INTRO

(PRIMERO)

KNIGHT sighed as he looked at the scattered papers and folders on the table in front of him. They were all reports from the Orgánosi’s head of the countries under Asia, Lord Vandreck. He was retiring in three years’ time, and wanted to train people like him eyeing for his position.

There were nine of them fighting to be in Lord Vandreck’s position. Knight must try harder to stay on top.

He must become powerful. That was his goal—power. A lot of it.

He’d been eyeing to replace Lord Vandreck not because his father insisted but because he needed more power.

I need power. I need to be stronger.

At the age of twenty-five, all he could think about was how to become powerful and unbeatable.

Knight sighed loudly. “Fuck…” I should be looking for my sister! Not staying here, in the palace, like what his father wanted.

But he knew all too well what would happen if he went against his father. Someone will suffer in my stead. He definitely knew whom his father would punish for all his mistakes, so he had to be careful with what he does next.

His father was holding all the aces… He must obey him, no matter what.

“Someone is in a sour mood.”

Knight glared sharply at Cloud, his personal butler who was the same age as him and had been serving him since he was fourteen, standing beside his table.

“Piss off, Cloud.”

Cloud just smiled sweetly at him. But Knight knew his butler all too well. It was a sarcastic smile. “Would you care for refreshments, my lord?”

He sighed heavily because it was burdensome. “Refreshments like tea and some other bullshit food that I hate?”

Cloud wasn’t fazed by his lord’s irritated tone and sharp glare. “Come now, my lord, you know I hate serving you tea. I don’t like preparing them, and you hate drinking them. I’m very lucky and blessed to be a butler of such a fine, young, and handsome gentleman such as yourself, my lord.”

Knight glared at Cloud again. “Stop patronizing me.” He shook his head then massaged his temples. “Go,” he ordered Cloud. “Bring me some refreshment that can refresh me. I’m fucking annoyed and fucking irritated. I’ll beat you up if you continue to piss me off.”

Cloud just chuckled, unafraid of his threats. “I’ll be right back, my lord.”

After Cloud left, Knight peered at the door for a time before reaching for his cellphone from the right drawer of his table. He made a call.

When he heard a grunt and then a groan from the other line, Knight frowned, visibly upset. “Val? The fuck are you grunting for? Are you having sex?”

“Fuck you.” Valerian groaned again, making Knight chuckle silently. “Do you know what time it is?”

“Yeah.” Knight looked at his wristwatch. “Eight a.m. Why?”

“And you don’t think you aren’t stupid not to consider the difference between our time zones? Six hours, you dimwit! It’s just two a.m. here! Unless, of course, you’re back from Spain and you are at the airport as of this moment and you’re calling me to pick you the fuck up because you don’t have a place to go. If that is so, fuck you—” Val paused for a couple of seconds before continuing, “Wait for me.”

Knight laughed and leaned back against the swivel chair he was sitting on. He grimaced at his back pain, but he didn’t dwell on it too much.

“Miss me, best friend?”

“You’re gross.”

“Come on, I haven’t seen you for a year.” Knight laughed. “It’s not my fault when I wear my heart on my sleeve.”

“Don’t bullshit me,” Valerian replied coldly. “Did you forget that I know who you really are?”

But Knight wasn’t affected by Val’s words. He already told Valerian that he was the best lunatic ever and he excelled at being one.

“You didn’t miss me?” Knight asked dramatically. “Ouch! I’m badly hurt, best friend—”

The line died.

Knight let out a soft chuckle before staring at the screen of his cellphone. Valerian was indeed someone who would get easily annoyed. Effortless. And always funny as hell. He was one of the reasons why Knight seldom got bored the past few years he’d been going back and forth from the Philippines to Spain, secretly looking for his sister who left the palace with her mother two years ago.

He paused when he received a message from Valerian.

From: Best friend

Are you at the airport? I’ll pick you up.

Knight smiled. This man can’t really say no , he thought. Valerian might cuss a lot and get irritated so easily, but he was actually a nice guy and a good friend. He was one of the people he needed to protect from his own father.

His father knew how to exploit his weaknesses to make him obedient.

Knight replied.

To: Best friend

Nope. Still in Madrid.

From: Best friend

Don’t text me. I hate the origin of your text message.

Knight laughed and shook his head. “He really hates Spain…” he whispered. “That lunatic.”

His attention shifted to the door of his private study in the palace his father owned when it opened. Cloud entered and walked toward his table, holding a silver tray.

“My lord—”

Knight sighed and looked at Cloud flatly. “Don’t talk to me. If not for my laziness and irritation, I would have killed you seconds ago.”

“Would you prefer if I call you Your Highness? Your Grace?”

Knight grabbed his gun from his drawer and pointed it at Cloud, making his butler stop talking. “Do you wanna die?”

Cloud slightly bowed. “Of course not, my lord. I love my life. I’m young and very fresh, and I love having sex. So, please spare me.”

He sighed, put his gun down, and looked at Cloud questioningly. “Did you have sex with the palace’s new servant? The head housekeeper was very upset the other night. Don’t deny it. I know you, you sly animal.”

“I’m charismatic, my lord,” Cloud said with a smile.

“Whatever.” Knight looked down at the tray Cloud was holding and immediately frowned upon seeing the teapot at teacups. He sighed before pointing his gun once again at his butler. “I’ll kill you if that’s tea.”

Cloud had a mischievous smile on his lips as he settled the tray on the side of Knight’s table. “Do you not trust me, Your Grace?”

Knight cringed at how Cloud addressed him. “If that is how you will call me, you motherfucker, just call me by my name.”

“It would be a disrespect—”

“Wanna die?”

“No, of course not, my lord. I value my life so much, and of course, I like to have sex.”

Knight let out a loud sigh. “Yeah, yeah… I’m getting more irritated.”

Cloud chuckled before lifting the teapot and pouring the liquid inside to the cup. “My lord, I hope you enjoy your refreshment.”

Knight laughed a little when he saw what was inside the teapot. Beer.

“Nice,” he commented.

“And of course…” Cloud smiled as he opened the stainless-steel cloche to show Knight what he paired with the beer. “Your favorite.”

Bread?

He sighed. “Explain, Cloud, before I shoot you in the head.”

“It’s not some bread, my lord. You know that I have to conceal and hide the dessert that you love because your father is an asshole. This is actually a mocha cake pretending to be a slice of bread to fool everyone. I made it myself, of course, because I am one hell of a butler.”

Knight reached out for his fork, got a small slice of the pastry, and tasted it. “Tastes good.”

Cloud just nodded with a smile then poured him another cup of beer from the teapot, making him chuckle.

Cloud would always find a way to accommodate Knight’s likes and wants. He became Knight’s butler at the age of fourteen, but they only became close when he became twenty-one. Knight was very aloof; he didn’t trust anyone, not even his own relatives. That was why it took a lot of time to build his trust and friendship with Cloud.

Come to think of it, only Valerian and Shun became his friends in an instant. He even initiated the friendship. Was it because he was very lonely at the time? With those two, he felt as if he didn’t need time to figure them out; to know their weakness, use it against them if they acted out, and exploit it like what his father taught him. He didn’t have to pretend to be nice because it just came out naturally.

And those two… they accepted him for who he was even though he didn’t deserve anything from anyone.

Knight drank the beer and emptied the teacup, which Cloud immediately and willingly refilled.

“I’ll have you come with me when I go back tomorrow, Cloud.”

The butler put down the teapot. “You’re getting desperate, my lord.”

Knight nodded. “It’s been two years since they left. I can’t use the Orgánosi to track her down because Father will know. And who knows what he’ll do? He’s unpredictable. I need more help.”

Cloud bowed. “Of course, my lord, but…” Worry struck his face. “But are you okay now? Don’t you need more rest after what happened yesterday? Your back… it’s not healed yet. You can’t go back to the Philippines like that.”

Knight pressed one hand on his jaw and closed his eyes. Indeed, his back was still throbbing and pulsing in excruciating agony. He was still in so much pain, but he couldn’t stay here and do nothing. He had to find her sister. He had to know if she was okay, if she was well, and if she was unharmed. If she was studying and having a good comfortable life. He had to make sure that his sister was in good health; that was why he wouldn’t stop looking for her.

“My lord?”

Knight blinked at Cloud. “What?”

“Your back… it’s bleeding,” Cloud commented as he examined Knight’s back. “Looks like the bandages around your body are already soaked with blood. Your shirt as well, as we speak.”

“Don’t mind it. I can endure a little bit longer. By the way, how is he?” Knight asked, his face full of worry. “Father forbids me to go see him.”

“I checked on him earlier.” Cloud sighed. “He’s resting now, but he was looking for you. The sedative I gave seemed to work. Just like you, his back is also bleeding, but you know him. He’ll survive. You took half of the lashes for him. Why did he go out without permission anyway?”

Knight looked outside his window. “You can’t blame him, Cloud. He existed only to be my shadow… It’s suffocating and very burdensome for him. We can’t blame him if he wanted some fresh air.”

“But he knew he would be punished for what he did, and he even dragged you along with him. Doesn’t he know you are also hurting—”

“Don’t tell him that I took half of the lashes,” Knight interrupted. His jaw clenched. His brother Midnight, who was years younger than him, had been put through hell already. “He doesn’t need to know this. He’ll feel bad and blame himself, so keep it a secret.”

“My lord—”

“Go. Take care of him.”

“But your wound—”

“I can endure, and I can always call the family doctor,” Knight replied then smiled. “Go back once you’ve assured that he’s in a better condition. Take care of him for me. He needs someone by his side, and it can’t be me. I have to obey Father, or he’ll get hurt again.”

Cloud sighed. “You have so many burdens upon your shoulders, my lord. Even I wonder how you can sleep peacefully at night.”

“I don’t,” Knight said before drinking from the teacup. “But I have to endure. I can only end this if I become powerful. And if I have to be cold-blooded, cruel, inhumane, manipulative, brutal, and a monster, then so be it. If I have to sacrifice myself, my happiness, and lots of people along the way to protect the people I cherish. I will.”

“Is that why you ordered Dimitri to take care of your cousin?” Cloud asked. “Because he hurt one of the people you cherish?”

Knight smiled coldly. “He hurt Midnight. I can’t allow that. That’s my reason… and because he’s my rival. He’s also eyeing to be the Boss of Asia, and I won’t let him have that position. Besides, I only ordered Dimitri to disable him, not kill him. Basically, he owes me for not killing him even though he’s a piece of shit.”

Cloud chuckled. “You’re such a good man, my lord.”

“I know, right?” he said. “I’m such an amazing person—”

“Don’t push it, my lord,” Cloud said, frowning. “I’m getting goosebumps.”

Knight laughed. “Whatever. Go and take care of Night.”

Cloud nodded and left the room. Knight, on the other hand, drank the remaining beer straight from the pot. The teacups were far too small for him.

If his family could only see him, they would call him barbaric and uneducated, but hell, he enjoyed doing these things. Maybe that was why he enjoyed spending his time with Shun and Valerian—they knew who and how he was, but they wouldn’t judge. They just let him do his thing, however crazy it was.

When he finally emptied the teapot, savoring the last drop of beer, he called Shun.

“What’s up?” Shun asked in a cheery voice.

Knight raised both of his eyebrows. “You’re not grumpy? I called Val a while ago. He shouted at me,” he complained. “He hurt me, Shun. Why is he like that?”

“Asshole. Don’t be a baby. I’m going to puke.”

Knight cackled. “I’m just telling you what happened. He’s hurting me.”

Shun sighed. “Fuck you. I’m hanging up.”

Knight laughed once again before he turned serious, business as usual. “How’s the search? Any luck?”

“Someone is blocking me, Knight,” Shun said. “Someone is utilizing the Orgánosi to block me. I can’t find her. I’m sorry.”

He sighed forcefully. “That’s probably Father.”

Shun tsked. “I can go around it if you want. I’ll hack the Orgánosi and—”

“No, don’t do that.”

Shun would be in so much danger, and Knight knew he could not protect him yet. He was still not powerful. He still had no say in the organization. He still needed three more years before he had the authority and power to protect his friend. “Stop looking.”

“But—”

“Shun. I mean it. Stop looking for now.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Shun,” Knight insisted, his voice stern. “I mean it. I will tell you if I’ll ever need your help again.”

“Fuck this!”

“Yeah. Drop it for the meantime.”

“Fine.” Shun sighed once again, more heavily this time. “But I hate this.”

Knight could only close his eyes. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of things we can’t have, no matter how hard we try.”

“Fuck you.”

“You’re very much welcome, Shun.” He smiled. “I’ll wire you five million dollars.”

“Why?”

“I heard you’re helping street children to have a bright future. Use it to buy a land where you can build your orphanage or use it for their food,” Knight said. “I have to hang up now.”

“When will you get back?”

“This week, maybe. Bye.”

“Bye.”

After ending the call, Knight finished the cake before finally leaving the study and headed toward his room. He hated being in this palace, but he didn’t have much of a choice as of the moment.

Knight took off his top before removing the blood-soaked bandages that were wrapped around his torso, letting them fall on the floor. He then lay on his soft wide bed, face down, and closed his eyes. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t sleep. The face of his sister filled his thoughts over and over—he couldn’t make himself at ease!

Damn it!

He had been lashed fifty times for his brother yesterday, yet he hadn’t had a wink of sleep since then. He couldn’t.

Hell!

Even though his back hurt like hell, he forced himself to reach for the drawer of his bedside table where his sleeping pills were. He had to sleep. It had been days since he had any.

Without water, he swallowed one pill before throwing his whole body onto the bed. Slowly, finally, after two days of being awake, he drifted off to sleep.

BECAUSE OF THE sleeping pills, Knight slept the whole day. When he woke up, it was already past midnight.

A bad dream caused Knight to abruptly rise from his bed, panting. But the torching pain on his back immediately made him aware of reality, making him gasp.

Fuck!

Knight calmed his breathing and stilled when he saw that his body was covered in bandages again.

Must be Cloud, he thought before slowly getting up from his bed. He then reached for a black T-shirt from his closet and prepared himself to leave his room.

It was already past midnight when he wandered around the palace. His feet brought him to a secret passage leading to Midnight’s room. And because people inside the palace were already probably asleep, he knew he could freely tread the secret passage.

He let out a deep sigh upon entering Midnight’s room. He saw his brother sitting on the edge of the bed, fist clenched.

He was in pain.

“Midnight.”

Midnight automatically looked back as he heard his name. When he saw his brother Knight, he looked relieved. “Kuya…”

Kuya meant big brother in Filipino . He and Midnight used the language because it fascinated them. Maybe because the one who taught them the language was their loving stepmother, who left them as well.

Knight walked toward his younger brother. As soon as Knight was in front of Midnight, he gently ruffled his hair. “How are you feeling?”

Midnight looking into his brother’s eyes. “In pain.”

“Have you slept already?”

Midnight shook his head. “I woke up just after lunch and couldn’t sleep anymore.”

Knight joined Midnight on the bed, placed a pillow on his thigh, and tapped it. “Come here… sleep. You need it.”

Worry crossed Midnight’s face. “If Father finds out you’re here—”

“He won’t. Come on.” Knight tapped the pillow on his lap again. “Come here. Lie sideways so you won’t press on your wounds.”

Thankfully, Midnight obliged. He did as his brother told him. “Kuya?”

“Hmm?” Knight hummed.

“How long…” Midnight’s voice croaked. “How long do I have to endure?”

Knight could only caress his brother’s hair. “I don’t know, Night. But I’ll be a boss in three years’ time. I will win and get the position. I’m striving really hard so I can get you out of this.”

“If you become a boss,” Midnight said, looking at him, “will I be able to go out like you?”

Knight gritted his teeth before having the courage to say, “I’ll try my hardest. Just trust me, okay?”

“Okay.” Midnight then adjusted his position while lying down and closed his eyes. “My back hurts…”

“I know.” Knight could also feel the excruciating pain on his back that very moment, but he wouldn’t let his brother know of his own agony—a punishment he willingly took in his brother’s stead. His brother would feel bad. “Would you want me to get you a pain reliever?”

“No…” Midnight whispered. “Just stay, Kuya.”

“Okay…”

He endured the scorching pain on his back by gritting his teeth and managed to show a calm demeanor. His brother was suffering because of him… He had to end it. Midnight couldn’t continue like this.

But what could he do? He was powerless. His father held all the cards. Knight couldn’t do anything yet but obey.

He lowered his gaze at Midnight, who was now finally asleep. “I promise, I’ll get you out of this. I will become powerful for you. I will be the boss for you. And if I have to sacrifice myself for your freedom, then so be it.”

That I promise you… Little Brother.

INTRO

(SEGUNDO)

KNIGHT WAS packing his clothes when someone knocked on the door. He paid no mind, though, since he thought it was just Cloud offering to help pack his things. He preferred packing his bag alone. He didn’t like anyone touching and going through his stuff.

But the person outside knocking on the door was persistent. Definitely not Cloud. His butler knew that one time was enough and another meant refusal.

“Come in!” Knight exclaimed so the person outside would hear.

The door slowly opened. Knight was zipping his trolly bag before glancing toward the incoming visitor. When he saw Midnight looking at his luggage by the door questioningly, he was momentarily shocked.

“You’re leaving?” Midnight asked.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Ah.” His younger brother lowered his gaze. “I’ll get going then. Sorry for disturbing you.”

“Wait,” Knight said, stopping Midnight, and then walked toward him. “How’s your back?”

Midnight smiled. “I’m okay.”

Knight, however, could see through his brother. He was not okay. “I told you not to lie to me.”

Midnight looked away. “It still hurts, but I will endure. Father even allowed me to go here, but I didn’t know you were about to leave. See you again when you get back.”

He sighed and messed up Midnight’s hair. “Something’s bothering you. What is it?”

Midnight shook his head and smiled. “Nothing. Have a safe trip, Kuya.”

Knight sighed. He knew Midnight was forcing a smile so he wouldn’t worry, and he knew it more than anyone else because he was an expert at it. As much as possible, he didn’t want his brother to ever learn how to fake a smile—especially not in front of him. He didn’t want Midnight to control or hide his emotions from people, just like what he was taught.

He didn’t want his brother to be a fake… like him, even though Midnight was pretending to be him.

Midnight, his little brother, existed only to be his shadow—to be him when it was needed. Other than their height, they looked very much alike, almost like twins. Knight was a bit taller than Midnight, though, but it wasn’t that apparent if they weren’t standing next to each other. Their father used this to his advantage.

During dangerous situations where threats were inevitable but Knight still had to make a public appearance, Midnight would come out as him—as Count Knight—so Knight himself would be protected; he was the firstborn, after all. Only a few people knew that Midnight Velasquez existed. To the outside world, there was no Midnight. Except for the people inside the palace, everyone knew that Lord Kelleon Velasquez had only one son.

Him. Knight Alastair Minrod Gutterez Velasquez.

Whenever their father would feel that Knight’s life was in danger, he would order Midnight to stand in his brother’s place. This way, if Midnight were to be shot, his firstborn Knight was still safe.

In other words, Midnight was Knight’s double.

This was why Knight would keep on asking himself, how could his father do that to his own blood? How? Midnight was a good kid!

This motivated him to further his agenda to be powerful. This could only be the way to relieve Midnight from the fate their father had chosen for him.

He would give him his identity—no matter what.

“Midnight,” Knight said in an authoritative voice. “What is it? Spit it out.”

Midnight looked at him and hesitatingly said, “Don’t… leave?”

The older brother raised both his eyebrows. “Was that so hard to say?”

“Kinda,” Midnight replied. “I know you’re busy looking for our sister, and I don’t want to monopolize your time and attention.”

“Stay here. Don’t move,” Knight told his younger brother, who still stood by the door. He reached out for his phone on his bed to call Cloud.

“Yes, my lord?” Cloud immediately answered on the other line. “The plane is ready.”

“I have to cancel.”

Cloud chuckled. “Was it the puppy-dog eyes or the fake smile that softened your cold heart, my lord?”

He sighed. “Fake smile.”

“I thought you miss your friends—that’s why you’re going back to the Philippines?”

“Midnight needs me.”

“Okay. Got it, my lord. By the way, I already got a hold of Mr. Kavotzki, the CEO of KNVel Trading in Italy, who also laundered millions from your company. What shall I do with him?”

He smiled coldly. “What else? Show him how nice Count Knight Velasquez can be. You have to be hospitable and polite, Cloud.”

“Of course, my lord. I shall use my katana to show how hospitable my lord is.”

“Thanks, Cloud.” He ended the call and put a smile on his face before facing Night. “I canceled my flight. What do you want to do?”

Midnight face instantly lit up. “Really? Yes!” he shouted, punching the air and smiling widely like a kid. “Ice cream, then billiards and tennis!”

Knight couldn’t help but laugh. He walked toward his brother and carefully placed one arm over his shoulder. “If that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get.”

Night looked at him. “Won’t Father get mad? He forbids me to eat ice cream for a month as part of my punishment.”

Knight ruffled his sweet brother’s hair before sending a message to Cloud so he could drive them to wherever Midnight wanted. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. Trust me, okay?”

Midnight nodded with a happy smile on his face. Not a fake one. That’s good, Knight thought.

“Are we going out, Kuya?”

Knight nodded. “Yep.”

But Midnight still seemed worried. “Are you sure Father won’t get mad?”

“There’s no ice cream here in the palace, how could you eat?” Knight asked his brother. “Of course we’ll go out. Other people won’t see us, don’t worry. We’ll stay inside the car. Cloud will drive us around.”

Midnight grinned. “Can’t wait.”

Knight laughed as he messed up his brother’s hair. “You can eat all the ice cream you want, but no take-home, okay? You might get caught and be punished. I hate seeing you in pain.”

Midnight nodded. “Yes, Kuya.”

“Good.”

They were next to each other as they quietly treaded secret passage to escape from the palace. They could not pass through the front gate because the guards wouldn’t allow them.

Thankfully, Cloud was already waiting for them as soon as they got out of the palace. He did as he was told—the car was ready.

Knight allowed Midnight to enter the car first before him. Midnight was in the passenger seat, while he sat at the back.

“Where to?” Cloud asked.

“Ice cream parlor,” Knight answered before checking on his brother. “Seatbelt on, Night,” he then added while fixing Midnight’s hair. “Why is your hair so scruffy? Comb it, at least.”

“I won’t be getting out of the car anyway,” Midnight defended himself.

“Even so. And fix your collar too.”

Cloud sighed before helping Midnight straighten his collar. “There. Anything else, my lord?” Cloud asked, glancing at his master.

“None,” Knight replied before turning to his brother. “Which ice cream parlor? Los Alpes or La Romana? You pick.”

“La Romana,” Midnight quickly replied with a wide smile plastered on his face.

“La Romana it is,” Cloud confirmed then started to drive.

Upon arriving at the ice cream parlor, only Cloud got down from the car. He returned with three kinds of ice cream, and he gave everything to Midnight. Then, before maneuvering the car, he looked back at Knight. “Where to, my lord?”

“Just roam around while he’s eating. No destination.”

“Yes, my lord,” Cloud replied and then started to drive the car around.

“Kuya, are your friends kind people?” Night suddenly asked out of curiosity. “Will you be introducing me to them?”

Knight took a deep breath. “When the right time comes.”

“Can I also call them Kuya ?”

He smiled. “Of course. It’s Kuya Val and Kuya Shun. They’re good friends of mine.”

Midnight glanced at the backseat where his brother was. “Do you think they’ll like me? Won’t they find it creepy that we look alike even though we’re not twins?”

“I’m sure they’ll accept you.”

Midnight smiled. “That’ll be nice,” he replied with a faraway look on his face. “Except for you and Kuya Cloud, no one wants to talk to me in the palace. It’ll be nice to talk to other people every now and then.”

“It will happen, don’t worry.”

Midnight smiled again. “Okay,” he said and went back to eating.

Their car roamed around for an hour before it stopped in front of their secret passageway inside the palace. They had to return before they were caught by their father; otherwise, Midnight would be punished yet again.

“Going back again…” Midnight whispered.

Seeing the sad look on his younger brother’s face as he stared at the entrance, Knight held his wrists and explained, “We have to. There’s no point in hiding and running away. They’ll find us anyway.”

Midnight could only nod before they entered the secret passage.

“Kuya, let’s play billiards and tennis next,” Midnight cheerfully requested as they walked side by side. “You won’t be leaving anymore, right? So, it’s okay if I monopolize your time, right?”

He smiled at his brother. “Of course. We’ll play billiards and tennis, but I won’t let you win just because you’re my little brother.”

Midnight grinned at him. “I can beat you fair and square.”

“No way, you punk,” Knight challenged. “You can’t beat me.”

Midnight laughed. “Of course I can. Watch and see.”

“Prepare to lose,” he joked.

But his brother playfully stuck out his tongue at him. “You’ll lose!”

Knight shook his head with a grin, proud with their brief banter. But whatever excitement in him was gone the moment a guard blocked their way to the entertainment area of the palace.

Fuck! Knight cussed in his mind before looking at the guards with an emotionless face. “What is it?”

“Lord Kelleon requests your presence, my lord,” one of the guards said.

Knight felt his brother froze, but he smiled and assured Midnight, “It’s okay. You go first to the entertainment room. Ask Cloud to play billiards with you.”

Midnight quietly nodded and followed his brother’s request. On the other hand, the guards led Knight to where his father was, his private office inside the palace.

“Father,” Knight greeted without an ounce of fear, slightly bending his knee to pay respect.

His father ordered the guards to leave before speaking. “I heard you took Midnight out. You know I forbid it.”

He wasn’t surprised. His father had eyes and ears inside the palace. With a low and harsh voice, Knight replied, “I will take full responsibility for what I did, Father.”

“I told you to stay away from him. You’re soft when it comes to him. I don’t like it.”

He gritted his teeth but calmed himself. “Father, he’s sad and—”

“I don’t care,” his father interrupted, his eyes glaring at his son in disappointment. “Or would you rather want me to send him to a place where you can’t see him even from a distance?”

Knight fought himself not to ball his hands into fists. He knew that his father was not bluffing—that his father could and would effortlessly take Midnight away from him to a place where he couldn’t see his brother. It was an effective threat whenever the brothers were starting to get close to each other.

He was ten and Night was nearly nine when their father first separated them. And it took years before he allowed Midnight to stay anywhere near his brother. When they were eighteen, his father repeated the same deed since they were getting closer than necessary. Midnight came back when he was already nearing twenty-one.

But Midnight never complained. He would just smile at his older brother after years of being separated, no matter how long they had not seen each other. And whenever he would ask Knight about his activities while they were not together, Knight would refuse to say anything, even though he had thought of doing so—he could not bring himself to tell the truth, especially not after seeing the worried look on his younger brother.

“Father—”

“Stay away from him, Knight, or I will send him away,” his father threatened. “And for what you did today, Midnight will be punished. One hundred lashes—”

No! Midnight’s back is still hurting! Knight angrily thought. He didn’t want to beg to his monstrous father, but for Night, he did. “I will take full responsibility, Father. Please—”

“Knight Alastair Minrod Gutterez Velasquez! How many times do I have to tell you not to beg?!” His father’s voice boomed and echoed inside the room, making him flinch. “You will become the head of the House of Velasquez! A count never begs! Royalty never uses the word please ! You will not beg, you hear me?!”

“Yes, Father.”

“You want to take full responsibility?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Then tell me firmly and force me! Don’t waver! You want something, then have it forcefully if you can’t. Now… Midnight will be punished—”

“No.” He looked at his father dead in the eyes, man to man. “Punish me instead. I’m the one who took him out. It was my decision, not his.”

“Don’t be an insolent child—”

“You can add more lashes because I went against your wishes,” Knight added. “Punish me.”

His father smiled, causing Knight to die slowly inside. “Good. That’s my son. Take full responsibility like a man… like the head of House of Velasquez.”

“I prefer to be punished now,” he requested.

His father called someone over the intercom. When the door opened, Knight saw Orlando, his father’s personal Ultor.

“One hundred twenty lashes, Orlando. Make it painful,” his father ordered. “Make him feel how painful it is to go against his father.” And to Knight, he added, “And don’t pass out, my son, or else, your brother will be punished severely.”

“Yes, Master.”

Orlando quietly led Knight outside their father’s private office, toward the basement where the punishment would take place.

Knight was used to this. People thought that being Lord Kelleon’s son was a blessing, but contrary to everyone’s knowledge, it was hell. No one knew what was happening inside the basement. Only a couple of people. Not even Midnight knew, and he preferred it that way.

Midnight must not know this. He wanted his brother to see him and talk to him without guilt in his face. He couldn’t fully protect Midnight yet, but he would ensure to protect his brother’s smile. That was all he could do for Midnight. For now.

That was why he was striving to become powerful and strong… Just wait a bit, Little Brother.

Knight was quiet while his hands and feet were being tied. Orlando spoke. “Is this what you really want? I can go and drag Midnight down here—”

“I will take full responsibility,” he said without a trace of emotion.

Orlando tsked. “Your love for your brother will be the death of you.”

“Then so be it.”

“You don’t have to be punished, my lord—”

“Just do it, Orlando,” Knight insisted just as he closed his eyes to prepare for the incoming pain. “Better me than my brother. I can take it.”

Orlando tsked again before tightly holding the whip. “This will hurt.”

“I’m used to it.”

His father liked it when he would take full responsibility or half of Midnight’s punishment. For his father, it was a sign of strength, courage, bravery, and unwavering determination that a good noble lord and the head of the House of Velasquez had to have.

“Then…” Orlando twirled the whip on his hand. “Take it like a man, my lord.”

Knight held back his scream as Orlando lashed him. Whip after whip on his back, but no sound came out from his mouth. He held it in—the screams of agony and excruciating pain—until the very end of the hundred and twenty lashes.

“Lord Kelleon will be very pleased to know that you didn’t pass out, my lord,” Orlando commented while removing the ropes that tied Knight’s hands and feet—a compliment only his father would be pleased to hear. He then called Cloud, who was just outside of the basement, waiting for the ordeal his master had to endure. “Cloud! Take your master!”

When Cloud entered the punishment room in the basement, he saw Knight swaying, trying to balance himself but couldn’t. He immediately comes to his master’s aid.

“My lord!”

Knight used Cloud’s shoulders to support himself, but instead of whining about the pain, he only had one request for his butler: “D-don’t… d-don’t let Night see me like this…”

“Of course, my lord.”

Hearing that, trusting his butler’s words, Knight let himself pass out.

KNIGHT WOKE UP weak, his back throbbing in pain. He was lying face down on his own bed, not wanting to move an inch of his body, with bandages already wrapped around his torso, which was probably Cloud’s doing. But when he realized that it was already 10:30 in the evening, he forced himself to get up. He paused upon seeing Cloud quietly sitting on the single sofa in his room, observing his wounded master.

“Hey…” his voice sounded weak.

“My lord.” Cloud immediately stood from his seat and poured water into the glass that was on top of the center table before serving it. “Drink this. I put some herbs to calm your nerves.”

Knight forced himself to hold the glass and drink. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Whole day, my lord,” Cloud said just as his master gave the glass back to him. He then gave Knight a whole cake, to his master’s surprise.

“Father will punish you,” Knight said. Ever since he was little, cakes weren’t allowed in their household for a reason.

“Let him punish me then,” Cloud confidently replied. “I don’t mind. You need cake after what happened.”

“Thanks,” Knight said in return and then started eating. Cake had been his comfort food. Ever since he was little.

Cloud bowed. “You’re always welcome, my lord. By the way, your friend Valerian called, asking if you’re going back to the Philippines. I told him you’re still busy at the moment. Not to worry, I didn’t tell him that you had been lashed.”

“Thanks,” he grunted when he moved and felt his back ache.

“By the way, my lord, Midnight has not eaten yet,” Cloud uttered, causing Knight to stand abruptly and the tray to seemingly leap from the bed.

“Where is he? Why hasn’t he eaten yet? You should’ve told him so!”

“Your father forbids him to eat,” Cloud replied, silencing Knight, “since he has eaten ice cream.”

“What?!” He snapped at Cloud. “Fuck! He must be hungry!”

“My lord… your back,” Cloud said with worry, trying to calm his master. “If you keep on moving, your wounds will open and bleed.”

But Knight heed no mind to Cloud’s words. He grabbed a black shirt and wore it, thinking that no one, not even his brother, could see the blood underneath.

“I have to go see him. Ready a meal for him, Cloud. I’ll take full responsibility if Father asks.”

Without hesitation, Knight left his room and walked at a fast pace toward Midnight’s room. To hell with his back. To hell with his pain. He would endure. He had to see his brother.

Fortunately, there were no guards outside Midnight’s room, so he was easily able to enter. But just as he was about to call his brother’s name, he noticed Midnight sleeping. Knight let out a sigh of relief.

Thank God, he thought as he carefully closed the door before walking slowly toward the bed. Midnight was sleeping sideways, probably to avoid the wounds on his back.

Quietly, mindfully, Knight caressed his brother’s hair. He couldn’t bear the thought that Midnight didn’t eat for the whole day.

“I’m so sorry…” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Midnight stirred in his sleep before slowly opening his eyes. “Kuya?” he asked, making sure it was his brother.

He smiled. “Hey…”

Midnight got up to face him. “Where did you go? I asked Father. He said you walked out after he scolded you for buying me ice cream. I’m sorry.”

Knight wanted to correct Midnight. He wanted to tell him that he wasn’t around because he passed out after being punished, but of course he wouldn’t let his brother know that. “I just needed to finish some errands.”

“I thought we’d be playing billiards and tennis…” Midnight said, his gaze lowered

“Maybe tomorrow?”

Night’s face fell. “Father told me to pack today.”

Knight’s eyes widened in fear. He was about to speak, but Midnight assured him that he was going to be okay.

“It might only be a few years,” Midnight added. “Maybe I’ll come back sooner.”

“No, Night—”

“It’s okay.” Midnight forced a smile at him, and it made his heart clench in pain. “Maybe it’s for the better that Father is sending me away, Kuya. You could now focus on being a boss. I’ll be cheering for you.”

“No, Night, I’ll talk to Father—”

“We both know we can’t stop him,” Midnight whispered. “So, be a boss, okay? If I’m not back in three years’ time and you become a boss, come find me. I’ll wait for you, Kuya.”

“Night, let me talk to Father first. I can change his mind,” he insisted, but Midnight had made up his mind and shook his head.

“It’s okay. I’m doing this for you, Kuya, so you can focus your attention on becoming a boss… on becoming stronger. I promise I’ll be a good man and won’t do anything to merit punishment so you don’t need to worry.”

“Midnight…”

“Just promise me when you become a boss that you’ll come find and get me.”

Knight could not do anything but nod and extended his hand. “Promise. I’ll come find you and get you.”

Midnight smiled trustingly at him. “I’ll hold on to that, Kuya.”

“Promise.”

He and Midnight clasped each other’s forearms. “Promise.”

The brothers smiled at each other. And as if on cue, someone knocked on the door. The two looked back to see who it was as the door opened and were quite relieved that it was Cloud with food on a tray.

“Eat up,” Knight told his brother.

Midnight grinned. “Thanks! I’m famished!”

Midnight heartily ate his meal while Cloud reminded him to eat slowly and savor the food. He only chuckled as Cloud did, shoving bites of food into his mouth one after another.

Be a boss… Knight thought while staring at Midnight happily eating. His need to become powerful had never been this strong.

“Done!” Midnight exclaimed.

“I shall take these and clean up,” Cloud said before going out of the room with the now-empty tray while Midnight had gone to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

“Let’s play chess?” Midnight asked his brother as soon as he was done.

“Sure,” Knight answered with a smile.

They spent the rest of the night playing chess and talking about any topic they could think of. Although Knight enjoyed the brief hours with his brother, he knew their time was limited. When he noticed it was past midnight, he told Midnight to sleep. “Orlando will surely fetch you here early.”

Midnight sighed. “Okay.”

Seeing his brother feeling down, he took off the necklace with a compass pendant around his neck and put it around Midnight’s. “Here. Take this. Mom gave it to me before she died. She said that through this compass, she can always find me and look after me even after she dies. So, I’m giving it to you. I may not be by your side physically, but through this, I hope you can still feel my presence. If you’re still not back after three years, I’ll find you.”

Midnight held the pendant tightly and smiled at his brother. “Thank you, Kuya. I’ll keep it. I promise.”

“Good. Don’t lose it.”

Still smiling, Midnight stood to give his brother a warm and tight embrace. “Come find me, okay? I trust you, Kuya.”

“I will find you, Little Brother. Trust me.”

Midnight nodded before finally letting go and settling on his bed. During that moment, Knight felt a strong urge not to leave his brother. He knew he would not see him again starting tomorrow. That it would take years before they would see each other again and he couldn’t do anything about it.

Fuck! He wanted to cuss so bad, but he chose silence instead. Knight lay on the bed sideways, beside his brother. “I’ll sleep here. Is that okay?”

Midnight nodded with a smile. “It’s fine. I like having my kuya around. I feel safe whenever you’re with me, Kuya. No matter what happens to me, no matter what Father tells me to do, even though he has caused most of my suffering, as long as you’re with me throughout all of this, I won’t give up. As long as you won’t abandon me, I’ll keep on fighting.”

Knight ruffled his brother’s hair. “I’ll die first before I abandon you, Little Brother.”

“I know.” Midnight smiled as he closed his eyes. “Good night, Kuya.”

“Good night, Night,” he whispered back. He watched as his little brother fell asleep beside him. Starting tomorrow, he would not see him again, probably for the next three years. But Knight was adamant to find his brother after three years, after he finally becomes the Boss of Asia. It was his promise to Midnight—a promise he intended to keep.

Five years later, Midnight was nowhere to be found…

and Knight couldn’t find him to keep his promise.

He had failed.

INTRO

(Último)

Knight was smiling while Valerian was glaring at him. They were in Thorn Calderon’s restaurant, having breakfast. Valerian had dark shadowy bags under his eyes, and Knight was pretty sure they had something to do with him last night. He had just arrived from Spain earlier this morning, and the first person he called—or rather, disturbed—was Valerian. But no way in hell would he admit it, not to Valerian. He liked teasing him a lot.

“The next time you come back from Spain, bug someone else!” Valerian hissed at him before sipping his coffee irritably. “Fuck you, you know that? Then you bug me to have breakfast, but I have to fucking pay? You bastard.”

He rested his palm on his chin and gave Valerian a mocking look. “Who would I bug other than you, best friend?”

“Maybe the East Asian guy?! You could’ve called him instead!” Valerian retorted annoyingly. “Both of your races are colonizers anyway.”

Knight tried hard not to laugh. “Shun? Don’t want to. He’s busy—”

“Oh, and I’m not, you motherfucker?” Valerian scowled at him, but Knight laughed it off. “Do you know what time I slept yesterday? One a.m.! Then you called at four a.m.—”

“That means you had three hours of sleep,” Knight said before winking at Valerian, who seemed more hostile than a few seconds ago. “You’re welcome.”

“Fuck you!”

Knight grinned at him. “You’re so sweet.”

“Fuck you to hell.”

“Aww… should we date?”

Knowing Knight wouldn’t stop annoying him, Valerian just sighed in defeat. “I hate you.”

The smile on Knight’s face faded. “You’re hurting me now.”

Valerian raised his gaze. “Fine. We’ll be friends for one more year.”

“I’m still hurt.”

“Two years?”

“Nope.”

“Fine!” Valerian huffed. “Three!”

Knight chuckled. “Gotcha.”

Valerian glared at him. “Fuck you.”

“Thanks.” He smiled. “Anyways, I prefer you over Shun. That guy hits me with his knuckles. Besides, I only told you that I was at the airport. I didn’t say you had to fetch me.”

Valerian looked at him with disgust. “You’re so fucking gross. Why do I even need to fetch you from the airport, you motherfucker? What are you, a woman? Fuck! You make me want to vomit!”

Knight refrained himself from laughing at his annoyed friend. “Why the hell are you mad? I heard from Shun that Grace is back.” When Valerian shut up, he clicked his tongue. “You’re such a pussy.”

Valerian cussed again. “What do I care if she returns?”

“You don’t love her anymore?” he asked. Valerian grew silent, so he took the chance to annoy him more. “Valerian has just been slain by Count Knight.”

