---
Roman rolled his eyes at her silly remark, the wrench in his hand clinking against the metal surface of the car engine. "Get me a pair of pliers," he said again, his voice low but firm.
Kayla blinked, tilting her head like a confused puppy. "What's… a pliers?" she asked, her voice unsure, her manicured fingers fiddling with the hem of her designer top.
What a dumb girl, Roman thought, resisting the urge to groan.
"Why are you looking at me like that? As if I brought you the wrong tool?" she huffed, arms crossing defensively.
"Because… you did bring me the wrong tool," Roman said flatly, shaking his head with a look of theatrical disappointment.
Kayla's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. But Roman wasn't done.
"You know, it's not surprising. When you've spent your whole life with people handing you everything on a silver platter, why would you know the difference between pliers and a wrench? I bet you don't even know how to fry an egg," he added with a dry smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The words hit harder than he intended. Kayla's lips trembled slightly, and she turned away, blinking back tears that gathered in her eyes.
Oh no. Please don't cry, Roman thought, running a hand through his dark hair. He hadn't meant to be cruel—just to tease her a little, get a reaction out of her.
"You… who do you think you are?" Kayla said, her voice cracking as she turned back to face him. "Is it my fault I was born into a rich family? Is it my fault my parents spoiled me? Oh God, why am I even here?"
She fanned her face dramatically with both hands as tears welled in her eyes.
Roman shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. Akim, who had just stepped out of the kitchen holding a ladle, twitched his lips in mild amusement.
Kayla sniffled loudly and squared her shoulders. "For your information, I'm not supposed to know what pliers are. And you—" she stepped forward and stomped on Roman's booted foot with all her might.
Roman winced, biting back a curse.
"That's for trash-talking me," she said with a dramatic flip of her hair before storming off, her heels clicking sharply against the concrete floor.
Akim raised an eyebrow. "Dinner's ready, by the way. It's set on the table," he said before walking back into the kitchen, leaving Roman standing there with a hand on his bruised foot.
---
At dinner, Kayla stared at her plate, barely touching her food. The tiny dining room felt suffocating. The creaky wooden table, mismatched chairs, and flickering lightbulb hanging overhead only added to her discomfort.
"Oh my God," she muttered suddenly, pushing her chair back with a screech. "This place is way too small for three people. No, no, no. This is a nightmare. Someone wake me up!"
Akim paused mid-bite, fork hovering in the air. Roman's knuckles turned white as he gripped his fork.
"You can leave if you don't want to stay," Roman said coldly, his voice sharp as a blade. "The door's wide open for you."
Kayla froze, her wide eyes locking with his cold stare.
For a moment, the room was dead silent. Then, with a sharp inhale, Kayla turned and walked out, her footsteps echoing through the narrow hallway before the front door slammed shut behind her.
---
"Why did you say that to her?" Akim asked, his voice tight with frustration.
Roman didn't reply, staring blankly at the half-eaten food on his plate.
"She's out there, Roman. Alone. In the dark. You know what kind of people roam these streets at night. Someone needs to go after her."
Roman sighed heavily, his chair scraping against the floor as he stood up.
---
Kayla walked briskly down the poorly lit street, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. The night air was cold, and the faint sounds of distant shouting and barking dogs made her heart race.
Great job, Kayla. You stormed out without thinking. Now look at you—lost in a neighborhood you don't know.
She turned a corner, only to freeze when she noticed three figures leaning against a graffiti-covered wall. One of them, a burly man with a bald head, smirked as he noticed her.
"Hey there, princess. Lost?"
Kayla's heart hammered in her chest. "No. I—I'm fine. I'll just… go this way."
The men stepped forward, blocking her path.
"Come on, sweetheart. No need to be shy. We can keep you company," one of them said, his yellow teeth flashing under the streetlight.
Kayla raised her hands in what she hoped was a convincing martial arts stance. "Don't come closer! I—I know Tai Chi! Double black belt!"
The men laughed darkly, stepping closer. Kayla stumbled backward, her chest tightening with fear.
God, please. Someone… anyone…
But then, something shifted. The men froze, their smirks fading as their eyes darted to something—or someone—behind her.
"We… we didn't know she was with you!" one of them stammered before all three turned and bolted into the shadows.
Kayla turned around slowly and found herself face-to-face with Roman. He stood under the flickering streetlight, his dark jacket draped loosely over his shoulders, his face shadowed but his eyes sharp as daggers.
"R-Roman…" she stammered.
"Let's go," he said simply, pulling off his jacket and draping it over her shoulders before scooping her up into his arms.
Kayla's face burned with embarrassment, but she clung to him as he carried her back toward the house.
---
The next morning, the dining room was quieter than usual.
"Tomorrow, we're enrolling you in a public school," Roman said, breaking the silence.
"A public school?" Kayla asked hesitantly.
"Yeah. My school," Akim chimed in with a reassuring smile.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Roman asked, his voice firm but not unkind.
Kayla shook her head quickly. "No. No problem at all."
"Good," Roman said before standing up and walking away.
Akim collected the dishes, offering her another gentle smile. "Make sure you wake up early tomorrow, okay? First impressions matter."
Kayla sat back in her chair, her mind buzzing with thoughts.
How are these two so different yet so… connected?
She thought briefly of her cousin Chelsea, who lived her life in luxury but carried a heart filled with venom.
That night, Kayla fell into bed, Roman's oversized jacket still draped over her shoulders as she drifted into a deep sleep.
---
The next morning, Kayla emerged from her room wearing stylish shorts, a black tank top, and a pair of sleek boots. Even if she was in an unfamiliar place, even if her life had changed drastically, she would still face the world head-on after all She's Kayla Freaking kornels..
She smirked at her reflection in the cracked mirror.
Watch out, world. Kayla is ready.