Claimed by Roman Knight

The café smelled like burnt sugar and overbrewed coffee, a scent that had soaked so deeply into the walls that no amount of cleaning could ever remove it. It lingered in the air like a stubborn memory, clinging to the wooden counters, the chipped ceramic mugs, and the faded curtains by the narrow windows.The place was small, barely large enough for the six mismatched tables scattered across the tiled floor. Dim yellow lights above the counter flickered occasionally, casting soft shadows that further aged the room.Outside, the city moved on without noticing the little café tucked between a laundromat and a convenience store. Headlights from passing cars occasionally flashed through the window, briefly illuminating the dusty glass before disappearing again into the night.At this late hour, the café was nearly empty.Only one customer sat in the far corner, lazily stirring a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold. The quiet hum of the refrigerator behind the counter filled the

The tray felt heavier than it should have.Aria balanced it carefully as she followed Lena down the dim corridor lined with towering black doors polished to a mirror sheen, thin lines of white light tracing their edges.The glossy floor reflected every step, and the quiet glow along the walls made the entire passage feel unreal.Each door had a small brass number fixed beside it, Lena stopped in front of the first one and nudged it open with her elbow.Inside, four men also in suits sat around a low table scattered with documents and half-empty glasses. Their conversation paused as the two servers entered.Aria kept her eyes lowered as Lena had instructed.Invisible. That was the rule.Lena moved smoothly, placing fresh drinks on the table while collecting the empty glasses. Aria copied her movements carefully, her fingers steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest.One of the men leaned back in his chair, watching her a little too closely.But Aria ignored him and finished plac

Aria’s footsteps echoed softly against the polished hallway as she sprinted out of the club, her bag clutched tightly in her hands. Every step sounded louder than it should.Her chest heaved with each breath, sweat slicking her palms, and the weight of last night’s chaos still pressed against her like a physical force.The staff corridor was unfamiliar by day, stripped of its night-shrouded secrecy. The echo of her hurried steps was almost deafening.Outside, the early morning air hit her with a cold slap. Damp from last night’s drizzle, it mixed with the scent of wet asphalt and city smoke. Aria drew in a sharp breath, letting it steady her, even as panic clawed at her chest. She had escaped the club, the process to leave, easier than entering.Her bag felt heavy across her shoulder, the contents threatening to press her down, as if the universe were conspiring to remind her how fragile her position was.Lena’s rules came back, sharp and unrelenting: Never stray. Always follow the ru

With no time left to reflect on the prior events, Aria was back at the hospital.The smell made her nauseous.The surrounding a constant reminder of what she had to lose if she didn't go through with itBesides, she could already tell Roman Knight wasn’t someone to play games with.She was trapped in a situation where she barely had a choice.When she entered the room, a nurse was there. “Aria?,” as though having confirmed she nodded at her. She seemed to approach her with a sense of empathy, as if she understood what she was going through.“I'm nurse Lena and I'll be handling your mother's case personally.”, These are the documents, she said before handing them over to Aria, without a second thought, she scanned through and signed quickly before handing them over.“Thank you” she said, barely a whisper.Lena nodded with kindness in her eyes.When she left, Aria sat on the chair by the bed, taking her mother’s frail hands into her own.She lay pale under the sheets, soft stran

With a pounding heart, she rushed into the house. The anticipation was intense. “Miss, you are back. Go freshen up and come have something to eat dear, I made my specialty, a delicious beef roast.” As Aria sat to eat, her mind wandered back to what transpired in the car, his beautiful eyes, his commanding yet magical tone, and most of all, that toes-curling kiss that had her questioning every reality she thought she knew until now. “Are you okay dear?, Your face seems a little red.” Agnes came in from the kitchen holding the last dish, from what she'd prepared. Could you be running a fever?, Victor! She called out. I'm fine Agnes, she said, quickly covering her cheeks that were burning up. She hadn't realised how far her thoughts had strayed. Okay, then I'll have Victor get some medicine. The weather might make one weak easily. The rest of the meal went by in silence. Agnes retired earlier to the kitchen leaving Aria to her own thoughts. After dinner, she went bac