“Don’t talk to me!” Valerian shouted, then abruptly stood from his seat. But just as he was about to leave, he heard Knight murmur.

“Fuck… I want some cake.”

Valerian glared at him and left him without a word. He didn’t mind, though, and he wasn’t even surprised that Valerian came back some minutes after… with a whole cake.

“Thanks, best friend.”

“You thick-skinned animal,” Valerian angrily said, as if he didn’t just buy Knight his favorite pastry. “Go back to the country from where you came.”

Knight laughed and started eating. His silence made Valerian wonder. “You look sadder than usual,” his friend commented.

Knight was stunned that he paused from eating to look at Valerian. “What gives?”

Valerian shrugged. “I just feel it. I know you, remember?”

Knight just laughed his comment off. “Don’t mind me, best friend. I’ll be fine…”

“Don’t call me best friend!” Valerian hissed at him again. “You are not my best friend.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

“Knight!” someone called. It was Lander walking toward them. “Good thing you’re here…” Lander said and gave him his driver’s license. “Got this for you last week. Happy now?”

Knight immediately grinned as he accepted the ID. “Fuck yeah! And my car?”

“In BV. Outside Volkzki’s house.”

Valerian frowned at Lander, clueless about what they were talking about. “What car?”

Lander grimaced. “It’s better that you don’t know. You know this guy,” Lander said, his eyes pointing toward Knight. “Anyways, I already took care of everything, including the papers and registration. All you have to do is drive it.”

“Thanks!” Knight said with a wide grin.

Lander pulled a chair from another table and joined them. “You owe me breakfast.”

“Sure.” Knight raised his hand to get the waiter’s attention. When the waiter was already in front of them, he told Lander, “Eat all you can. Val will pay.”

“What the f—”

“I’ll pay you back,” Knight interrupted whatever curse word Valerian was about to bark.

“Oh? Really?” Val glared at him. “And where do I record your debt this time? In water? In the sand?

He gave Valerian a cheeky smile. “I pick water.”

“How shameless,” Val hissed. Knight just smiled and ordered some more after Lander ordered his.

Their area became crowded when their other friends started showing up. From Lander to Cali. Even the Coleman twins were present. Their table, originally reserved for only two people, was now surrounded by thirteen men, all having breakfast and snatching each other’s food from each other’s plate.

“This is fucked up,” Ymar complained. “Why are we eating at one table again?”

Dark, who arrived after Lander, shrugged. “Who knows? I was here first.”

“Iuhence! That’s my fucking coffee! Don’t you dare drink it—” Zapanta hissed at Vergara, but his protest was in vain and too late. Vergara already gulped it down his throat. “Iuhence! Pay it!”

Vergara clicked his tongue before pulling a wallet from his pocket. He glanced at his pocket and nonchalantly said, “Fuck. I only have a hundred pesos.” Then he turned to Train and said, “Lend me fifty. Zapanta wouldn’t be able to sleep because I drank his coffee.”

Without complaining, Train took out fifty pesos from his wallet and handed it to Iuhence. “And when do you plan on paying?”

“Tomorrow.”

Train nodded while they all chuckled. They knew all too well that Iuhence’s “tomorrow” meant the next year or the next few years to come.

While Iuhence was buying Tyron’s coffee downstairs, Calyx was munching Lash’s pancake. Lash sighed while shaking his head at Calyx. “I envy you for having such a thick face.”

Everyone nodded, including Knight. Everyone glanced at him in disbelief. Knight frowned with an innocent look. “What?”

Shun clicked his tongue. “Zapanta ordered cake, you ate it. Then Wolkzbin ordered cake, you ate it as well. Then Coleman bought cake, you ate it too. Same with Lander’s and Cali’s cakes.”

His eyes widened in shock. “What da fuck… Was I not supposed to eat it?”

Everyone sighed. Zapanta looked at Valerian, whose mouth was already open to reprimand him. “Don’t. You’ll baby him.”

But Valerian did anyway. “No, you’re not.”

“Oh…” Knight held his laughter. It was fun teasing his friends. He knew he wouldn’t get bored if he was with them. It was a nice feeling.

“Do you want another slice?” Train asked. “Vergara will buy you some since he owes you one after stealing your fiancé.”

He turned to Vergara, who just came back after buying Tyron a cup of coffee. “Then I want a triple Bavarian cake!”

Vergara looked at Knight flatly. “I borrowed fifty from Train, and you want me to buy you a cake? Do you now know how expensive a piece is?”

But Knight only pointed at Val. “He always buys me cakes.”

Iuhence snorted. “That’s because you two are a couple.”

Shun complained, “So, what am I, a third party?”

“Like three people in a relationship?” Knight rested his palm under his chin. “Isn’t that a threesome?”

Valerian could no longer help it and balled his hands into fists. Knight saw the light punch coming but didn’t move—he let Valerian hit his face.

“It’s called love triangle, you idiot!”

His lips formed into an “o” as he cupped his own cheeks. “Holy motherfucker!” He faked a gasp. “You want a threesome love triangle?!”

Every customer in the café looked at their table. Valerian, whose patience ran out, picked up the bread knife from the table and threatened Knight. “I’m gonna kill you, you lunatic!”

Knight effortlessly dodged the incoming attacks and was even able to reach his pocketknife and throw it to Valerian, who flawlessly caught it.

“Use that to stab me,” he said, smirking as he started to run and challenge Valerian. “It’s much sharper!”

“I will really kill you!” Valerian shouted.

Knight was laughing his ass off as he was running away from Valerian, who was chasing him with his very own pocketknife. He was so sad and desperate when he was in Spain; he had been punished severely for begging. But now, he realized that his heart felt lighter, his demeanor calmer. He forgot the pain caused by the fresh wound on his back. And above all, he was happy.

Even when he didn’t deserve to be happy, he felt happy. Happy to be around his lunatic friends.

Only if Midnight was here … he thought, then I’ll be complete.

Because of his lingering thoughts, his pace slowed down.

“Knight…” Val called his name.

Val seldom calls him by his name, so it was a normal response for him to look back, his face devoid of emotion. “What?”

“Your back…” Val’s eyes were on his back. “It’s bleeding.”

Knight froze. He immediately looked away with shame plastered on his face. Why did he forget? He was wearing a light-colored T-shirt.

“Don’t tell them,” he whispered. “Don’t look…”

Valerian clicked his tongue before taking off his coat and throwing it over his shoulders. “Cover your back with that. I’ll tell Shun.”

Knight obediently wrapped Val’s coat around his back to hide his blood-soaked shirt. Am I having too much fun that I didn’t feel the pain on my back… or is it because I’m used to the pain that I felt numb—I didn’t feel anything? he thought.

He glanced at Valerian, who was now talking to their friends, and smiled. Then, his phone rang. It was Dimitri—his personal Ultor, his punisher in the Orgánosi. He answered with a cold tone, “Speak, Dimitri.”

“Boss, Shereik Abdul is the man behind the Triad’s movement in the Middle East. And his wife knows nothing of her husband’s illegal deeds. Uncannily, the husband treasures his wife so much that he won’t let her into his dark world, so we can’t get anything from her. As we speak, we already have people inside to infiltrate their homes—”

“Why infiltrate other homes?” Knight asked. “We need the husband. Use the wife.”

Dimitri was silent for a second. “Boss?”

Knight smiled at his friends, but his voice was cold and merciless as he spoke. “Use the wife to flush out the husband.”

“But, Boss, she’s innocent—”

“Do I sound like I care?” He waved at his friends with a smile, but his voice was uncaring. “Use her. I don’t care how. You can kill her if you want, I don’t mind either. What’s important is we corner her husband. I don’t care who gets killed. Just do the job and be done with it. We have other important matters to do than infiltrate that motherfucker’s house.”

If they captured Shereik Abdul as his father ordered, he would be given a hint on his brother’s whereabouts. If he had to sacrifice and use everyone around him to see Midnight, to keep his promise… then so be it.

His father was still using him, molding him into a great noble man that he should be after five years. The torture continued. Yes, he was now a boss, powerful and feared, but he was still an obedient dog. His father knew what to say to order him around.

If he wouldn’t do his bidding, then Midnight would be punished, wherever he was. His father still held the ace. He was good at playing him.

“Boss, there was a threat to Mr. Volkzki’s life from Abdul’s friend in the Triad. Looks like they found out that you have friends,” Dimitri warned. “They wanted to control your movements. What should we do—”

“I don’t care who they kill, they won’t stop me. Everyone around me is just a pawn after all. Do your job.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Knight could tell that Dimitri’s calm voice was forced before he ended the call. He then looked at Valerian, who was staring annoyingly at Shun Kim.

In danger, huh ?

He might still be obedient, but he was not powerless like before. He had changed. He already lost his brother; he’s not losing another one.

Knight smiled at his friends as he called one of his men. “Guard a man named Valerian Volkzki. I will send you the details later. If something bad happens to him, I will bury you and your whole family alive, understand?”

“Yes, Boss!”

After the call ended, he went back to the same seat where his friends were at.

“Iuhence, where did you buy this coffee?” Tyron complained. “Tastes bad.”

“Outside. Their coffee here is too expensive.” Iuhence smirked before finally laughing. “Calderon was okay with it anyway. Coffee is coffee. How is that different?”

Tyron just sighed before getting the waiter’s attention for their bill. Thankfully, they had their own set of bills. Calderon seemed to have trained the café staff when it came to the men. He clearly remembered the fight that occurred among them when they only had one bill. Everybody was enlisting what food they ate and caused a ruckus. The staff knew better now.

“You ate my cake. Pay for it,” Cali said to Knight, and everyone who ordered cake followed.

He took out his wallet from his pocket and opened it in front of his friends. “Look… I have no money.”

“We accept card, sir,” the waiter chimed in.

“I don’t have a card.”

Shun glared at him. “You’re a count, for fuck’s sake!”

He pouted. “What do I do, I don’t have a single coin right now. Help?”

Ymar grabbed Knight’s wallet and examined it. Ymar clicked his tongue as soon as he realized. “You have no fucking shame at all. This is a new wallet, you lunatic! The tag price is still here, and it’s worth fifty-five thousand pesos. No money your ass.”

“It’s a gift.” From his father. He planned to sell it once he arrived here in the Philippines.

Ymar gave the empty wallet to the waiter. “We’ll pay with this.”

The waiter winced. “W-we don’t accept things as mode of payment, sir.”

“Why not?” all of them asked in unison, making the waiter step back in fear and worry for his life. His face became pale.

“I—I—I will call the manager!” the waiter said and scurried away from them.

“You scared the poor guy to death,” Lath commented. “This is the reason why waiters avoid us.”

Everyone laughed until the manager approached them, with the waiter beside him.

“We will accept the wallet as payment,” the manager said and accepted the wallet from Ymar. “May I ask who owns this?”

“Me,” Knight answered.

“Then I will inform Mr. Calderon immediately.”

Still hesitant, the waiter asked the manager, “Is this really okay?”

The manager whispered back, “They’re a special case.”

Knight laughed as he shook his head. Thorn Calderon trained his employees well. His review: five stars .

When they were out of the restaurant, all of them, except Shun and Valerian, tapped either his back or his shoulder to bid goodbye. Knight had to control himself from wincing every time a friend would pat his back.

However, Knight remained silent during the rest of the ride back to BV. When they finally arrived, Valerian had a surprised and fascinated look on his face when he saw the car that Lander was pertaining to.

“Really?” Valerian gave him an arched look. “A taxi?”

Knight grinned. “I want to be a taxi driver. I saved for that, you know.”

“Tsk.” Valerian shook his head. “You’re hopeless. I thought you’re a DJ or some sort.”

“Yeah. It’s my part-time.”

“And how do you explain being a waiter at a restaurant months ago? I saw you.”

Knight just smiled at Valerian. “Part of my charm.”

The three of them went straight to the living room. Shun got the first-aid kid, while Knight removed his top and sat on the floor, his back facing his two friends who were sitting on a long sofa.

“What did you do to be lashed this time?” Shun asked while cleaning his wound.

I begged . “Nothing.”

“You always say that,” Valerian retorted before leaving.

“How many times were you whipped when you were there?” Shun asked while replacing the bandages. “You have fresh and nearly healing cuts. Aren’t they painful?”

“I’m used to it.”

Shun sighed. “Why do you not want to tell us the truth?”

He stood up and looked at Shun. Because this is the only way I know how to protect you and Valerian, he thought. If I show that I care, you will be part of my father’s aces against me, and I won’t allow it. As long as my father thinks I’m lying and manipulating you two, then it’ll be okay.

Knight faked a grin on his face. “Thanks.”

Shun glared at him. “Drop that fake smile. It’s irritating.”

Before Knight could even answer, Valerian returned with a bottle of beer and a slice of strawberry cake. “Eat and drink up, then I’ll drive you to your house,” he added.

Knight quickly consumed the offering before finally getting up. “No need to drive me home. I have somewhere to go. See yah later.”

“Knight, you need to rest,” Valerian argued. “Your wounds will open if you won’t.”

“No, I have to go.” I have to go to the HQ to talk to Cloud.

He was determined to leave, but before he reached the door, he felt weak. He started to wobble. He touched his forehead and turned to Valerian as his vision blurred. “W-what did you put in my d-drink?”

“Sleeping pills,” Valerian answered. “Because we know you won’t agree with us if we tell you to rest.”

“Fuck…” was all he could say before he passed out.

KNIGHT WOKE UP when it was already afternoon. He looked at his wristwatch; it was 4:30 p.m. He got up from the bed, grabbed his phone from his bedside table, and left the room.

He was still in Valerian’s house. He was alone.

While walking downstairs, he checked if he received any messages on his phone. There was one—an e-mail from Cloud.

From: CLOUD SEBASTIAN

To: Minrod

Subject: Meeting

Message: I received an invitation in your stead, my lord. Later at 2AM in HQ Philippines. All the 7 bosses of the Orgánosi will be present. Don’t be late, my lord.

Great! He had been a boss for almost three years now, but all the seven bosses in one room hadn’t happened yet. There must be a very important agenda to talk about.

When he reached the kitchen, he saw a sticky note posted on the table. Beside it was a food cover, with a plate full of food and some pain relievers inside.

Eat up. Take your fucking meds. Don’t fucking bug me. I’m fucking working. – V.

Knight settled on one of the dining chairs and ate in silence. He left the dishes on the sink, afraid to break them if he washed them. And as soon as he left Valerian’s residence, he got in his taxi, which he told Lander to get. The key was already in the ignition. He drove out of BV and started driving to look for passengers.

When he saw a group of girls hailing for a ride, he stopped his taxi and slid down the window by the passenger’s seat. “Where to?”

But instead of answering, the women stared at him in awe of his beauty. Knight just smiled. He was used to it. He was not a narcissist, but he knew he was good-looking.

“Where to?” he repeated.

“J-just th-there…”

The smile on his face remained. “Where there ?”

“M-mall…”

“Hop in.”

The three women got in the taxi. No one spoke during the first few minutes of the ride, but the women interviewed him eventually. Questions after questions, and all of his answers were lies.

“Keep the change, handsome,” one of the women said.

He stared at three hundred-peso bills and laughed. I think it’s fun to be a taxi driver, he thought.

He needed to work hard to get money. So, that was how his night started—driving people to their destinations with his new taxi.

It was already one a.m. when he parked in front of Racini’s Hotel. He went in and walked toward the elevator.

He punched in his code using the floor numbers before pressing the close button. Then, the elevator started going down.

Knight looked up at the ceiling before he closed his eyes when he felt the pain on his back. “Fuck…” he hissed softly. “When will I stop being in pain?”

Knight clicked his tongue. This pain won’t stop until I become more powerful than Father. But he knew it would be a long time before it would happen. Damn it!

He got into his senses and went back to reality the moment the elevator opened. He stepped out and punched in his code again. The double steel door opened and let him in.

Looking at him from head to toe, Cloud greeted, “My lord, you look like shit.”

He grunted. “This is how handsome men look nowadays.”

Cloud chuckled. “The other bosses are already in the conference room, waiting.”

Knight nodded and accepted the stainless-steel water bottle that Cloud gave. “What’s inside?”

Cloud just smiled, but he retained a cold poker face as they walked. Every member of their organization looked at him, but he paid them no mind. No close colleagues, no problem. He would never give another ace to his father.

He opened the cover of the stainless-steel water bottle and smelled what was inside. He shook his head.

“This is the reason why I can’t fire you,” he told Cloud and then drank a mouthful of beer. “Damn, that’s good.”

“As if you can live without me, my lord,” Cloud retorted. “I’m too precious.”

Knight’s face remained stoic. “Yeah, yeah…”

Cloud opened the door for him when they arrived in the conference room. Inside were six men, including himself.

“I will take my leave now, my lord.” Cloud left without waiting for his answer.

Knight carefully examined the men in front of him, assessing their strengths and weaknesses that he could exploit in the near future.

That was who he was. He was raised that way. To think that other people were beneath him. To think that lying and pretending were necessary to control the people around him.

These men, these other bosses—he knew them already by reports and rumors.

“Won’t you introduce yourself?” Daemon Cox asked, the head of South America.

“Why bother?” he said in a cold, distant voice. “I’m sure you know me already.”

“For formality’s sake, mate,” chimed in Draco, the head of Australia.

Knight didn’t bother answering. What was the use? If these people got close to him in some way, they would be used against him too.

No more ace of cards, Father.

“Let’s start the agenda,” he insisted.

“Hold up,” Monti Parisi interrupted. “We’re still missing one boss.”

That made him still. Missing one? Oh, yeah. There were supposed to be seven, but only six, including himself, were present. And he had no idea who it was because the Boss of North America was newly appointed.

“That brat…” Daemon clicked his tongue. “I told him not to be late. Is he oversleeping again?”

He gazed at Daemon. It looked like the two knew each other. Well, they had to know each other. They were, after all, the closest of them all—South and North America bosses.

Knight stood up and walked toward the door. “I hate waiting. Just call me when he arrives.”

He was about to open the door when it opened. The newcomer had arrived.

“Sorry, everyone!” the newcomer greeted, sounding so cherry and energetic. “I overslept!”

“I knew it!” Daemon hissed.

Everyone was joking around with the newcomer, the new head of North America, but Knight was frozen, rooted in place as he stared at the man with the same face as him, smiling and joking with Daemon Cox.

“N-Night…”

Midnight glanced at him. His eyes were cold, his body movement distant. But he still managed a smile for him. A fake smile he hated.

“Yow.”

That single word, for some reason, cracked his heart.

Kuya had turned into yow , as if Knight had become a stranger to his dear brother.

PROLOGUE

KNIGHT felt numb—so numb he couldn’t feel even the pain on his back.

He couldn’t count how many times he was whipped while his hands and feet were bound by chains, kneeling in the middle of a big hall of the punishment room, unmoving, silent, and conscious.

Why wouldn’t he pass out?

What was his fault again?

He couldn’t even remember what he did this time—what rule he broke. His mind was filled with pain, anger, resentment, and guilt to even think correctly.

He was going mad. He was losing his sanity little by little, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away from him every passing day.

Knight wanted to scream for help from the top of his lungs, but he held his pleas inside. He was taught not to beg. He was taught to be above everyone. He would be punished again anyway. And he was tired. Tired of constantly being punished for who he was. Tired of being an obedient dog. Tired of trying his best to be a good brother. Tired of being a monster. Tired of pretending.

I’m just so tired… of living.

His lips opened, but no word came out even when the lead Ultor hit him with the last lash of the whip on his back.

“I’m sorry,” Chaos said while removing his chains. “I’m just taking orders.”

He didn’t answer. His back was bleeding back, but he still managed to stand up, took his jacket from the rack, and used it to cover his wounds, and then he walked toward the door. His feet were moving unconsciously, as if they had a mind of their own, and led him toward the exit. His head was low, his body swaying at every step, his mind screaming and calling for the people he cherished to come save him, but no one came.

Midnight . Midnight didn’t want anything to do with him anymore. His brother hated him.

Valerian. Shun. Cloud . They were all busy. They were all not there to make him feel okay. To lighten up this heavy load of burden on his shoulder.

It was just him.

“I’m tired…” he whispered as he wobbled like a drunk. He didn’t have a clue where he was, and he didn’t know how long or how far he had walked from the HQ. He could hear chatters and footsteps around him, but he was too weak to even lift his head and open his eyes to check his surroundings.

He just kept on walking and walking and walking until his body finally gave up. Into the ground, Knight fell and lost consciousness.

But from time to time, he could hear a soft voice and feel a warm caress, but everything was hazy. He couldn’t understand what the person who was stroking his back was saying. He could not even turn his head to look at who it was.

Was he hallucinating? Was he dying?

If I am dying, then good.

Finally, all his suffering was about to end.

He wanted to be selfish for once and just die but… Midnight . What would happen to his brother? He couldn’t die like this. He couldn’t die being hated by his younger brother.

I can’t… I can’t d-die… I can’t… Night… he thought. But I’m tired… I’m so tired of living. Someone… please… someone… save me…

He was taught not to beg, but at that very moment, he begged to die and live at the same time. To die because he had enough already. To live because he didn’t want the people he cherished to get hurt. How would he protect his loved ones if he passes away? What if he endangers their lives?

But how could he fight to live when he was already tired of living?

Save me… please… please…

Knight didn’t know if someone—if God—could hear his pleas, but a soft voice filled his ears, like an angel whispering in his ear.

“It’s okay… you’re gonna be alright.”

He wanted to open his eyes and see the face of this person. He wanted to hear those comforting words he had heard earlier. But then the feeling of falling into a deep abyss engulfed him, causing him to wake up gasping for air.

His eyes roamed around the room. White walls. Antiseptic smell. IV fluid. Hospital gown.

He froze. He was in a hospital.

“It’s okay… you’re gonna be alright.”

His lips parted in confusion. Was it a dream?

He was supposed to get up to investigate whether what happened was a dream until Cloud entered.

“My lord!” Cloud shouted as soon as he saw him. “Lie down! Your wounds will open again,” he pleaded, sounding pissed.

“W-what happened?” Knight asked, puzzled about what his butler said.

“You got punished again for breaking a rule. I was in Singapore as per your order when I received a call from this hospital,” Cloud replied while assisting him back to his bed. He sat on the side of the bed, his shoulders slumped. “You wrote me as your emergency contact. The doctor told me that you lost so much blood, and it nearly killed you. You were unconscious for the last three days now.”

Knight’s hands balled into a fist. “Did someone look for me while I was passed out?”

When Cloud shook his head, Knight was relieved, but his smile was cold. Of course. His friends were busy with their own lives. Valerian just got married, and so did Shun and some of his friends.

“Don’t worry, my lord. I’m the only one who knows you’re here. I’ve silenced everyone who knew you and learned that you got admitted.”

Knight looked up at the ceiling. “If I lost so much blood, how come I’m still alive? I’m sure I didn’t pass out in this hospital.”

“Someone brought you here,” Cloud replied.

His eyes widened and remembered the last words he had heard. “It’s okay… you’re gonna be alright.” Those words… that soft feminine voice kept on replaying in his mind.

“Was it a woman?”

Disappointment coated his being when his butler shook his head. “Two elderly men brought you here, but someone seemed to have administered first-aid and stopped your severe bleeding—that’s why you’re here. Thanks to those two old men, you’re alive.”

He fell silent. So, it was not a woman. But somehow, he was very sure that that soft voice was quite feminine.

“It’s okay… you’re gonna be alright.”

Knight blew a loud breath. “Did something happen when I was unconscious?”

Cloud was silent for a few seconds before speaking. “My lord, your father is here in the Philippines. He arrived this morning.”

His body went cold. He wasn’t sure if it was anger or fear. “Why is he here?”

But before Cloud could even answer, the door opened. In front of them was his father, his face showing an expression colder than ice.

Knight already knew what was coming, so he pushed himself to get up even though his body was screaming in so much pain.

“Father—”

A hard, strong slap hit his face. Then another. And another. He couldn’t count how many times his father hit him on either cheek.

“Is this how a noble royalty acts? You’re the Boss of Asia! Act like it!” his father yelled. “You should have been very careful! I told you again and again that hospitals are forbidden! You should have minded your surroundings, you imbecile! Estúpido! Tonto! Idiota! “

Those words were harsh, but he was so used to them that he didn’t feel hurt anymore. He didn’t even flinch like he used to.

“ Lo siento , Father“ was all he said. “I will take full responsibility for what happened.”

“You better!” His father hissed at him before facing Cloud. “And you will be lashed fifty times for letting your master be in this situation.”

He wanted to stop his father, beg him not to involve Cloud. But he knew all too well that it would only make things worse. Nothing good came from him begging. It only led to punishment after punishment, and he was tired of it. So tired.

“I accept any punishment, sire,” Cloud answered and bowed in reverence.

Knight glared at his father before he left the hospital room with Orlando, his father’s personal Ultor—also known as the punisher—and his father’s most trusted bodyguard. Afterward, he let Cloud assist him to bed. He had no more strength to pretend that he was okay, that he had authority and power.

Because at that moment, he had never felt so weak and useless.

“Your brother… Midnight… had been posing as you in front of everyone you know for the last three days. It was your father’s order to stop suspicion and questions among your friends,” Cloud said in a low voice. When Knight didn’t react, he added, “Will you not ask where Midnight is?”

Knight closed his eyes in defeat. “What’s the use? Will anything change if I ask you about him?” When Cloud didn’t reply, he placed his arm above his eyes and said, “Slowly, I’m already accepting the reality… that maybe… I already lost my brother. I don’t want to give up on him, Cloud, but… I’m tired. I’m so tired.”

“My lord…”

“I tried looking for him. You know that. You had been by my side for the last five years, and there was never a day that I stopped looking for him. I did everything I could to keep my promise, but it seems my efforts are futile. I did my best… I really did.”

“I know, my lord. I know.”

He took a deep breath, lifted his forearm from covering his eyes, and looked at the ceiling. “Why does it have to be this way? My father dislikes me because I am not enough to become a respectable noble. My sister left because I still did not have enough power to make her stay. My brother probably hates me because my efforts to search for him weren’t enough. You… you’re always being punished because I don’t have enough power to protect you. When do you think, Cloud?”

“When what, my lord?”

“When will I be enough for someone?”

“My lord.” There was concern in his butler’s voice. “You have your friends. And you are enough for them. They accept who you are and—”

“They don’t know the real me,” he said. “If they do… I don’t think they’ll accept me.”

“My lord…”

“Maybe I will never be enough.” He gave a soft, emotionless chuckle. “There’s no hope in hoping against hope.”

“My lord—”

“Go. Leave and get ready for your punishment,” he said, dismissing his butler. “I’m sorry I can’t protect you. Forgive me.”

Cloud shook his head and bowed to his master. “There’s nothing to forgive, my lord. Whatever punishment they bestow upon me, I will fully and wholeheartedly accept it without having an ill feeling toward you. You’re my lord, and I am your servant. It is always an honor to serve you. And I’m not trying to sweet-talk you out of this. I’m serious.”

Knight replied with a gentle laugh and a joke. “Should I be flattered now?”

Cloud chuckled before bidding his goodbye. When his butler had left, his smile faded. He looked at the ceiling, emotionless.

“It’s okay… you’re gonna be alright.”

He blinked. That voice again.

Was it a hallucination? A dream? His own imagination? Was his mind playing games on him? Why were these words repeating in his mind? And why could that voice calm him for some unknown reason?

If it was just a figment of his imagination, then why was he so bothered by it? Was it possible that before the elderly men took him to the hospital, someone had gotten to him first?

I have to investigate this , he told himself. He couldn’t rest until his questions were answered.

Knight closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. Thankfully, he was able to fall asleep in no time… maybe because he was so tired and his body was not in a good condition.

He wasn’t sure how many hours he had slept when he finally came to his senses, though his eyes were still closed. He pretended to sleep because he felt a presence by the side of his bed.

Who was it? One of the lunatics? Unlikely. Cloud? No. He was preparing for tonight’s punishment.

Then who?

He was able to stop himself from leaping from the bed when the presence held his hand. And in that very moment, he knew who it was.

Night.

But before he could have the strength to finally open his eyes, Midnight let go and left the room. He wanted to stop him so he could explain why he had not come back for him yet… but what reason could he give? That he was still weak up to now? That nothing changed even when he became the Boss of Asia? That he was still a loser? A dog to their father?

Midnight already knew all that. He already knew that his big brother was a big loser.

“It’s okay… you’re gonna be alright.”

His jaw clenched. That voice again! It was bothering him! He had to know what happened to him before the old men took him to the hospital.

Something must have happened.

He had to get out of here… fast.

TWO DAYS had passed already after Knight was discharged from the hospital. He had talked to the elderly men who brought him in and confirmed that they administered first-aid. He knew what disappointment feels like, but it was not enough to describe what he felt after he confirmed that there was no woman present before he was taken to the hospital.

He sighed and stared at the point where the two men saw him lying almost lifeless. The area was near Bachelor’s Village.

Did he unconsciously walk toward BV? To what, to go home?

He shook his head as he trod the way to the gate of the village when his eyes settled on a newly opened café.

Hmm… do they sell cake? He needed one to wash the disappointment away. Hoping that the café was selling cakes, Knight walked toward it and entered the premises.

“Good afternoon,” the woman behind the counter cheerfully greeted him. “Welcome to Bitter Sweet Café.”

He just nodded, showing no emotion while eyeing the cakes inside the display fridge. There were a whole lot of options: chocolate cake, mocha cake, strawberry cake, and they even had a triple Bavarian cake!

Knight was about to order when young beggars approached him. He sighed at the sight of these kids—they were malnourished, their looks disheveled, their clothing tattered. He was supposed to reach for his phone to call Shun to help the kids when a woman stepped out from the room where an Authorized Personnel Only sign hung on the door.

She was tall, tanned, and pretty, but what caught his attention was the radiant smile on her face as she walked toward the kids. He could feel kindness glowing from her smile.

So, there is still someone who has that kind of aura.

“Can you spare some change?” one of the kids asked the woman. “Please, for food.

The woman stopped in front of the two kids and kneeled so she could level her face with theirs.

“Do you have any money? Or leftovers?” the other kid repeated. “Please, we’re so hungry. Please, we’re begging you.”

The woman smiled and caressed the cheeks of the young beggars, even though their faces were full of filth.

“It’s okay…” she said to the kids. “You two are gonna be alright with me. Do you want some cake?”

That voice!

Knight’s eyes widened. He could never forget that voice. He was sure of it!

“It’s okay… you’re gonna be alright.”

His lips parted in shock before he whispered, “It’s her.”

CHAPTER 1

KNIGHT WAS trained to speak fluently and smartly. He was trained to socialize perfectly as a noble man. To know what to say and do in front of people. To perfect his communication skills.

But at that very moment, when the woman’s eyes held his, he was frozen and couldn’t communicate. His mind went blank. He was speechless, tongue-tied. His heart was pounding. His palms were sweating.

What the fuck is happening to me?

And seconds later, his brain was still not functioning right.

Am I in shock?

Knight was just looking at the woman, unable to say anything.

“Monet,” the woman in front of her said to the woman behind the counter. “Kindly get some food for the kids.”

“Yes, boss,” the woman named Monet said before she led the kids to where the food was.

So, this woman is the owner of this café?

Time stopped when the woman’s gaze turned to him. She then closed the gap between them and analyzed every inch of him. She was so near, and his mind was a mess!

“You seem to be okay now,” she finally commented, smiling. “I’m glad.”

His eyes widened as soon as he heard those words. “It’s really you…” I was right . She was indeed the owner of the voice he was hearing all this time.

There was a hint of surprise in the eyes of the woman as she looked at him. “Oh, you remember me? I mean, you were unconscious at the time.”

“I heard you and remembered your voice.”

“Ah…” The woman nodded and pointed at a vacant table. “Have a seat. I’m sure you just got discharged from the hospital.”

Knight was surprised with the worry in her voice. Why is she worried?

“So, how are you?” the woman asked as soon as they were seated, with no sign of discomfort in her voice and demeanor. “Are you really okay now?”

He nodded. Thank God he could at least nod his head. “Y-yeah.”

“I’m glad.” She smiled, making his chest pound even harder. “I was really worried about you. You scared me to death when I found you unconscious. Good thing the café has a first-aid kit, so I was able to help you immediately.”

Knight stared at the woman, studying her face. She looked genuinely worried about him. But why? He was a stranger to her.

Knight cleared his throat before speaking. “Thanks for saving me.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome.” Then unexpectedly, she leaned in and moved her face closer to his, her hand almost touching the side of his forehead. “You still have a wound here. I didn’t see this. Are you really okay?”

He gulped. “Yes. Can you move away a little?” he answered in a whisper. “I just got my senses back.”

“Sorry,” the woman replied as she went back to her original sitting position.

He breathed out. “Anyways, if you’re the one who saved me, how did those two old men get involved? They told me they saved me.”

Greedy people and their lies. They probably wanted the reward from Cloud for themselves.

“I think they were the owners of the taxi I hailed so they could send you to the hospital. It was a good thing they passed by where we were that time, you know, or else your condition would have worsened. They helped me carry you inside the taxi and told them the nearest hospital, but they drove you. I had an emergency that time, so I wasn’t able to come with you.”

Knight sighed. “If you knew the hospital where I got admitted, why didn’t you return for me?” But as soon as he finished the question, he regretted asking, especially in that condescending tone. It was now too late to retract his words. Why did he even ask her that, anyway? It was not her obligation to visit him.

“That came out wrong,” he quickly said. “I apologize.”

The woman smiled, unaffected. “That’s okay. I decided not to go myself. I mean, you don’t know me, and what will I do there anyway?”

Knight nodded, clueless what to say next. He patiently waited for her to ask him the question he dreaded most—who did this to him—but moments passed, yet nothing. The woman didn’t ask.

“Wouldn’t you ask me why you saw me that way?” he couldn’t stop himself from asking. He was curious why she didn’t even mention it. People were naturally curious beings.

The woman shook her head. “It’s none of my business, and I’m sure you’ll feel uncomfortable if I ask you that.”

She seemed genuinely uninterested, and he didn’t know why he was feeling pissed. He wanted her to ask. But why? To know she cared for him?

“You saved me, but you don’t care about what happened?” he grimaced. “Aren’t you curious at all? People usually are.”

She placed her palm on her chin while looking at the inquisitive man. “I don’t want you to recall one of your darkest moments to satisfy my curiosity.” She smiled softly. “Yes, I want to know but… as I said… it’s really none of my business.”

He fully understood her, but why was he feeling pissed seeing her uninterested like this? Goodness! What the hell was happening to him? He was not an irrational person! And he just met her, for goodness’ sake! He didn’t have a right to be mad at her; after all, she saved him.

“I want to pay you for saving my life,” he said, feeling compelled to reward her for what she had done. “I already paid the two men. But you, I haven’t.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Pay me? For helping you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. Okay. But why would you pay me?”

“I hate owing someone,” he firmly said. “Tell me what you want, I’ll do it. Or how much, and I’ll pay it.”

The woman stared at him for a few seconds before finally speaking. “Whatever I want?” When he nodded, she asked, “Promise?”

He nodded again, though he felt disappointed. He thought she was different. Oh well… might as well get this over with.

“Tell me that you promise.”

He sighed. “I promise.”

“Okay. What I want is for you to rest. Can you do that?”

He froze and looked at the woman, bewildered. “What—”

“You promised,” she reminded him before standing, leaving him alone at the table. He thought she went back to managing the café, but he was surprised when she came back with two slices of cake and placed both in front of him. “Here. Eat up. Go home and rest. Please?”

He stared at the woman. Why was she nice to him? What did she really want? Everyone had a hidden agenda when it involves him. But what could this woman possibly want from him?

“Go home,” the woman reiterated but with a soothing voice. “I saw your wounds. I know they won’t magically heal in a day. So please rest. I don’t want anything from you other than that.”

“Why are you nice to me?” he couldn’t help but ask. He was gobsmacked. “You don’t even know me.”

The woman shrugged and smiled. “I didn’t need to know you to help you. You needed help that time, so I helped you. I will do the same for others. Simple as that. You don’t owe me anything, and you don’t need to pay me.”

Knight just stared at the woman, unable to move or talk.

“Do you want water or coffee to go with your cake?” she asked as if their conversation prior did not happen at all.

“Beer would be nice,” he whispered.

When the woman glared at him, Knight felt as if he were being scolded. Surprised, he cleared his throat before her short lecture started.

“You just got admitted to the hospital, right? This means having to take medicines. How will they take effect if you drink beer?”

“Why are you mad?”

With a piercing death stare, she replied, “Because you told me you wanted to be saved. And yet here you are, not an ounce of care for your body.”

His eyebrows crossed. “I did?”

“You probably lost so much blood that you were deliriously asking for someone to save you.”

His eyes widened. Holy motherfucker!

I said that out loud? I thought it was just in my head. Holy fuck! Fuck! Holy fuck!

He was screaming inside, but he was calm and collected on the outside, even though his cheeks felt like they were burning. “Was that the only thing I said?”

But instead of answering him, she mysteriously grinned, as if she knew something else. “You don’t wanna know.”

“Wait—what—”

“Just eat and then rest.”

The woman turned back and was about to head straight to the kitchen when Knight stopped her from her tracks. “W-wait, may I know your name?”

“SM,” she answered.

He blinked, stunned. “Like the mall? The shoe mart?”

She chuckled. “SM for Sweet Monday.”

“Sweet Monday…” he said her name softly before smiling. “I’m Knight Velasquez. Nice to meet you.”

“Same here. Take care of yourself,” she finally said before leaving. Knight just looked at her walk until she disappeared from his sight.

Sweet Monday . “What a weird name,” he thought. At least it was not Shoe Mart .

He turned his gaze back to the cake that SM gave. They were two slices of chocolate Bavarian cake, his favorite. He smiled. He might be out of his mind.

A woman who didn’t want anything but for him to rest. A woman who seemed unaffected by him. To actually meet a woman like her… he felt lucky.

But he couldn’t let his guard down. Maybe she wanted something from him. People always have an ulterior motive.

SM BLINKED in disbelief when she saw Knight at the al fresco of the café early in the morning. They were just about to open. What is he doing here? she thought.

“Didn’t I tell you to rest?” she greeted as soon as she saw him.

But Knight only smiled and grabbed the keys of the shop from her hands to open the café himself. Worry consumed her when she saw him push the steel roll-up door with force.

“Careful! Your wounds might open!”

“It won’t kill me,” he answered. He then proceeded to open the glass door next. “There.” He grinned at her cheekily. “I’m still alive.”

Shaking her head, SM grabbed her keys from Knight. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be resting? You promised me yesterday.”

“I have kept my promise. Besides, you only told me to rest, which I did, but you didn’t tell me until when.”

SM could only sigh. “Smart-ass.”

Knight smiled at her. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Anyways… I’m here because I want to help. I always wanted to be a waiter and—”

“Knight.” She narrowed her gaze onto him. “You aren’t doing this to pay me back, are you?”

“Of course not. I really just want to help. No compensation needed since you also helped me.”

Yep. He’s a smart-ass . “You can’t be a waiter here if I don’t sign a contract. I am the owner, so I’m liable, and I can’t have you work for free.” She smiled innocently at him. “And if you sign the contract, of course I’m obliged to follow what’s written, and there is a clause where it says I have to give you compensation.”

Knight couldn’t believe his ears. He smirked. “Smart-ass.”

SM chuckled. “You think you can trick me? Think again, buddy.” She pointed at their advertisement posted on the side of the door, which said, Looking for Waiter. Male. 18–25 Years old .

“How old are you even? I have a strong feeling you’re not within the range.”

Knight leaned against the wall and placed his hands inside his pockets. “Don’t worry. You can still see my age in the calendar.”

She laughed. “You look like you’re sulking, though. It only means one thing—your age is nearer to the end date of the month.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“You’re old.”

All emotion left his face, and he stayed silent. But the cold treatment had no effect on SM. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and faced his expressionless eyes. She didn’t budge or look away, as if she were challenging Knight in a staring contest, until the spark in his eyes returned.

“Done sulking?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

She smiled. “Then you’re hired if you want it,” SM said. She then explained all the necessary details, including the compensation and work hours. “We really need a waiter because we only have one. When he has to deliver food, no one is left in the café. But are you sure you really want this?”

