Three

NOVARIA’S POV

“You can come with me.”

For a moment, I genuinely thought I had heard him wrong.

Slowly, I turned toward him. His expression remained unreadable, those dark brown eyes fixed on me calmly as though he hadn’t just invited a complete stranger Into his home.

I searched his face carefully, trying to understand what exactly was going on inside his head. But nothing. Not a single emotion gave him away.

Then reality crashed into me.

Wait.

How could I possibly go home with a stranger?

A dangerous stranger.

Yes, he had saved me. Yes, he had protected me when nobody else did. But this was still a man who had stood there emotionlessly while people were shot to death right in front of me.

How could I be sure I would be safe with him?

I swallowed nervously.

Maybe going back home wasn’t such a terrible idea after all. At least there, I knew what to expect. My mother might not care about me the way she should, but she was still my mother. Besides, if I truly wanted to leave home, I had friends I could stay with.

But even that thought quickly faded. All my friends still lived with their families. Showing up at their doorstep in the middle of the night with nowhere else to go felt humiliating. Worse, it would raise too many questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

I lowered my gaze, completely lost in thought. And somehow, Sylvester noticed immediately.

“Since you don’t trust me,” he said calmly, shoving one hand into his pocket, “you can either go back to the home you hate so much…” He slowly walked past me toward the black SUV parked by the roadside. “...or stay out here in the cold until another group of animals finds you.” 

His voice was flat. Like he genuinely didn’t care what choice I made. But somehow, I could tell he already knew I would follow him. That annoyed me more than it should have.

I watched him continue toward the car while frustration battled heavily inside my chest.

Why did he have to make sense?

I hated the fact that going with him somehow felt safer than returning home. Yet at the same time, that thought terrified me.

Sylvester was dangerous. Everything about him screamed danger. The expensive black clothes. The tattoos. The armed men following behind him like bodyguards. The calm way he ordered people’s deaths as though it meant absolutely nothing. He wasn’t just involved with dangerous people. He led them.

I remained rooted to the spot as my thoughts tangled together violently inside my head.

Then suddenly, panic hit me. Sylvester had already entered the car. The engine started.

“Oh God…” My eyes widened.

“Okay wait!” I shouted suddenly. “Stop! I’ll go with you!”

Without thinking twice, I broke into a run through the snow.

The SUV had barely begun moving before it slowed down again. One of the men opened the back door for me silently.

Breathing heavily, I climbed inside. The warmth of the car instantly wrapped around my freezing body.

I looked around in shock.

The interior alone looked more expensive than anything I had ever touched in my life. Black leather seats. Soft golden lighting. A faint scent of luxury cologne lingering in the air. Everything looked elegant.

The second vehicle carrying his men followed closely behind us while only Sylvester, the driver, and I remained in the first SUV.

An awkward silence filled the car almost immediately.

Sylvester sat beside me calmly, one arm resting against the door while his sharp gaze remained fixed ahead.

He didn’t even look at me..Not once.

The atmosphere became suffocatingly quiet. I nervously rubbed my fingers together.

Should I say something?

Should I stay quiet?

Eventually, my conscience won.

“Sir…” I began softly. “Thank you for saving me back there.”

No response. Sylvester remained completely still. Not even a glance.

I swallowed awkwardly before trying again.

“And… thank you for the jacket too. You really saved me from freezing.”

Still nothing.

At this point, I felt like I was talking to a statue.

I glanced at him cautiously.

Was he angry?

Annoyed?

Emotionless?

I honestly couldn’t tell.

“And lastly…thank you for….”

I suddenly paused.

Wait. I blinked.

“Where exactly are we going?”

That finally earned me a reaction.

Sylvester exhaled slowly and leaned his head back slightly against the seat.

“Do you know you talk too much?” he asked in a low voice.

Heat instantly rushed to my cheeks.

“Oh.” I quickly looked away toward the window in embarrassment. “Sorry.”

