then walking toward the door."Lady Aiko, Madam Hana asked me to bring some food for Lord Erik." Said the house maid by the door. Aiko slid the door open and gently reached for a tray of food. "Thank you, Nami."Walking back toward Erik, Aiko said with a smile, "Let's get some food into you before you actually pass out."Erik's eyes followed her movements as she sat down beside him, placing the tray on her lap. She carefully picked up a spoonful of rice, offering it to him. He raised an eyebrow playfully. "You're going to feed me too?""Oh no, this food is actually for me, I'll eat it if you're not hungry," Aiko teased, though her heart fluttered slightly as she realized how close they had become. There was something about the moment that felt intimate, natural, despite the chaos that had surrounded them earlier.Erik leaned forward, accepting the spoonful of rice with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, I could get used to this," he said, his voice soft.Aiko rolled her eyes again, but there was no hiding the smile tugging at her lips. She scooped another bite and held it out to him. "You'll heal faster if you stop pretending to be helpless."Erik laughed, though the movement caused him to wince, his hand instinctively moving to his side. Aiko's smile faltered as she set the spoon down and placed her hand gently over his, feeling the tension in his muscles."Is it really that bad?" she asked, her voice laced with concern."It's not as bad as it looks," Erik reassured her, his gaze softening. "But you know me, I'm good at hiding things."Aiko felt her heart tighten at his words. She looked down at his hand, still resting beneath hers, and then back up at his face. "What else are you hiding?" she asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer.For a moment, Erik's playful demeanor slipped, and something deeper flickered in his eyes—something darker, unresolved. He looked away, as if gathering his thoughts, and then spoke in a low voice. "There are things about me, Aiko... things about my past that I haven't told you. But I don't want to weigh you down with them right now."Aiko's heart ached at his words. She could see the burden he carried, the way it gnawed at him beneath the surface. "You can tell me," she whispered. "You don't have to carry everything alone, Erik."Erik met her gaze, the vulnerability in his eyes unmistakable. "My father..." he began, his voice strained. "He was a hard man. A noble, like me. But he was never interested in... well, anything I cared about. His focus was always on power, on control. And when he didn't get what he wanted... he made sure everyone around him paid for it."Aiko's brow furrowed as she listened, her hand tightening slightly over Erik's. "You don't have to tell me everything now," she said softly, sensing his discomfort. "But I'm here if you want to."Erik exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "He disowned me when I didn't follow the path he wanted. I left Nordhaven and... became who I am now, for better or worse. He was always... calculating, cold. And I learned to be like him to survive."Aiko could feel the weight of his words, the way they hung between them like a cloud of unresolved pain. She stayed quiet, giving him space to continue if he wanted to."There's a lot I've done... a lot I've had to do, things I'm not proud of," Erik admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I've never really known what it's like to feel... grounded. Until I came here. Until I met you."Aiko's breath caught in her throat as Erik's words settled in the air. She wasn't sure what to say, how to respond to the vulnerability he had just shared. Instead, she simply leaned in closer, her hand still resting on his."Erik," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "you're not your father. You're not the man you're afraid of becoming. I see you... for who you really are. And no matter what's happened in your past, it doesn't change what I think of you now."Erik's eyes softened, his gaze locking onto hers. For a moment, the tension between them seemed to dissolve, replaced by something warm and real."You make me want to be better," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I don't know if I deserve it, but you make me believe that maybe... I can be."Aiko felt her heart swell at his words, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to get lost in the warmth of his presence, in the quiet understanding that passed between them.She looked away, breaking the moment as she picked up the spoon again, offering Erik another bite of food. "You're going to need your strength if you want to keep protecting me."Erik smiled, the weight in his eyes lifting slightly as he accepted the food. "I'll always protect you, Aiko," he said softly. "No matter what."After finishing the meal and making sure Erik was comfortable, Aiko sat back, watching him as he rested. The room was quiet now, the tension from earlier slowly fading into the background. But even as she felt a sense of calm settle over her, she couldn't shake the lingering question that gnawed at the back of her mind."Erik," she said after a long pause, "why do you think they're after me? What do they want?"Erik, who had been resting his eyes, opened them slowly and turned to face her. "I don't know yet," he admitted, his voice low. "But I promise you, I'm going to find out. And when I do, we'll stop them."Aiko nodded, though the uncertainty of it all weighed heavily on her. She had faced so many challenges already—the sabotage of the hospital, the betrayals of her family—but this felt different. This felt personal. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that whoever was behind this wasn't just targeting her for the hospital. It was something bigger, something darker.As the silence stretched between them, Erik reached out, his hand finding hers. "Whatever happens, Aiko, we're in this together," he said quietly, his voice steady. "I won't let them take you. Not while I'm breathing."Aiko felt a surge of emotion at his words, and for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to feel safe. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that with Erik by her side, she could face whatever was coming.