“Very.”

“Okay then.” She then turned to Juls—their other waiter—who was ensuring the tables were arranged properly. “Juls, please orient Knight.” Then, to Knight, she said, “Have fun.”

“Yes, boss,” he answered.

SM just shook her head and walked toward her office, which was also her baking area. She rested awhile after putting the things she was carrying in place then went straight to work.

Baking cakes was her way of living, her bread and butter. Though a year ago, it was only her hobby. She clenched her hands into fists as she suddenly remembered why she left her previous work and was now the owner of a café.

No bad vibes, SM. Don’t go there, she pleaded to herself, clearing her mind with negative thoughts that would definitely affect her mood for the day, and started baking. After she put the batter in the oven, she went out from her office to check on their new waiter, but to her surprise, Knight was serving food to their customers with an expressionless face.

Where was the smiling Knight? Did something happen to him? Was he in pain or something? These were the questions in her mind at that moment. She was sure his wounds haven’t fully healed yet, especially after seeing the number of wounds on his back before. She couldn’t help but worry.

To suffer those kinds of cuts and wounds… something horrible must’ve happened to him.

She was about to call out Knight when their eyes met. In an instant, his face lit up, and a smile appeared on his lips. She was taken aback at his sudden change of behavior. What the hell was that? she thought. One minute he was expressionless, and the next second, he was already smiling.

“Boss.” Knight approached her. “Look.”

He spread his arms wide to have her see him in a polo shirt, which was their café’s uniform. “I look good, yeah?” he asked innocently.

SM couldn’t help but laugh at him for tooting his own horn. But yeah, he was handsome—no, more like gorgeous. With his deep eyes, aristocrat nose, thin lips, and slightly square jaw, he was a sight to behold.

But because she was eagerly staring at him, she noticed something different in her brown hair. She touched his roots. “You’re blond?”

“No,” Knight said without hesitation.

He’s lying . She could see his blond roots. He might have colored his hair for whatever reason and had forgotten to touch up when it grew longer. Well, maybe he has his reason for lying. None of my business.

“So…” she changed the topic, “how’s being a waiter here in my café? Do you still want to continue?”

“It’s fun.”

“Fun? You’re not even expressing any emotion at all,” she countered, her brow raised in skepticism.

Knight stared at her. “Do I have to smile while serving them? Just say it, and I’ll do it with a smile.”

“You want me… to tell you to smile?”

He nodded. “Yeah. If that’s what you want.”

SM stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t need someone to tell you to smile. You just do it.”

Knight tsked. “Not in my life.”

What kind of life is he living? she asked herself. “Sorry… but I won’t be comfortable if I tell you to smile. If you don’t want to smile, then don’t force it.”

His face softened with her response, which took her aback. “That’s nice to hear,” he whispered while smiling at her. “Thank you.”

She smiled back. “Just smile when you feel like it. The customers seem to have no problem with you, anyway,” she said, realizing that most of their customers were glaring at him in awe of his beauty, as if they were a step away from showing hearts with their eyes, to be honest. She then looked at her wristwatch. “Anyways, it’s lunchtime. Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“You should. And your meds?” When Knight remained silent, she added, “Were you given pain relievers? How’s your back? Is it not hurting anymore? Are you really okay? Maybe you shouldn’t be working. I mean… I saw your wounds…”

This was the reason she worried about him—she saw the wounds with her own eyes. She could still vividly remember them: they were long, some deep, some shallow. A lot, in fact. To bear and endure that kind of pain while working must be hellish for him.

“Don’t forget to eat and drink your meds, please. Have Juls take care of the rest,” she continued when Knight still didn’t reply. “Anyway, see you later. I need to check on the cake I’m baking—”

“Can we eat together?” Knight interrupted, freezing her in place.

“We can’t,” she refused, frowning. “I have to finish what I’m baking. Maybe some other time.”

“I’ll wait.”

“No—”

“I’ll wait,” he insisted, his voice fierce, before going back to work.

SM stared in disbelief as she watched Knight walk away. At the same time, she thought about how this was the same wounded man she saved the other day, who kept on whispering in a delirious state: I’m tired… I’m so tired of living. Someone… please… save me.

For a person to say those things… he must have had a hard life.

Somehow, she wanted to do something to save him. But how could she do that when she herself needed saving too?

KNIGHT FIGURED out that he wasn’t as special to SM as he thought he was. The way she treated him was also how she treated her other employees.

“Juls, rest and eat. It’s your break,” SM said. “Don’t starve yourself.”

Juls smiled. “I’m not, boss.”

“If you want cake, just get a slice here. I don’t want you starving yourself, okay? I won’t go easy on you if you do.”

“Thanks, boss.”

SM looked at Monet. “How about you? Have you eaten? Let me handle that.”

“Thank you, boss.”

“And tell Josh to eat his lunch. I’m sure he’s tired,” she added, pertaining to their cook. Then she turned to Knight. “And you, have your lunch.”

“I told you I’ll wait,” he replied irritably.

SM approached him and placed his palm against his forehead. “You don’t seem to have a fever.” Then, she whispered, making sure that only the two of them would hear what she would say, “Are your wounds painful? Is this why you look irritated? You can take the day off if you want.”

Fuck! He got more irritated, yet he didn’t know why. Was it because she treated him the same as the others? But he was aware that he couldn’t hold it against her.

“I’m fine. No worries,” he said blankly. He knew it was irrational and immature to get mad just because SM was kind to every one of them. And yet he was. Maybe that was why she helped him—because she was kind. That’s it. No more, no less. And that irritated him even more.

SM didn’t surrender, though. She knew something was wrong with Knight and gently touched his back. “You’re not fine. Does it hurt?”

His jaw clenched at her touch. “I told you I’m fine,” he insisted as he brushed her hand.

SM sighed. “But you’re not. I can tell. You’re making me worry. Why don’t you rest?”

Looking at her, Knight felt she was really worried. He sighed before standing up. “Fine, I will,” he said as he exited the café without even looking back.

Fuck ! He was losing his mind, and he was confused as fuck. Motherfucker! I need a drink!

“Knight!”

He halted his steps and looked back when SM called his name. “What?” he asked.

“Come on.” She smiled and offered him her hand. “Let’s eat together.”

Just like that, he walked back with her toward the café… obediently. This time, no one forced him; he chose to follow her of his own volition. His desire to get some air just a few moments ago vanished.

Fuck… I don’t want to get addicted to this feeling, he thought. He knew this would ruin him one way or another. He was sure of it.

It was just a matter of time.

CHAPTER 2

KNIGHT left the café early that day. It was the first time he went home early, which made SM happy. He finally listened to her instructions to get sufficient rest.

Knight had been working in her café for a week now, and if SM could say one thing about him—he was very hardworking. Even though he was stoic most of the time, he never complained and would finish the job well.

“I’ll go ahead, boss,” said Monet, who just hailed a taxi.

“Alright. Take care, Monet. Good night,” SM replied, smiling while waving at Monet.

“Good night too, boss,” Monet replied before closing the taxi door to head home.

“Is it really fine if we go ahead?” Juls asked, revving the engine of his motorcycle. Josh was with him, seated at the back. “It’s getting late, boss.

SM smiled at her two employees. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“Okay, boss. Take care.”

“Take care of yourselves too.”

As soon as she was alone, waiting for another taxi to pass by, she looked up at the night sky and embraced herself in the midst of the approaching darkness. Her fists clenched. She had already seen so many therapists to nurse her back to normal, but she was still afraid of the dark.

When would she forget what happened to her?

She sighed deeply as she closed her eyes to calm herself and then counted from one to ten. When it didn’t work, she tried to recall good memories. For some reason, Knight crossed her mind.

SM smiled.

She and Knight were dining together the past few days. It seemed that she was slowly getting used to it, which had now become part of her cherished memories. Well, he was a good guy. There was nothing wrong with that. He never smiled at others, but she was an exception, as if his smile was reserved only for her.

Her thoughts only ceased when she heard a loud honk of a car. She was relieved to see it was a taxi without a passenger and decided to get in. Without even looking at the driver, she gave her address while searching through her shoulder bag for her wallet.

“It’s late. Why are you just about to go home?”

SM stopped digging through her bag when she heard a familiar voice. Her eyes widened as her attention diverted to the driver, and her mouth gaped when she realized who it was. “Kn-Knight?”

Knight smiled at her. “Evening, boss.”

Her eyes blinked fast in disbelief. “W-what… You’re a taxi driver too?”

“Yep,” he replied before driving. “I need money, so I have to work harder. I’m a taxi driver, a DJ, a waiter, and I even tend gardens.” He smiled, proud of his part-time jobs. “Not to mention that I’m a baggage handler in my friend’s port too. It’s actually so much fun.”

SM couldn’t believe a word he said. She thought he was well-off! The way he talked, he sounded like a rich man. The way he dressed himself, he seemed like a rich man.

Maybe he’s lying again.

SM took a deep breath before speaking. “You have a lot of part-time jobs. Do you even have time to rest—”

“I’m okay,” Knight instantly replied, his face emotionless.

He was not okay, she could tell. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he looked weary.

“Knight?”

“Hmm?”

“When was the last time you had enough rest?”

Knight slowed down and casted brief glances at SM while driving. “Yesterday, or was it two days ago? I’m not sure.”

What the… “Are you okay?”

Knight nodded. “Yeah. Don’t worry. I’m used to this, so I’m really fine. I can’t sleep these past few days, and I’m really having a hard time resting, so… yeah. I refuse to take sleeping pills just to be able to sleep. I just wake up groggy.”

SM couldn’t move. She just looked at Knight in shock. Her chest got heavier by the minute.

This man… What kind of life is he living? she thought before taking a deep breath. A smile escaped from her lips. She didn’t want to burden him with her worries about his health. “Have you been driving for a while?”

Knight nodded. “As soon as I left the café.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. I’m not in the mood to eat. Maybe when I get home.”

“Y-your back, how is it?” she asked, almost a whisper. She was getting more and more worried about Knight, and she knew she might already sound like a broken record, but she could not stop herself from asking. “Is it healing okay?”

“It’s fine.” He sounded convincing.

“That’s good!” she exclaimed. “I’m glad you’re fine.” But in truth, she was less than relieved. What was the point of asking him when he was just going to lie?

“You should stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop worrying about me,” Knight demanded, his hand tightly gripping the wheel. “I might misinterpret it.”

“What do you mean? I treat everyone like this—”

“I know, and that pisses me off.” Knight blew a loud breath. “I’m just saying… don’t be too nice to me.”

SM stilled. From what he said, she could deduce that this man was not used to kindness. “Okay. I won’t.”

Knight didn’t utter a word afterward, and so was she. The car was enveloped in silence the whole trip until they reached SM’s residence.

“We’re here.”

SM nodded and paid her fare. When Knight refused, she placed it on the dashboard of the car.

“Thank you,” she remarked before getting out of the taxi and then headed toward the door of her house.

Knight didn’t want kindness from her; maybe it was making him uncomfortable. Meanwhile, SM was convincing herself to respect Knight’s decisions and stop being worried about him. However, when she turned to him, she knew she ultimately failed. But her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him leaning on the hood of the taxi while looking at her.

He smiled. “May I come in?”

“Oh, I thought you don’t like me being nice to you?” she retorted.

Knight sighed loudly before walking toward her. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for you.”

Confused, she asked, “What does that supposed to mean?”

“It’s a song,” Knight cheekily answered, dodging her real question. “Don’t mind me.”

SM paid no mind and invited him in. “I’ll make you some coffee then.”

Knight followed her into her home. She then requested him to sit, her hand pointing at the sofa, before setting her bag down on another. She removed her shoes and walked to her kitchen in bare feet to get a slice of cake inside her refrigerator and make coffee for her sudden visitor.

“Eat first. I’ll change clothes,” she said as soon she returned to her living room, placing the cake and the cup of coffee on the center table. She grabbed her bag afterward and then headed to her room. After tidying herself up, she went back for Knight in her usual loungewear.

Her eyes turned to the now empty plate and half-filled cup. “That was fast,” she remarked cheerfully.

“I want to take advantage of your niceness,” he said out of the blue. Then, he tapped the vacant space on the long sofa. “Sit here.”

Wondering what this man was up to, she followed. It didn’t take long before she realized what he was up to when she sat on the sofa…

Knight lay down and used her lap as a pillow.

She was startled. She felt uncomfortable. She wanted to push the young man away from her, but realizing the exhaustion, restlessness, and hunger he had to endure the whole day, she remained still and let him be.

She allowed herself to get used to the feeling, to the intimacy, so she would feel more comfortable and less awkward, considering how close they were.

“Let’s stay like this for a little while,” he murmured, his eyes gradually closing. “Feels good…”

She lowered her gaze to Knight. Being this close to him, she could see that he already dyed his hair brown. She couldn’t see his blond roots anymore.

To make herself more comfortable, she lifted her hand and then gently caressed his hair. It felt soft. It felt good to touch. But just as she was starting to feel at ease, Knight grabbed her hand. She let out a gasp.

Knight placed her hand on his chest. SM wanted to pull away, but he appeared so relaxed that she couldn’t make herself do it.

Maybe this can help him rest? she thought. She wanted him to recover. The weariness on his face was worrisome.

I can’t sleep these past few days, and I’m really having a hard time resting… That was what Knight said earlier. His eyes were now closed, but was he truly sleeping?

“Knight?”

Knight crossed his arms in front of his chest. He wasn’t asleep yet. “Don’t make me go away. I know you’re uncomfortable but… maybe just for a minute?”

SM took a deep breath. “You will strain your neck if you lie on my lap. I will get you a pillow so you can rest better.”

“It’s okay. You feel better than a pillow,” he whispered. “You feel warm. When was the last time I felt like this? It’s always cold. Wherever I go, whatever I do… it’s cold.”

SM did not insist. “Fine, just rest.”

He opened his eyes once again to look SM directly in the eyes. “Can you endure being this close to me a little longer? I know it’s selfish and you’re uncomfortable but… just a little more time?”

She continued caressing his hair in the hopes of clearing his mind. “Just rest,” she repeated. “I will tell you if I’m uncomfortable.”

Knight shut his eyes. Seconds later, he was fast asleep.

That’s good. Rest well, Knight.

SM didn’t move an inch. She relaxed against the back of the sofa until she felt sleepy. Her eyes slowly closed as she let out a yawn. Not long after, she was oblivious to the world, uncaring even when there was a stranger in her home.

KNIGHT WOKE up feeling satisfied. It felt as if something warm was draped over his chest, and it felt good. He had never felt this good after waking up. He was either irritated or drained.

When he opened his eyes, his heart almost leaped from his body. He realized almost immediately why he felt that way.

It was SM.

She was asleep. Her head was now resting on his chest, and her face was toward him! So, fucking close!

Would she hear my heart beat pounding?

He bit his lower lip while thinking of ways to adjust their positions. Her face was so close to his, he was having dirty thoughts.

He knew SM’s position wasn’t comfortable, but maybe she was so sleepy that it didn’t matter to her.

Fuck! How can I be selfish?

He looked at his wristwatch. It was 4:40 a.m.

Motherfucker! How did I get to sleep this long?!

He was used to sleeping for only an hour or a half—without sleeping pills. And he didn’t take any last night.

He stared at SM’s sleeping face.

I actually fell asleep on her lap as my pillow. A good sleep at that. That’s new, he thought. What is with this woman?

Knight sighed and carefully removed SM’s head from his chest. He was thankful when she didn’t wake up and continued sleeping soundly.

He quickly got up, still holding SM’s head, and then carefully carried her. He froze when realization hit him.

“Where the fuck is her room?” he asked in a whisper before going upstairs, toward the second floor of her house.

The second floor had three rooms. He sighed and opened the first one. The room smelled like SM.

This is her room for sure.

He carefully laid SM down. His breathing almost stopped when she moved. He thought he had woken her up, but she only tossed to the side and continued sleeping.

He let out a deep sigh before looking at the clock on her bedside table. It was 4:42 a.m.

He bit his lower lip and returned his gaze to SM. The hem of her shirt was slightly raised, so a portion of her waist was exposed. Immediately, something caught his attention. His blood ran cold when he figured out what it was.

A healed cut wound. Three inches long.

His cold hands trembled as he reached for the hem of her shirt to slightly pull it up. He knew it was wrong, but he could not stop himself.

And then there were more. Many more stab wounds.

They were already healed, but it still shook him to the core.

He weakly sat down on the edge of the bed as he stared at the face of the woman who was sleeping soundly in front of him. Here he thought that SM didn’t suffer anything horrible in life because she was always kind and nice… but he was wrong.

Those cut wounds… what happened to her?

His chest tightened.

“Fuck…” he uttered, his hands now clenched. “Fuck… who did this to you?”

He quickly got up and went out of the room in anger. He didn’t want SM to wake up hearing him cuss over and over. After locking the door and then her gate, he got in his taxi and furiously drove off toward BV.

He was fuming mad! He needed to calm the fuck down!

His heart was still beating so fast, his fists remained clenched, when he entered his house. He could feel his blood boil in anger.

Who the fuck did that to her?!

He went straight to his minibar and grabbed a bottle of rum. He drank directly from it; though he disliked the taste of this liquor—he preferred beer—but he needed it to calm his nerves. The wounds on her waist and back occupied his mind. Then he wondered if he would see more if he lifted her top up to her shoulders.

“Fuck!” he shouted as he punched the counter of the minibar. “Fuck!”

He grabbed his phone from his pocket, unconcerned if his knuckles were bleeding, and called Valerian despite it being so early in the morning.

Valerian answered after five rings. “This better be important, you moron—”

“I’m angry,” he said while gritting his teeth.

Valerian sighed and ended the call without saying anything.

He placed the cellphone on the counter and continued drinking. Minutes later, he heard footsteps approaching.

It was Valerian. In his pajamas.

Valerian sighed heavily as he walked toward him. “For fuck’s sake, Velasquez, I slept late last night.”

“I’m pissed.”

“And what do you think of me? Your anger absorber?” Valerian said irritably while pouring himself some whiskey. “Seriously, Velasquez, what happened?”

His grip tightened around the bottle of rum. “I met this woman. She helped me… She was very nice to me, Val. She wants nothing in return from me.”

“And?” Valerian sat on a stool beside Knight. “What’s wrong? You’re disappointed because she turns out to be a bitch?”

Knight turned to his friend with deep, fuming eyes and gripped his collar in anger. “Take it back!” he hissed. “She’s not a bitch!”

Valerian froze, his eyes wide, shocked at his hostility. “Woah… fuck… what’s her name?”

Knight regained composure and let go of Valerian before looking away. “You don’t need to know.”

“Really, Velasquez? You will withhold even her name? I’m married, you know.” Valerian asked flatly. When Knight remained silent, he chuckled. “Fine, fine… keep the name. Fuck. You got it bad. Should I call the gang?”

Knight shook his head.

Valerian sighed. “So… what made you mad?”

He was about to open his mouth and tell Valerian about SM, but he paused, thinking that he saw her wounds by accident. What would SM think of him if he told this to others? If he himself didn’t want others to see the wounds on his back, what more SM? He couldn’t embarrass her like that.

“You can leave now.”

“Motherfucker…” Valerian tsked. “It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me, but calm down before I go home, for goodness’ sake.”

“Just go. Grace might be looking for you—”

“I told her about you, and she’s okay with it,” Knight replied before pouring another round of whiskey into his glass. “So… what are you up to these days?”

“Waiter.”

His friend shook his head. “You and your jobs.”

He just smiled. “Yeah…”

“You know I can help you, right? If it’s money—”

“Don’t,” he argued, shaking his head. “You know my father.”

Valerian let out a loud breath. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”

Knight’s expression darkened when his ear picked up the sound of footsteps. In one swift motion, he put his palm on the counter, pushed himself up, and flipped midair, landing his feet inside the counter. He quickly grabbed the gun hidden under the counter and cocked the gun before pointing it at the newcomer.

“My lord…” It was Cloud, his hands raised in the air. “I came in peace.”

Valerian set the glass down on the counter before tucking his hands into the pockets of his pajamas. “I’ll go.”

Knight nodded and watched Valerian leave and tap his butler’s shoulder. When he and Cloud remained, he asked, “What is it?”

“There’s a Triad movement here in the country again. We still have no information about it, though. The Triad seems to be cautious with their next actions.”

He massaged his temples. “Pieces of junk. They’re giving me headaches! Cut off one head and two will grow in its place! Can’t I rest for a few weeks or so?” He tsked. “Tell the trackers of the Organósi under Asia to do their job right or I’ll kill them all.”

“Yes, my lord.”

His face turned cold. “I need information by tomorrow morning.”

Cloud nodded. “I will disseminate your orders to the trackers. I’ll make sure that they’ll have the information by tomorrow.”

He gave no reply and emptied the bottle of rum.

“Would you like two slices of cake, my lord?” Cloud asked. “To wash your sour mood.”

Knight picked up the gun from the counter, pointed it toward Cloud’s direction, and quickly pulled the trigger consecutively.

Fifteen bullets. Cloud didn’t budge nor blink. He stayed calm and collected as he looked at his master firing every single bullet of the goddamn gun.

Knight puffed a loud breath when he saw the bullet holes behind Cloud, only missing an inch from his butler’s head.

“Fuck.”

“Still mad, my lord?” Cloud asked coolly.

“A little,” he answered and exited the minibar. “Clean the wall, Cloud.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Knight then went upstairs, toward the second floor of his house, where his room was at. Instantly, he felt a presence inside. He subtly reached for the light switch and turned it on.

His eyes widened in worry and fear when he saw his brother sitting on the sofa, bleeding and unconscious.

Fuck! “Night!”

CHAPTER 3

“GOOD THING it was not a fatal gunshot wound,” said Cloud while applying gauze to Night’s wounds. He managed to stop the bleeding. “He just lost too much blood and passed out, that’s all.”

“And this will do, right?” Knight looked at the blood bag hanging on the IV stand.

It was easy for Cloud to acquire blood from the Orgánosi HQ, and because Cloud had medical experience, everything went smoothly after that.

He sighed deeply then turned toward his brother.

Midnight was lying on the bed unconscious while Knight sat beside him, leaning on the headboard. He returned to his blank expression while looking at the ceiling as he combed his brother’s hair.

Seconds later, Knight spoke. “I wonder why he’s here.”

“According to my source, he got wounded after he stole something from a Triad’s sub-HQ here in the country.”

He furrowed his brows. “This is my territory, Cloud. If there was anyone here who would put their hands on the Triad here in Asia, that’d be me. Why is he in my territory?”

“Must be your father’s order,” Cloud said, getting Knight’s attention while he was fixing the comforter for his brother. “He’s wounded and came to you. It looks like there is still some trust left in him for you.”

He looked down upon his brother. “More like no choice, I guess.”

“Why not ask him? To be sure,” suggested Cloud.

His face remained expressionless. “I’m tired of getting disappointed all the time.”

Cloud took a deep breath. “Very well…” Cloud stood from the side of the bed. “I shall prepare your breakfast.”

“Coffee would be nice…” he said, stunning his butler in the process.

Cloud didn’t hide his surprise as he stared at him in amazement. “Did I hear it right, my lord? Coffee?”

“It’s early in the morning,” he answered Cloud with a straight face. “It’s not good to have beer for breakfast. So, make me some coffee.”

Cloud drew closer and placed his hand on his master’s forehead. “Hmm… you don’t have a fever. For more than a decade that I’ve been serving you, this is the first time you asked for coffee, not beer.”

His face remained emotionless.

He wanted to drink coffee because it tasted good when SM made it for him last night. He wondered if Cloud could make it taste good too.

He turned away, his face still expressionless. “Just make me coffee and don’t make me repeat myself.”

Cloud bowed slightly. “Yes, my lord. Anything else?”

“That’s all.”

Cloud nodded. As soon as his butler left the room, Knight sighed. He glanced at the hanging clock on his room’s wall. It was 6:14 a.m.

Is SM awake already?

He shook his head. Why was he thinking of her so early in the morning?

He let out a deep breath. I really got it bad, he thought, wondering why she was so kind.

Sometimes he couldn’t help but be delusional that he was somewhat special to her.

But he knew the truth.

Being nice and kind was her nature. She treated everyone—not just him—with kindness, so he shouldn’t be thinking all sorts of things.

Knight blew out a loud breath. But I can’t help it.

He turned to the door as Cloud entered. “Here’s your coffee, my lord,” Cloud said, handing him a cup on a saucer with the same design, which he accepted. Cloud also placed another saucer with two slices of cake on the bedside table.

Knight closed his eyes as he took a sip of the coffee, savoring its taste. “Hmm… not the same…” he murmured. He turned to Cloud and said, “My phone, Cloud.”

Cloud immediately complied. He retrieved his master’s phone from the mini-bar where he had left it earlier and handed it to him.

Thank God he already had her number saved on his phone. Thanks to Monet.

I hope she’s awake.

The number rang several times before SM answered, sleepiness visible on her voice. “H-hello? Wh-who’s this?”

“It’s Knight. Sorry. Did I wake you up?”

SM yawned. “It’s okay—huh?” The line went silent for a couple of seconds. “You moved me to my bed?”

It seems she just noticed. “Yeah.”

“Oh.”

“Sorry to bother you like this, boss, but I have something important to ask.”

“What is it?”

“How did you make my coffee last night?” he asked. “How did you grind the beans? How many seconds did you soak them?”

“Huh?” SM seemed confused by his question. “I didn’t do anything like that.”

“Then how did it taste so good?”

“Uhm…” There was hesitation in SM’s voice. “I just poured the coffee powder in the cup and added hot water.”

He blinked in disbelief. “That’s it?”

“Yeah.” She chuckled softly. “You’re so weird. Good morning, by the way.”

Her last words made him smile. Morning too, boss. Thanks.“

“Welcome.”

He said goodbye over the phone and looked at Cloud, who was staring at him as if he were some stranger.

“What?” he asked, emotionless.

Cloud looked at him in astonishment. “Wow… my lord actually smiled genuinely. Though, who’s your boss? The last time I heard you call someone like that was before Lord Vandreck retired and you swear not to call anyone like that ever again.”

“Never mind that,” he said before handing the cup of coffee back to his butler. “I don’t like this. The delicious coffee I tasted last night was just some coffee powder added with hot water. And it’s done. No beans.”

Cloud blinked. His eyes widened when he thought of something. “Oh! You’re talking about instant coffee, my lord!” He smiled widely. “It’s a commoner’s coffee.”

“Commoners coffee?” he asked while thinking about what it looked like and whether his friends had any. “Hmm… I wonder if Val has it? All I saw were coffee beans, though…”

“I’ll just buy you some instant coffee, my lord,” Cloud said.

“Go. Hurry up.”

“Yes, my lord,” Cloud replied and immediately left the room.

Knight sighed and was about to eat a slice of his cake when his phone rang. A message.

From: SM (My Boss)

Did you have a good rest last night?

He smiled at the message but reprimanded himself immediately, thinking that she was giving him this treatment because it was in her nature. He wasn’t special.

No need for his heart to race.

Surely, for SM, this was just a normal question.

He took a deep breath and replied.

To: SM (My Boss)

Yeah. Thanks to you. Hope you can be my pillow again.

He hit send.

Minutes later, his phone beeped.

From: SM (My Boss)

We can arrange that. Just tell me when so you can rest properly.

He stared at her reply. He really couldn’t help his heart from racing like crazy.

This woman… he thought. Does she even know or realize what she’s doing to me and how she’s making me feel?

The worst thing of this all was that he knew he was not special to her in any way. She was just too kind.

Fuck!

What should he reply?

Before he could reply to her text, he heard his brother groan in pain. Knight quickly turned to check on him and sighed in relief that he was already conscious.

Thank God!

“Don’t try to move,” he told his brother as he stopped him from getting up. “You’re still undergoing blood transfusion, so refrain from moving.”

Knight was relieved when Night listened.

But silence fell between them. No one spoke nor dared to try to start a conversation.

When did they become so awkward toward each other like this? They were on good terms before they got separated. But the years had passed without communication.

It affected both of us.

No one spoke until Cloud returned.

He stood up and took the tray Cloud had brought. “I’ll be in the next room,” he told his butler. “Nurse him back to health. He might not recover quickly if I’m here.”

Cloud nodded. “Yes, my lord.”

He left the room and went straight to the room next door. He placed the tray on the center table and took the cup of coffee to savor it.

Hmm… Now it tasted the same as the coffee SM made for him. Nice.

He took his phone out from his pocket and called his personal Ultor while sipping from the cup. “Dimitri.”

“Boss.”

“Do you have any information about the Triad’s sub-HQ that Midnight entered?” He then sat on the long sofa while sipping his coffee.

“None. It was a covert mission,” answered Dimitri.

“Find out anything you can about it then call me.”

He ended the call afterward and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

After taking a bath, he put on faded jeans and a black T-shirt. Unconsciously, while looking at the mirror on the sink while brushing his teeth, his eyes settled on his hair.

He remembered SM asking if he was a blonde. He lied and said no. He knew she knew he was lying, but she just let him be.

What’s with her, really? He knew that she could tell that he was lying, but she would always let him lie.

Knight was about to shave the whiskers on his chin when his phone rang.

It was Dimitri.

“Yes?”

“I only accumulated little information about Midnight’s covert mission,” Dimitri started. “All I know is that your father ordered Midnight to retrieve some documents, which is why he entered the sub-HQ of the Triad led by Mr. Hitadaki. A yakuza.”

He knew Mr. Hitadaki. Knight made sure that he knew his enemies by name and face. “What kind of documents did Midnight steal?”

“I have no information regarding that matter, boss.”

“And what happened to the sub-HQ? Everyone dead?”

“No. Looks like Midnight’s mission was only to steal, not kill.”

He sighed. “How many are alive?”

“Inside the sub-HQ? More than fifty, boss.”

“Give me an address.” After Dimitri provided him with the address, he replied, “Got it,” and then ended the call. He left the room and then headed to the living room, where two katanas were displayed. His eyes glared at them.

“My lord, you’re not planning to do some cleaning, are you?” It was Cloud, who was standing at the top of the staircase.

He took the two katanas and walked toward the front door. “I’m bored. I’ll play a little.”

“Well, then, my lord. Have fun.”

Knight nodded and then left the house, heading straight for his car. He drove toward the address and fearlessly parked his car outside the gate. He rang the doorbell and waited for the gate to open.

“Who’s—”

Without hesitation, he stabbed the chest of the gatekeeper using the katana. “Thanks for opening the gate. I appreciate it.”

After withdrawing the katana from the now lifeless body of the man, Knight entered through the gate. Gunshots filled

Gunshots were fired, but he evaded all the bullets, even at close range, using his katanas in both hands as his shield and his weapon.

He gripped his katanas tighter before fluidly twirling while brandishing his weapon, slashing and stabbing every person near him.

Knight was agile. He eluded every bullet coming his way. His katana moved to the rhythm of his hands, slicing flesh and drawing blood from his enemies. The moment he stopped moving, the ten guards of the gate fell dead.

He coldly looked at the only guard remaining.

“You…” He raised one of his bloody katanas and brought its tip to the neck of the remaining guard. “Go to your boss and tell him to get ready. Tell him Minrod wants to play.”

The terrified man scrambled into the mansion.

“Sub-HQ, huh?” He roamed his eyes to observe the mansion. “I hope you’re all fun to play with. I’m bored and pissed.”

With both hands gripping the katanas covered with blood, he walked toward the mansion’s door.

He could hear footsteps nearing him.

Knight closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he was the monster his father made him to be.

Enemy aggressively rushed toward him as the door opened. He kicked them one after another and quickly ran inside. He slashed, stabbed, sliced, and killed everyone who got in his way, unbothered by the bullets raining on his parade. He evaded them, blocked them with his katanas. His body moved with agility, like that of a monster that his father trained him to be.

His eyes were dead, ears sharp, movements emotionless and seamless. His hands delivered death at their every sway and motion.

Knight did not stop attacking and moving with the weapons he was holding. As long as he could hear footsteps, his body seemed to move on its own, seeking to finish them off.

He killed everyone who greeted him.

When Knight reached the top of the staircase, he looked down to see his work. Bodies were piled everywhere, blood splattered on the floor and walls. Everyone was dead.

This… this was a massacre. And he didn’t even feel a thing.

How many had he killed this past decade? Countless.

He redirected his attention ahead and walked toward the first room. When he opened the door, no one was there. He opened the next door, and no one was inside either. The next was empty as well.

He went back to the stairs. He looked down and started counting the corpses. “Did I kill every single one of them?” he asked himself.

Then he heard a faint sound of footsteps on the third floor.

A cold, inhuman smile stretched his lips. “Not quite, I think.”

Quickly but quietly, he ran up the stairs to the third floor of the mansion and swiftly threw one of his katanas to the first enemy he encountered. And he quickened his pace more when his enemies, who seemed to have been waiting for him in the area, fired gunshots at him.

Knight jumped, flipped in the air, landed smoothly in front of the man he just killed to get his katana, and then jumped again, moving swiftly with the agility of a feral animal readying to attack while evading the bullets.

He smiled cold-bloodedly when his opponents ran out of bullets and they needed to change magazine.

“My turn,” he said before bending and then drawing his katanas in both of his hands while stepping his feet in a circular motion. His enemies’ blood splattered on his clothes, hair, arms, neck, and face, but he didn’t care.

After knocking down all the guards on the third floor, he went to open all the rooms, but all of them were empty—until his eyes settled on the last door of the third floor.

With his bloody hands, he twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.

Gunshots welcomed him. But since he was standing sideways, he was able to hide behind the doorframe. Not one bullet hit him.

Knight only entered the room when he heard the sound a gun would make when it was out of bullets. There were only two people inside—the one who shot the door and the one sitting comfortably on the single sofa, unarmed.

It was Mr. Hitadaki. A Yakuza.

“You bastard!” shouted the guy who fired at him. “I’ll kill you!”

Knight moved, and in a blink of an eye, he was already in front of the man. His katana penetrated the man’s flesh through and through, then he pushed him toward the wall. The tip of his katana pierced through the wall at the back of the man he just killed.

“Stay right there,” Knight told the man, pressing his katana embedded on the man’s stomach and through the wall behind him to put him in place. “Don’t move.”

He then turned to the man sitting on the sofa. “You’re unarmed.”

“I underestimated you,” Mr. Hitadaki said as calmly as he could. “But noble warriors such as yourself don’t kill opponents without a weapon.”

Knight walked toward Mr. Hitadaki and stopped in front of him. “A noble warrior, huh?” A cold smile appeared on his lips, wiping the calm expression on Mr. Hitadaki’s face. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m no noble warrior.”

With that, he plunged his other katana on Mr. Hitadaki’s heart. “That’s for hurting my brother.” Then he plunged it again on his throat. “And this is for making him bleed. And this,” he said as he plunged his katana on his stomach and twisted it, “is for boring me.”

Knight pulled out his katana from Mr. Hitadaki’s lifeless body. He then turned to the guy he pinned on the wall and pulled out his other katana. The man coughed blood as his body fell to the floor.

“P-please… d-d-don’t k-k-kill m-me…” begged the guy, who was now lying on the floor. “I… h-have a f-family…”

Knight crouched down and answered, “I apologize, but I have a motto, you see… It’s ‘leave no survivors behind.’”

With that, he plunged his katana on the man’s heart. He then sighed, stood, and exited the room.

This is no fun , he thought as he passed by corpses after corpses.

When he had gotten out of the gate, he rode his car and called North, the head of the clean-up crew of Asia under the Orgánosi.

“Where are you?” Knight asked North.

“Vietnam, but my crew is nearby,” North answered. “Cloud called, so I got them ready.”

“Good.” He revved the engine of his car. “Tell your crew that I made a little mess.”

“I’ll take care of it,” North replied before the line went dead.

He drove the car back to his house in BV. Since it was a protocol to stop the car and roll down the window, he obliged when he was asked to do so. Shock was evident in the guard’s face when he saw Knight covered in red.

“S-sir?”

Knight smiled. “It’s just paint.”

“Oh.” The guard smiled back. “Welcome home, sir.”

He nodded, rolled up the car window, and then drove to his house. When he had the car parked in his garage, Cloud was already waiting for him at the door.

Cloud immediately used the wet towel he was holding to clean the blood on Knight’s face and hair.

“I have already prepared your clothes and something to eat,” Cloud said afterward.

Knight nodded and released the blood-soaked katanas, which fell to the floor with a loud clang.

Knight walked toward the stairs. When he was halfway up, Cloud asked, “Did you have fun, my lord?”

He continued walking as he answered, “Not in the slightest.”

He went straight to another room because Night occupied his and immediately took a shower.

As he stood under the warm shower water, his attention was on the tiles beneath him, which were now covered in red liquid from the blood of those he had killed.

Suddenly, SM entered his mind. What would she think of him if she found out the truth about him? If she saw this monstrous side of him?

I’m sure she’ll run , he answered himself. I’m a monster after all. There’s no denying that.

CHAPTER 4

Good morning, Boss. Can’t work today. I’m busy. Same text message from Knight for four days now. It had been four days since Knight had stopped working in the café, leaving only messages in her inbox. She wanted to understand him, but her café was facing the consequences of his consecutive absences.

To: Knight V.

Good afternoon, Knight. If you still can’t come in tomorrow, sorry, but I have to replace you. I need another waiter in the café since Juls is taking care of the deliveries. If you can’t come tomorrow, feel free to drop by for your compensation.

SM hit send.

She placed her phone back in her bag and then took out the cake she had baked from the oven. She left it on the table to cool and left her office to help out in her café. Since Knight had been absent for quite some time now, she had been helping out her staff, especially at lunchtime. But today, she was surprised to see him serving food to their customers.

Why is he here? I thought he couldn’t work today?

She approached Monet and asked, “Has Knight been here long?”

“Just now, boss,” Monet replied. “Juls saw him pass by outside and chased him.”

“Ah…”

She froze when Knight approached the counter when a customer added something to their order. He still had an emotionless expression on his face, but she was stunned when he looked at her but didn’t smile like he used to.

She had become accustomed to him smiling at her… but why the sudden change? Why did she feel bad all of a sudden?

There was a twinge of sadness in her chest.

SM shook her head as if this could shake the sadness she was feeling.

“Knight,” she called.

He immediately looked at her in response. “Yes?”

She approached him and asked, “You’ve been absent for several days in a row. Are you alright?”

He stared at her for a long minute. “Yeah. I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

SM froze. His voice… It was kind of different today. Standing this close to him, she knew there was something different about his tone. Come to think of it, he smelled different too. He felt different. The way he looked at her was different. His hair had a lighter shade than his usual brown hair.

Did he color it again?

She lifted her hand to stroke his hair, but he stiffened.

“Sorry,” she apologized and frowned before staring at her hand.

Is it just me, or does his hair feel different from the night I caressed him to sleep? She could vividly remember the feeling because she touched his hair herself.

This man… everything about him seems different, she deduced. Is it possible that… Can’t be…

“By the way, how is your coffee-making?” she asked while looking at his face. “Did you follow my advice? Did you follow the number of beans to use to make sure it tastes good?”

“Yeah. The coffee is good.”

SM was slightly taken aback by his answer, but she managed a smile. “I’m glad. Alright, go back to work. Don’t tire yourself.”

The Knight in front of her smiled. “Sure thing.”

When he went back to work, she found herself staring at him. The Knight she knew, the Knight who called her to ask about how she made his coffee the other night, would know that she used coffee powder.

She took a deep breath and shook her head. This is messed up.

She didn’t know that Knight had a twin. How else could she explain this?

Maybe that was the reason he didn’t smile at her when he saw her, unlike the Knight she knew who would always smile for her—because he didn’t know her.

It was either Knight had a twin, or her mind was just playing tricks on her.

Though whatever it was… it was still none of her business.

As long as they do their work properly, she shouldn’t care about Knight’s personal life, whatever that may be.

But this is still messed up! she argued with herself. If this is indeed his twin, why is he working in Knight’s place? Is Knight okay?

She heavily exhaled.

What’s happening to me?

Why was she worried about him all the time? Knight had been in her mind for quite a while.

Is that even normal? she thought. Nope. Not normal. Even she herself knew it was not normal to think of a single person the whole goddamn day!