Outside, snow continued falling heavily across the empty streets while silence returned once more. Then unexpectedly, Sylvester spoke again.

“I don’t even know your name yet,” he muttered. “But you’ve already asked enough questions for one night.”

I nervously bit the inside of my cheek.

“Everything I did for you was nothing,” he continued calmly. “And we’re going to my house. Satisfied now?”

I nodded quickly.

“Yes.”

God, I sounded stupid.

A few seconds later, realization hit me again. I hadn’t even introduced myself. Meanwhile, this man had literally rescued me and brought me into his car.

I turned toward him awkwardly.

“My name is Novaria,” I said softly. “What about yours?”

One side of his mouth twitched faintly.

“So now you’re asking?”

I looked down in embarrassment again.

“I’m sorry…”

“Sylvester,” he answered finally. “Though I’m pretty sure you already heard them say it earlier.” His gaze shifted toward me briefly. “So stop calling me ‘sir.’”

A small smile escaped my lips before I could stop it.

“I actually like your name,” I admitted quietly. “I think I’ll call you Sly instead.”

For the second time that night, Sylvester smiled. And honestly? Seeing a man like him smile felt strangely dangerous.

My heart skipped embarrassingly hard.

—----

The rest of the ride passed mostly in silence. Not uncomfortable silence. Just… quiet.

Every now and then, I caught myself stealing tiny glances at him. At the tattoos peeking from beneath his sleeves. At the expensive watch resting around his wrist. At the sharpness of his jawline whenever city lights flashed across his face through the window. He looked nothing like the men from my neighborhood. Nothing like anyone I had ever known.

About fifteen minutes later, the driver finally spoke..

“We’re here, boss.”

I looked outside the window and nearly stopped breathing.

The mansion before us looked unreal. Massive black gates surrounded the property while elegant lights illuminated the enormous building behind them. Snow covered the edges of the driveway beautifully, making the mansion appear almost cinematic beneath the night sky.

My mouth parted slightly in shock.

This wasn’t a house. It was practically a palace.

The SUV rolled smoothly into the compound before stopping at the entrance. I stepped out slowly, immediately feeling underdressed, painfully underdressed.

I was wearing an old coat and a jean trouser, with my pair of slippers, though my slippers were actually new pairs. I began to wish I had worn something much better.

Meanwhile, everything around me screamed wealth. I suddenly became hyperaware of how ordinary I looked. Embarrassment crept into my chest.

Trying not to appear too amazed, I quietly followed Sylvester inside. But the moment I entered the mansion, my composure shattered completely. 

The interior was breathtaking. White marble floors stretched across the enormous living room while elegant black furniture decorated the space beautifully. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting warm golden light across the luxurious room.

Everything looked expensive. Spotless and perfect.

I felt like I had accidentally walked into the home of a billionaire.

My fingers nervously twisted together as I stood near the entrance awkwardly, unsure of where to look or what to touch.

Then suddenly a voice broke out.

“Sylvester, thank God you’re back. We have a serious problem. Lugard’s family has completely fucked every…” The voice stopped abruptly.

I looked up.

A young man stood near the staircase, staring directly at me with visible confusion. His eyes widened slightly. For a second, neither of us spoke. Then his expression softened unexpectedly, almost amused by how awkwardly nervous I looked standing there.

Before things could become even more uncomfortable, Sylvester stepped in front of me protectively. The movement surprised me.

“She’s Novaria,” he said calmly. “And she’ll be staying here for a while.”

The man blinked rapidly.

“What?” His voice rose in disbelief before he quickly controlled himself. “What do you mean she’s staying here?”

He looked genuinely shocked.

In fact, he had completely forgotten whatever urgent issue he had been talking about earlier.

Sylvester rubbed the back of his neck briefly before answering.

"That..", Sylvester coughed a bit, clearing his throat. "That bastard scorpion and his friends were messing up with her. So I finally got rid of them. She didn't want to go back home, so I brought her home with me. Collins is there any dinner left?," Sylvester asked.