She sat on her swivel chair and leaned back. She closed her eyes, hoping to rest, but the image of her own blood scattered on the floor crossed her mind.

She immediately opened her eyes and quickly stood from her seat to lift her shirt and check in the mirror if her back was bleeding like what she had just thought. But as soon as she saw that nothing had changed, SM calmed down a little. No blood. Just some year-old scars.

Still looking at the mirror, she weakly lowered her shirt. She could still see fear, agony, weariness, and sorrow in her eyes.

Her fists clenched. “Don’t worry…” Mom. Dad . “This won’t break me. I won’t let them break me.”

A tear fell from her eyes, which she quickly wiped away. She knew crying had no use; it couldn’t bring her parents back.

She walked back to her table when her cell phone rang.

“Hello?” she answered.

“SM, I’m sorry.” On the other line was the lawyer handling her parents’ case. “I tried everything, but they won’t approve the appeal unless we have evidence in our hands.”

Her head suddenly hurt. “Wait for my call. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Alright.”

After the lawyer hung up, she called her former captain in the PNP when she was still in service.

“Hello, Captain. This is SM.”

“SM!” He sounded glad to hear from her. “How are you? Is it true that you now own a café?”

She smiled. “Yes, Cap.”

“That’s nice.” He chuckled then went silent. “I assume you’re calling about your parent’s case?”

“Yes, Captain.”

Captain Sanford sighed. “I’m doing everything I can, but the higher-ups won’t let me reopen the case for a thorough investigation. I know I promised I’d do everything, but I still haven’t made any progress. It’s been more than a year already.”

Her shoulders slumped, but she remained smiling. “You haven’t given up on my parents’ case, Cap—that’s what’s more important to me. I know this is not easy for you either.”

“I promised you, didn’t you?” He huffed. “I won’t give up. It’s my fault that it happened to you—”

“It’s not,” she interrupted. “We both know it’s not, so stop blaming yourself, Captain.”

“Can’t help it,” he whispered in a low, worried voice. “How are you, really? And don’t lie to me. I had enough of your ‘I’m fine.’”

She smiled bitterly. “I’m still scared of the dark, but I can manage. I’m still having anxiety attacks, but it’s not as often as before, only when I’m having nightmares. I told you that when I was in the hospital, didn’t I? I won’t let what happened break me. I’m stronger than that, Cap.”

“I’m still worried.”

“Don’t be,” she chided him. “Have you thought of another way around to reopen the case? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Leave it to me,” he replied. “I have a connection with the higher-ups. We’re just waiting for the right moment to move. Just wait a little longer, okay?”

“Yes, Cap,” she said, somehow relieved. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” he replied. “I have to hang up now. Duty calls.”

“Take care, Cap.”

“You too.”

SM felt relieved when she ended the call. She knew she could depend on her former superior, Capt. Khairro Sanford. Yet until now, he blamed himself for what happened to her—the reason she was no longer in service.

She took a deep breath and smiled upon seeing her close friend call.

“Hey,” she greeted on the other line.

“Don’t hey me!” Eli said irritably. “When was the last time we hung out, huh?”

SM smiled. “A month ago? We both became busy.”

“Whatever.” Eli tsked. “I’m coming over later. What do you want to eat? I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Lots of carbs,” she replied, smiling.

“Got it!” Eli exclaimed. She sounded excited. “Though I might be a little late. My lazy boss is absent once again, and now I have to do his work.”

SM chuckled softly, “You’re still not used to your boss. Alright, get to work.”

“Okay. Bye!”

“Bye!”

After Eli hung up, SM returned her attention to the cake she had taken out of the oven earlier. Since it had cooled down, she began decorating it according to the customer’s preference.

SM, absorbed by her work, didn’t notice the time. When she looked at the wall clock, she was surprised to see that it was already nighttime.

Shit! I have a bonding date with Eli!

She stepped out of her office and was surprised to see that her cashier was still there. She was the only staff remaining in the café.

“Monet, why are you still here?” SM asked and then drank a glass of water. “Go home. I’ll be the one to close the café.”

“I was really waiting for you, boss. I already let Knight, Juls, and Josh go home,” Monet replied with a smile. “Alright, boss, I’ll go ahead. Take care.”

SM nodded and waited for Monet to leave before closing the café and returning to her office to pack up. After everything had been sorted, she left the café. She was still locking the gate when she sensed a presence behind her.

Her fists clenched, ready to protect herself, when the person from behind her spoke: “You’re going home late again.”

She turned around with a smile on her face, her eyes widened in surprise and glee.

“Knight!”

SM was so happy to see Knight after four days that she hugged him tight. He felt the same this time—he smelled the same, and even his voice was the same.

She only realized her impulsive actions when Knight froze in place.

“Sorry,” she said, immediately putting some distance between them. “I was just happy to see you. It has been four days. How have you been?”

But instead of answering her question, he took a step closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. He then whispered in her ear, “I missed you too, boss.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She stood still, stunned. What the…

Her heart wasn’t beating normally yet when Knight released her from his embrace and continued to close up her café.

“I’ll take you home,” he said as he turned to face her.

SM was still stunned at how her heart reacted that she couldn’t move.

Knight blinked at her. “What, boss?”

She blinked then changed the topic. “N-nothing… By the way, why were you absent for four days?”

“What do you mean? I showed up earlier for work, didn’t I?” Knight asked, his brows furrowed.

“No, you didn’t,” SM quickly disagreed.

“Yes, I did,” he argued, convincing SM he went to work. “If not, who was that earlier, right?”

SM stared at Knight. She knew she talked to a different person a while ago. Whoever it was, he didn’t know what they talked about when Knight called her on her phone.

She was sure that it wasn’t Knight, so why was he pretending that it was him? Did he not want her to know he had a twin?

“Never mind,” was all she said. It was none of her business anyway.

KNIGHT WAS more confused than ever by SM’s response.

Never mind? What does she mean by that? After saying it wasn’t him, she would just say never mind ?!

He could see it in her eyes that she knew something he didn’t. He was trained to read people. And at that very moment, he could read her.

She knew something.

Midnight was there, acting as though he were him, working on his behalf. But he had no idea why he was in the café. He saw SM patting Night’s hair, too. Never did he feel any resentment or anger at Night when he pretended to be him all those years, even in front of his friends. But earlier, it was his first time to get angry at Midnight for pretending to be him. Worse, in front of SM! He wanted to go in the café and clear the misunderstanding, but all knew too well that it would only bring more chaos.

Didn’t SM notice it wasn’t him?

Fuck! He’s getting angry again!

No one could differentiate the two of them. Even people who knew Night’s existence had a hard time identifying them, except their father, Orlando, and Cloud.

But SM… he wanted her to see him, not to mistake him for someone else!

“What do you mean by never mind ?” Knight asked SM, who was reaching for her cell phone in her bag.

SM looked back at him. “ Never mind means ‘I understand.’“

His brows furrowed. “Understand what?”

“Understand that maybe you don’t want anyone knowing that you have an identical twin,” SM casually said as she walked toward his parked taxi.

Knight was frozen in place, with widened eyes and parted lips, unable to move or react in shock. He didn’t know what to say. His eyes simply widened in astonishment as he watched SM getting into his taxi.

He was dumbstruck. Shocked. Stunned. Dazed. Dumbfounded.

But how?

How did this woman see what other people didn’t? How did she differentiate him from Midnight? How could she tell?

How?!

“SM!” He ran the distance between them and opened the passenger-side door, which SM had just closed.

SM blinked at him in surprise, her forehead creased. “What? You look like you’re in panic. Are you okay?”

“H-how?” His heart was pounding. “H-how… Uhm—w-what… h-how can you tell me from… f-from—”

“Oh, that? You feel different,” she answered as if the whole fiasco wasn’t a big deal. “He smelled different, and he didn’t smile when he saw me—I mean, you always smile at me when I see you.”

His lips slightly parted as SM continued to explain.

“Oh, and your voice sounds different too.”

He stiffened. “My voice?”

SM nodded. “Yes. Your voices are different. I always listen carefully to your voice when you talk. Because of your emotionless face when you speak, I have to rely on my hearing every time you say something so I can grasp what you’re really feeling. My father taught me to read emotions based on voice tones.”

His jaw clenched. “It’s still not enough proof that I have a twin. I don’t have one,” he lied with a straight face. Eye to eye.

“Knight,” SM said, looking into his eyes. “Seriously, I don’t care if you’re twins or triplets. And as for proof, I baited him, you know?”

His eyes widened. She baited… Night? “How?”

“I asked him about coffee beans, if he followed my instructions on the amount to pour for the coffee to taste good. And you know what he answered me?”

Knight stayed silent. He knew that it wasn’t coffee beans—it was coffee powder! That was what she told him over the phone.

So, this was how she caught Night.

“He said yes, that his coffee was delicious.” She then returned her cell phone in her bag and then looked at him again. “Maybe you’re lying that you don’t have a twin for a reason. Everyone has a reason for everything they do. Consciously and unconsciously. My father taught me that—”

This woman… Why does she understand me? It bothered him.

“So, go ahead, keep lying. I don’t mind. I don’t know why you’re lying, but I’ll try to understand. Myself knows for a fact that I know the truth and that’s enough for me—”

Why is she saying the words I want to hear from someone? Why?

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. If you wanna keep it a secret, then I’ll pretend that I didn’t know. Besides, it’s really none of my business—”

He pressed his lips on hers, unable to stop himself. He stopped her words with his mouth, earning a small gasp from her. He felt how soft her lips were against his.

Tasting her lips made him hungry. Tasting the sweetness of her tongue made his body stiffen with desire to hold her close. He wanted to bite her lips, tease her tongue, and suck it inside his mouth… but he didn’t do any of those.

He didn’t want to scare her.

Instead… he slowly pulled away and whispered over her wet parted lips, “I’m not gonna say sorry for that.”

She closed her lips and bravely met his gaze. “I’m not asking for your apology. What I need is your explanation. Why did you kiss me?”

“Because I felt like kissing you.”

Her face darkened. SM punched him hard in the stomach, making Knight cough and step back as he held where she had hit him.

SM glared at him. “Don’t just kiss someone for such a shallow reason,” SM angrily retorted and slammed the passenger-seat door shut.

“Fuck!” Knight hissed. “That woman can throw a punch.”

SM was stronger than he thought.

He was still holding his stomach as he went to the driver’s seat. Once he got in, he started the engine and then turned to SM.

“That wasn’t nice.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Really? So, kissing me just because you felt like it wasn’t rude?”

He stiffened then let out a loud breath. “Fine. I’ll keep this in mind. The next time I kiss you, that’s because I like you.”

She shot him with a fierce look. “Knight, I’m a nice person, but I have my limits. Don’t kiss me again if you don’t want me to punch you again. I don’t care if your back still hurts. Kissing someone without permission is downright disrespectful!”

He smiled at SM. “So, it’s okay to kiss you again if I asked first?”

She turned her head to the road. “Don’t kiss me again. Period.”

“You didn’t like my kiss?” he asked while maneuvering the car. “Well, it’s been a long time since I kissed someone—”

“That’s TMI!”

He laughed. “Come on, boss, there’s no such thing as ‘too much information.’”

“Whatever.”

“Boss?”

“Stop it, Knight. I might forget that I’m a nice person and punch you again,” she warned with a hint of threat in her voice.

Knight chuckled. “It’s nice to rile you up once in a while. You’re always calm. I thought you didn’t know how to get angry.”

SM stayed silent.

“Boss?”

When SM still did not give him a response, he secretly laughed. “Did you blush when I kissed you?”

Without warning, SM punched the same part where she hit Knight earlier with her knuckles. “I told you so.”

Knight winced but laughed after. “Boss, just a heads-up. I don’t want you to be surprised. Tomorrow morning, I’m going to kiss you again.”

“Try, and I’ll fire you.”

But Knight felt that it was an empty threat. “Who will you replace me with? You won’t find another waiter as handsome as me.”

SM fell and silent and whispered, “That’s true. You are handsome.”

Knight stopped breathing for a couple of seconds. That was a fucking compliment! “Thanks, boss. I’ll make myself even more handsome for you.”

SM just shook her head and remained quiet during the rest of the ride. When they had arrived, Knight creased his forehead after noticing her lights were on.

“You have someone with you at home?” he asked SM, who was unbuckling her seatbelt.

“No,” she replied. “Maybe that’s Eli. She has a key to my house.”

He smiled. Relax, Knight. It’s a “she.”

“No need to pay me,” Knight insisted when she pulled out money.

“You’re working as a taxi driver, so I should pay you.” But when Knight refused to take the payment, she placed it on the dashboard before opening the door.

“G’night, boss,” Knight said before she got out. He thought she was irritated, but she turned to look at him and gave him a smile.

“Good night.”

He smiled. “See you tomorrow.”

“Make sure it’s gonna be you tomorrow, okay?” she replied before entering her gate.

He chuckled. Make sure that it’s me? he asked himself. Will I be enough this time?

Knight sighed before speeding away toward BV. When he arrived home, Cloud was there to greet him.

“Good evening, my lord,” his butler said, bowing. “How was your driving? Did you make any money? We don’t have food left.”

He looked at Cloud questioningly. “You paid the two old men and the other people at the hospital when I was admitted, and you tell me you don’t have money to buy us food?”

“Your father froze my account again, my lord.”

He stopped walking and reached for his wallet from the pocket of his pants, tossing it to Cloud. “Catch.”

Cloud caught it easily.

“My payment for the whole month as a DJ,” he said before walking toward the stairs. “Use that for now.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He gritted his teeth as he walked up the stairs.

His father would always freeze his and Cloud’s accounts whenever he would stay in the Philippines for more than two weeks. His father wanted him to move from one country to another and focus on the organization and nothing else.

And because his father would closely monitor his financials and expenses, he had no means to hide money from him to use while staying in the Philippines.

So, he had to work.

He would tell his friends that he wanted to do this—that he wanted to experience working in different jobs. But the truth was, he didn’t want them to know his bitter reality.

Yes, he couldn’t eat his pride, but that was how he was. After all, he was taught that being proud was not a sin.

He pushed the door open to his room and walked in.

“Let’s talk,” he told Night, who was sitting on the long sofa, playing chess by himself.

Night’s eyes were glued to the chessboard. “What is it?”

“Why were you at the Bitter Sweet Café?” he asked his brother directly before sitting on the single sofa across from Night. “Did Father send you to keep tabs on me?”

Night moved his pawn. “It was an accident,” he answered. “They mistook me for you while I was passing by.”

Knight rubbed his temples. “So, why are you still here? Aren’t you the Boss of North America? This is my territory. Next time you cause trouble in my territory, I’ll puni—”

“What?” Night cut him off before looking at him. “You’ll whip me too?”

He stiffened.

Midnight sighed. “Your move.”

“What?”

“Chess. Your move.”

He looked down at the chessboard.

Midnight wanted to play. It made him happy. It had been a long time.

He moved his hand to shift the knight piece. “Done. Your move.”

Midnight’s hand moved, and they continued playing chess.

It had been a long time since they played chess together. Even though they were both quiet while playing, they both knew they were enjoying the game against each other.

Then the game ended. Knight won, but he did not feel satisfied.

“Let’s play again,” he told his brother.

“No, thanks, I’m good,” Night replied as he got up from the sofa. “I’m tired working as a waiter today. Fuck…” He collapsed face down onto the soft bed. “I’m sleepy.”

“Then sleep,” Knight said as he, too, got up and walked toward the door. “If you need anything, I’m just a room away.”

When Night gave no response, he left and walked into his room. He went straight to the bathroom to shower.

A towel was wrapped around his waist and draped down his thighs when he came out of the bath. He was about to get some clothes when he saw someone lying on his bed.

It was Midnight.

What is he doing here?

He quickly dressed and approached his brother. “Night—”

“The air conditioning in my room isn’t working,” he answered. “I’m sleeping here. Leave if you want.”

Knight smiled. He knew the aircon in his room wasn’t broken.

Maybe it’s not too late to fix this mess… he thought. After all, he didn’t break his promise.

But what if they made up and became close? Would his father take him away again?

His fists clenched. Maybe it would be better if they wouldn’t reconcile and get comfortable with each other again. That way, he could always keep an eye on Midnight and monitor what he was up to. To prevent their father from separating them again.

Maybe observing Midnight from afar was the best decision.

He reached out and ruffled his brother’s hair, just the way he used to.

Sorry, Little Brother. I’m still weak. For now, this is the only thing I can do. To protect you, I have to stay away from you.

“I’ll sleep in the other room then,” he said as he left, his eyes closed firmly, his back turned.

Sorry, Little Brother.

CHAPTER 5

KNIGHT HURRIED down the stairs because he was already late for work at the café when Cloud blocked his path.

“What is it?” he asked when Cloud wouldn’t let him pass.

“It’s Midnight.”

“What happened to him?” Knight asked, immediately worried.

“He’s in the kitchen.”

Midnight in the kitchen meant chaos.

“Why didn’t you stop him?” Knight looked at Cloud flatly. “Do you want to die?”

“Of course not, my lord,” Cloud replied as he slightly bowed. “I’m not fresh anymore, but I still love to have sex, so… spare me.”

Knight rubbed his temples. “What is Night doing in the kitchen?”

“He’s preparing breakfast.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Come again?”

“He’s preparing breakfast,” Cloud repeated.

“Oh, fuck! He’s gonna burn down my house!”

Dread consumed him as his eyes widened. He rushed to the kitchen but was relieved to see it wasn’t on fire. There wasn’t smoke either. No indication of something burning.

The kitchen was… normal.

He blinked several times, thinking he might be imagining things. But nothing— his kitchen was not burning.

So, he knows how to cook now, huh?

Puzzled, Knight stared at his brother. “What are you doing?”

“Cooking breakfast,” Midnight replied as he placed the newly cooked food on the island counter. “For you. Just throw it away if you don’t like it.”

Midnight left the kitchen afterward, leaving Knight staring at the breakfast he made. It was a simple meal that they used to eat when they were little.

“It looks to me that he’s reaching out to you, my lord,” Cloud said upon entering the kitchen. “Would you accept his reaching hand, though?”

His face remained emotionless as he answered, “Father will take him away once we get too close and comfortable again. I won’t let that happen, Cloud. I want Night to stay where I can see him, where I can monitor him. And if that means sacrificing a part of myself, then so be it.”

Cloud shook his head. “I don’t know who to pity more—you… or him.”

“Pitying me is useless.”

Cloud sighed. “I know.” He walked toward the island counter and picked up the plate with the food Midnight prepared. “Should I throw this away then?”

He approached where Cloud was and tasted the eggs that Midnight cooked. He instantly covered his mouth.

“Fuck!” he shouted after spitting the eggs into the sink and rinsing his mouth. “Fuck… we don’t have eggs anymore, and he didn’t even cook the eggs he used well. Does he know how expensive eggs are now? And here I thought he knew how to cook already.”

Cloud chuckled. “It’s the thought and effort that counts, my lord.”

He shook his head. “Poor eggs.”

Knight walked out of the kitchen, just to see Midnight watching TV in the living room. He wanted to just walk past him, but he found his hand reaching for Midnight’s hair and messing it. “Thanks for the breakfast. But please, don’t cook again.”

Midnight remained focused on watching TV. “Does it taste that bad?”

“Horrible,” Knight replied and then walked out of the mansion.

He decided to walk to SM’s café since it wasn’t far from the village. When he arrived, SM was nowhere in sight.

“Where’s Boss?” he asked Monet when he came out of the staff room after changing into their uniform.

Monet pointed to SM’s office. “She asked me to point you to her office when you arrived. It looks like she’s going to lecture you about your consecutive absences, and now you’re late.”

He frowned. “She’s not going to fire me, is she?”

Monet shrugged. “Maybe.”

He shot their cashier a pointed look before knocking and entering SM’s office. It was a simple space with neutral-colored walls and flooring. It had a set of sofas, a kitchenette, a large table with sponge cakes on top, a bathroom, and an office table.

His eyes settled on the swivel chair where SM was sitting and sleeping.

Is she tired?

Quietly, he walked toward her and sat on the side of the table facing the swivel chair and gazed at her face. She appeared meek, serene.

Knight smiled. Ever since he had met her, she had always been calm and welcoming, except for last night when he kissed her. She was riled up, yet she still looked strikingly beautiful; at the same time, she looked terrifying, especially when she punched him.

Knight took a deep breath before leaning in, bringing his face closer to SM while still sitting on the edge of the table. Their faces were only a few inches apart.

He badly wanted to press his lips onto hers, but he remembered what she said last night. She was going to get mad if he did.

“SM?” he said, checking if she was awake, but she remained asleep. He called her many times—as Sweet Monday , as Boss —but she only groaned in her sleep.

When her eyes slowly opened, she asked, “Kn-Knight?”

He smiled. “Good morning, Boss.”

Then he softly pressed his lips onto hers. Just a peck.

He then stared at SM. “I kissed you like I said last night.”

She yawned as if his kiss were nothing. “You’re fired then, like I said last night.”

He smiled and kissed her again, but this time, their lips did not only simply touch. His tongue teased hers, and SM replied by biting his tongue. Hard.

He pulled back and smiled at SM, uncaring if he could taste blood in his mouth. “Kinky. I like it.”

“Knight, stop kissing me—”

But he kissed her again, firmly this time, but she forcefully pushed him away and stood from her seat. What she did next stunned him.

SM pushed him to sit on her swivel chair, rested her left knee on the seat pad, in between his parted legs, and gripped his jaw.

He smiled quietly to himself.

This woman… she’s nice and kind but feisty at the same time , he thought. She knew the limit of her niceness, which made him admire her even more.

“Let me see your tongue,” she said with concern in her voice while still firmly holding his jaw. “Does it hurt? Are you okay? Wait… I think it’s bleeding. I tasted blood when you kissed me and—”

“I’m fine.”

“I don’t believe you. I mean, I bit you. Tongue out,” she commanded, holding both of his cheeks while looking at his lips. “Let me see.”

When Knight obliged and stuck out his tongue, her eyes widened when she saw the wound from where she had bitten him.

SM’s lips thinned. “Why did you kiss me anyway? I told you last night—it’s disrespectful to kiss me like that.”

“I asked for permission last night—”

“Stop talking,” she firmly said. “It must be painful—”

“I’m used to it,” Knight said, interrupting SM. “To pain, I mean. I’m used to it.”

SM stopped fussing over him and just stared at him.

“What?” he asked.

She sighed. “One to ten, ten being the highest, rate your pain tolerance.”

“Thirty, so don’t worry.” He offered her a smile. “This pain is just at two. Besides, it’s my fault.”

SM’s face softened while staring at him. “I’m so sorry. Please, don’t surprise me like that again. Look, now I’ve hurt you. I don’t care how high your pain tolerance is. Pain is pain.” She sighed, guilt-stricken, and started caressing his face softly. “You must have been in pain for so many years for your pain tolerance to reach that high.”

Knight just smiled. She was right. He’d been in too much pain. Emotionally and physically. He didn’t want to show the pain he had been carrying until now, not because he didn’t want anyone knowing but because he didn’t want to burden anyone.

His problem, his burden.

“Sorry for biting you,” SM said, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Don’t kiss me so casually. It’s disrespectful.”

“I can’t help it,” he whispered.

“Then try to stop yourself.”

He stared at her. “Boss?”

Her eyebrows quirked up. “What?”

“Mind putting a distance between us?” he said before winking at her. “I’m tempted to kiss you again. You’re too close.”

SM immediately moved away from him, as if she scalded herself, which made him laugh.

“Why do you even do that?” She flopped down on the edge of the long sofa. “And don’t you dare say that because you just feel like kissing me. That’s not a valid reason at all.”

He got up from the swivel chair and approached her.

SM furrowed her brows in confusion and said, “Why are you here? I thought you said to keep my distance from you?”

“I’m a sucker for you, remember?” He lay down on the sofa and rested his head on her lap. “And I’m calm now.”

“So, you weren’t calm earlier?”

“Kind of. I was hard earlier.” He looked up at her. “Could you comb my hair?”

SM shook her head. “No. You should be outside, working. Just because I’m a nice boss doesn’t mean you can take advantage of me. I have my limits, Knight.”

“I’m tired.”

“That’s not an excuse.” She gave him a hard stare. “Are you saying you don’t want to get to work because you’re tired? I really might have to replace you—”

Knight quickly got up. “I’ll start working. Don’t fire me, boss.”

SM immediately smiled. “Then go.”

He quickly stole a kiss on her lips, surprising her, before hurriedly leaving her office.

SM SQUEEZED her eyes shut as the memory of Knight’s kiss replayed in her mind. Her cheeks burned, a reaction she always had whenever she would recall the moment. She cupped her face, breathed deeply to calm herself, and tapped her extremely flushing cheeks multiple times.

“Calm down… what’s wrong with you?” she asked herself.

She stood up and went to the bathroom. After SM washed her face, she stared at herself in the mirror.

Her face was still flushed.

Knight kissing her entered her mind again, making her cheeks burn even more.

That man! What is he doing to me? she thought. At first she was just worried about his condition, but now he wouldn’t leave her mind because of that kiss.

SM tapped her cheeks again before returning to her swivel chair and applying some powder and lip tint. When she could not stay still in her office, she decided to go out.

The number of customers was just right. Juls wasn’t there, probably delivering an order.

Knight, on the other hand, was busy serving food. She thought he wouldn’t notice her, but she was wrong. He turned to her, smiled, and winked.

Her heart skipped a beat.

SM let out a deep breath. Whatever she was feeling toward Knight was different now. It was no longer a worry…

It was something more than that.

She shook her head once again. She didn’t have time to entertain her newly found feelings. She had lots of things to do, and her attention should be focused on her parents’ case. She had promised to get justice for their deaths.

She went back to her office and dedicated her full attention to making cakes. It was already lunchtime when someone knocked on her door.

“Come in!” she shouted while spreading ganache on the sponge cake.

The person who knocked entered. It was Knight. “Boss, let’s have lunch.”

“I’ll finish this first. What do you want for lunch?” she asked as she continued with her task, but more quickly.

“You.”

SM stiffened and looked at Knight. “What?”

Knight cheekily grinned at her. “Nothing. Will you be done soon?” He then showed the tray he was carrying. On it was Josh’s cooked food. “Let’s eat.”

SM finished applying the ganache on the first layer and then placed another sponge cake on top. She then went to the sofa where Knight was sitting. Their food was on the center table.

“Let’s eat in the staff room,” she suggested.

“Let’s just stay here. No worries, I won’t kiss you this time.” Knight playfully winked at her before carefully placing the plate and utensils on the glass table.

She didn’t argue and let him do as he pleased.

They were in the middle of having their lunch when Knight broke the silence. “Aren’t you going to ask the name of my brother?”

She lifted her gaze to Knight. “I’m curious, of course, but since you denied having one last night, it means you have a reason why you don’t want me to know. So, I didn’t ask. I don’t want to pry into others’ business, just as I don’t want others prying into mine.”

Knight looked at her intently before speaking. “Not all people can differentiate me and my brother.”

She took a sip of water. “Maybe I would be one of those people if I hadn’t met and talked to you,” she replied, smiling. “I know the difference because I know you—a little.”

He lowered his gaze. “Even the people who know us can’t distinguish who’s who.”

“Maybe because they didn’t bother knowing you.”

He looked at her. “So, you know me?”

“You want the truth?” SM asked as she met his gaze.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath before speaking. “I don’t know you. What I only know is what you want me to know. My knowledge of you is limited to your name, age, hobbies, work, and attitude—no, even your attitude sometimes seems forced. Even your smile sometimes seems fake. The reason why I can differentiate between the two of you is purely logical, based on my observations only. That’s why I baited him—to make sure.”

“Do you want to get to know me?” he asked directly.

“Do you want me to get to know you?” she countered.

Knight’s lips parted. He was about to say something, but he stopped himself. And for the first time since they met, he looked genuinely worried.

She smiled. “Knight, it’s okay if you don’t want me to know who you really are. I’m sure you have a reason behind your forced attitude and fake smile. It’s okay… really. You have a secret to protect, I have mine. I don’t want you meddling in my affairs, so I won’t meddle in yours. Simple as that.”

Knight’s face hardened. “In my understanding, that means you don’t care about me.”

“If I don’t care about you, then why do I always worry about your condition? Why are you constantly on my mind?” she asked. Her face turned serious. “I constantly think of you, and it’s not normal. I’m worrying about you, thinking if you’re alright, if you have rested, if you’re still working, if you’ve finally fallen asleep— these are on my mind all the time. If that doesn’t mean I care for you, I don’t know what does.”

Knight just looked at her, stunned.

“Knight… I do care for you,” she said, smiling. “You were the first man I’ve brought to my home. I even let you sleep. I don’t even know why I trusted you that night. I care for my employees, but I don’t invite them to my home and let them use my lap as their pillow to sleep on. You’re a different case. And I’m not asking you about anything, like what happened to your back, what your twin’s name is, or if you’re lying… because you’ll tell them to me if you want me to get to know you, right? Because if I want you to know something about me, I’ll tell you too.”

Knight did not respond. He just stared at her intently. SM decided that it was best to say something else. “Knight—”

“I’m Count Knight Alastair Minrod Gutterez Velasquez. My brother’s name is Midnight. He’s not my twin. He’s my little brother,” he confessed, which made SM stop talking and stare at him. “And yes, I’m blonde.”

CHAPTER 6

“WHY IS BOSS not around?” asked Knight to Monet when he arrived that morning and didn’t see SM. “Why? Did she text you? What did she say?” he asked one after the other.

Monet took out her phone from her pocket and showed him SM’s text:

SM:

Monet, I won’t be able to come in today because I feel unwell. Please take charge of the café.

He clenched his fist. She was sick, yet she didn’t bother informing him? Didn’t she think he would be worried if she didn’t show up at work?

Fuck!

“Knight, can you go to Boss?” Monet asked, pulling Knight out of his head.

He looked at her and asked, “Would it be okay if I go?”

Monet nodded and smiled. “I’m worried about Boss. She’s alone at her house, and she’ll surely not ask for help because she doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone. I wish I could go, but I can’t leave the café to anyone. Besides, you seem close to her, so you should be the one to go.”

He nodded and immediately left the café to get into his taxi. Worried sick, he drove quickly to SM’s house.

When he arrived, he easily climbed over the gate of her house—he had experience anyway—and then knocked on the front door. It took him several knocks before SM opened it.

“Kn-Knight?” she said, stunned to see him. She sounded and looked weak as well. SM was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a thick jacket. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked really pale.

Knight didn’t wait for her to invite him in. He just walked inside and placed his hand on her forehead.

“You’re hot,” he said with concern.

A weary smile formed on her lips. “Yeah… I’m feeling unwell, so I took a leave today. Wait, why are you here? The café is understaffed again—”

“They’ll survive,” he replied and picked her up without warning.

Weak and tired, SM didn’t resist. Knight was able to take her to room and laid her on the bed without sweat.

“There,” he said as he covered her with a blanket. “You rest. Have you eaten? Have you taken your medicine?”

When SM just stared at him as he spoke, he asked, “What?”

“Knight?”

“Hmm?”

“Count is a title right?” she asked.

Knight stiffened. This woman… it took her that long to clarify things?

She could’ve just asked him directly when he told her his full name yesterday, but she stayed quiet, deep in her thoughts, even when he drove her home. She didn’t even ask questions that people were normally curious about in those situations.

Was she thinking of me all this time?

Telling her his full name and about Midnight as well, he’d be severely punished for it, but he had prepared himself for the consequences.

When? That, he didn’t know.

But that didn’t matter to him. The punishment didn’t matter to him. He just wanted SM to know who he really was—the man behind the name Knight Velasquez.

“If it’s a title, then it has the same rank as the earl in Great Britain. Am I right? I did some research.”

Knight nodded. He knew this was selfish. Telling her the truth. Dragging her to his world. But he couldn’t stop—no, he didn’t want to stop. He wanted her to know everything about him, even though it was self-serving.

For once, he wanted to be selfish.

Knight took a deep breath and explained, “In Britain, it’s earl. But in my country, in Spain, it’s count.”

She chuckled softly. “What’s a member of the nobility doing here?”

“I have my reasons.”

SM smiled. “Okay.”

He sighed. “I have a feeling that you’re not gonna ask anymore.”

She shrugged and closed her eyes. “Nothing will change anyway. Noble or not, you’re the Knight who always makes me worry.”

“Don’t treat me differently,” he replied, staring and smiling at her.

“You wish,” she said, adjusting her position on her bed. “That won’t happen.”

He chuckled softly and kissed her on the forehead. “Have you had breakfast?” When SM shook her head, he added, “Is it okay if I made you some soup so you can take some meds?”

She nodded weakly.

“Alright.” He then kissed her forehead once again. “Rest for now. Leave it to me.”

SM’s eyes opened a little before smiling at him. “Thank you. You’re indeed a knight.”

He smiled back. “I’ll be your knight in shining armor anytime, boss.”

SM closed her eyes with a smile on her lips.

Knight took a deep breath, left her room, and headed to the kitchen. But as soon as he stood in the middle of the kitchen, he suddenly realized that he knew nothing about cooking.

“Oh fuck!” I promised SM I’ll make her some soup!

Knight tsked and pulled out his phone from his pocket to call Cloud.

“You busy?” he asked his butler on the other end of the line.

“Just finished cleaning the house. Why, my lord?”

“Come to this address,” he demanded and then gave SM’s address. “And buy some medicine for fever. Hurry up.”

After the call ended, he filled a basin with water and brought it to SM’s room. After placing the small basin on the bedside table, he looked for a cloth he could wet to wipe her body. He found himself in her bathroom, his eyes set on the towel rack.

“There… face towel.”

His hand froze mid-air when he was about to reach the face towel when he saw what was next to it—SM’s underwear. Her panties and bras. And they were all sexy-looking.

“Fuck!”

He quickly grabbed the face towel from the rack and hurriedly left the bathroom when his manhood became erect after imagining SM wearing those.

“Fuck…”

Knight kept on cussing as he returned to SM’s side. When he placed his hand on her neck, he felt how feverish and drenched in sweat she was.

“Fuck.”

He quickly removed her clothes soaked in her own sweat while making sure the blanket still stayed in place to cover her body. He dampened the face towel and then wrung it out before wiping it over her face then down to her neck, shoulders, and arms, with each stroke tender and gentle, as he tried to lower her fever as much as possible. He was particularly careful while wiping her chest.

His pants tightened. “Fuck…”

His erection got larger each second he wiped her chest. He was very cautious not to touch her breasts, as it might set him off. He didn’t want to scare her.

When he moved his hand holding the face towel down her waist, he gulped some air.

Damn these sexy curves! This is going to be the death of me!

He kept drawing in big breaths as he wiped SM’s skin. His stomach ached more and more each second.

“This is plain torture…” he mumbled when he started caressing her legs with the soft cloth. “Fuck me to hell…”

He stopped after he had finished wiping her legs. He had no plans to continue further, especially when he knew her thighs were next.

I will die having a fucking boner! This is not good!

He rummaged through SM’s closet and grabbed a sleeveless top and a pair of sweatpants. He then dressed her up, careful so the blanket would not come off her body.

He liked kissing her, and he would like to do more than kissing her, but… she was sick. He wouldn’t take advantage of her like that.

Maybe next time… when she feels better.

After dressing her up, he left the room and breathed a sigh of relief.

Self-control, I owe you.

Just as he had placed the basin in the sink, he heard the doorbell being rung several times. He quickly walked downstairs and then out the house to open the gate.

“Silence!” Knight hissed as he opened the gate. “You’ll wake her up—”

But he stopped as soon as he saw that Cloud was not alone.

“What is he doing here?” he asked, pointing at Midnight, who was standing behind Cloud.

“I have no idea,” Cloud replied and handed the medicine he was asked to buy. “Are you now going to let us in?”

He opened the gate wide to let them both in, and the three of them entered the house together.

“Who owns this house?” Cloud asked.

“Your girlfriend?” Midnight asked.

“No.” Knight sighed. “She’s my boss in the café where I work.”

“Oh.” Cloud looked at him teasingly. “You’re that close, huh?”

“You do know that it’s not gonna have a happy ending, right?” Midnight said, staring intently at him. Knight did not answer.

Cloud sighed heavily. “Enough. My lord said she’s just his boss. Let’s leave it at that,” he said before he turned to Knight. “Why’d you call for me?”

“This way.” Knight then led the two to the kitchen. “I called you here to make some soup. Make it delicious. That’ll be for my boss.”

“Of course, my lord.” Cloud rolled up his sleeves before he unbuttoned the top two buttons of his polo shirt and then started to make the soup.

Knight left the two in the kitchen so he could bring the pills upstairs. She needed to take her medicine, or else her fever could worsen.

“Boss, here,” Knight whispered as he gently woke SM up. “Take this. Sit up for a moment.”

SM opened her eyes and forced herself to sit up despite feeling weak. Knight assisted her when she took the medicine with a glass of water, then she lay back down and went back to sleep.

He left the room and went back to the kitchen afterward, only to see Midnight fiddling with the eggs in SM’s fridge.

“What are you doing?” Knight asked.

Midnight looked at him. “Cooking?”

“Don’t bother. We might end up getting sick from your cooking.”

His brother pouted. “It’s the thought and effort that counts.”

“Why? Can we eat your thought and effort?” He pointed at Cloud. “Leave the cooking to him, understood? And this is not our house so don’t act on your own.”

Midnight clicked his tongue and went to sit on the dining table instead. On the other hand, something caught Knight’s attention.

“Woah! Cloud, look!” He pointed to the island counter. “Is that instant coffee?”

Cloud immediately nodded. “Yes, my lord. Shall I make you one—”

“No, I can do it.” He went to the island counter and grabbed two sticks of coffee powder. “An addition to my book of life experiences.”

He took two cups and then poured one stick of coffee powder into each before bringing them to the dining table.

“Cloud, boil some water,” he instructed.

Midnight sighed. “You know, Kuya , normal people have a thing called thermos to make instant coffee easier.”

He frowned. “Thermos? What’s that—wait. Fuck!” His eyes widened. “Did you just call me Kuya ?”

“Yeah,” Night replied nonchalantly, then he got up, went to pick up a steel container, and showed it to him. “Kuya, meet Thermos. It’s used to keep hot water so you don’t have to boil water over and over.”

Midnight poured hot water from the thermos into the two cups with powdered coffee. “There.” He smiled. “Hello, instant coffee.”

Both of them quietly sat at the dining table and had coffee together while waiting for Cloud to finish making the soup. But an hour later, after four cups of coffee with Night, the soup was still not done!

Knight’s patience was wearing thin. “Cloud, I don’t know how to cook, but I’m sure it doesn’t take this long to make soup!”

Cloud kept stirring. “You told me to make a delicious soup, my lord, and this is how I do it. Twenty more minutes.”

Midnight tsked. “What’s taking so long? Even I can make soup in five minutes. Tastes good too.”

“Nonsense!” Cloud hissed at Midnight. “How could you make a delicious soup in five minutes?!”

Midnight stood up and opened the cupboards in the kitchen. In the third cupboard, he reached for a maroon plastic cup with the word “noodles” on the side.

“Watch me,” Midnight said before taking off the cellophane that covered the plastic cup. He then removed the plastic lid, where inside were two small packets and a small fork made of plastic. One of the packets contained a powder-like mixture, and the other one contained hard granules.

“What’s that?” Knight asked.

“Just watch.”

Even Cloud was observing. Knight had definitely caught his attention too.

Midnight poured the hard granules in one of the packets, which they learned were dehydrated vegetables, into the cup along with the powdered mixture. Then, he added hot water from the thermos. He covered the cup with a plate before looking at his wristwatch.

“Hmm… three minutes will do,” Midnight said.

Cloud studied the plastic cup. “This is a very weird soup container. Is that even safe?”

Midnight grinned. “I eat it all the time.”

“I see.” Cloud nodded. “You’re still alive, so I’ll assume it’s a safe food.”

Midnight just shook his head and returned to looking at his wristwatch.

“It’s time,” he said when the three minutes were over. The moment he removed the plate that he covered the cup with, a savory aroma permeated their nostrils.

“Woah! That smells good!” Knight exclaimed.

“Tastes good too,” Midnight said proudly as pushed the cup closer to his brother. “Taste the soup and the noodles.”

Knight nodded and followed. “Hmm… the soup tastes awesome… and the noodles! It’s great!” He handed the cup to Cloud and said, “Here, taste it. And it’s just fucking three minutes!”

Cloud was about to taste the instant noodles Midnight made when they heard a voice from the kitchen’s door.

“I’m in my house… right?”

SM WOKE UP from her sleep. Somehow, she felt a little better. When she touched her forehead, she found a damped face tower. She smiled knowing that Knight put it there.

She could remember him carrying her to her bed, wiping her down, and giving her medicine. Even though she wasn’t completely well, she got up to check up on Knight.

“K-Knight?” she called, her voice faint. She wondered if he had already gone home. Why did she feel sad at the thought of him leaving, though?

She made her way downstairs, her steps small and slow. When she reached the living room, her brows furrowed when she heard voices from the kitchen.

Knight ? she thought. But who are the other two voices?

She followed the voices to the kitchen. When she reached the kitchen door, she froze.

Three men were gathered around a cup of instant noodles.

She blinked in disbelief.

“I’m in my house… right?” she asked to herself, her eyes set on the three men, who were now all looking back at her.

Three men. Two of them looked exactly alike, while the other seemed to be about the same age as them. She was not sure.

But why were they in her house?

She looked at Knight and asked, “I’m in my house… right, Knight?”

The two other men looked shocked as they stared at her.

“Knight—”

“Yes?” Knight’s lookalike answered her.

“You’re not Knight,” she said as she walked closer to Knight. “Who are these people? Are they with you?”

“Wait—” Knight’s look-alike said, grabbing her arm to turn her toward him. “How did you—”

“Don’t touch her!” Knight quickly removed Midnight’s hand from her arm. “She’s mi—my boss.”

“I’m Knight,” the look-alike insisted.

SM sighed. “Don’t push it, I’m not in a good mood right now. I know you’re not Knight.”

“You actually can tell.” Cloud’s amazement was apparent in his voice.

She nodded and then turned to Knight once again. “Inviting people to someone’s home without permission is wrong.”

“I know.” Knight cupped her face. “I was just so worried, and I promised I would make you a delicious soup, but I remembered I couldn’t cook, so, I called Cloud”—he gestured his hand to Cloud, who was holding the cup of noodles—“my butler. And he”—he pointed to Midnight—“tagged along. Do you feel better now?”

SM shook her head. “Though the feverish feeling has somehow faded away. The medicine you gave me seems effective.”

“That’s good.” He sounded and looked relieved. “Sorry again for inviting other people you don’t know into your home.”

It was disrespectful, but Knight had a valid reason. She was thankful that Knight was there to take good care of her—that was more than enough to forgive him.

“It’s okay. I understand.” She smiled despite feeling weak, faced Knight’s lookalike, and extended her hand. “Hi. I’m SM.”

Stunned, Knight’s lookalike accepted her hand. “Uhm… I—I’m Midnight,” he greeted with hesitation in his voice.

“Nice to meet you.” She smiled politely at Midnight. “By the way, come by the café when I’m feeling better. I’ll pay for the day you worked there”

Midnight looked at her, his lips parted in shock. “Y-you knew it was me?”

She nodded. “Your voices sound different. You two smell different too.” Then she turned to the other stranger. “Hi. I’m SM,” she introduced herself and extended her hand once again.

The man accepted her hand then he bowed. “I am Cloud Beaumont Sebastian, a butler and a servant to the head of the house of Velasquez.” Then he smiled at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”

Knight grabbed her hand from the butler and pulled her close, hiding her behind him. She peeked at Cloud from behind Knight’s shoulder and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

Knight glanced back at her with irritation on his face. “Stop smiling at them.”

Cloud’s lips curved into a smirk. “My lord, so selfish of you.”

Knight got more irritated. “She’s mine.”

“Are you?” Midnight asked her with a smile. “His, I mean?”

She shook her head, which made the two laugh. Knight frowned.

“My lady,” Cloud said as he pulled out a chair at the dining area. “Please sit here. I will ready your meal this instant.”

SM nodded and stepped out from behind Knight to sit at the chair Cloud had prepared. She looked at Cloud as he readied her meal. His impeccable manners, the way his hand moved with grace, the way he stood and carried himself—he was like a butler from a movie.

“Enjoy your meal, my lady,” Cloud said as he bowed, with one hand on his chest.

She nodded with a smile and started eating the soup while looking at Cloud.

“Stop staring at him! You should only look at me!” Knight irritably told her. Then, he turned to his butler. “Cloud! Do you want to die? Go somewhere she can’t see you!”

“My apologies, my lord,” Cloud immediately replied.

SM shook head at Knight’s weird behavior. “Thank you for the soup, Cloud,” she said before glaring at Knight, her eyebrow arched. “You have a butler, but you’re my waiter. Are you pretending to be poor?”

“Nope.” Knight sat beside her, still annoyed. “I am poor.”

“Oh. Okay. The more reason you should work harder,” she told Knight. “Don’t keep being absent. I will really fire you, I’m not kidding.”

“Are you not gonna ask why he’s poor?” Midnight interjected. He was baffled at her indifference.

“Are you not going to ask why he’s working even though he has a butler?” Cloud added.

SM was about to answer when Knight was the first to speak. “Don’t bother you two. She won’t ask. That’s how she is.”

SM smiled because it seemed as if Knight was getting to know her slowly.

“And don’t even wait for her to ask about you. It’s not gonna happen,” he added.

Midnight looked at her curiously. “Aren’t you curious at all?”

“I am, but I’m stopping myself since it’s none of my business,” she explained before pointing at the cup noodles Cloud was holding. “Where did you get that?”

Cloud pointed at Midnight. “He’s the one responsible, my lady.”

Midnight grimaced. “I found it in one of your cupboards. Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it!”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to.” SM finished the soup that Cloud had prepared and drank water from the glass. “Thank you for the delicious food. I’ll have to go back to my room to rest some more. Feel free to cook lunch for yourselves.”

She stood and smiled at the three of them before leaving. Her movements were slow and careful, as she was still feeling weak. But Knight stood in her way.

“Let me carry you back to your room.”

SM nodded and rested her head against his chest. “Knight?”

“Yes, boss?”

“Thank you for the soup and for taking care of me.”

He smiled. “I thought you would only thank Cloud. I was about to get jealous.”

SM just smiled and closed her eyes. She felt each step Knight took until they reached her room. He laid her down on the bed, and she only opened her eyes when she felt him cover her with a blanket.

“Rest well,” Knight said with a gentle voice. SM nodded and closed her eyes.

“Rest well, Sweet Monday,” Knight whispered. She felt him kiss her on the forehead. “I’ll be back later for your medicine.”

SM’s eyes remained closed until she heard the door to her room close. A smile appeared on her lips as she drifted off to sleep.

Thank you, Knight. I promise to take care of you too.

CHAPTER 7

KNIGHT GENTLY caressed SM’s cheek as she slept soundly. She still had a fever even though she had taken her medicines. He let out a heavy sigh.

If this continues, I will bring you to the hospital tomorrow, he thought.

Knight continued stroking her cheek as he looked at her intently. He sighed once again. “I hope you get better soon. Don’t make me worry too much, Sweet Monday. It’ll drive me crazy.”

SM turned onto her side and held his hand that caressed her cheek. A smile spread across his lips when she felt her firm grip. She was mumbling in her sleep, making him smile.

“So cute…” he whispered with a smile, unable to resist kissing her on the side of her lips.

“Knight…” she murmured, still asleep.

“Are you dreaming of me?” He smiled and kissed her forehead. “I would love to stay by your side, but I’ll be tempted to kiss you. And I can’t afford to get sick, I can’t be weak—I have to protect you.”

With what happened today, he needed to prepare himself. His father would not only come for him—he would also come for SM. He didn’t know when it would happen, so he had to be prepared.

He would not let anyone hurt SM. He dragged her into his world; he should be the one to protect her from it.

Knight took a deep breath and slowly pulled his hand away from SM’s hold. Then he caressed her hair.

“Sleep tight…” he whispered before getting up and leaving SM’s room.

When he reached the living room, Midnight was the only one there, watching TV without sound. Cloud had left after they had dinner to follow his order, which was to gather information about the incoming Triad leader here in this country.

They had to be ready.

He sat on the single sofa that was facing the long sofa where Midnight was seated and stared at him.

“Can we talk?” he asked his brother.

Midnight immediately turned off the TV then looked at him. “I’m all ears.”

Knight took a deep breath. “Why call me Kuya earlier?” he directly asked. “What’s going on?”

“I’m tired already,” Midnight answered as he lay on the long sofa and stared at the ceiling. “I’m tired, Kuya. I’m tired of being alone. Maybe you won’t understand me because you have Cloud, but I… I can’t.”

“Night…”

“I don’t want to do this anymore, Kuya. I’m so, so tired of pretending every time. I’m done.”

Knight clenched his fists. “I’m sorry… if I still haven’t kept my promise to you.”

“We were both naïve back then.” Midnight whispered. “Look at us now… both bosses… but still powerless.”

Silence filled the living room. Neither of them spoke until Midnight broke it after several minutes.

“You’re not gonna accept me again, are you?” Midnight asked. “Maybe I’m already too late. I’ve been ignoring you for years because I thought you abandoned me. Even if you don’t say it, I feel it, Kuya. You don’t want me anymore. I’ve been reaching out to you, but you seem distant and—”

“I have to stay away from you, Little Brother,” he cut him off. “I never wanted anything more than to go back to the way we were. I miss the look in your eyes before—so much trust. But… if we return to how it was before, Father will take you away again. I’m sure of that. And I don’t know where he’ll take you this time… where he’ll hide you… so we have to be apart, do you understand me? To keep you safe, I have to pretend that I don’t care about you anymore. But even though I’m giving you the cold shoulder, I will always be your ‘kuya’ no matter what, you hear me?”

Night clenched his fists while his eyes were tightly shut. “Until when are we going to be like this, Kuya? I’m tired.”

He looked at the ceiling and took a deep breath. “Just give me time. I’ll do something. I promise.”

Knight looked back at his brother when he did not reply. He was surprised to see Night looking at him, with a glimmer of trust in his eyes just as before.

Midnight… he’s trusting me again.

And from that moment, he didn’t want to do anything that could ruin that trust again. This time, he wouldn’t disappoint his brother. He would do everything to get him out of his current situation.

“What are you planning to do?” Midnight asked as he sat up. “It’s not as if Father will let you do what you want.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

Night stood up, smiling, and approached him to ruffle his hair. It stunned him, as it was the first time Night had done that to him—messing up his hair as if he were younger.

“Don’t worry, Kuya. This time, I’ll hold you to your promise no matter how long it takes,” Night said, still ruffling his hair. “Just don’t abandon me ever.”

He nodded.

“Alright.” Midnight waved at him. “Gotta go. Take care of SM.”

His expression quickly turned sour. “You don’t have to tell me that!”

Midnight smiled. “Make sure she’ll be okay. She’s the first woman who can differentiate me from you. I like her—”

“She’s mine!”

“We both know she’s not.” Midnight waved his hand again before finally walking out of the house.

Knight frowned. That twerp liking SM, my ass! My boss is mine!

But he knew Night wasn’t kidding. SM was the first outsider who could tell them apart. If it was a big deal to him, it was a big deal to Night as well.

He would give his brother everything, but not SM.

Not my Sweet Monday.

Knight sighed before locking the door and windows. When he returned to SM’s room, he found her still asleep. Her fever hadn’t gone down. The medication he gave her seemed to have not taken effect yet.

Fuck!

He refilled the basin with water and gently wiped SM’s face, neck, shoulders, and arms with a damp cloth. He didn’t stop until her fever had come down a little. Hours had passed, but he didn’t feel tired. He continued to take care of her.

“You’re gonna be okay…” he whispered to SM when he saw pain etched on her face. “You’re gonna be okay…”

But SM remained restless. Along with the apparent pain written all over her face, tears started to flow from her eyes.

“SM—”

“N-no…” she cried heavily. “N-no… n-no… s-s-stop h-hurting me… stop! Stop! S-stop! No! I don’t know anything! S-s-stop… p-please… stop… p-please… stop… stop…”

Knight wiped her tears as she begged in her sleep. “It’s okay… I’m here… I’m not gonna hurt you… SM… wake up. Wake up!”

But she wouldn’t. Her tears kept on streaming down her cheeks.

“SM, it’s okay… I’m here…”

SM started thrashing, murmuring, and crying as she kept on pleading to whoever was hurting her in her nightmare to stop. She was begging… pleading. And all Knight could do was lie on the bed with her and hug her as tight as he could while caressing her hair down to her back while whispering, “I’m here,” in her ear over and over.

When she finally stopped crying and thrashing, Knight breathed a sigh of relief. He dried her face and kissed her forehead. Thank God.

“K-Knight?”

SM woke up. When he realized that his arms were still wrapped around her, he pulled back and gave her some space.

“Boss, thank God you’re awake!” he happily exclaimed when she woke up, then he realized their position. “Sorry about our position, Boss, I was just trying to calm you down. I’ll get up now.”

As he was about to get up from bed, SM grabbed his hand. It was only then that he noticed that she was cold and trembling.

“S-stay…” she pleaded. “I’m… I-I’m—”

“I’m here,” Knight said, clasping their hands together. “I won’t leave.”

SM looked relieved when he returned to lie on the bed.

“I’m sorry,” SM whispered. “I’m just… just…”

Her words faltered. She couldn’t express what she felt, but he could see it—the fear in her eyes.

Knight smiled. “Can I hug you to help ease your fear? If it’s okay, that is. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna do anything to you. Just a hug.”

SM fell silent. She looked down at their intertwined hands before moving closer to him.

Knight rested her head on his arm and pulled her into an embrace as he kissed her forehead. “Rest now. I’m not leaving.”

SM nodded as she pressed her body against his. Knight could feel her body shivering, her hand cold and sweating.

She was really scared.

He took a deep breath and tightened his embrace around her.

I’m here, Sweet Monday. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered. He closed his eyes until he gradually fell asleep.

SM’s EYES twitched when light hit her face. She slowly opened her eyes and then yawned, still feeling sleepy. She felt better now—though still unwell, but at least it was not as bad as yesterday.

Her eyes turned to the person sitting next to her holding her hand. Knight.

He really didn’t let go of her hand. Even in his sleep.

She smiled tenderly as she looked at his handsome face. He really took care of her since yesterday.

She was thankful. She was sickly and vulnerable last night; she even had a nightmare. But Knight had taken care of her well. He didn’t take advantage of her weak state.

She lifted her free hand and gently caressed Knight’s cheek. But only after a few strokes, Knight woke up. She was startled but also couldn’t help but smile.

“Are you captivated by my handsomeness?”

But instead of feeling awkward around him because they hugged last night and were sleeping next to each other, she felt at ease and happy.

She stroked the lids of his closed eyes. “Yes, but maybe it’s just my fever making me imagine things.”

Laughing, Knight opened his eyes and gazed intently at her. “Good morning, Sweet Monday.”

She smiled back and teased him. “Good morning, my lord.”

Knight’s lips parted as his eyes glowed with desire. “Don’t turn me on, Boss. It’s already hard as it is.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Go take care of it then.”

Bewildered, Knight just stared at her. “Boss, do you know how hard it is to jack off in someone else’s bathroom?”

Her lips parted. She pulled the blanket to cover her now flushed face. “What I mean is a cold shower!”

“Oh.” Knight laughed. “I misunderstood.”

“Knight!” She removed the blanket from her face and glared at him. “Stop being a pervert! This is the second time! Do you think I didn’t hear what you said when we were in the café, there in my office? You said something perverted too!”

Knight laughed. “It was true! I was hard, even now—”

“Too much information!” she hissed at Knight.

Knight laughed again. “You’re so cute when mad… but I’m really hard—”

“Knight!” She pulled her hand from his grip and started punching him. “I will kick your ass, you pervert! Get off my bed. Get off!”

Knight kept on laughing like a fool as she punched his arm.

“I yield! I yield!” Knight shouted as she continued hitting him. “I yield, Boss! I give up! Your fever could worsen again. Boss… boss!”

“Then stop saying things like that—”

“But I. Am. Hard! I don’t want to lie to you—”

When her punches were starting to hit harder, Knight caught her arm. In the blink of an eye, he was over her, pinning her down, his hands on either side of her head.

His lips were so near hers. So near that something inside her stomach twisted and fluttered.

She was about to push Knight away when the door of her room opened. Someone she didn’t expect to enter her house walked in. He was a stranger after all.

Cloud Beaumont Sebastian. Knight’s butler.

He carried a tray with breakfast. He was not showing any surprise, seemingly unaffected by Knight and SM’s position. He just placed the tray on the bedside table and then bowed at them.

“This is your breakfast, my lady,” Cloud said, his head still lowered. “Together with your medicine.” Then he looked at Knight. “While you, my lord, please come down to the dining table. You’re not sick.”

She blinked in surprise when Cloud just left the room before she and Knight exchanged glances.

“Your butler is very professional,” she commented.

“Yeah,” Knight agreed then smiled. “By the way, good morning again, Boss.”

After greeting her, he kissed her deeply on the lips. He had already gotten off her and had run out of the room before she could even react.

She let out a heavy sigh and then touched her lips.

I’m getting used to his kisses… And if she was being honest, she quite liked it.

AFTER SM had finished eating breakfast, she went to her kitchen downstairs and was absolutely shocked that all her groceries, which were supposed to be for two weeks, were gone. Her instant coffee packs, easy-to-prepare meals such as instant noodle soups and stir-fried noodles, nuggets, canned meat, and many more—they were all gone!

Cloud, Knight, and Midnight—the three men responsible for all that—were sitting side by side on the long sofa in the living room of her house with their heads hung low.

“How did you guys use up all my groceries?” she asked the three in disbelief while sitting on the single sofa facing their guilt-stricken faces. “I was only sick for a day, and you used it all up?”

She flinched when Knight suddenly stood from his seat and kneeled in front of her. “I take all the responsibility, my lady. I was so fascinated with instant noodle soups and stir-fried noodles, nuggets, and canned goods that I cooked them all.”

She frowned. “Do you not have that in your own homes?”

Knight shook his head. “I didn’t even know that such things exist.”

“The noodles are fascinating and so easy to cook. Back in the palace, I have to make our own noodles that’ll suit my lord’s taste buds. And the nuggets, I also have to make them, cut them, season them before cooking. But here, you already have them ready-made! Such thinking! And don’t get me started with the canned goods. They are by far tasty and so easy to cook. And I learned from Midnight that they’re also cheap.”

SM massaged her temples before looking at Midnight, who seemed to be the most normal among the three. He was unlike Knight and Cloud, which probably meant he didn’t grow up in the same household with Knight.

He shook her head. “It’s not cheap. For you, maybe. But for commoners like me, they’re pricey.”

Cloud looked at her. “Pricey? How much is the canned corned beef?”

“Forty to eighty pesos—depends on how much.”

Cloud was so shocked, his mouth fell open as if he had seen a ghost. “Holy mother fucker—it’s very cheap indeed! While I have to buy premium meat from abroad worth ten thousand to make ground pork.”

She gaped. “Ten thousand?”

“Yes, my lady.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “Wow… I never felt so poor in my life.”

Midnight tsked. “That’s why you two are broke.” He, too, shook his head.

“I feel ashamed.” Cloud’s shoulders slumped. He was visibly glum.

“Well then, from now on, we’ll buy from the grocery store where SM shops,” Knight declared, which made SM shake her head. “Premium meat is good, but canned goods are also good. What do you say, Cloud?”

Cloud’s posture straightened, as if he had been revived. “Yes, my lord. From now on, I shall only buy commoners’ food to save money.”

She closed her eyes and leaned back against the sofa. She had just recovered, but if this continued, she might get sick again because of the three.

“I feel better now,” she said. “You can now leave. Thank you for taking care of me and for using up all my groceries.”

“No. We should replace all the food we ate,” Knight said as he stood up and approached her.

And that was how SM found herself entering the grocery store where she would usually buy her food fifteen minutes later… with the three sources of her headache beside her.

But she was surprised to see Midnight wearing a black mask. He was also wearing a cap, as if he was hiding.

Does he not want others to see him? Must be.

SM let the three men do whatever they wanted. Cloud grabbed a huge pushcart, while Knight took a smaller one. Midnight walked quietly beside her. Both of them were behind Cloud and Knight, who were pushing their carts and putting groceries into them.

She turned to Midnight and asked, “Are you okay?”

He nodded silently.

He didn’t look fine. Not only did he seem to distance himself from Knight when they entered the grocery store, but he also covered his face.

“How can you tell?” Midnight suddenly asked in return, which made her turn to him again.

“How can I tell what?”

“How can you say that it’s me and not my brother?”

“Oh, that?” She shrugged. “You two are different. I mean, yeah, you look alike a lot, but you have differences. The way you two talk and the tone of your voices when excited or when bored are very different. Even your expressionless faces are different. I just noticed yesterday, that you two smile differently.”

Midnight just stared at her while she explained before he spoke. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-seven,” she answered.

“We’re not far apart in age. I’m just a few years older than you.” Then he smiled. “By the way… I like you.”

SM blinked at Midnight because of his bluntness. “You… like… me?”

He nodded. “You’re the first woman who can differentiate me from my brother. That makes you special to me.”

With her mouth open, SM just nodded. “That’s nice… uhm, thank you, I guess… but…” Her eyes seemingly searched for Knight, whom she saw arguing with Cloud about what kind of canned goods they should buy. “I think I can’t like you that way.”

“I know.”

She quickly turned to Midnight. “Then why say that?”

“I just want to get it off my chest.” He then winked at her. “And I’m not kidding.”

She smiled and replied, “Okay. If you say so—”

“SM,” Knight called out to her before glaring at his brother. “Stop talking to my boss. She’s mine!”

Midnight sighed. “She’s not yours,” he told Knight.

“Not. Yet,” Knight argued as he pulled SM closer to him and away from Midnight.

SM just let him be after signaling Midnight to follow.

“My lady, how’s this?” Cloud asked, who was holding a canned tuna. “Is this good?”

SM looked down at his pushcart. There were so many canned goods. “Wow… you sure bought a lot.”

“It’s very cheap!” Cloud looked so pumped and, gesturing to their pushcarts, he added, “We got everything we had eaten at your house in the pushcart. Is everything here?”

SM nodded. “Seems like it. Thanks.”

Cloud bowed at her before pushing his cart toward the meat section, obviously excited while shopping. Midnight approached him and helped him pick out meat

Meanwhile, Knight stood beside her. “Are you feeling better?”

SM nodded. “A little more rest, and I’ll be back to normal.”

“That’s good.” He glanced at her. “From now on, take care of yourself. Don’t make me worry too much. I might go nuts.”

She smiled as she nodded. “Thanks again for taking care of me.” Then, she tiptoed and reached for his cheek to kiss it. “Thank you.”

Knight frowned at her. “Is that a thank-you kiss?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

Knight shook his head. “That’s a very wrong thank-you kiss. You should’ve kissed me on the lips instead. That’s how you do a proper thank-you kiss.”

She rolled her eyes. “Who are you kidding?”

“I’m telling the truth,” he insisted. “Anyways, this is just a heads-up, Boss. When you’re feeling much better, I’ll start flirting with you. That means, expect that I’ll be kissing and hugging you all the time.”

“I think I don’t want to get better now,” she mumbled.

Knight chuckled. “Don’t say that. I’m looking forward to it, and I can’t wait to kiss you again and again.”

SM glared at him. “Do you want to get beaten up?”

Knight shrugged. “Fine, I’m used to it.”

That made her pause. What did he mean when he said he was used to being beaten up?

She sighed, feeling like she didn’t want to punch him anymore. Those cuts on his back… maybe something horrible happened to him. She didn’t want him to ever remember that pain. Even though her punches might not be as painful, pain is still pain.

Anyways, kissing him wouldn’t be so bad at all. His lips felt soft and his breath smelled good.

These were SM’s thoughts until they finished paying their groceries and returned to her house. Cloud only walked them to Knight’s taxi then left, while Midnight would go straight to Knight’s house.

And as they stood in her kitchen, Knight approached her.

“Boss?”

She looked up at him. “Hmm?”

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, like a gentleman.

She shook her head. “I’m still sick. You might get infected.”

“Can I hug you then?”

To this, she nodded.

Knight immediately encircled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He held her for a few seconds before he spoke.

“Boss?”

“Hmm?” she hummed.

His lips pressed just below her ear before whispering, “Te quiero.”

CHAPTER 8

TE QUIERO means “I like you” in Spanish. SM learned this after searching on the internet to find out what Knight meant. Some articles said that it meant “I want you” as well. Te quiero is like the lighter version of te amo , an affectionate confession but not as deep as te amo .

It was as if saying “I like you” to someone, romantically speaking.

She sighed heavily. Knight could’ve told her that he liked her in a language she understood instead of making her research what it meant.

But why did he like her anyway? She had not done anything that would make him like her, and there was nothing special about her either. If so, then why?

He keeps on kissing me though… she thought. Does he want the same thing as other men? Sex?

She glanced at the bathroom door in her room.

Knight had cooked their dinner. He could actually cook, but only a handful of recipes; his cooking wasn’t as good as his butler’s, though it was acceptable. After dinner, she went to her room to rest, and he followed. To her shock, he said he was going to shower in her bathroom.

She told him there was another bathroom downstairs, but he was stubborn and insisted on taking a shower in her bathroom—in her personal bathroom! He really didn’t listen.

She just shook her head and leaned back against the headboard while sitting at the head of her bed. She was reading a book, passing the time while waiting for Knight to come out of her bathroom.

She had finished reading a few pages of the book when the bathroom door opened. Her eyes instantly focused there, and she could not help but stare at Knight. He was topless and only wore a rugged pair of jeans.

“Don’t do that in front of me,” she complained despite his well-defined physique.

“Boss, didn’t I say I’d seduce you?” he said.

SM shook her head. But when Knight walked toward his bag to get some clothes, she was taken aback—because he was facing away from her, she could clearly see his back covered with scars.

Some were old, some were new.

Her hands trembled while she looked at Knight’s back. The pain he might have felt because of those scars… the pain… the pain must have been too much! she thought. The scars on his back—these must be the reason he has a high pain tolerance!

She felt pity for Knight and fury toward the person who hurt him like this. And she even punched him. I’m so sorry, Knight.

SM quickly returned her gaze to the book she was reading after Knight finished dressing up. He turned to face her, but she acted as if she didn’t see anything. Surely, he wouldn’t want her to see those scars just like how she wouldn’t want others to see hers.

But when Knight picked up the book she had been holding and tossed it to the foot of the bed, she had no choice but to look at him.

“What are you—”

SM stopped speaking when Knight knelt beside her, his hands pressing against the headboard, caging her with his arms as his face moved closer to hers.

This closeness… this should be suffocating for her, but she was beginning to get used to it. Being cared for by Knight while she was sick had made her comfortable with him around. And she actually liked this closeness because she could smell his scent. How can he smell this good?

“You’re not pushing me away,” Knight observed, his eyes fixed intently on her.

She shrugged. “What’s the use? With how persistent you are, we’d just end up in this same position.”

“True.” He chuckled sexily. “But I’m glad you’re not pushing me away.”

She stayed silent while looking straight into his deep eyes.

“Did you hear me earlier?” Knight asked a few seconds had passed. “ Te quiero … I’m telling you I like you.“

“I know. I looked it up.”

“And your response?” he asked, his face drawing closer to hers.

“What do you want me to say?” she asked, her forehead creased.

“Tell me you like me too.”

“That’s not possible.”

He paused, surprised. “You don’t like me? But you let me kiss you,” he pointed out. “Am I misunderstanding the emotions I see on your face? You see, I’m good at reading people, and I can read that you like me too.”

So much confidence, she thought, but meeting his gaze, SM answered, “I don’t know you well enough, Knight. I only know a few things about you. I just assume that confessing to me that you like me means you want to have a relationship with me, but I can’t right now. I have more important things to do than be in a relationship with someone—”

“I’ll court you,” he said, cutting her off. “Whether you like it or not, I’ll court you.”

“Did you hear a word I said—”

“I can hear you loud and clear, Boss, but…” He gritted his teeth. “I don’t care. This is my first time being selfish, so I’m doing this all the way. I want you, and if you don’t want me as much as I want you, then I’ll make you want me. I won’t stop until you’re head over heels in love with me.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Do I look like it?” Knight moved his face even closer to hers. “I’m serious, SM. I’m not letting you off the hook.”

SM blinked at Knight in shock. “You like me that much?”

“Yes.”

She swallowed nervously. “What if I can’t reciprocate your feelings? Yes, I like you, but I think my feelings are superficial compared to yours. And I told you, I don’t want to be in any relationship right now. I’m serious, Knight.”

“I’m serious too,” he replied with conviction. “Let’s see who’s more serious then.”

She sighed. “Knight—”

He pressed his lips on hers, silencing her. Then he slid his tongue inside her mouth, which shocked her and gave her a tingling sensation in her belly.

What the hell!

She closed her eyes shut as she felt his hands on his waist, his kisses growing deeper with each passing second.

He was kissing her like a man thirsty for water. His tongue moved as if there were a gold mine inside her mouth and he greedily wanted it all.

SM let out a soft moan when she felt Knight’s firm grasp on her chin while he sucked her tongue dry. She found herself grabbing Knight’s shoulders when he bit her lower lip, and it was as if her tongue had a mind on its own when it ran after his tongue and tried to imitate its movement.

“Knight…” she pleaded when their lips briefly parted, but Knight quickly smothered her lips with deep, longing kisses.

But this time, her tongue moved together with his. This time… she was kissing him back.

Their breaths blended together as their tongues intertwined and battled for dominance, sucking each other dry.

SM was burning in desire. Her arms were wrapped around Knight’s neck while she answered his kisses.

But it was Knight who pulled away first and then distanced himself from her. He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hands through his hair as he tried to catch his breath, exhaling loudly numerous times while his jaw clenched. He looked like he was in pain… like he was really trying hard to control himself from doing anything more than kissing her.

Her gaze turned to his back full of scars. SM wanted to comfort him… in her own way.

She approached him, kneeling, and then sat behind him. Her arms slowly wrapped around his waist from behind before her cheek rested against his wounded back.

He held her hands and intertwined their fingers. “If you keep doing this and being sweet to me, I will never let you go. Ever.”

SM tightened her embrace. “I didn’t mean to, but I saw your back earlier.”

Knight chuckled coldly. “It’s ugly isn’t it?”

She shook her head. “It’s not…”

“You don’t mind even if my back looks like hell?”

To this, she nodded. “I don’t.” Wanting to erase the pain from his voice, she decided to share one of her deepest secrets. “I have my fair share of scars as well, Knight. And they’re not ugly. For me… I’d like to think that it’s bravery. We’re both brave enough to survive after being scarred like that.”

Knight looked at her over his shoulder. “This is the reason why I like you. You always know what to say to me to make me feel better. I know this is normal for you since you are kind to everyone, but I can’t help but hope that I’m special to you. But I don’t really care if I’m not. I’ll court you until I become special to you.”

SM took a deep breath and nodded. “Fine, I like you too. Feel free to court me. I can’t stop you anyway. Might as well see where it’ll take us.”

“Boyfriend and girlfriend, of course.”

SM laughed. “How can you be so sure that we will end up together?” she asked, her brow raised. “Who knows, you might have an attitude I wouldn’t like.”

Knight paused and then looked away. “I’m a good guy.”

“We’ll see.” SM released him from her embrace before sitting beside him on the edge of the bed and resting her head on his shoulder. “You should rest. I’m going to rest too.”

“Can I sleep beside you?” he asked. “My insomnia doesn’t act up whenever I’m with you. It’s like you’re my meds or something.”

SM looked at Knight, skeptic of his intentions. “You just want to lie down beside me, don’t you?”

“That too.”

She chuckled softly. “So honest.”

He held her hand once again and started playing with her fingers. “All my life, it’s been nothing but lies, and I’ve been nothing but a liar. But I’m not gonna do that to you.” He looked into her eyes and added, “I will be as honest as possible.”

She lifted her other hand and gently stroked his cheek. “Okay, Mr. Honest, you can sleep beside me, but only for tonight. I know you haven’t slept enough because you took care of me. Tomorrow, you should go back home.”

Knight nodded happily before flopping onto her bed, making her chuckle.

SM lay down beside him and then stared at the ceiling until she felt Knight move closer, his arms wrapped around her waist.

She turned to him. “What is it?”

There was hesitation in his face, but he answered anyway. “Remember the first time I slept here? In your living room? The time I used your lap as a pillow and then carried you here to your room when I woke up?”

When she nodded, he took a deep breath. “I, uhm, I accidentally saw the scars on your back.”

“Oh,” SM replied, quite stunned.

“Are you mad?” he quickly asked.

SM stared at Knight. He seemed to want to be honest with her, which was nice.

“No. I’m not,” she said and then turned to face him. “I tried to hide it, but it’s okay if you’ve seen it. I saw your scars too.”

Knight’s jaw tightened. “I’m not you, so I’m gonna ask… who did that to you?”

SM clenched her fist at his question. It had been more than a year, but it still affected her. “I, uhm… uhm…” she mumbled. She couldn’t make herself tell him what happened.

“Never mind my question,” Knight said when he noticed SM struggling to find the words. “I think I have to earn your trust more before you can open up to me.”

She looked away before whispering, “It’s not really a secret. Almost everyone who knows me knows what happened. I, uhm…”

Her fists tightened, yet she tried her best to take a deep breath before finally saying, “I was kidnapped more than a year ago. They, uhm, held me for more than a month.”

When he didn’t respond, she looked at night, only to be taken aback by how dark and scary his face turned. He was gritting his teeth, and fury was visible on his sharp eyes.

“But I’m okay now,” she quickly said, smiling, trying to calm him down. “I, uhm, I’ll be okay.”

His hand gently traced the scars on her back, his face still darkened with anger. His jaw remained tightened. “Who did this to you? Do you have a name?”

SM shook her head. “It was always dark. I-I wasn’t able to see their faces, and I couldn’t name them either.”

She felt Knight’s hands tremble on her back. He was livid—she could see it.

“Knight, it’s okay. I’m okay now, I’m safe now. Calm down,” she comforted, stroking his cheek and smiling at him.

Knight nodded, but she saw him grit his teeth and his hands curl into fists. His eyes were closed as his jaw clenched. He was shaking in anger.

And maybe she was a bad person for being happy that someone was mad for her. That someone cared this much.

Oh, Knight…

SM leaned forward and kissed Knight on the lips before whispering, “Calm down… I’m fine.”

He opened his eyes. His lividness seemed to have faded, but she could tell and feel that he was still mad.

“I’ll make them pay.”

SM nodded, knowing he was saying that out of anger. “Okay… just calm down. Get some rest.”

But he just stared at her.

“Knight—”

“I’ll make them pay,” he repeated as he gently touched the scars on her back. “I will return what they did to you tenfold.”

SM nodded once again, smiling. “Thank you.” She squeezed his hand. “Get some sleep. We have work in the café tomorrow, and we couldn’t be late.”

Finally, he smiled. “Yes, boss.”

She shook her head. “Good night.”

“Good night,” he replied before kissing her on the lips. It was just a simple peck, but it made her smile.

“Seems like you’re getting used to kissing me, huh?” she told Knight. “You’re still courting me, remember that.”

He grinned and winked at her before finally closing his eyes, while SM continued to look at him as he slept.

He was a member of the nobility, and being romantically involved with him wouldn’t end well. She knew that much. Royalty belongs with royalty—that’s how the world works. Harsh, but that’s how reality is.

Someday, Knight will leave her.

It made her question herself. Why would she open her heart to someone who was bound to leave her anyway?

What am I even thinking when I agreed to let him court me? he thought. This will not end well. This won’t have a happy ending.

But why am I looking forward to being with him?

“WHERE IS Midnight?” Knight asked Cloud as soon as he entered his home. It was already 1:00 a.m., and he had just returned from his part-time job as a DJ in a radio station. He went straight there after dropping SM off at her house.

“In his room,” Cloud replied. “Sleeping. But you do realize, my lord, that it’s already one a.m.”

“Then why are you still awake?” Knight asked Cloud, his forehead creased. “And why the fuck are you sucking on a lollipop?”

“It’s good,” Cloud answered. “It’s one of the things we bought at the grocery, and I’m loving it. Actually, I’m almost finished with one pack. This flavor is nice, my lord.”

Knight shook his head before leaving his butler in the living room and heading toward Midnight’s room.

“Little Brother,” he called out to Night, who seemed to be fast asleep. He approached his brother and placed a small package wrapped in cellophane on his cheek, causing Night to spring up from his position.

“What the fuck!” Night shouted, his palm on his cheek. “What was that?! It’s cold!”

Knight laughed then handed the cellophane to Night. “I bought this for you.”

Midnight took and then opened the package. His face lit up when he saw what was inside. “Ice cream!” He grinned. “Hell yeah! Thanks, Kuya!”

Kuya. It’s so nice to hear that again. “Eat it before it melts.”

Midnight excitedly ran out of the room and went to the kitchen, while Knight headed to his room and took a shower. When he got out of the bathroom, he was puzzled when he heard his cell phone ringing.

At 1:00 a.m.? he thought. Who would be calling me at this hour? One of the lunatics?

But when he found out who was calling, he quickly answered the phone. “Boss?” he said with a worried voice.

“Kn-Knight… h-hey… w-why are you still awake?” SM’s voice was shaking.

“Boss, are you okay?”

“Y-yeah…”

“Why are you still awake?”

“N-nightmare.”

He froze. Was it the same nightmare she had when she had a fever? That kind of nightmare? She was trembling back then.

“I’m okay,” she continued. “This happens all the time. I’m not even sure why I called you. I-I don’t disturb anyone else when I get bad dreams before. M-maybe I just want to h-hear your voice, hoping i-it’ll calm me down.”

Worry consumed him even more. “Well? Are you calm now?”

“A bit.”

He clenched his fist. “Do you want me to go there?”

“No,” she quickly said. “It’s too early in the morning. Just go to sleep.”

“But you—”

“I’m okay,” she reiterated, reassuring him, though her voice still trembled a little. “Get some rest. Good night.”

“G’night.”

When she hung up, he got dressed and lay down on his bed. For minutes, he was staring at the ceiling, but he still couldn’t fall asleep. He even tried counting sheep in his head, but nothing.

It was his insomnia again.

He hated taking sleeping pills.

But whenever SM was with him, why was it easy for him to fall asleep? Was it because he was calm when he was with her?

At this rate, he’d be a zombie tomorrow. When was the last time he fell asleep? That was two days ago… in SM’s room.

Fuck!

He reached for his phone and was about to call Valerian, but Grace crossed his mind. He would surely disturb her if he called. It was okay if it was just Val, but Grace would definitely be woken up.

Double fuck!

He got up and left his room. It was nearing 2:00 a.m., but the house was still awake. Cloud was vacuuming the living room, while Night was eating ice cream in the kitchen.

“Cloud, I’m going out,” he told his butler.

Cloud nodded, still with a lollipop in his mouth, before closing the door where Knight had left.

Using his taxi, he went to SM’s house.

He climbed the gate once again and went around the right side of her house, where SM’s room was. Then, he sent a message to SM to check whether she was still awake.

To: Boss

I’m outside your house. Open the window in your room.

SM didn’t reply, but the wide sliding glass window in her room opened. He waved at SM, who looked surprised to see him.

“Stay there. I’ll come down—”

“No need,” he said before effortlessly climbing to her window. He was used to climbing buildings and stuff, so this wasn’t really hard to do.

Once Knight was inside her room, SM closed the window, her eyes widened as she glared at him.

“Where did you learn how to climb like that?” she asked, curious.

He promised himself that he wouldn’t lie to SM. He promised not to pretend in front of the woman he liked so much.

“I learned about it,” Knight confessed.

“You learned about how to climb houses?”

He chuckled softly. He then approached her and hugged her tight. “Are you okay? You still look pale.”

“I’m fine,” she whispered.

Her “I’m fine” was totally a lie. He could tell.

He tightened his embrace. “I know you’re not fine. Stop lying to me.”

SM didn’t say anything. She just hugged him back silently.

They stayed that way for a few minutes of silence until SM broke it.

“I don’t know why I’m being like this,” she whispered while still holding him tightly around his waist. “I often have nightmares, and I’m used to having them and getting through them before. But now… why am I depending on you to make me feel better? I’m used to being alone… Why do I need you to calm down now? I have lived my life for over a year without you. This isn’t fair.”

Knight pulled away a little to cup SM’s face and kissed her forehead. “You can depend on me anytime. I don’t mind.”

SM didn’t respond. She just stared at him… intently… and what she did next stunned him.

She tiptoed and kissed him on the lips.

It was the first time that she had initiated the kiss.

His lips automatically moved to return her kiss. Lips to lips. Tongue to tongue. Biting each other’s lips and sucking each other’s tongue and groaning together pleasurably. Even his hands were squeezing and caressing her waist.

He felt his length harden, his body responding to the heat. His mind turned blank. Only he could think about now was how good SM would feel underneath him.

Knight wanted to stop. He wanted to pull away… to get his hands off SM… but he found himself falling onto the bed, with SM underneath him.

His lips seemed to have a mind of their own, kissing SM fervently, moving down to her chin, kissing her neck and nibbling her skin, and then moving down toward the valley of her breasts.

I need to stop! Fuck!

He was forcing himself to stop, but then he heard SM’s soft moans, destroying the last bit of self-control he had left.

CHAPTER 9

SM DID NOT know what to think anymore—what exactly does a noble need from her? She thought it was sex that he wanted, like the men she knew, so she tested her theory. But Knight stopped.

He stopped—he just hugged her and said sorry for being weak.

She smiled while shaking her head as she recalled how tight his hug was. It had been three days since it happened, but she could still remember how he clung to her that night while apologizing for losing control.

But even so, she wouldn’t call him a nice guy yet. He might have stopped himself that night, but he was still a pervert most of the time. Although she could recall a few occasions where Knight was a gentleman, there were more occasions where he was crude.

A crude gentleman. It might be a nice combination.

“That’s six hundred seventy pesos, ma’am,” she told the customer who just finished ordering. She assigned herself to the cash register because Monet was on lunch break. After giving the woman her change, she saw Knight walking toward the counter.

“I’m tired,” he complained as he leaned over the counter facing her, his hand resting on his chin. “Can I kiss you? I need my Sweet Monday vitamins.”

In response, she took a slice of chocolate cake from the display chiller and placed it in front of Knight. “Here. Your vitamins.”

Knight sighed heavily. “I guess this will do.”

She shook her head as Knight took the small plate with the chocolate cake and turned to step inside the counter, approaching her.

“What are you doing—”

The ganache covering the cake was still a little soft and wet, so when Knight dipped his finger, the ganache immediately coated his fingertips.

What he did next stunned her.

He stroked his finger covered in ganache along the side of her neck, causing some to transfer there.

But what he did next was more shocking than the first one.

Knight leaned into her neck and licked the ganache off.

SM quickly touched the part of her neck that Knight had licked and faced him with her eyes wide open. She could feel her cheeks heating up, her heart pounding loudly, and a strange tingling sensation inside her.

It was only a quick touch of his tongue, but it already took her back to the time when he was kissing her neck that night. It felt good—so good that her inhibition flew out the window, so good that she felt her body being engulfed in flames. She wanted more of that feeling.

“W-what are you doing?” she asked, trying to hide that she was catching her breath.

“I just wanted to see if ganache tastes better on your body. Hmm… I was right. It’s more delicious.” Knight gaze lowered to her slightly parted lips. “Don’t look at me like that, Boss.”

“Look at you like what?” she asked, almost in a whisper.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Like you want me… you’re making it hard for me to control myself.”

Her fists clenched. She was ready to punch him for his provocations, but the image of his back full of scars crossed her mind, so she restrained herself; she didn’t want to hurt him more. Instead, she took a step back, away from him, and kept quiet as she calmed herself down from the effects of what he had done.

This man! One lick on her neck and she felt so flustered and bothered!

Knight, on the other hand, went back to work as if nothing happened. When their eyes met while he was serving food, she glared at him with a piercing scowl, which he responded to with a wink. She just shook her head, relieved that Monet’s lunch break was over.

SM went back to her office and looked at the calendar behind the door.

It’s today.

She quickly moved to the table where she placed the sponge cake she had been cooling. But the door to her office opened.

“Boss—”

“Don’t come in!” she shouted at Knight while she was busy designing the sponge cake. “Just eat by yourself. I’m not hungry.”

“SM—”

“Go away, Knight,” she demanded, driving him away, her eyes focused on the cake in front of her.

Thank God Knight listened.

SM used ganache as a double filling—and made sure it was creamy and delicious—and fondant to design and wrap the crown-shaped sponge cake. She smiled as she stared at her masterpiece in progress.

“Just the finishing touches…” she mumbled before using food paint to color the edges of the round cake. SM poured all her skills and her heart into making the cake, and when it was done, she felt proud.

“I hope he likes it,” she whispered to herself, smiling.

KNIGHT SLUMPED down on the sofa of his house and then stared blankly into space. He couldn’t even manage a fake smile. He didn’t just feel weak or lifeless; he felt scared as well.

Today SM wouldn’t even look at him. She didn’t join him during lunch break, which they would always do together.

Was it because of what he did? I couldn’t help it, he told himself.

Her neck was sexy as hell.

He was out of line. He was sure of that. But when he apologized earlier, she just brushed him off.

“My lord, are you listening to me?”

He looked up and saw Cloud in front of him. “What?”

Cloud let out a sigh. “I’m asking why you look upset and down.” He shook his head and added, “You look depressed actually.”

Knight sighed. “Cloud?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Is licking someone on the neck wrong?”

The butler grimaced at him. “My lord, the neck is a very intimate part of the body.”

“So, if I lick your neck, would you be mad?”

His butler looked at him flatly. “How would I know? I don’t swing that way.”

He released a heavy sigh once again and forced himself to stand. “You’re useless. Don’t talk to me.”

Cloud frowned. “You’re the one who asked, my lord!”

Knight ignored him and walked out of the house where he saw his brother at the door.

“Night?”

Midnight blinked at him. “Yes, Kuya?”

“If I lick your neck, would you be mad?” he flatly asked.

Midnight raised his brows. “You gay? No worries, I will still accept you.”

Knight sighed heavily. “I’m surrounded by idiots.”

He passed by his brother and then headed to Valerian’s house. While doing so, he sent a message to their group chat.

“Hi, Grace,” he greeted. He smiled at Val’s wife as she opened the door for him.

“Knight!” Grace welcomed him with a smile. “It’s nice to see you again. Come in.”

“Where’s Val?” he asked as he walked in.

“In his study,” Grace answered. “Just go there. I’ll bring you some snacks.”

His body shivered. “Y-you didn’t cook the snacks, did you?”

Grace just laughed and left him in the living room. Knight shook his head and took several deep breaths. Val’s wife could cook now, but thanks to her cupcakes before, he was still traumatized.

They were hell!

His skin crawled as he remembered what he had gone through because of Grace’s cupcakes. He shook these thoughts off. Never again! So traumatic!

He knocked on the door of Valerian’s study first before entering. “Best friend?”

“I don’t have a Spanish best friend. Y’all are invaders and tyrants!”

Knight only smiled before sitting on the visitor’s chair in front of the table where Valerian was. “Val, I have a problem.”

Val’s gaze shifted from the report he was reading to his friend. “Whose neck did you lick?”

Knight’s eyes widened. “What! How did you know?”

Val showed him his phone with their group chat on the screen and then loudly dictated the message Knight sent. “If I lick your neck, would you be mad?” Val then glared at him in disbelief. “You’re such a fucking idiot. Whose motherfucker’s neck did you lick? You should’ve gone ahead and bitten it too, you asshole!”

Knight rested his elbow on Valerian’s table, his palm on his chin, then buried his face a few seconds later. “But her neck tastes so amazingly good.”

“What fucking are you, a fucking vampire?” Valerian tsked. “Read the replies of our horny-as-fuck friends so you could see them yourself.”

Knight adjusted his seating position and grabbed the cell phone in Val’s hand.

“Hey! That’s my fucking phone!” Val irritably retorted. “Use your own cell phone!”

“I’m too lazy to reach inside my pocket.”

Valerian just shook his head and let Knight be. Meanwhile, Knight proceeded to read the replies of his crazy friends. To his surprise, the name of their group chat changed to Iuhence is sexy and handsome.

He curiously looked at Valerian. “Why does our group-chat name change every time? Last month, it was ‘Lust after me.’”

“Because our friends are lunatics,” Valerian replied as he closed the folder of the documents he was reading. “Everyone wants to assign a name for our group chat, so Zapanta suggested changing the name every month. Next month, it will be your turn.”

“Woah… I forgot about that,” he replied as he massaged his aching temples. “My head hurts.”

Valerian frowned at him. “Have you been sleeping these past few days?”

Knight nodded before propping his elbow on the table and then resting his palm on his chin once again. “Two days ago, I think.”

Valerian tsked. “No wonder you look and act like a zombie. Why don’t you take some sleeping pills? Just for today?”

Knight shook his head and then proceeded to read the messages in their group chat.

Iuhence Vergara: @Knight, who did you 👅?

Lash Coleman: What are you, a dog? @Iuhence that’s a nasty tongue emoji you got.

Swindler 🔪 : Let’s make a bet if @Knight licked a woman or a man.

Lath Coleman: @Knight we know you’re a lunatic, but for you to lick someone? Are you in your right mind? @Swindler🔪 I bet it’s a male. No one woman can stand @Knight.

Swindler 🔪 : Why the fuck is there a knife beside my name?! And who changed my nickname again?!!! 😡😡😡

Cali Sudalga: 🤣 You chop stuff. It fits you well.

Swindler 🔪 : @Cali see this? 🖕🏻 it’s called füćk you!

Cali Sudalga: 🤣🤣🤣

Train Wolkzbin: I won’t place a bet, you dumbasses. You couldn’t even pay me personally, what more through chat?

Lander Storm: Let’s make an agreement.

Ymar Stroam: Like a form? One we can sign to make sure everyone pays? Deal. Let’s make it official. Because the people in this group chat are lying pieces of shit.

Tyron Zapanta: How much are we talking about?

Calyx Vargaz: Five pesos.

Dark Montero: Five pesos for a bet and we need to sign an agreement? Are you fucking with me?

Evren Yilmaz: Want me to notarize it? Come to think of it, having this notarized costs me more than placing a bet.

Khairro Sanford: @EvrenYilmaz Speaking of notarization, the document I had you notarize had incomplete details.

Evren Yilmaz: @Khairro, you only paid half of the total, so I only included half of the details. 😏

Dark Montero: @Khairro, you’re an extremely wealthy man and you paid only half for the notarization? Fuck, Sanford, you’re so cheap.

Khairro Sanford: 😒 That’s what you call a friendly discount. It should’ve been 20 pesos, but since we’re friends, I made it 25 pesos.

Knight sighed. Lunatics!

He sent a chat message using Valerian’s phone.

Valerian Volkzki: Well? Would you be mad if I licked your neck? —Handsome and sexy Knight here using Val’s phone.

Evren Yilmaz: Depends on the sex.

Lysander Callahan: If it’s a woman…

Dark Montero: Kissing a woman on the neck means I want to have sex with you. Vulgarly speaking.

Valerian Volkzki: 😱😱😱😱

Evren Yilmaz: And if it’s a man…

Lysander Callahan: It means you’re gay.

Dark Montero: Your lineage will be a waste @Valerian.

Calyx Vargaz: But either way, we will accept you if you say you’re now a part of the LGBT community.

Valerian Volkzki: 😑😑😑😑

Knight showed the chat messages to Valerian. “Val, look, they’re bullying me.”

Then, Phoenix Martinez sent a message.

Phoenix Martinez : @Valerian what the fuck?! 😱 you’re gay? Since when?! What did Grace say? Fuck!

Valerian replied with his jaw clenched, which made Knight laugh discreetly.

Valerian Volkzki : @Phoenix you imbecile! 🤬 Backread, you motherfucker! ⚰️ do you see this fucking emoji?! That’s a fucking coffin and I will put you there if you don’t backread right fucking now!

It was good timing when Grace entered the study, carrying a tray with cake and beer for them.

“Mooncake!” Valerian immediately hugged Grace after she placed the tray on the table. He then made her read their chat messages. “Look! Read this! How could he think that I’m fucking gay?! I impregnated you!”

Knight tried to stop himself from laughing but failed when Grace laughed after reading their conversation.

“Oh, my poor husband,” Grace said while caressing Valerian’s cheeks. Her husband was still sour about it. “Don’t mind them. They’re just joking, you know your friends.” Then, to Knight, she answered, “There are three kinds of women, so it depends on what type she is. First, the wild women who will kiss you back. Second, the innocent women who will blush. Third, the women in between who will punch you or run away.”

Knight raised his brows. “And where did you get that?”

Grace grinned. “From Czarina.”

“Ymar’s weird wife?” Valerian and Knight asked in chorus.

Grace nodded. “Czarina is a kind woman. She’s just a little weird, but she’s nice.” She then stroked Valerian’s hair and added, “She even told me about the sex positions. Didn’t you love them when we were trying them out?”

Valerian coughed up the coffee he was sipping, and Knight almost choked on the beer he was drinking.

Grace was still innocent sometimes.

Knight grunted. “I’ve always been saying that there’s no such thing as too much information, but this—this is fucking too much. I’m out of here! Thanks for the cake, Gracey.”

“Don’t call my wife with cute nicknames!” Val shouted.

“Knight, your cake!” Grace called to him. “You haven’t eaten it yet—”

“I might get a stomachache,” Knight said with a laugh.

“Knight!” Grace glared at him. “Come back here!”

He laughed it off and rushed out of Valerian’s house. While walking back to his house, he recalled SM’s reaction earlier—she took a step back… away from him.

Was it because she knew the meaning of a kiss on the neck? But it wasn’t a kiss… it was a lick!

Holy fuck! If kissing on the neck meant “I want to have sex with you,” then a lick on the neck meant much more than that?

He was too focused on his work and other personal matters to pay attention to things like this. Besides, it was not as if he was a womanizer. He didn’t date either. When was the last time he had been with a woman? He couldn’t remember.

He avoided women altogether because his mind was already jaded. He had so many what ifs. What if the woman was sent by the Triad? What if she was a spy? What if she was an assassin paid to kill him?

SM was the only woman whom he allowed to enter his world. She unknowingly entered his life and effortlessly invaded his heart.

Remembering SM distancing herself from him made him feel like being doused with icy water. His body stiffened. So, she was under “the woman in between” type that Grace was talking about.

I bet she’s mad. Fuck! He should say sorry again tomorrow—or tonight?

He stopped walking and reached for his cell phone from his pocket. There were a lot of chat messages from their group chat.

Evren Yilmaz sent an attachment

Knight opened the attachment. He shook his head when he saw the agreement form they were talking about earlier.

He tsked. These lunatics.

Knight Velasquez: I licked a girl. Idiots.

Valerian Volkzki: 😒

Swindler

🔪

: 🥳

Lath Coleman: He’s now a grown man.

Calyx Vargaz: Someone has to treat us to bbq and beer.

Iuhence Vergara: You’re now a grown man @Knight. Lend me money.

Dark Montero: @Tryon Come in.

Tyron Zapanta: Welcome to Understanding Possessive Men’s Club. You may rest in peace, fucker.

He sighed and shook his head. “I feel loved,” he said sarcastically to himself. He was about to keep his phone when he received a text message from SM. His heart pounded fast as he opened it.

From: My Sweet Monday

Can you come over? Bring Cloud and Midnight with you. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.

Yep. He changed her name in his contacts.

Worry consumed him. Is she sick again?!

He quickly called Cloud to get his taxi ready while rushing back home. When he was by the gate of his house, his taxi was already there waiting. Cloud would drive, while Midnight was on the backseat. He settled on the passenger seat.

Cloud sped up the taxi toward SM’s house, nearly making the car take off.

“What did she say?” Midnight asked in a worried tone. “Is she okay? Is she sick again?”

“I don’t know,” Knight replied, feeling anxious. “She just wants us to come over! The last time we were in her house, she was sick, so I’ll assume that maybe she’s sick again! Fuck it! Why won’t she take care of herself?! Is she planning to make me go crazy by worrying about her every time?!”

“Don’t worry, my lord, we’re near,” Cloud reassured.

“Fuck…”

The three of them almost stumbled as Cloud hurriedly parked the taxi outside SM’s house. They didn’t even use the doorbell. They all climbed over the gate and ran toward the front door. They rushed inside and immediately searched for SM.

“Boss!”

“My lady!” Cloud called.

“SM!” Night shouted.

Knight was frantically looking for her when they heard a faint voice coming from the kitchen.

“In here…”

The three of them hurried to the kitchen, only to be greeted by confetti poppers.

They stood still in surprise, wondering what was happening, and stared at SM, who had a joyful smile on her lips.

“What’s this?”

SM smiled sweetly at him. “Happy Birthday, Count Knight Alastair Minrod Gutterez Velasquez!”

He froze as his eyes went to the dining table. Home-cooked meals. Beer. And his favorite—cake. Specially designed for him. It was a crown-shaped cake; on top was a man carrying a sword while riding a horse, like a knight from medieval times. A greeting was written on the side of the cake: Happy Birthday, Knight.

He looked at SM. “How did you—”

SM, still smiling happily, replied, “Your resume.”

He glanced back at the cake. Knight was happy but guilty at the same time.

Knight approached her.

“Did you not like it? Sorry,” SM said. “I wanted to surprise you. This was what I was working on earlier, which was why I couldn’t eat lunch with you.”

Silently, he approached her as he looked at the cake.

“If you don’t like fondant cakes, I made a triple Bavarian cake,” SM cheerfully offered. “Do you prefer that? I’ll get it from the fridge—”

“Boss.”

SM paused and stared at him. “Hmm?”

“I’m happy. I really am… But—”

“You don’t like the cake?” SM asked wryly.

He shook his head. “But it’s not my birthday today.”

The smile on SM’s lips gradually faded. “B-but you wrote in your resume that it’s your birthday today. I’m sure of it. I even marked the calendar in my office so I wouldn’t forget.”

“My birthday in my resume,” he said, feeling ashamed and guilty as he looked at SM, who made an effort to celebrate his fake birthday. “I just… m-made it up.”

Knight saw SM’s shoulders fall. “Oh” was all she said.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he hugged her. “I lied.”

After his confession, SM’s silence was deafening. He couldn’t bear to think that she might be angry. There was nothing scarier than SM being mad at him.

Fuck! I messed up!

CHAPTER 10

HER DISAPPOINTMENT was apparent. It seemed as if the lie crept through every part of her body, like a sharp knife cutting through her skin, piercing her heart. She couldn’t move because of shock from what she had learned.

Disappointed and embarrassed—these were what SM felt. But oddly, she was not angry. She knew he was lying all the time, but she didn’t expect that he would lie even about his birthday on his resume.

“SM, I’m sorry,” Knight said, stirring her thoughts. “I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to lie. I was used to it—to lying. It’s like my second skin, and I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…”

She freed herself for his embrace and then looked at the food she had prepared before turning to the three of them. And she saw it—the sympathy on Cloud’s and Midnight’s eyes. The guilt and shame on Knight’s eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she said, smiling. “It’s okay. It’s my fault. I should’ve asked you to make sure.” She gazed back at the cake. “We should just eat. Let’s not waste all this. Or do you want to take some home? You want cake? I can slice it for you. Oh, should I put some on… I mean should I—” Her voice cracked.

“My lady…” Cloud’s voice was full of sympathy.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to be like this.” She picked up the cake and then gave it to Knight. “Here… I, uhm, y-you can do whatever you like with it.” She smiled at him, even though she felt as if her heart was being squeezed. “You three can eat the food as well.” She laughed softly. “I-I’ll just be in my room. I feel sleepy. Feel free to eat…and please lock the door when you leave.”

She didn’t wait for their answer. She walked out of the kitchen and found herself running toward her room… where she could hide her tears. She didn’t want Knight to see her like this, so she made her bed and lay on it.

The surprise party… “It was an ‘epic fail,’” she whispered, her tears quietly falling. “I sh-should h-have a-asked…”

She had never felt this embarrassed all her life. Standing there with a smile, preparing all the food, and making Knight a cake—it was embarrassing because it wasn’t even his birthday.

All her efforts… failed.

Her fists clenched when she felt heaviness in her heart. There was a tight pain in her chest.

To feel this kind of pain because of one person… it’s terrifying, she thought as she leaned against the closed door of her room. She laughed as she stared at the ceiling.

I’m such a liar . Telling Knight that she might not like him like how much he liked her—it was a lie. Because if she didn’t like him as much, why was she hurting?

She heaved a heavy sigh before patting her chest, where her heart was. “Stop hurting and beating so fast at the same time,” she begged as if her heart could hear her. “It’s terrifying…”

“SM?”

She froze. That voice! Knight . He was outside the door while she was leaning against it, trying to calm herself.

“Don’t be mad at me.” His voice… he was begging. “I was raised and taught not to beg, but… I’ll beg on my knees if I have to, just please, don’t be mad at me. There’s nothing scarier in this world than you being angry at me. Sweet Monday… please?”

She closed her eyes shut. “I’m not mad,” she insisted, trying so hard to calm herself so her voice wouldn’t crack.

“Then come out and see me.”

She balled her hands into fists. “C-can it be tomorrow? I’m not mad, but… I don’t want to see you for now.”

Knight fell silent. SM thought he had left, but he suddenly spoke.

“June 1,” Knight said. “That’s my real birthday. It’s June 1. Do you hear me?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, Sweet Monday. I’m really sorry.”

“Me too,” she replied.

Then there was silence. Knight no longer talked. She couldn’t hear his voice anymore.

From sitting on the floor, she stood up and then walked toward her bed. She collapsed onto it before finally closing her eyes.

I hope Cloud and Midnight enjoyed the food I made . Even though it wasn’t really Knight’s birthday, it would all be a waste if they didn’t like the food she had prepared. She wanted to eat with them, but… she couldn’t look at Knight in the eyes. Their night might be ruined if she forced herself to join the group. So, she left.

She sighed before lying on her back and then staring at the ceiling.

Minutes later, she heard Midnight’s voice.

“SM?” He was outside the door of her room. “Is it okay if we take home some food? They’re all delicious.”

“It’s okay,” she answered. “Take care on the way home.”

“Good night, SM.”

“Good night.”

She didn’t hear footsteps walking away from her room, but it seemed Midnight had left. She finally closed her eyes, thinking that the three of them had left, and then blew a loud breath.

“So much for a good night,” she said and forced herself to sleep. After more than an hour of twisting and turning, she finally fell asleep.

When she woke up, it was already morning. But it wasn’t daybreak yet, so it was still dark outside. And because she couldn’t sleep, she decided to go downstairs to her kitchen and bake a cake to pass the time.

But she wasn’t even able to move a step when she got out of her room and saw Knight sitting on the floor, leaning against the doorframe. He was hugging his bent knees with his head buried in them.

Her eyes widened. Didn’t he go home with Cloud? Was he in her house the entire time?

Oh god!

She knelt in front of him, her face leveled with his as she held both of his arms. She was about to wake him up when Knight moved and looked up at her.

“Boss,” he whispered. “Is it morning already? You’re going to talk to me because it’s already morning, aren’t you?”

She rested her forehead on his knees before looking at him. “Why didn’t you go home?”

He shrugged. “I won’t be able to calm down at home, and I know I won’t be able to sleep either. So why go home?”

“You could’ve called me then.”

“You don’t want to see me, so I, uhm, I waited until”—he gazed outside the window by the hallway—“morning.”

She wasn’t mad about last night; she was disappointed and embarrassed. But seeing Knight like this… shit.

“Are you feeling cold?”

“A while ago,” he replied before smiling at her. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

She placed her hands on his cheeks, and she was stunned when she felt that his skin was ice-cold. She quickly grabbed a comforter from her room and then wrapped it around Knight before holding his hand and pulling him up toward the kitchen. She poured him some milk to warm him up.

“Here. Drink it.”

But Knight didn’t move. He just looked at her. “Are you still mad at me?”

SM stared at his face. He looked so stressed. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he looked pale. How many days had he not been sleeping?

“Drink this milk—”

“I’ve never felt this terrified,” he said while staring at her. “Nothing terrifies me more than you being angry at me and not seeing me anymore.”

But SM ignored what he said, pushing the glass of milk to him. “Drink this to warm your body, then sleep.”

“I can’t sleep so easily, remember—”

“I will be with you,” she said. She couldn’t leave Knight like this. “I will stay beside you so you can sleep.”

His face lit up. “Really? You’ll do that?”

She nodded. “Yes, so drink that so we can go back to the room.”

SM felt as if she were talking to a child. She could feel him hanging on to her every word.

She then held his wrist when he finished drinking the milk and brought him inside her room. She made her bed before telling Knight to lie down. But because she wasn’t sleepy anymore, she sat on the sofa instead.

“You should sleep,” she said. “You have to rest.”

But Knight stayed silent and awake. When SM noticed him intently staring at her, she placed the pillow on her lap and tapped it. “Come here. Sleep tight.”

Knight immediately smiled and rested his head on the pillow on her lap. To help him sleep soundly, SM combed his hair until she heard him snoring softly.

“Sweet dreams,” she whispered before leaning against the headboard of her bed. She had no intention of moving even an inch to avoid waking him up. Perhaps later, when he was in deep sleep. He had to rest, and if that meant staying completely still, then so be it. She didn’t know when the next time he would be able to rest or sleep after this. She needed to take this chance.

KNIGHT ABRUPTLY got up from the bed when he saw that SM was no longer beside him. Did she leave him? Did she go to work? He quickly looked at his wristwatch. It was 4:48 p.m.

“What the fuck?!” he hissed. I slept the whole day?!

He left the room and looked for SM. When he heard a faint sound of someone singing from the kitchen, he headed there. He was able to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw SM cooking. With wide, long strides, he approached her and then hugged her waist from behind.

“I’m sorry,” he greeted. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Sorry. Sorry.”

SM faced him, blinking. “What are you saying sorry for?”

Knight paused. “I lied, remember?”

“Yeah,” she replied, nodding. “And I told you it’s okay. I mean, it’s not okay to lie, but I know from the start that you’ve been lying about several things about yourself. I just didn’t expect that the birthday on your resume was a lie too.”

Knight stared softly at SM. Why did she understand him?

“Besides, I assumed you lied to me that time because we weren’t that close before,” she added, smiling. “So stop saying sorry. I’m already okay. You’ve admitted your faults, and I’ve thoroughly thought about it. Plus, you already told me when your real birthday is.”

Knight wrapped his hands around SM’s waist once again and then kissed her on the forehead. “Again… I’m sorry.” He buried his face on her shoulder. “I still have so many secrets… and all of them might hurt you. I’m worried and scared that you’ll find out about them soon.”

SM encircled her arms around his waist, returning his embrace. “I won’t ask about your secrets. If you want to tell me, if you think I deserve to know, then tell me at your own pace and time. I’ll wait. And if they’re too many, then one secret at a time. I will try my best to understand each one of them.”

He tightened his embrace. He wanted to hold on to her words, but he was scared. What if she runs away from him? Telling his secrets, baring his heart to someone—it was as if he was giving someone else the power to hurt him. And it was scary.

SM caressed his back. “Sit there and eat. I warmed up what I cooked last night.”

Knight smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God she was not mad anymore even after what happened. He sat on the dining table, smiling, observing her while she served food on the dining table. SM was a kind-hearted person. Nice and understanding. Meeting a woman like her was as if fate was giving him something to treasure after what he’d been through.

“My Sweet Monday…”

SM smiled at him. “Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For always understanding me.” He held her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her palm while gazing intently at her. “I hope you won’t get tired of me. I’m a very complicated man with so many skeletons in the closet. Please don’t let go of me.”

SM joyfully ruffled his hair, saying, “I’m not even your girlfriend yet.”

That made him chuckle. “Oh, I thought we’re already dating. I think in advance.”

SM shook her head as she laughed before getting him a glass of water. “You better eat. You slept the whole day.”

Knight nodded and then started to eat. While doing so, SM’s phone rang.

“Eli,” SM answered with a smile. “Stressed at work? You’re using me again as your stress absorber… Yeah, yeah… Now?” SM looked at Knight. “Sorry, Eli, I can’t. I’m babysitting.”

Knight glared at her, making her laugh.

“I’m available tomorrow, though. We can plan a staycation, if you like. But it’s your treat, rich lady,” SM teased. “You gotta slap the hell out of your lazy boss… Sure, sure, I’ll take care of it. Should I pick you up from your condo… Oh, you changed address? Why?… Aunt went home and wanted to see you?” SM shook her head. “Why are you hiding from your own mother?… Yeah, I know. I get it. See you tomorrow. Bye. Don’t stress yourself too much.”

After the call ended, she turned to him. “Want a cupcake? I bake red velvet cupcakes.”

He grinned. “Can I have a dozen?”

SM shook her head. “You really are just a baby.”

“Am I?” he asked as he continued eating. “I only get to be like this with you. And I only get to be crazy when I’m with my friends. I’m a totally different person when I’m not with you. Pretending is like my second nature, and sometimes, I don’t even know who I am anymore. Am I the crazy me… or the serious me… or someone different altogether?”

SM leaned over behind him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the side of his head. “The baby, the crazy, the serious you, or the different you altogether—you can be who you wanna be. I will always know it’s you.”

His heart pounded. A warm feeling spread throughout him. Is this what being accepted feels like? It feels good.

Knight looked at SM over his shoulder. Since her arms were still wrapped around him, her face was so close to his. He could smell her fresh breath, teasing him to bring his lips closer to hers. He gulped as he looked at her slightly wet parted lips. He was aroused, his manhood slowly hardening.

Knight took a deep breath and then returned his attention to the food he was eating.

Self-control, he reminded himself. Be strong . Don’t be weak even when SM is a walking temptation.

He cleared his throat. “So, uhm,” he said, changing the topic, “who’s Eli?”

“My best friend since high school,” SM answered before letting him go from her embrace. “Her parents are friends of my mom. She lived with us when we were in college since her mom needed to work abroad, so we became close. She’s like my sister, actually. Even though we have differences, we still get along.”

“So, she’s not as nice as you?” he asked.

SM laughed. “She’s only nice when she wants to, but she’s a good person. She is caring toward her loved ones. She’s also smart and reliable.”

Knight smiled because she was all praises to her friend. “I think I want to get to know her.”

SM smirked at him. “Don’t worry, you’ll get to know her. Once I tell her you are courting me, be ready to be interrogated. She’s Mike Enriquez, the reporter. She won’t stop bothering you until she gets the information she needs.”

Knight laughed. “I won’t mind.”

SM smiled at him. Their conversation continued until he finished eating. And while he was gobbling his dessert, SM was cleaning up the table. He couldn’t help but smile tenderly as she observed her.

He loved how caring she was. It felt nice that someone willingly wanted to take care of him. It felt good. Addictive.

After dessert, SM pulled him back to her room.

“Sleep again,” she said while making the bed. “I won’t be here tomorrow. Since I noticed that you’re having a hard time sleeping if I’m not with you, you better get some sleep now while I’m here.”

Knight smiled. He liked the feeling of SM doting on him. It momentarily made him forget all he’d been through and all that he had done.

He knelt on the bed and lay down, intertwining his hand with hers before closing his eyes. Knight sighed in contentment when he felt her other hand comb his hair.

“Knight?”

“Hmm?” he asked, his eyes already closed.

“You mentioned that you have insomnia. Then that means you have some pills to help you sleep, right?”

His grip on her tightened. “Yeah, but it has an overfatigue side effect on me. Though, my condition is not a normal insomnia per se. I couldn’t sleep because I always have nightmares. Nightmares after nightmares. It’s draining me.”

“Then why are you able to sleep when you’re with me?” she asked. “I’m pretty sure I don’t have superpowers to chase your nightmares away.”

Knight laughed and then opened his eyes to look at her. “I don’t know. Maybe because we’re meant to be?”

SM laughed. “You and your cheesy remarks.”

He smiled. Then, out of the blue, he found himself staring at her lips. As if drawn by a magnet, without thinking twice, his lips met hers.

But SM didn’t push him away. She welcomed his lips and returned his kisses.

His self-control was slipping away as his lips moved with SM’s. They French-kissed. Her lips felt so soft, her tongue tasted so good. He was losing his mind, and his hands were having a mind of their own.

His hand gently caressed her skin, down to her sensitive parts.

She did not resist. SM let out a soft moan, fueling the already burning desire inside him.

He was raging hard, his lips desiring to taste her more. His hands were craving her skin, her scent. But he clenched his fist and stopped.

His manhood was so erect. He tightly clenched his trembling fists, as he was filled with so much desire but he didn’t want her to think that he was only after sex.

Knight, who ended on top of her, buried his face on her neck. “Sorry,” he murmured. “I went too far. You should have pushed me away.”

SM caressed his hair as her arms were wrapped around his neck. “I will push you away if I don’t like what you’re doing.”

He stiffened. So, she likes what I’m doing to her?

His sex throbbed. He gulped. “Don’t tease me too much, Sweet Monday. It’s not nice.”

SM chuckled softly. “Who do you think always starts this that always ends up with us in this position?”

“Me.”

“Then blame yourself.”

Knight groaned. “Fuck…”

SM laughed. “Then sleep. This might lead to something else.”

But he didn’t listen to her. He didn’t move a muscle for a moment. He liked this position very much.

Knight tried to calm down, but seconds later, he found himself kissing SM’s neck like a hungry man. He ran the tip of his tongue on her skin like a thirsty animal. He was catching his breath while gliding his tongue down to her chest then biting her skin.

“Knight…” she moaned, her hands gripping her hair. Her body arched.

What SM said earlier kept ringing in his ear as he nipped her skin on the valley of her breasts—that she would push him away if she didn’t like what he was doing. But she didn’t, which was why he had the guts to lower his lips to her chest, his hand caressing her waist down to her bum.

Fuck! I don’t think I have the strength to stop this time.

CHAPTER 11

SM’S MIND was blank. No thoughts, just Knight. It was as if her body had a mind of its own while responding to Knight’s touch and kisses, purposely disobeying what her mind told her to do. Earlier, her mind kept on shouting to push Knight away, but she responded to his kisses and allowed him to touch and wrap her in his arms instead.

That was when she realized that there was no point in going against her body, which was aggressively reacting to everything Knight was doing. Her body would just betray her if she pushed Knight away—she knew that much.

So, she let go. She let her body have what it wanted. She let the heat of her body burn away the last of her inhibitions.

SM hissed when Knight sucked the skin on her neck, which would leave a mark, for sure. Then he did it again and again and again.

“Knight…” She crossed her arms in front of her neck to stop him. “What are you doing? Are you planning to cover my whole neck with kiss marks? People may see them. It’s embarrassing.”

Knight kissed her chin. “I don’t care. Everyone has to know that you have me.” His kisses trailed to her jaw. “Only me, okay? Don’t let any man do this to you. Just me… only me.”

SM was stunned. “That’s so possessive of you—”

“No. This is greed,” he corrected, then he kissed her ear, trailing his tongue to her helix. “I want you all to myself. Only me, Sweet Monday. Just me…”

SM stared at him. His eyes were desperately pleading. “Knight…”

“Just me, Sweet Monday.”

SM gulped before nodding. “Okay… just you.” Besides, he was the only guy she was comfortable with.

That put a smile on his lips. “Good. Don’t let any other man touch you or be close to you. Better yet, don’t talk to any man other than me. Only look at me. Your eyes should only be mine. Your smile as well. No—all of you are mine, understand?”

She chuckled softly and joked, “Are we already dating for you to state your demands like that?”

“Not yet, but we’ll soon be anyway. I’m just laying them down in advance,” he said before wrapping his thighs around her waist.

SM felt her muscles tremble as she felt his huge and robust manhood rubbing against her thighs.

Good gracious! Is that his…

She gulped and let Knight kiss her on the lips.

“Mine,” he whispered while pressing his lips onto her neck. “Mine and mine.” Then his lips moved to her chest. “And mine…”

SM helplessly wrapped her hands around his shoulders when his lips returned to hers, drowning her with passionate kisses. Her hands found their way to his hair, gripping every strand they could find, while their tongues intertwined. She was fighting back, sucking his tongue, biting his lips.

Her soft moans permeated her room when Knight went down her neck. He was biting her, trailing his tongue on her skin.

SM could already feel her body trembling, her breathing ragged, and her body burning with desire. With short, hurried breaths, she bit her lower lip when his lips moved down his chest, his hands now opening the buttons of her shirt.

It was as if his lips were fire, burning every spot of her skin that they touched.

He got rid of her bra. Her body gently arched. She panted—craving more, ached for more—when his tongue started making circles around her bare nipple. Lust filled her face.

His tongue feels warm… it feels good . God! She didn’t even want him to stop.

When it came to Knight Velasquez, she was weak—in mind and in body. Even her heart was weak for him.

This was the first time she allowed a man to do this to him. Only Knight.

She found kissing and being intimate with anyone uncomfortable before. That was why none of her partners ever lasted in the relationship. But with Knight, she didn’t feel uncomfortable or dirty. It felt good, and she couldn’t help but make erotic sounds come out from her parted lips.

“Ohh…”

She quickly covered her mouth to avoid making scandalous sounds, but Knight removed her hand.

“It’s okay,” he whispered as he bit her lower lip. “Moan for me. I like the sound you make.”

She clutched his hair when he went down her chest, but as soon as he bit and then pulled her nipple, she gasped and let out a loud moan, her hands suddenly gripping the sheets.

“T-that h-h-hurts…” But feels good at the same time.

He bit her nipple again before sucking and lapping it while a finger rubbed and teased her other nipple.

Waves and waves of pleasure shot through her belly at every lick of his tongue on her hard nipples.

She closed her eyes shut as his lips traveled across her shirtless torso. He sucked her breasts and licked her skin. He kissed every part of her body—her neck, shoulders, arms, legs—until he was back to lapping and sucking her breasts, down to her stomach and to her belly, where pressure was building inside it.

Oh god. SM was panting. She had no inhibitions, not even when Knight slid his hand inside her sweatpants. She knew he would now touch her down there, and the anticipation was killing her. She desperately wanted him to feel her, as she had been feeling a tingling sensation begging to be attended to since earlier.

Then Knight’s phone rang.

Knight groaned in irritation as he pulled his hand out from her sweatpants.

“Fuck…” He reached for his phone while he was still on top of her, still kissing her face, then answered, “This better be important, Cloud—”

He stilled as worry filled his face. “What?!” Knight hissed. “Are you okay—fuck! Stay right there! I’m coming to get you!”

Knight quickly kissed SM’s lips and covered her body with a blanket. “I have to go. It’s an emergency,” he said with urgency in his voice.

“Is Cloud alright?” SM worriedly asked him, who was already getting out of the bed.

“Don’t worry about him.” He sounded irritated. “I won’t allow you to worry over someone that is not me. You’re mine, remember?”

What’s with him? Being possessive all of the sudden?

“Call you later, Boss!” he said, breaking her thoughts.

SM was left in a daze. She then stood up and glanced at her bare torso as the blanket had fallen off the bed, her gaze lowered down to her chest.

“I wonder why didn’t I push him away… I already like him that much? Is this even just a simple like ?”

She let out a heavy sigh before picking up her clothes that Knight had effortlessly taken off her at the side of the bed and started wearing them again. She was still lost in her thoughts when she found herself touching her neck, recalling how Knight sucked and bit her there.

Did he leave a mark?

She hurriedly got off the bed and headed to the mirror to check. Her mouth opened wide after seeing red marks on her neck and chest, all of which were Knight’s doing.

“Oh, shit…”

Not just one, not just two, but a lot!

“Holy mother of…” Her lips parted even more as she checked herself in the mirror from head to toe. She couldn’t count the number of kiss marks that Knight had left.

That man… He was so possessive earlier. He kept on saying the word mine . Being that possessive was not healthy and scary, but with Knight, she actually felt safe.

She shook her head. I must be going crazy. I like him too much.

She continued on buttoning her shirt before sitting on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the emptiness in front of her as memories of what happened flooded her mind. She didn’t push him away and let him do whatever he wanted with her. Was it because she liked him too much?

SM took a deep breath and sighed. “This is bad.”

She collapsed onto her bed and stared up her ceiling. Really bad.

“WHY DO you seem not yourself?” Eli asked her. They were drinking wine in the pool of the staycation house they rented, their heads resting on the side. “You’ve been staring off into space.”

Knight didn’t return to her house last night, and until now that she was with her best friend, her mind could not get off what happened.

She sighed. “I’m just thinking of something, sorry.”

Eli sighed before facing her. “Let me hear it. I’m all ears.”

She looked at her friend before letting out a sigh and started to share about what happened last night—that she almost made love with Knight. A few seconds had passed after she told her story when Eli spoke. “So… in a nutshell, you are bothered by the fact that you didn’t push him away?”

She nodded and let out another sigh. “Do I like him so much?”

Eli gave her a deadpan look. “SM, you have a high IQ and a stable EQ. You don’t need me to tell you the reason why.”

“But I just knew him.”

Eli raised a brow at her. “Love moves in mysterious ways, right?”

“Does it?” she returned her question and sighed. “Eli, it’s too early for that emotion.”

“That certain emotion knows no time, Sweet Monday. You’re smart. You can figure it out yourself.”

SM pouted. “What should I do? What if he does that again—no, I’m pretty sure he will do it again.”

Eli sighed in defeat. “Don’t make it complicated, Sweet Monday. If you can’t push him away, then don’t. The decision is yours, not mine. Whatever advice I tell you, if you yourself can’t push him away, nothing will happen. If your body wants him, then be with him. Don’t make your brain overthink about your next steps because your body will most likely not listen to you, based on what you’ve said.”

SM fell silent, pouting. “It’s really bothering me…”

“Just enjoy…” Eli said softly as she brushed some of her hair strands sticking on her forehead “When was the last time you dated someone?”

SM had a sad look on her face.

“Because of what happened, you’ve become distant with people, especially with men. It’s only been months since you started coming out from your house after what happened. And now that someone can make you feel comfortable again, don’t you wanna grab the opportunity to feel that comfort?”

SM smiled when she remembered how comfortable she was with Knight. She even let him sleep in her house. She allowed him to work in her café, and he would always drive her home at night. She cooked for him and made him cake. She even responded to his kisses and embraces and let him do whatever he wanted to her body.

She couldn’t complain—no, she really didn’t want to complain. She liked the attention he was giving her from the start. When he recognized her voice—that was the beginning. And maybe she was greedy for wanting that attention to be solely hers too. For Knight to not stop liking her.

SM leaned down to the pool to play with water before glancing at her friend. “Would you like to get to know her, Eli?”

Eliza looked stunned. “Are you serious with him? I mean… that serious?”

She nodded. “He was the first guy I let in my house and in my life after what happened. That must’ve meant something right?”

“Right…”

“And I can’t shake off this feeling of familiarity.”

Eliza’s brows furrowed. “You know him?”

SM shook her head. “I’m sure I don’t know him—that’s why I didn’t think too much of it. I thought it was just a feeling. But now that I think about it, I trust him way too easily. It’s like my instinct is telling me to let my guard down. It’s not normal.”

Eliza burst into laughter. “In other words, he cast a spell on you.”

SM raised a brow. “You’re crazy.”

Eliza continued to laugh. “Damn! I have to meet this guy. I’m curious about him now. When do you plan on introducing him to me so I can start interrogating him?”

“I’ll let you know,” she answered before sipping wine. “Anyways, we’ve been talking about me since we came here. How about you? What are you up to besides your work that is always the source of your stress.”

“Well…” Eli drank her wine. “I met a scourge of society last week.”

She grimaced at the term Eli used. “A scourge of society?”

Eli nodded, her eyes narrowed. “He’s a friend of my boss. He’s asking a favor.”

“Oh… so you like this guy, don’t you?”

“Before.”

SM raised a brow, curious. “And now?”

Eli shook her head. “Not anymore. After he rejected my feelings? No way in hell!”

SM chuckled. “Oh. He’s an ‘I don’t feel the same way’ guy.”

Eliza nodded and clenched her fist. “He’s an asshole.”

“Just because he couldn’t reciprocate your feelings doesn’t mean he’s an asshole,” SM replied, laughing.

“Okay, then a pest. He’s a pest!” Eli shouted, while SM shook her head and finished drinking her wine.

She and Eliza were always like this. They rent a staycation home to talk and bond with each other. But they hadn’t done it in a while because both were busy with their respective jobs.

“Sweet Monday?” Eli called.

SM dipped into the swimming pool. “Hmm?”

“Mom came back empty-handed again.” Sadness fell on Eli’s face as she drank wine straight from the bottle. “She lied to me. She told me that when she returned, my brother would be with her. I know that I can’t remember my past very well because of what happened to me, but I know I have a brother, and I know that he will not just abandon me. Why is Mom always making a fool out of me? This shouldn’t be a surprise, but why am I still hoping that it’ll become true one day?”

SM swam toward Eli and got out of the pool to sit beside her. “Is that why you’re hiding from her?”

Eli nodded and rested her head on SM’s shoulder. “If only Mom would tell me the name of my brother.” She exhaled. “This is unfair. I can vaguely remember his face but not his name.” Eli groaned in annoyance. “This staycation has to chase my stress away, damn it!”

SM smiled tenderly “I hope so. But if you’re stressed after this, just call me. I’m here for you, you know that.”

Eli adjusted her seating position before glancing at SM with a teasing look. “No, I don’t want to. How will you have a lovey-dovey moment with your suitor if I call you every time?”

“You’re crazy.”

Eli laughed before her face turned serious. “Have fun with him, I’m serious,” she said as she looked into SM’s eyes. “I can see that he can make you happy, so stay with him. I want to see you happy again.”

SM nodded and then hugged her friend. “Thank you, Eli.”

Eli affectionately tapped her back. “Anyways, what’s the name of your lovey-dovey?”

“Knight.” SM smiled. “Knight Velasquez.”

Eli paused for a moment before looking at her. “Could you repeat that?”

“Knight Velasquez,” she repeated.

“Hmm…” Eli curiously said, her fingers tapping her chin. “His name sounds familiar. Where did he grow up?”

SM, surprised at Eli’s question, was stunned. “I, uhm, I d-don’t know.”

Eli widened her eyes at her, her forehead creased. “What! What do you mean you don’t know? Are you back to accepting everything and questioning nothing again? Tsk, you should ask! He’s courting you, so you have the right to know about it! Call him now and ask him about—”

“Eli, I don’t want to meddle in his affairs,” SM explained. “If he wants to tell me, then he will—”

“Bullshit.” Eli suddenly stood up from her seat and grabbed SM’s phone from the recliner and gave it to her. “Call him! Go! Then ask him!”

Eli could be very persistent if she wanted to, and SM was sure Eli wouldn’t stop nagging until she gave in.

She sighed in defeat and called Knight, even though she didn’t really want to. After two rings, he picked up.

“Miss me, Boss?” Knight said, his voice sexy and seductive.

Eli smiled at SM and gave her thumbs-up before whispering her demand, “Ask him now. Hurry!”

SM let out a loud sigh. “Knight?”

“Hmm?”

She had to force herself to ask, “W-where do you l-live?”

Knight, however, answered without hesitation. “House number zero-two-six, Bachelor’s Village.”

“Thanks,” she replied before ending the call and looking at Eli. “Are you now happy—”

“He lives in BV?” Eliza asked, curious and surprised at the same time. “The hell?! I thought he’s a waiter in your café?”

She nodded. “It’s a long story…”

“Is it now?” Eli narrowed her eyes. “We have all night, Sweet Monday.”

SM just grimaced at her as she was forced to share what she learned about Knight to Eli—information which she thought was okay to share. She didn’t mention that Knight had a younger brother named Midnight or that he was a noble. It was not her place to tell that to Eli. Even though she was her best friend, she needed to respect Knight’s privacy.

But after sharing what she knew about Knight, she realized she didn’t know that much about him.

I wonder if he’ll tell me soon. She was curious. But her attention shifted to her cell phone when she received a text message from Knight.

From: Knight

I’m going crazy missing you, Sweet Monday. Go home, please? I want to see you and be with you.

That put a smile on her lips. It was a simple message, but it made her heart flutter.

Yes. I like him too much, she finally admitted to herself before massaging her temples. And I want him to be solely mine and no one else.

She shook the thought out of her head. She never imagined that she had this kind of greed and possessiveness within her.

All because of Knight. Damn . I miss him.

CHAPTER 12

IT WAS EARLY IN the morning, but SM was already in the cold shower. Her body felt so hot. She couldn’t take her dream last night out of her mind. It was so vivid, it was making her heart race. This is not normal anymore!

Of all the dreams she could have, why that?

It was still clear in her memory—that Knight kissed and touched her body, and she moaned deliriously because of it. But it wasn’t just that. Something much more severe happened in her dream! And every time she would remember it, her cheeks burned.

“Oh god… is this what they call sexual frustration? But why would I feel that?” She looked up so the cold water from the shower would hit her face. “Having that lewd dream… What is happening to me?”

Was this Knight’s fault? For introducing such pleasure to her? Argh!

She dressed up after she finished taking a bath. She had not gone downstairs to the living room when she received a text from Knight,

From: Knight

I’m outside. Can I come in?

Her heart raced. How could she face him after her dream?

Dear God! she exclaimed to herself before letting out a loud sigh and then going out of the room. She couldn’t help it. They would have to meet each other, and there was no way around. She couldn’t avoid the circumstances, so she might as well face him.

She opened the door and greeted, “Good morning—”

But she wasn’t able to finish her greeting because Knight had rushed to her and kissed her on her lips, forcing his tongue into her. He leaned her against the door as he drowned her with passionate kisses.

She moaned as he sucked her tongue, licked her lips, and teased her mouth all over.

When Knight pulled away, she was panting, and her heart was pounding so loud. And when Knight looked at her and gave her a smile, SM was sure that something inside her melted.

“Morning, Boss,” Knight greeted as he showed her a paper bag. “I bought breakfast. Eat it while it’s warm.”

She stared at his handsome face for several seconds before responding, “Th-Thanks.”

Knight furrowed his brows. “Are you okay? You look bothered.”

Her entire face flushed when Knight met her gaze and then the dream she had last night suddenly came into mind. What he was doing to her in her dream was so vivid—he was in between her parted legs!

She quickly lowered her gaze and stepped back away from Knight. “Do you want coffee? I can make one from you.”

But she didn’t even wait for his answer. She went straight to the kitchen and made him coffee. In the middle of stirring, Knight’s strong set of arms encircled around her waist, his chin rested on her shoulder.

“Boss?”

“W-what?”

“I missed you.”

She cleared her throat to calm herself before changing the topic. “How’s Cloud, by the way? Is he okay?”

Knight didn’t answer her, so she continued to ask, “Is he doing okay? You said it was an emergency.”

When Knight did not answer for the second time, she looked back at him. She was astounded to see his face darkened, his eyes sharp. He was also gritting his teeth.

He was mad.

But slowly, his face lost its hostility. Knight let out a loud, harsh breath. “Fuck, I can’t believe I can be this possessive and greedy,” he said, scratching his nape. “Sorry, I just lose my shit when I’m jealous like this. I just want you to think of me and me alone, that’s all.”

SM lifted her hand to caress his face. “Possessiveness always comes with hostility. I trust you that you won’t hurt me, but I’m worried that you’ll hurt somebody else. It’s not nice, Knight.”

His face fell. “Do you, uhm, do you want me to… control it?”

She felt as if her heart was being gripped when she heard emotions in his voice. His face was expressionless, but his voice… the underlying tone behind his words… it was as if he was begging her not to control him.

When it comes to Knight, she’s overly sensitive to the tone and emotion hidden in his voice. Because even though the eyes are the window to a person’s soul, Knight had already perfected hiding his soul in his eyes. If she would only rely on his face and his eyes to read his emotions, she wouldn’t get anything.

SM smiled sweetly at Knight. “Just be careful with that emotion. That’s all.”

He looked relieved. “Thanks.”

“Coffee?”

Knight smiled and reached for the contents in the paper bag. “Monet told me that mango pies are your favorite, so I bought one. Let’s have breakfast together, Boss.”

Smiling, SM nodded. They enjoyed the mango pie that Knight bought and the coffee that SM made together while having a conversation.

“And she said she wanted to get to know you,” SM said, sharing what Eli and she talked about. “And she also scolded me for not knowing your address. I don’t want to tell her you’re from Spain. She even asked if I was back to accepting everything without questioning anything personal.”

Knight chuckled. “Looks like your attitude is bothering her as well.”

Her forehead creased. “Does it bother you that I don’t ask questions?”

Knight nodded before gazing intently at her. “I know why you don’t want to meddle with other people’s affairs, but sometimes, I think that you just don’t care about me, that you’re not interested. As for me, I want to know you, SM. I want to know everything about you. Every single detail.”

She smiled at him. “Then ask away.”

Knight looked… elated. “Okay… uhm, my first question is… where do your parents live?”

“In heaven,” she answered with a smile.

Knight was surprised, and a few seconds had passed before he could ask again. “When did it happen?”

SM sipped coffee before answering, “Last year.”

“How did they die?” Knight followed, but he quickly retracted it. “You don’t need to answer if you aren’t comfortable.”

Oddly, she was calm and comfortable talking to Knight about her parents. “They were murdered.”

Taken aback, Knight looked at her. It took him some time to recover from the shock. “Wh-who did it?”

“Car crash.” SM clenched her fists. “At least that’s what they want to convey, but I don’t believe it. They don’t even want to open the investigation, and they don’t want to accept our appeal on the case I filed in court.”

Knight’s hand reached her, wiping her tears away. SM didn’t even notice that tears fell from her eyes.

“Do you want me… to help you?”

She looked at Knight, surprised by his offer, but she was desperate for any help she could get. “How?”

He lowered his hand that wiped her tears and then intertwined his hand with hers before he stared into her eyes. “Would you let me help you?”

SM nodded. “I will accept every help I can get.”

“Then don’t cry anymore,” he pleaded, caressing her cheek. “I may not seem like it, I may be crazy and a baby most of the time, but I am Count Knight, and I can pull some impossible shit if I want to, Boss.”

Grateful, SM beamed at him before leaving her seat to hug Knight from the side. Knight immediately faced her to hug her back, his arms wrapping around her waist.

“My Knight in shining armor…” she joked while ruffling his hair. “Thank you, my lord.”

SM gasped loudly when Knight held her nape, pulling her head down to his face. Without a word, he captured her lips with a kiss.

Her response seemed automatic. She opened her mouth and welcomed Knight’s tongue and kisses. She could taste the coffee they had drunk as their tongues teased each other. Their mouths locked in a passionate kiss, and they did so fervently until they were out of breath. They pulled away panting, but their lips were still hovering over each other.

Knight held her chin. “Why is it that when you call me my lord, it turns me on, but when it’s Cloud, I feel nothing?”

She roared in laughter. “Should I be jealous of Cloud now?”

Knight chuckled. “Don’t be. He doesn’t swing that way… but, you know, Cloud is a gay magnet.”

She sat sideways on Knight’s lap. “Really?”

Knight nodded. “We’re always together, so I’ve witnessed it a lot of times. Good thing Cloud doesn’t get angry about it. They just let them be. He will just calmly tell the person that he’s straight.”

“How about you?” she asked while she fixed Knight’s messy hair. “Do gay men approach you often too?”

“Sometimes. It can’t be helped. With how handsome I am?” he joked as he shrugged. “Kidding aside, It’s okay, though. I mean, that’s their sexual preference, and I respect that.”

She gazed at him tenderly and caressed his cheek. “And I like you more for that.”

Knight tightened his arms around her waist. “Boss?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for making me happy.”

SM kissed Knight’s forehead. “Knight?”

“Yes, Boss?”

“Eli gave me some advice when we were talking.”

Knight looked up at him with his brows furrowed. “What kind of advice?”

“She told me to date you as my boyfriend if I wanted to get to know you better.”

Knight immediately grinned. “I like your friend. Good advice!”

SM chuckled closely before seriously meeting his gaze. “Yeah… I’ve been thinking about it, and I think it’s good advice.”

Knight froze. “D-don’t tease me, Sweet Monday.”

Giving in to his irresistible cheeks, she pinched them and said, “I’m not teasing you.”

“A-are you sure?” Knight asked. He could meet her gaze.

She pinched the tip of his nose this time, jokingly but tenderly, and replied, “I’m sure. Let’s be a couple and exclusively date each other. That way, we can get to know each other—with a label, this time. I have plans on officially saying yes anyway, but I decided to say it now.”

He pressed his face against her arm, trying to hide the joy he was feeling, and stayed silent. SM wanted to tell him to look at her when he realized that his ears were flushing red. Even his nape.

SM chuckled silently. “Knight? Are you blushing?”

Knight shook his head, his face still nuzzled into her arm. “What am I, a chick? Why would I blush? I’m a man! A very manly man!”

She tried to stop herself from laughing. “Then look at me and let me see your manly man face—”

“No!”

She laughed and teased, “Aww… my lord is blushing. So cute.”

Knight looked up at her and gave her a piercing glare. “This is unfair! You look so calm while I’m hyperventilating—”

She pressed her lips on his for a couple of seconds before pulling away. Knight looked dazed. “Holy… fuck. That’s a fucking loud heartbeat.”

Her cheeks flustered. Did he hear her heartbeat just now? Because she knew it was beating so loud. “Th-That’s probably mi—”

“It’s mine.” Knight took a very deep breath before speaking again. “I need to calm down.”

He lifted her gently and settled her onto the chair beside him before leaving the kitchen. Curious about what he’d do to calm down, she followed him and found him in the living room talking to someone over the phone.

“Cloud, no one has had a heart attack because someone they liked told them they could finally date, right?” He was pacing back and forth in the living room, unable to stay still. “I mean, fuck! I’m hyperventilating, and I’m losing my shit—fuck! Answer me, Cloud! Give a medical report about what’s happening to me—” He stilled. Cloud must’ve said something. “Oh? I won’t die with this, and I’ll just go crazy in love? Well… that’s not a bad thing.”

SM secretly smiled. How can this “sometimes crazy, sometimes a baby, and sometimes emotionless” man be so cute?

“Oh, fuck you!” He seemed to be mad at Cloud. “Stop feigning to be shocked, you motherfucker! And what’s surprising that SM told me we could date? I’m a very handsome man, you know. And SM and I look good together—I will shoot you as soon as I come home, Cloud. Don’t be a motherfucker.”

SM covered her mouth when she couldn’t hold her laughter anymore as she listened to what Knight was telling Cloud. When Knight hung up, he called another person.

“Best friend!” He sounded so excited. “Guess what?! I have a girlfriend now—you don’t believe it? With my good looks?”

So, this is how he calms down—by announcing to everyone their status, she thought. So adorable.

Smiling, she went back to the kitchen and let Knight do his own thing. She was cleaning up the dishes when she felt a warm set of arms wrapping around her waist from behind and a kiss on her nape.

She knew it was Knight, but she was also sure that she didn’t hear footsteps coming toward her. She then recalled her father’s warning about those who could move silently from one place to another—so quietly that their footsteps made no sound at all. Yet both Knight and Midnight could do that.

Dangerous kind of people.

SM inhaled sharply when she felt Knight’s lips on her nape, his tongue leisurely licking her neck.

She held his hand on her waist when his lips and tongue traced the back of her ear. She held back her urge to whimper, even though she could feel a tingling sensation inside her. But she couldn’t stop her moans that came out from her mouth when Knight bit her earlobe while his hand moved to caress her waist down to her thighs.

“Kn-Knight…” she pleaded, panting. Goodness! Why am I in so much heat?

Thank God, Knight finally stopped. God knew she didn’t have the strength to push him away.

She was weak when it came to him.

Knight’s arms returned to tightly embracing her waist from behind, his face buried in the back of her head.

“Fuck… your hair smells so good,” Knight grunted, as if he was having a hard time because of her smell.

SM finished washing the dishes before facing him. “Let’s go to the café?”

Knight nodded. But instead of releasing his arms, he pulled her closer, as if showing her that he didn’t want to let her go. “I’ll work hard to be a good boyfriend,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll do everything I can to make you happy, and I will lay my life to protect yours, so don’t ever think of breaking up with me. If I do something you don’t like, tell me right away. I’ll do everything, even changing to be a better man for you.”

And just like that, SM’s heart melted. She hugged him back and kissed the side of Knight’s jaw. “Just be you, Knight. That’s enough for me.”

Knight pressed his lips on her forehead and held her even tighter. And because she was resting on his chest, she could hear his heart thumping loudly.

He really likes me so much, huh ?

It was a nice feeling. To be important to someone.

“If I’m not being a good boyfriend, tell me, okay?”

SM nodded. “I will.”

He gave her one final tight hug before releasing her and kissing her on her lips. “We should go, or else I won’t be able to stop myself and bring you to your room instead.”

SM shook her head and allowed him to guide him out of the house, into his taxi, which was parked by the gate of her house.

SM felt happy while holding Knight’s hand as he drove his taxi to her café. I think I made the right decision . A decision she was ready to commit to, for better or for worse.

She knew this would be a difficult road to take. Knight was from a noble family after all, and she was just a commoner with no overwhelming wealth to back her up.

But her parents taught her to fight for what she wanted, and she wanted Knight. She entered this relationship of her own accord, and she needed to stand by her decision, no matter what would happen. To fight for them, if necessary.

Come hell or high water, I’ll keep him.

KNIGHT WAS WHISTLING in happiness while entering his mansion when he saw Night and Cloud in the living room. They looked serious, and it seemed that they had been waiting for him, as their eyes were immediately on him when he entered.

“What is it?” he immediately asked as soon as he was in the living room.

“I heard some news from the palace,” Midnight started. There was nervousness in his voice. “It’s not good, Kuya.”

He let out a loud, harsh sigh. “When did we ever receive good news from the palace? And why are you even hoping for it?”

Cloud spoke. “Your father sent someone to check up on you.”

He stiffened. Check up on him means someone had been sent to spy on him. If he was doing a good job being a Boss.

His jaw gritted, fear filling him. “SM… he will know about SM.”

Night nodded. “That’s why we’re telling you about this.”

“Usually, before, this was not a problem since you have nothing to hide,” Cloud added, “but now, you’re in a relationship with SM. And if your father finds out about it, who knows what he will do to her?”

His shaking hands balled into fists. “Who did you learn this from?”

“From my tracker,” Night answered.

“Love?”

Night nodded. “I ordered him to keep an eye on Father and Orlando’s movements. Don’t worry. Love can cover his tracks. Father won’t find out. Actually, Love is on his way here. We have some work to do.”

Knight nodded and ran his fingers through his hair. “When will Father’s spy arrive?”

“The day after tomorrow,” Cloud answered before facing his phone toward him to show Knight what the guy whom his father had instructed to spy on him looked like. “This is him. Be vigilant, my lord.”

“What are you planning about SM?” Night asked. There was worry in his voice.

He gave his brother a dagger look. “I’m the boyfriend. I’m the only one who can worry about her. She’s mine!”

But Night bravely met his piercing gaze. “I like her. You can’t stop me from worrying about her.”

Knight tsked. “Be thankful you’re my little brother. If not, I would have asked Cloud to assassinate you.”

Night just tsked. “Whatever. So, what’s your plan?”

“You have two choices,” Cloud interrupted while looking at his master. “The first option is not to meet with SM. Even just for two weeks—”

“Hell no!” he hissed angrily.

“Or hide with SM.”

He immediately calmed down. “The second one is better.”

“Where will you hide?” Night sincerely asked. “And will she be okay with it? She doesn’t even know why you need to hide her, unless you’re planning on kidnapping her or something similar to that.”

He slumped onto the single sofa. “I’ll explain this to her,” Knight said before breathing out harshly. “I don’t want to lie to her again. I might lose her if I keep on lying to her. Fuck. Killing father has never been this tempting.”

Night nodded. “If only killing him is that easy and no punishment would await us if we do, I have done so myself. But sadly, our father is a sick bastard. The ten families are his loyal dogs. They will surely know that we killed him.”

Cloud agreed. “Your father has prepared for this. You two can’t escape this.”

Night let out a loud breath. “Decide what you want to do, Kuya. I’ll back you up.”

Knight felt proud of his brother. Midnight looked confident now, unlike before. He would even back him up. He was proud of what Night had become.

“I’ll go to the airport,” Midnight said as he walked toward the door of the mansion. “Love wants me to pick him up. That motherfucker.”

“Speaking of which,” Knight expressed, his forehead creased. “Until now, I can’t understand why his parents would name him Love when he’s a guy.”

“Love said his parents are a bunch of psychos,” Night answered before finally leaving.

Knight took a deep breath before pushing himself to stand up. “Cloud.” He looked at his butler. “Clean my room and ready my hair treatment. My hair is growing again.”

Cloud bowed. “On it, my lord.”

After Cloud left, he called Valerian. “Still awake?” he asked.

And of course, Val is not Val if he’s not angry at him again. “Stupid question. I answered your call, didn’t I?”

Knight laughed. “Yeah, yeah. Can I come over? Something’s bothering me.”

“What am I, an organizer of your messy thoughts?” Val asked, his voice full of sarcasm. “Go pester someone else. Go to Tyron or Lysander… or go talk to Dark since you’re both royalty—”

“They don’t know the real me,” he interrupted Val.

Valerian sighed. “Fine. Come over.”

“Thanks.”

“Yeah, what-the-fuck-ever.” Valerian tsked. “By the way, Shun has mentioned that someone seems to be stopping him from finding your sibling.”

His jaw clenched. “It’s father. I’m sure.”

Valerian sighed. “Talking about your father always stresses you out, so let’s change the topic.”

Knight smiled. Valerian really knew him well.

“So… when are you going to introduce your girlfriend?” Val asked instead.

“Soon.” He chuckled. “For now, I’ll keep her for myself. I’m possessive like that.”

Valerian snorted. “Aren’t we all?”

He laughed. “Yeah.”

“Hurry up,” Val said. “Grace is baking cupcakes for you.”

He froze in fear. “On second thoughts, I’m not coming over. Bye!”

Knight shook his head before walking back to his house. He was walking upstairs when he received a text message from SM.

From: My Sweet Monday

Have you gone home already?

He immediately replied as he walked toward his room: Yeah. Safe and sound, Boss.

SM replied after a couple of seconds.

From: My Sweet Monday

Good. Rest well. Please have a good night’s sleep this time.

He smiled, knowing that SM was worried for him. He answered, Thank you, Boss. Good night.

From: My Sweet Monday

G’night, baby.

He stiffened as his heart pounded rapidly at SM’s reply. And then his face started heating up.

He covered his face. Fuck! This is embarrassing! he thought. How can the word “baby” make me blush like this?! Holy fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

“My lord?”

He froze in place upon hearing Cloud’s voice behind him. If his butler would see him like this, he would not stop asking him. And if he knew why, he would not stop teasing him.

His strides were wide as he entered his room. He closed the door and headed directly to his bathroom to wash his face in the sink. Then he looked at himself in the mirror.

“Be a manly man,” he pleaded to himself, “and don’t let SM’s sweetness and cuteness make you blush. You’re a grown man. Don’t embarrass yourself. Got it?”

He shook his head afterward. He seemed crazy by talking to himself in the mirror.

He went out of the bathroom and reached for his phone from his pocket to send a message in their group chat.

Knight Velasquez: Do you blush?

Knight thought that he would receive answers to his question the next day, but his lunatic friends replied one after another. None, however, sounded rational, so he turned off his mobile data and allowed himself to collapse onto his bed before finally closing his eyes.

Knight started counting sheep. He reached the two-hundredth count, but the sleep he had been waiting for still had not arrived.

He sat up abruptly and walked out of the room, whispering, “Fuck… I need my Sweet Monday.”

CHAPTER 13

SM WAS quietly sitting in front of the handsome man who went to her café to talk to her. She didn’t know him, though, and she was sure she had not seen him anywhere. As to why he wanted to talk to her, she had no idea.

“Uhm…” she started and welcomed him with a smile. “You wanted to talk to me?”

The man in front of him nodded before speaking. “I’m Valerian Volkzki, Knight’s best friend.”

Her lips partially parted. Knight’s best friend? “Nice to meet you. I’m Sweet Monday Canja Lopez,” she introduced, her hand extended.

Although he shook her hand, she couldn’t see any emotion on his face.

“Why do you want to talk to me?” she asked after. “Is this about Knight?” She couldn’t think of any other reason this man would talk to him. He was Knight’s best friend, after all.

Valerian nodded and looked her directly in the eyes. “I’ll go straight to the fucking point. Are you serious about him? If not and if you’re just fucki—I mean—playing around, break up with him now.”

That was rude, she thought, but he must have his reason for saying that to her. “I’m serious about him.”

Valerian did not take his eyes off her. “In my vocabulary, serious means you’re willing to risk everything for Knight. And I fucking mean everything. Can you do that? Knight is smart, but when it comes to relationships, he’s a dumbass. He has little experience with women. He has been cooped up by his family and always focuses on work. He has no time to date or flirt around. You are his first girlfriend—”

“I am?” she asked, surprised by this revelation.

Val nodded. “That’s why I’m asking if you’re serious about him, so don’t be offended by my fucki—I mean, freaking words. I just don’t want my friend to get hurt. He had been through too much already to get hurt. I know I won’t be able to stop him from being in a relationship with you, that’s why I’m here talking to you. If you’re serious about my best friend, please don’t hurt him in any way. I beg you.”

SM felt as if something had caressed her heart as she looked at Valerian. “I’m not offended, don’t worry.” She smiled. “I’m actually happy that someone would go to this length for Knight. Thank you.”

She saw that the man in front of him was stunned for a while as he looked at her. “Hmm… now I may have an idea why Knight liked you. That lunatic has a weakness for genuine kindness.”

Her chest tightened. For genuine kindness to be Knight’s weakness… What kind of life is he living? she thought. She wanted to know, but she would wait for Knight to tell him about these things—only if he wanted her to know.

One thing was for sure. He had a harsh life.

She smiled at Valerian. “Don’t worry, I’m serious about him. I won’t do anything that would hurt him. When I told him we could finally be a couple, I thought hard about it.”

“Your relationship with him… it’ll be hellish once his father finds out. That man is a sick son of a bitch. Are you ready to face hell?”

SM clenched her fists. “Last year, I went to hell and back. I don’t want a repeat of that, but if it’s for Knight, I’m willing to face hell again… and just like the last time, I’ll come back a winner.”

Valerian smiled. “You two are a good match. Just bear with him, though. He’s a crazy motherfucker. When he sometimes behaves like an innocent kid, it’s not an act. He’s really innocent about some things. And he’s always curious in an idiotic way, so… I hope you can tolerate him.”

She chuckled softly. “I noticed that too. Though, it’s okay. He’s kinda cute. I like it.”

Valerian shook his head before massaging his temples as if he was in deep stress. “Thank God he finally has you. I hope he won’t bother me this time. He’s always stressing me out. That lunatic! Always asking for cake and food! I’m going to kill him one of these days.”

SM laughed at Valerian’s words. She knew those words weren’t coming from anger, that those were words from Knight’s best friend who could tolerate his attitude.

“Anyways…” Valerian held his gaze onto her again. “Has he been sleeping lately?”

She nodded. “Yeah. He’s sleeping in my house because he can’t sleep alone.”

“That’s good.” Valerian looked relieved. “I hope you continue taking care of him.”

She nodded with a smile. “I will.”

Valerian continued to agree, but his forehead creased when he remembered something to ask her. “By the way, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Did you make him blush?”

SM tried to stop herself from smiling. “It’s personal.”

“Yes, I know.” Valerian sighed heavily. “But that fucking moron sent a message to our group chat, asking if we fucking blush. See? He’s a fucking idiot.”

She blinked. “Group chat?”

“Yeah. We have a large circle of friends, so we needed a group chat to talk when we’re busy or something like that.” Val shook his head. “That idiot asked us that, so I assume you made him blush.”

She grimaced. “Y-yeah.”

Valerian let out a sigh, as if he was carrying a heavy burden. “This is what I was talking about. He never had a girlfriend before, so what he’s experiencing with you now is all new to him, so please bear with him.” Valerian stood up from his seat and bade farewell afterward. “I have to go. Stopping myself from cussing while talking to you is draining the fuck out of me.”

SM smiled. “It’s okay if you do, though. If you’re comfortable with it.”

“Yeah, but,” he said as he placed his hands in his pockets. “You look delicate like my wife. I thought you’d hate cussing like my mooncake, and I don’t want to anger that idiot friend of mine. By the way, don’t mention this to Knight. Especially the best friend part, or else he won’t stop teasing me. I would rather die.”

SM laughed. “Sure.”

“Alright, I’ll leave before he returns from delivering food.” Valerian waved his hand goodbye at her. “See you around. Next time, I’ll introduce you to my wife, and I hope you can help her bake cupcakes that aren’t poisonous. Knight was traumatized by her baking skills.”

SM followed Knight’s friend with her gaze. He seemed like a good guy. A little bit weird, but still a good guy.

She went back inside her office to finish the cake she was baking. She knew that once Knight returned from his food delivery, he would start bugging her.

His reason for hugging her and always being clingy? He was her boyfriend, of course.

SM HAD been silent from the moment they entered the gate of BV until Knight parked the taxi in front of a huge and elegant mansion. He told her he wanted to talk with her. She thought they would do it in her house, but he drove her here.

“Is this your house?” she asked.

“Yeah…” Knight stepped out of the taxi and opened the door for her.

As she exited the taxi, Knight intertwined their hands together before leading her into his house. When the mansion’s door opened, Cloud welcomed them.

“Welcome home, my lord.” He bowed. “My lady.”

Knight glared at Cloud. “Cut the my . She’s mine. I’m not comfortable that you’re claiming my girlfriend as yours.”

Cloud smiled. “Of course, my lord.” Then, he looked at SM. “My apologies, Lady SM.”

Her smile turned into a grimace. “It’s okay. I don’t mind—”

“But I do mind,” Knight interjected. “So don’t use the word my when referring to my Sweet Monday. She’s my girlfriend, she’s mine, and I will shoot you if you even dare.”

Cloud nodded, smiling. He showed no fear as Knight threatened him. He even looked pleased. Cloud could tolerate Knight’s attitude as well, just like how Valerian tolerated Knight.

SM was about to say something when she heard Midnight, who was going down the stairs.

“SM!” He looked happy to see her. “How are you?”

But before Midnight could get close to her, Knight stepped in front, using his whole body to block his brother, and hid SM behind her. “Don’t you dare go near her.”

But Midnight wasn’t fazed. He stopped in front of Knight and peeked at SM. “Evening.”

She smiled. “Good evening too.”

She laughed as Knight reached for both of her hands and wrapped them around his waist from behind, which hid her face from Midnight.

“Go away!” Knight told Midnight. “I won’t let SM smile or talk to you.”

“You’re being too jealous, Kuya,” Knight complained.

“She’s my girlfriend, so don’t you dare, Night. I’m warning you.”

SM just let him be. Like what Valerian said, everything about being in a relationship is new to Knight. She didn’t want to correct him in front of others. She’d just talk to him later when they were alone.

“By the way, SM, I want you to meet Love.” It was Midnight, who was not holding back against his brother.

Midnight’s girlfriend? she thought. Out of curiosity, she stepped to the side and peeked at Midnight.

She blinked in disbelief when she saw that Midnight was pertaining to a guy. A tall gorgeous man with glasses.

“Your boyfriend is very handsome, Midnight,” she said, smiling. “You look good together.”

It was as if an angel had passed by because of the unnerving silence that enveloped the room after she spoke. In her mind, she could even hear birds chirping from a distance.

Her brows raised. “Did… did I say something wrong?”

Knight faced her, laughing. “They look good together, huh?”

She nodded.

Even Cloud started to laugh. “This is epic.”

Midnight looked at her. “Do I look like I swing that way?”

“Uhm…” She looked at Love. “Am I wrong?”

When Midnight didn’t answer, she immediately bowed and apologized many times. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Midnight.” And then she turned to the guy beside him. “Sorry, I misunderstood.”

The guy beside Midnight cackled and put an arm around Midnight’s shoulders. “Do we look that good together, miss?”

SM nodded. “Yeah.”

The man chuckled and asked Midnight, “Should I court you, Boss?”

“Try it and die an excruciating death.” Midnight let out a sigh. “His name is Love, not an endearment.”

She blinked at the guy. “Your name is Love?” That’s a weird name for a male.

Love nodded and adjusted his glasses. “My parents are a bunch of psychos. My older brother’s name is Sugar. Mine is Love, and my younger brother is Honey.”

Her lips parted. “Wow…”

“Yep.” Love smiled. “Bunch of psychos, I’m telling you.”

She softly chuckled before extending a hand. “Nice meeting you, Love.”

Love was about to reach for her hand when Knight clasped her fingers, preventing them from shaking hands.

“Who gave you the right to touch my girlfriend?” Knight angrily hissed at Love, his voice sharp and dangerous.

Love sighed. “Relax, it’s not like I’m gonna take her away from you—”

But when Love suddenly fainted, she panicked, her eyes wide from shock. It was a good thing that Midnight was able to support Love’s weight, which was why Love had not entirely collapsed to the floor.

However, Love remained unconscious.

“What the… I-is he okay? What happened to him? Let’s bring him to the hospital.” SM was worried, but the three men present were calm.

“Just drag his ass to the long sofa,” Knight said, his tone indifferent.

Midnight grunted. “Fuck! He’s so heavy.”

“Let me help you,” Cloud offered and quickly helped Midnight. They both carried Love onto the long sofa while Knight simply faced SM as if nothing had happened.

“Come on, let’s go to my room,” Knight invited.

But SM glanced at Love, her face expressing worry. “But he just suddenly fainted. Won’t you bring him to the hospital?”

“Let him be.” Knight just brushed off her worry. “He’ll wake up later.”

“Is he really gonna be okay?”

Her boyfriend frowned, his face now sour. “Stop worrying about him. I’m starting to get jealous.”

“But—”

“Sweet Monday.” His voice carried a sense of caution. “I’m jealous. Please don’t make me go crazy.”

But SM knew how to calm him down. She wrapped her hands around his waist and kissed his chin. “You don’t need to be jealous. I’m just worried about him.”

“I told you he’s okay,” he insisted with an irritated voice. “It’s his narcolepsy acting up again.”

“Narco what?” she asked, confused.

“Narcolepsy,” Knight repeated before releasing himself from her embrace and intertwining their hands together. “It’s a brief attack of deep sleep.”

Her lips parted. “So… he’s just asleep?”

Knight nodded. “It’s a condition. Love just falls asleep wherever and whenever his narcolepsy strikes. He’ll wake up later, but he’s fine.”

She paused, still in disbelief. That kind of condition… he must have suffered, she thought. Falling asleep whenever and wherever without control over it—that must be hard.

“You’re too nice.” Knight sounded annoyed. “I’m jealous as fuck already. You’re hurting me, Sweet Monday.”

SM tiptoed and kissed Knight on the lips. “Sorry, baby.”

The annoyance in his face instantly melted. “This is unfair…”

“Why?”

“You calling me baby and melting my anger away so easily.” He sighed before gently guiding her toward the stairs. “Stop worrying about him. Just be affectionate with me. On second thought, let me do it.”

Knight scooped her in his arms and took her to his room before gently laying her down on his bed. He kissed her deeply on the lips before letting go of her. “I’ll go to the bathroom first. Take this time to rest.”

SM held his wrist to stop him. “Wait… aren’t we going to talk?”

Knight kissed her on the forehead. “Later. I’ll just do my hair.”

“But it’s getting late.” She looked at her wristwatch. “I still have to go home.”

“Says who?”

She stiffened. “What?”

“You’re not going home tonight,” Knight said and then kissed the side of her lips. “You’re staying here—with me.”

She stared at her boyfriend with widened eyes before narrowing them. “Have something planned, don’t you?”

Knight’s smile melted her nervousness. “I’m gonna introduce myself to you properly.”

Still confused, she furrowed her brows. “You already have.”

“Nope.” He kissed her on the forehead and then winked at her before finally entering the bathroom.

SM could only stare at the closed door. Her forehead was still creased. Introduce himself properly to her? Hadn’t he told her his full name already?

She stared blankly at the ceiling before eyeing the whole room. It smelled like Knight.

She got up from the bed and wandered around the spacious room. It had a high ceiling, a set of expensive sofas, a mahogany study table, three sets of wide bookshelves, a king bed, and a closet. She didn’t want to meddle in his things, but she couldn’t help but open his closet.

T-shirts, button-down polos, muscle shirts, some pairs of jeans, khaki, and cargo pants. All of his outfits were black. When he opened one of his three drawers, her mouth gaped at the display of expensive watches, wallets, and neckties. The next drawer held documents, while the last one contained a set of boxers and briefs.

Her cheeks flushed as she quickly shut the drawer. Then, she opened the longest one, which was located at the bottom of the closet. Her body stiffened when she saw what was inside.

Guns. Bullets. Swords.

She hurriedly closed the drawer and returned to her bed. She sat on the edge of the bed, deep in thought. Knight was surely someone who could walk from one place to another without making a sound, but now he owned guns, ammunition, and a sword in his closet?

What have I gotten myself into?

She vigorously shook her head. No, it’s Knight, she told herself. He must have his reason for keeping such items in his room.

She turned to the door of the bathroom. Thirty minutes had passed already. Was he taking a bath or something?

She stood up, walked toward the bathroom, and knocked. “Knight? Are you going to take a long time?”

“Just a second, baby.”

She bit her lower lip to stop the smile forming in her lips. Knight was finally learning the sweetness of endearment.

She was about to leave and return to the bed when the door of the bathroom opened. Knight was there, staring intently at her. He was handsome, SM knew that, but what surprised her was his blond hair in full show. He was downright gorgeous and sexy.

“Y-your hair…”

Knight smiled. “Tomorrow, I’ll color my hair brown again. But tonight, this is the real me, and I want you to see me like this. I want you to see the real me that only I’m allowed to see. This is forbidden, hell, Father will punish me if he finds out, but I want to be selfish for once… I wanna be me in front of you… for once.”

Tears filled the corner of SM’s eyes. She could sense the pain and suffering in his voice.

Her hand reached for his hair, gently stroking it. Blond .

She gulped as a mix of emotions filled her heart while she stared at Knight. Gorgeous, she thought as her body reacted. Am I turned on by his blond hair?

Damn it! She cupped Knight’s cheeks as she tiptoed and, without a word, claimed his lips. Her eyes closed as Knight responded, fervently locking his lips onto hers, dominating the kiss.

He then went to her neck and drowned it with kisses while his hands caressed her body, with one hand gripping her breast and the other squeezing her bum.

Because of what was happening, she didn’t even notice that they were near the bed if Knight had not pushed her onto it.

Her lips parted and her throat went dry when he saw Knight taking off his shirt while intently looking at her lips.

“This time… I’m not stopping,” he said in a low voice.

She swallowed hard because of the intensity of his stares. He crawled on top of her and, once again, drowned her with passionate kisses.

She moaned as she wrapped her arms around his neck while still responding to his kisses. They sucked each other’s tongue, their breathing blending together.

When Knight started undressing her, she didn’t stop him. She just let him, not because she couldn’t push him away but because she wanted it too.

She wanted Knight. All of him.

CHAPTER 14

WHAT THEY were doing now was similar to her dream—Knight undressing her, kissing her naked body, feeling and caressing her while leisurely taking his time to romance her. But SM was sure that this was not a dream.

This was real.

Very real.

The feeling of Knight’s hand on her body made her shiver. His lips trailing on her nakedness made her tremble, and his tongue gliding and tasting every inch of her caused her body to arch.

The dream that she had could not compare to this.

It felt so good. So good that she didn’t want to stop.

“Kn-Knight…” she softly moaned his name while her hands tried to reach for anything she could hold and get strength from as Knight’s lips trailed down her lower body. With her lips parted, she tightly gripped the bedsheet.

Knight was slowly parting her bare legs while his lips traveled down.

SM clutched the bedsheet even more tightly. She could feel the heat inside her, especially when her lewd dream where Knight was worshiping her lady parts would come across her mind.

“Uhmm…”

She arched her body when she felt Knight’s finger on her vulva, with his lips going up to her chest then to her neck until he finally claimed her lips once again.

Gentle whimpers came out of her mouth one after another as she responded to her lover’s kiss, but because of Knight’s fingers caressing the gateway of her womanhood, she accidentally bit his lower lip. She immediately put a distance between their lips. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you—”

“That’s okay,” he whispered. “You can hurt me anytime. I don’t mind.” He then stuck his tongue out to lick the corner of her lips. “Just kiss me back… don’t make me beg for your kiss.”

SM wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling, and pressed her mouth onto his soft lips. She moaned as his tongue forced its way into her mouth, causing their tongues to intertwine. They teased and tasted each other, their saliva and breathing mixed.

And whenever her body would react to whatever Knight’s hand was doing to her intimate parts, SM would also bite his lips. She couldn’t concentrate on kissing him back with the same ferocity he was giving because of his fingers tracing her wet folds and slowly sliding inside.

SM panted as she waited for his finger to penetrate her. She anticipated what it would feel like—if it would feel as satisfying as what happened to her dream… or more?

Her lips were trembling in eagerness. Her body burned heavily from the inside, melting all her inhibitions away, making her a wanton woman underneath Knight.

SM softly moaned when his lips crawled onto her ears. He bit and licked her earlobe while his finger was softly rubbing around her hard clitoris.

“Uhmmm…” she whimpered as his arms encircled Knight’s back.

His fingers started rubbing harder, making circles around her clit. It made her body tremble in pleasure. She felt as if every ounce of her strength was being sucked away. Her thighs and legs quivered as she tried to catch her breath.

“Uhmm… Kn-Knight—ohh…” she panted heavily, shuddering at every stroke of his finger on her clit. “Uhmmm—ohh!”

“That’s it, baby,” he said as he slid his finger around her clit and softly rubbed his thumb on her entrance. “Moan for me.”

Her nails dug into his back while his fingers played with her lady parts. “Uhmm… Ohhh…”

But Knight continued to tease her clit, even though her body trembled under him. “Just keep moaning,” he whispered in her ear while alternately licking and biting her earlobe. “I like the sound you make.”

Knight breathed heavily over her ear. He kissed her earlobe and then the back of her ear, down to her neck.

SM’s lips parted even more when his finger switched between fondling her entrance and rubbing her clit, endlessly teasing her and making her writhe.

“Knight… S-stop t-teasing me…”

“Why should I?” Knight’s lips moved down to her breasts again while his fingers continued to play with her. “You’re so wet, but still not enough. I need more.”

He then inserted one finger inside.

SM could not help but smack the bed and tightly grip the bedsheet when she felt a slight pain inside, which was immediately overcome by the tingling sensation inside her.

His finger had not moved yet, but it seemed as if she would run out of breath because of the intense sensation she was feeling. She was stopping herself from making lustful sounds but to no avail. Her mouth kept on creating lewd noises. Again and again, until her voice became hoarse.

“Knight…”

While his finger was buried inside her, his thumb continued to play with her clit, making her body burn with lustful desire. From licking her nipples, he looked up at her. “Does it hurt?”

She shook her head.

“Feels good?”

She nodded. She didn’t want to speak—or even open her mouth—anymore because she was afraid of what sounds she could produce. But when his fingers started moving, she could no longer hold her long passionate moans.

“Uhmmm… Ohhh… Uhmmm…”

He added one finger inside her, moving it in and out. It created a pleasurable friction inside her, electrifying every nerve and every muscle she had, making her writhe.

“Oh god… Oh god… Knight! Ohhh… uhmmm…”

SM could feel Knight’s lips on her breasts and neck, leaving marks, but her attention was solely focused on his fingers inside her—his fingers that were filling her up, blowing her mind with sensations she hadn’t felt before.

This was all new to her, but damn, she wanted more. She was becoming greedy every passing second.

She wanted for Knight to kiss her more, touch her more, and fill her more.

“M-more…” SM couldn’t resist begging. Her mind was already blank, except for the pleasure consuming her.

“Knight! Knight! Knight!” she whimpered as his fingers moved in and out of her. And when Knight went down on her, in between her parted legs, to kiss her womanhood, she screamed in lustful desire, unable to restrain herself.

Pleasure erupted inside her, but it didn’t stop there—Knight didn’t stop there. She felt his warm tongue lapping and sucking her clit. Fast and hard.

“Knight… Knight… Knight…” Her mind was blank, except for pleasure. Lust. More! “M-more…” she shamelessly pleaded. “M-m-more—ohhh!”

She begged for more, and Knight didn’t disappoint. He gave her more.

In and out, his two fingers move inside her, making her body tremble and squirm. While his tongue was expertly lapping and licking her clit and wetness, his mouth sucked her womanhood, producing more lapping sounds.

“Ohhh!” SM arched her body and, out of control, grabbed the hair of her lover Knight, who was in between her parted thighs, worshiping the whole of her.

He was eating her out, drinking her wetness, and it felt so good.

“Good… s-so good…” Her voice was hoarse from moaning. “F-feels good… Uhhmmm…”

Seconds had passed, but Knight didn’t stop eating her out. Her thighs were already trembling, her strength waning, but Knight’s mouth continued to pleasure her.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” she chanted shamelessly… “Knight— Ohhh! Knight!”

Knight continued eating her out, as if he wanted to swallow her whole but couldn’t. The only thing he could do was taste her.

SM’s toes curled when she felt a prickling feeling in her belly, as if it was begging her to release all of it. She couldn’t hold the pressure inside her longer.

But when Knight buried his fingers deep inside her at the same time he sucked her clit using his warm mouth, she exploded.

“Ohhh!” SM let out a loud cry of pleasure as her body convulsed before her whole body dropped and sank into the bed. Her legs shivered, her energy depleted, as Knight climbed on top of her again, kissing her body, licking her nipples, and nipping her neck and earlobes. She let him be, even though it started to awaken the heat in her body, which didn’t subside at all.

She parted her lips while her eyes were closed. Knight was touching her again. His fingers were still inside her, stretching her, making her wetter than she already was and her clit to throb for more.

“Sweet Monday… open your eyes.”

She obliged.

“Look at me,” Knight requested.

She did, and their eyes met.

Her parted lips, flushed cheeks, and lustful eyes—all of them were on show… for Knight. For this man whom she couldn’t say no to, the only man whom she was comfortable to be alone with after what happened to her. Only for him.

The emotion on her face in that moment was for Knight Velasquez’s eyes only.

“That glint in your eyes… it’s for me only,” he whispered before moving his fingers inside her again.

With her eyes open, staring into Knight’s, she moaned and writhed and arched. Knight stared at her intently while his fingers claimed her wet womanhood. Quicker and deeper with every push inside her.

“Uhmmm… Ohhh…” SM moaned. She groaned and whimpered, writhing underneath Knight.

She felt something inside her that was about to explode. An intoxicating pleasure enveloped her body until her muscles tensed. She climaxed.

SM was panting, out of breath. Knight intertwined their hands together, holding her hand tight. His face hovered over hers, his eyes looking at her passionately and intently.

“Knight…”

“I’ll make you mine now,” he whispered before kissing her forehead and filling her wet core with his hard and erect sex.

“WHAT DID you do to SM?” Midnight asked, his voice filled with worry, as he stood near the foot of the bed where SM lay. “She just spent the night with you, and now she has a fever?”

Knight, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, couldn’t look at his brother. He was trying to cool down his girlfriend’s fever with a damp towel.

As if he could answer Night’s question.

He knew what this was. He knew why SM was sick.

Fuck! I should have been more careful and tender last night, he thought to himself. But… he was already gentle last night. He might not have a lot of experience in women, but he knew he readied her body before filling her.

Fuck! It was a long time ago since he had sex with someone.

Did I do it right? Or was I just too big for her? Fuck! I’m worried. Was I selfish last night? No! He made sure that she came first. But fuck it!

SM passed out after they had sex.

“Kuya, are you even listening to me?”

Knight sighed. “Night, SM just caught a cold,” he lied. Of course he couldn’t tell him that she lost consciousness after they had sex and that her fever only followed. “That’s all.”

“What’s that, male fever?” Night quipped, sarcasm heavy in his voice.

Knight gazed at his manhood. He himself knew it was huge. He internally face-palmed. Mind, please stay away from the gutter.

“She’s gonna be okay,” he insisted. “I’ll take care of her since we can’t call a doctor. I have to hide her from Father, remember?”

Night sighed. “Why don’t you let Cloud check on her?”

“That would be a good idea, my lord,” Cloud, who was beside Midnight, agreed. “I have enough knowledge in medicine after all.”

His sharp eyes glared at Cloud. “If you don’t want to have holes in your body, I suggest you stay away from SM. I’ll take care of her myself.”

“But we have to make sure—”

“Cloud.” His voice was calm but menacing enough to make Cloud freeze and pale.

Cloud immediately bowed. “I shall keep my distance, my lord.”

Night sighed and shook his head. “We’re just worried. Why do you have to be so jealous all the time?”

Night’s question made him still. Why indeed? He was not like this before. He was never the jealous kind of person. He never wanted to possess something or someone. When he desired to be the Boss of Asia, it wasn’t for him but for the people he wanted to protect.

He never wanted to own and possess someone, but with SM… he would always lose his shit. He couldn’t control himself. His mindset would shift when SM was concerned.

“I know my jealousy is nothing but petty to you, but this shit is real to me. You’ll never understand unless you’re in my shoes,” he replied as he caressed SM’s cheeks. “I never knew I could be this selfish or greedy or possessive. I know that I’m being narrow-minded by wanting to keep her to myself only, but I just lose control whenever someone is touching her or anything that would cause her to leave me.”

“Why would she leave you?” Night asked, puzzled. “Your mind is way too advanced, Kuya. I mean, we can tell that she genuinely likes you.”

He smiled while still caressing SM’s face. “I have so many flaws, Night. I have a lot of traits that could make her leave.”

“If she really cares for you, your flaws won’t matter to her, my lord,” Cloud interrupted. “If you’re so scared of being left behind, now is the time to show her these unwanted traits that you think would make her leave. It’s better for her to leave you now before you completely fall for her.”

Knight chuckled softly before turning to the two. “Look at me and tell me if I haven’t fallen that deeply.”

Cloud chuckled. “Cheesy, my lord.”

Midnight nodded and agreed. “Very much.”

Knight shook his head before returning his gaze at her and placing his hand on her neck. It still felt warm, even though he had already made her take medicine last night and this morning.

Fuck! This is all my fault.

“I shall make soup for Lady SM,” Cloud said before leaving the room.

Night sighed. “And I’m gonna see if that idiot has already woken up.” He was referring to Love, who fell asleep again. “We have a lot of important matters to take care of.”

When the two had left him alone, he just stared at her and kissed her on both cheeks. He then pressed his lips against her forehead for a long moment until he felt her move a little.

“Knight…”

He immediately put distance between their faces and smiled at her. “Thank you for waking up.”

She blinked, wondering what occurred. “W-what h-happened?”

“You passed out last night,” he said as he caressed her hair, “after we made love. Then you caught a fever.” He gently tapped the tip of her nose. “Feeling better?”

She shook her head. “I-I feel like… I was hit by a truck down there,” she admitted. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry.”

She smiled weakly. “It’s okay…” Her voice was faint. “It was my first time after all. This is expected, right?”

Knight looked away. “N-not really.”

“Huh?” SM sounded confused. “Don’t all women pass out during their first? I mean, I haven’t asked anyone yet, but… not all women pass out?”

Knight shook his head, still avoiding eye contact. “Not all.”

“So, I’m a special case?”

“Kinda.”

“How so?”

“I’m too big for you, and it was too painful, I guess?”

“That’s weird,” she murmured. “In the middle of what we were doing, I didn’t feel anything. It was only after that I felt as if I was run over by a truck down there.”

He scratched the back of his neck. He still couldn’t look at her directly. “Yeah… I have a very big truck.”

SM chuckled softly before getting him to pay attention. “Knight, look at me.”

Knight met her eyes once again. “Sorry… I’m guilty.”

“Don’t tell me you’re blaming yourself because I passed out and I caught a fever?” Her voice was faint, but she was clear that she didn’t want Knight to blame himself. “Did you forget that we did that together? With my consent, remember?”

His face fell. “But still… I should have known better.”

Despite her fragile state and her body hurting all over, she managed to adjust her position—pain clearly visible on her face—to make room for him on the bed.

“Lie beside me.” She tapped the space beside her.

Knight obeyed her. He lay sideways beside SM, his face turned to her. “Does it still hurt?”

SM nodded weakly. “So much, especially when I move my thighs. Are you really that big?”

“You saw it last night.”

She chuckled softly. “No, I didn’t. I just felt it.”

Even Knight laughed. “Wanna see now?”

SM glared at him. “With the pain I am feeling now, I might just cut that off.”

“Baby—” Guilt consumed him when she tried to move and saw her flinch. “Sorry.”

He claimed her only once, so he wasn’t expecting this to happen. “I was holding myself back, so I won’t hurt you like this… damn it.”

“You were holding back?” SM asked in disbelief. Her eyes seemed to tease him, though. “Perhaps we shouldn’t do that again, right?”

“Hell, no—I mean, what about if you’re feeling better?” he coaxed.

SM laughed. She moved to draw her body nearer to him. He saw her flinch in pain again.

“You okay?”

She grimaced, shaking her head. “Not really… Now I’m kinda scared to take a pee.” She let out a sigh. “Simply moving hurts. Wait, would I be able to walk?”

Before Knight could even answer, SM had already attempted to get up, only to fall back onto her bed. She couldn’t sit for a long time. Her eyes were closed, discomfort written all over her face.

“It’s painful…”

Fuck! He didn’t expect that it would be this bad. Fuck! He should have called a doctor!

He carried SM and laid her, adjusting her position to make her feel comfortable, before covering her with a blanket and kissing her on her forehead. “Should I call a doctor to check on you? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the doctor is a woman.”

With her eyes tightly shut, SM nodded. She was likely still in pain.

Knight didn’t waste any time. He immediately called Ymar to ask for his wife’s assistance. He called for Cloud next, informing them that a guest would be arriving. He, including Night and Love, should remain unseen.

In the village, everyone knew that he was alone in his mansion. And he had to keep it that way. He had a lot of secrets, and this was one of them.

After several minutes, the doorbell rang. He had to open the door by himself since everyone thought he was alone.

Czarina smiled at him. “Knight, before I enter, may I remind you that I’m an OB-GYN doctor. It’s impossible that you’re pregnant because you don’t have a uterus. You make sperm.”

Knight breathed deeply. Ymar’s wife was indeed crazy. “I’m not the patient, Doc, obviously.”

“So, it’s a woman. Of course, it’s a woman.” Czarina stepped into his home without his permission. “Where is she?”

“In my room.”

“Sister, mother, or girlfriend?”

“Wife.”

“Tsk, why are you and your friends like this? Y’all are sperm,” she said matter-of-factly as they walked upstairs. “Be honest with me here, Knight. Was it your first intercourse with her?”

He nodded.

“Newlyweds, I see. How big is it?”

Knight gaped his mouth in shock. This woman’s mouth has no filter, he thought. Well, she is an OB-GYN doctor. And a crazy one at that.

“Oh, why aren’t you answering?” Czarina raised a brow. “You don’t know how long and big you are?”

Frowning, Knight answered, “Do you know how weird it is that you’re asking me that?”

Czarina rolled her eyes at him. “So sensitive. What are you, an egg cell?”

He just shook his head as they continued walking toward his room. In the room was SM, still awake, which he was thankful for. Czarina attended to her immediately while he sat on the edge of bed, holding the hand of his dear girlfriend. SM kept on flinching until Czarina finished her examination.

Czarina let out a loud sigh before speaking. “Dear, you have been stretched too much, causing your vagina walls to swell, redden, and tear.”

She breathed deep before writing a prescription and then handing it to Knight. “Two weeks’ worth of medicine, and no sex for two weeks. I don’t care if she looks better within a week of taking the medicines. You wait and restrain your libido,” she huffed at Knight, her eyes widened. Then to SM, she smiled and advised, “Be strong, dear. Don’t give in to him. This is for your own good anyway. You have to rest and not move around much.”

SM smiled weakly. “Thanks, Doc.”

“Welcome,” Czarina said in a sing-song voice. “I’ll see myself out. Keep an eye on your wife so she can recover quickly.”

He followed the doctor with his gaze, as if escorting her to the door with his eyes, before returning his attention to SM.

“When did I become your wife?” SM asked, her forehead creased.

“Just a while ago.” He smirked. “You know that I think in advance.”

She shook her head, laughing. “Yeah, I know.”

Knight kissed her forehead. “I’m going out for a while. I need to give this prescription to Cloud so he can get the medication you need.”

SM nodded.

Knight hurriedly left to look for Cloud, who hid in the kitchen when Czarina came. After giving the prescription, he quickly headed to the room to take care of SM. But as he was going upstairs, his phone beeped. He reached for his phone from his pocket to check the message, only to find that it was a notification from their group chat.

Ymar Stroam : @Knight you have a wife? 😱😱😱

He shook his head and turned his phone off. Those lunatics would surely bombard him nonstop. Better hide for a while.

SM RESTRAINED herself from moving because of the intense pain in her lady parts. Unfortunately, it still hurt even though she wasn’t doing anything. But she had to pretend that the pain wasn’t excruciating… for Knight. She knew he was blaming himself for what happened to her.

Swollen, reddish and torn vagina wall, she thought. Just imagining this made her afraid to even pee.

Shit!

It would be painfully hellish. But she could endure. It was not as if this was her first time feeling this kind of pain. What she had to go through last year was even more painful.

And she did it with Knight. Even though it was painful, she was happy.

Her eyes turned to the door when it opened. She smiled upon seeing Knight going into the room.

“Cloud will now buy the meds,” he said as he gently lay on the bed beside her and carefully wrapped his arm around her waist. “You’re gonna be okay.”

“I know.” She was still thankful that she was starting to regain her strength. She smiled all the more when Knight rested on her arm and pressed his body against hers, his head level with her chest. He was being affectionate.

He’s so cute. “Were you able to sleep last night?” she asked.

Knight shook his head. “I was so worried. How could I?”

“Then rest now.”

“No—”

“Please, Knight?”

He sighed. “Fine. I’ll try.”

SM smiled as she caressed his hair while humming a song so he could sleep. She knew he hadn’t slept since last night. And thankfully, he fell asleep after a couple of minutes.

Looks like he really was tired, she thought, still smiling as she stared at his charming face. He looked peaceful while sleeping. That’s good.

“Just rest, baby,” she whispered as she kissed his forehead. Since she wasn’t feeling sleepy yet, she continued to brush his hair with her fingers.

The door opened. It was Cloud, with SM’s medication in his hand. “My lord—”

SM quickly placed her finger over her lips, signaling Cloud to be quiet. “He’s asleep,” she said in a whisper.

Cloud smiled and bowed before silently putting the medicines he bought on top of the bedside table. He left the room afterward.

After a few moments of silence, she felt Knight tighten his embrace around her. He seemed to be whispering.

SM smiled. I hope you’re having a good dream.

She kissed his forehead and closed her eyes to rest as well. She had a smile on her lips even though her body was aching. She didn’t mind at all. She didn’t mind the pain.

I’m happy. That was the only important thing for her now.

Because she knew that in this world—a world that she was living in for more than a year now—this kind of happiness was hard to come by.

And she promised to always keep and treasure it.

CHAPTER 15

BECAUSE OF HER condition, SM had to stay in Knight’s house—Knight’s room, to be exact. She didn’t insist on going home. She had let Knight take care of her and her café for more than a week now.

And during those days, Knight had been nothing but caring and tender to her. He was careful not to do anything that would worsen her condition.

At first, he would kiss her and sleep beside her. Then gradually, as day passed, he stopped kissing her, hugging her, and sleeping next to her. Last night was only the second time this week that he had stayed beside her. He told her that he had jobs to do.

But SM knew better. She knew he was avoiding him. She didn’t know why, and it was starting to bother her.

Was he already tired of her? Maybe not. He could’ve personally told her that, and he should’ve stopped taking care of her. Was he exhausted? No, she always made sure that he was getting enough sleep during the nights they were together. She couldn’t think of any other reason why Knight would avoid her, no matter how she scoured her mind.

Maybe I did something wrong?

It looked like she would have to ask him directly. Assuming things wouldn’t do her any good.

She got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom to clean herself up. It was already past 9:00 p.m., and she knew that Knight would be home soon.

In the weeks that had passed, her condition improved. She felt better. She had no more fever, and the pain in her private part had gone away. But just to be sure, she still continued to take her medicines. She had to fully recover so she could get back to her work. Her café was waiting for her.

After taking a bath, she wrapped a towel around her body and went out of the bathroom. She walked to the sofa where her bag was. Inside were clothes that Knight had taken from her house.

In the middle of wearing her underwear, with the towel still wrapped around her, she heard the door open and noticed that Knight was about to enter. He seemed stunned, though, when he realized what she was doing. With his face flushed, he quickly closed the door.

Her brows furrowed. “What is happening to him? As if he hasn’t seen me naked.”

She shook her head as she finished dressing up, then settled on the bed to comb her hair. It was at that moment that Knight walked into the room, heading straight for the bathroom, not even speaking a word.

SM sighed. “I really need to talk to him.”

She waited for him to come out of the bathroom, but it was taking him a while. What is he doing there?

After several minutes, Knight finally stepped out. Her eyes followed him as he walked toward his closet. She stared at him intently as he put some comfortable clothes on. Then he sat on the sofa while drying his wet hair with a towel.

SM sighed. She stood up from the bed and approached him. “Let me do it,” SM insisted. She sat down on his lap and dried his hair using the towel. “Knight?”

He stiffened. “Hmm?”

“Are you avoiding me?” she asked as she continued to rub the towel through his hair.

“Yeah…”

So honest. “Why?” she asked, her voice soft and gentle. “Did I do something you didn’t like?”

But Knight suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into her chest, which surprised her. “I’m horny,” he murmured.

Her mouth gaped. “What the—because of that?”

Knight nodded, his head still tucked into her chest as he clung to her. “I can’t hold it anymore. I’m at my limit.”

SM took the towel off his head and cupped his face to raise his gaze to her. “You should’ve told me.”

“But it’s just been more than a week… I don’t want to hurt you again.”

SM caressed his cheek. He was such a sweet guy. “Do you want me to… touch you?”

Knight gulped as desire filled his eyes. “Don’t tease me, baby. I’m at my limit…”

She smiled. “I’m not teasing you. I’m by myself in this room when you go to work, so I pass time by reading about what happened to us through online articles, why it was that painful and all that. And I came across this website. It has so much information about intercourse.”

“And?” Knight looked hopeful.

“Well, I learned a thing or two.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “I don’t want you to avoid me,” she said, her hand slowly moving down his torso. “It bothers me, so… if this will help, let me lend you a hand since making love is out of the option.”

Knight’s eyes widened. “What are you—”

SM slid her hand inside his sweatpants. Knight hissed when her hand made contact with his length. His eyes even closed shut, and his body leaned against the back of the sofa.

He felt warm and hard. He was aroused.

Her hand felt full. One hand was not enough to accommodate his size. No wonder she passed out. He was indeed too big for her.

“Feels good,” Knight murmured.

That actually put a smile on her lips. This would be her first time to do this, but she didn’t know why she felt ecstatic when she saw how Knight reacted when she touched her that she wanted to put more effort into fulfilling his desires. SM felt elated that she could make Knight’s body respond like this.

SM moved her hand that was holding Knight’s sex up and down while her thumb played with the tip of his length.

Seconds later, Knight started panting.

She gulped when she saw his lips slightly part as she stroked his very erect cock up and down. She couldn’t help but lock her lips onto his, which he responded with intense passionate kisses.

While one hand gripped his length, the other one massaged his balls.

“Fuck!” he hissed when their lips parted for a second before he claimed her lips again. His moans muffled inside her mouth as her hand started stroking faster.

“Uhmm… Fuck… Feels good… Fuck… I’m coming… Fuck…”

SM sped up every glide of her hand. One… two… three strokes, and she felt him stiffen. A warm liquid came out from him, spreading around her hand.

So warm.

Still panting, Knight opened his eyes and looked at her. “Sorry… I made a mess.”

She took her hand out of her sweatpants and stared at the liquid in her hand. I actually made him cum . Why did she feel as if she had accomplished something good?

“Baby—”

“It’s okay.” She smiled sweetly at her boyfriend. “I’m the cause of this mess anyway.”

Knight chuckled before leaning in to claim her lips. “Let’s clean up.”

SM nodded before getting up from sitting on Knight’s lap and headed to the bathroom sink to wash her hands. Knight had changed clothes when she was done, and he was already waiting by the door of the bathroom.

SM faced him. “What it is—”

Without a word, Knight wrapped her in an embrace and covered her cheeks with kisses. “Thank you. I needed that.”

She returned her boyfriend’s hug with a smile. “Whenever you feel that again, don’t avoid me, okay? You should tell me.”

Knight nodded. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Just be honest with me,” she pleaded. “Even with those things. I mean, we already made love. And I’ve known for a long time that you’re like that, so don’t hide it from me.”

He softly chuckled. “Geez, thanks…”

“But isn’t it true?” she replied with a hearty laugh.

“Yeah, yeah…” Knight breathed deeply before releasing her from his embrace and carrying her to the sofa. They were in the same position as before—she was facing him as she sat on his lap while his arms were wrapped around her waist, his head resting on her shoulder.

The room was filled with silence until Knight broke it. “SM?”

“Hmm?” she hummed while caressing his hair softly.

“I’m guilty.”

“Of?”

“Of keeping you here in my house… away from my father’s prying eyes.”

She paused. “What do you mean?”

Knight adjusted his seating position before looking her in the eyes. “My father sent a spy to look after me. And my first instinct was to hide you. But believe me, I’m hiding you not because I’m embarrassed about us but because I’m afraid of what my father can do if he learns about our relationship.”

SM remained silent, understanding Knight’s words. And her lack of response made Knight panic.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want him to hurt you in any way. I know I should be showing you off, showing the world how proud I am because I have you… but, I’m doing the opposite.” A sad smile appeared on his lips. “I’m such a coward, am I not? I should be fighting for you… I’m so sorry.”

SM only stared at him as he explained. He looked nervous—nervous that she’d be angry. Well, in normal circumstances, she had the right to be. What woman would be happy about being hidden from her lover’s family instead of being proudly acknowledged? She was his girlfriend, after all.

But she couldn’t be mad at Knight. Although she knew she couldn’t get mad at anyone easily, Knight’s case was different. She had a lot of patience when it came to him.

SM caressed Knight’s wrinkled forehead before playfully pinching the tip of his nose. “Thank you for telling me. The truth is, I have an idea that you are afraid of your father, but I have only confirmed how terrified you are of him just now.”

“I’m not afraid for myself.” Knight’s face darkened. “I’m afraid because he can take you away from me, like what he did to me and Midnight. He took Midnight away from me when I started caring for him. He can take everyone that I care about away from me.”

She stared at her boyfriend. Fear and fury were in the depths of his eyes. She couldn’t possibly get mad at him. They were not under normal circumstances.

“Will you be put in a bad position if your father finds out about me?” she asked, but he failed to respond.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” SM said. She smiled as she caressed his cheek. “Keep me a secret all you want if that is what’s best to do for now, but, Knight, no secret remains uncovered. We should be ready when that time comes. I mean, I’m planning to keep you if you’ll have me—”

She paused when tears began to well up in the corners of his eyes.

“Knight…” she whispered softly.

Then, a tear fell down his cheek. “I just feel so lucky… to have met someone like you.”

“Knight…”

“You always understand me even though I have a twisted way of reasoning things out,” he said as another tear trickled down. “I don’t deserve you at all, but damn it to hell, I don’t think I have the strength to let you go. I’m already too attached to you.”

She wiped the tears from his cheeks before kissing him on the forehead. “It’s good that you don’t have the strength to let me go because I feel the same way. Our relationship has just begun, Knight. We have a long battle to fight if you’re serious with me.”

Knight intertwined their hands together. “I’m serious about you. It’s your fault that I can’t let you go. You’re making me fall for you so hard. Take full responsibility of me, Sweet Monday. I’m not kidding!”

She roared in laughter before squeezing his cheeks. “You’re so cute.” And she laughed even more when his lips puckered like a child’s. “God, you’re so adorable.”

Knight responded with a hearty chuckle. He then claimed her lips as he tightened his embrace. Some moments after, he carried her toward the bed and gently laid her down. And as usual, they were in Knight’s favorite sleeping position—he rested on her shoulder, his head slightly buried into her neck, his arms wrapped around her waist.

In more than a week that she’d been sleeping with Knight, she found out that he liked to cuddle in this position. She smiled, thinking about how she must be the one resting on his broad shoulders because she was the smaller between the two of them, but it seemed that Knight liked it this way. She didn’t mind at all, though. She loved it when Knight wanted her to be affectionate with him.

Her smile grew brighter when Knight yawned then closed his eyes. She was happy that he could sleep soundly when he was with her. SM caressed his hair while she hummed to help him drift into a deep slumber.

Moments later, Cloud entered the room after knocking.

“Here’s your medicine for later, Lady SM,” Cloud said as he placed them on the bedside table, along with a glass of water. When he saw his master asleep, he gave a soft smile. “I’m so glad you’re here. My lord always sleeps peacefully when you’re with him.”

She smiled at Cloud. “I’m glad too.”

Cloud bowed. “Thank you for treating my lord with care and tenderness. For making my lord happy. I vow to protect you with my life, my lady.”

Her smile widened. “Thank you, Cloud.”

Cloud said his goodbyes then left the room, while SM continued to brush her fingers against her boyfriend’s cheeks. Knight had soft and warm skin. It felt good to touch him.

SM took a deep breath before kissing Knight on his forehead.

“Good night, my handsome lord.” With a joyful smile on her face, she closed her eyes and snuggled close to Knight.

A FEELING OF CONTENTMENT. It had been like this since Knight started waking up with SM beside him. When he sees her face the moment he opens his eyes every morning, happiness and contentment wash over him.

Such a feeling was new to him, and he got addicted immediately. He got addicted to SM’s face being the first thing he would see when he’d wake up every morning.

He gently brushed the hair strands covering SM’s face aside. A smile formed on his lips as he gazed at her lovingly.

“Indeed a good morning…” he whispered before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. He then gently got up and carefully covered SM with a blanket before leaving the room.

“Cloud,” he called as soon as he entered the kitchen, yawning. “What’s for breakfast?”

“Nothing. I don’t feel like making anything,” Cloud replied. He was sitting on a stool, his body facing the island counter, his hand on his chin. “Oh… fuck.”

Knight frowned as he made his own coffee. “Why are you lazy all of the sudden? I’m not paying you to be lazy, Cloud.”

Cloud just sighed heavily.

Knight shook his head. “Are you menstruating or what?”

“I didn’t check,” Cloud replied, playing along with his joke.

Laughing, Knight sat on the stool in front of Cloud. “So… why are you bored?”

“I don’t know… Ever since you and SM started dating, I felt left out.”

His face wrinkled. “You’re jealous?”

Cloud let out a loud sigh as if he were exhausted. “Please don’t talk to me, my lord. I know you’re a smart person, but sometimes you’re such an airhead.”

Knight shrugged off Cloud’s remark and sipped coffee from his cup. Silence momentarily enveloped the air until Cloud spoke.

“My lord, I have a disturbing question for you.”

“What is it?”

“Are you clingy, my lord?”

He grimaced. “That’s disturbing indeed. The answer is hell no!”

“But with Lady SM, you always sleep in her arms—”

“Oh, we’re talking about me and my Sweet Monday? Then yes, I’m clingy.”

Cloud gave him a deadpan look. “You’re so weird, my lord.”

Knight softly chuckled. “Maybe I am. My behavior changes if it’s about SM. I can’t focus on anything but her. When she’s around, I only want to look at her, and ever since we started sleeping together, my mind and my body can no longer tolerate her absence.” He sighed. “Fuck. I’m really in trouble of falling that deeply, huh?”

Cloud’s forehead creased. “My lord, with your words and actions, do we really need to ask if you’ve fallen deeply for Lady SM? I mean, you do realize that you already have fallen so deeply, right?”

He nodded and sipped coffee. “Yeah.”

“And? Isn’t it scary?”

“What’s scary?” Knight asked with a puzzled look on his face.

“Risking everything for one person. Putting that much power to a single individual who can kill you with just one word. Isn’t that terrifying, my lord?”

He stared at Cloud before finally smiling. “It is… really terrifying, but if it’s Sweet Monday, then it’s okay. I mean, she can hurt me, and I know I wouldn’t mind at all. I, who don’t want to be in pain anymore, don’t mind at all,” Knight replied. “It’s really terrifying to give SM the power to hurt me and all that, but I’m more than terrified of the thought of losing her.”

Knight was taken aback when Cloud laughed. “I never ever thought that this day would come,” Cloud remarked, shaking his head with a grin. Then he turned to his master, his eyes now serious. “I’m happy for you, my lord. I swear with my life that I will protect the happiness that you have found.”

“You don’t have to promise, I know you will.” Knight finished his coffee before getting off the stool. “I should cook for my baby’s breakfast. And no, you don’t need to help me, Cloud.”

His butler swayed his head. “Whatever you say, my lord.”

With a happy smile, he started making SM’s breakfast. Once he was done, he placed the food he prepared on a tray and then brought it to their room.

SM was still asleep.

Hmm… He set the tray down on the center table before walking over to the bed. Kneeling, he pressed his palms on the mattress, ready to kiss his baby good morning and wake her up when SM’s phone suddenly rang.

He checked who was calling her so early in the morning.

Capt. Sanford Calling…

He had no plans on answering the call, but after reading who was on the other end of the line, his hand seemed to have a life of its own and reached for her phone to answer.

“Sanford? Khairro Sanford?” he asked.

Seconds had passed before he finally heard the familiar voice of his friend.

“Knight? Is that you?”

“Yes.”

Knight stiffened when the line died without that lunatic saying anything. “That motherfucker…”

His eyes narrowed in fury. Khairro Sanford, you motherfucker! I will skin you alive just for having my baby’s number!

CHAPTER 16

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 17

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 18

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 19

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 20

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 21

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 22

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 23

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 24

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 25

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 26

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 27

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 28

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 29

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 30

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 31

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 32

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 33

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 34

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 35

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 36

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 37

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 38

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 39

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 40

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 41

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 42

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 43

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 44

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 45

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 46

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 47

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 48

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 49

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 50

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 51

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 52

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 53

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 54

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 55

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 56

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 57

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 58

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 59

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 60

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 61

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 62

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 63

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 64

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 65

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 66

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 67

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 68

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 69

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 70

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 71

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 72

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 73

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 74

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 75

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 76

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 77

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 78

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 79

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 80

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 81

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 82

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 83

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 84

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 85

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 86

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 87

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 88

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 89

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 90

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 91

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 92

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 93

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 94

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 95

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 96

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 97

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 98

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 99

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 100

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 101

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 102

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 103

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 104

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 105

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 106

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 107

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 108

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 109

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 110

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 111

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 112

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 113

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 114

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 115

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 116

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 117

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 118

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 119

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

CHAPTER 120

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

EPILOGUE

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

SPECIAL CHAPTER: Team Oldies

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

SPECIAL CHAPTER: Second Vow

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

SPECIAL CHAPTER: Kelleon

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

SPECIAL CHAPTER: XXV

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

SPECIAL CHAPTER: Estoy Orgulloso de Ti

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

NEW YEAR SPECIAL Part 1: Amazonas

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

NEW YEAR SPECIAL Part 2: Mi Familia

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.

NEW YEAR SPECIAL Part 3: Happy New Year

This story is part of the Paid Stories program, a selection of exclusive stories that help support Wattpad writers. Click here to continue reading on the Wattpad app.

Esta historia pertenece al programa de Historias Pagadas, una selección exclusiva de historias con las que apoyas a escritores de Wattpad. Da click aquí para seguir leyendo en la aplicación.