(Raya’s POV) "Are you ever going to tell me where we're going?" I ask Kaan, feeling a mix of curiosity and slight frustration. We've been in the car for a couple of hours now, and despite my attempts to figure out our destination, I remain clueless. "I told you already. Out of town. I'm tired of the city," he responds, his tone slightly evasive. A mischievous smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he glances at me before looking back to his cell phone, enjoying the suspense he's created. I can't help but roll my eyes, sensing that he's purposefully being vague. "I get that, but where exactly are we going?" I persist, desperate to uncover the mystery destination. "You'll see," he replies playfully. "Just trust me, will you? I promise, it's going to be worth the wait." I let out a sigh, a mixture of exasperation and anticipation. As much as I want to extract the information from him, there's a part of me that appreciates the element of surprise. There's something exhilarating abou

(Raya’s POV) "You know that overwhelming sensation that you feel when you're in a very high place and it feels like gravity is pulling you down?" He asks, sounding amused. I clutch at him tighter, not caring if it’s making him feel uncomfortable. "You mean fear of heights? Yes, I am overly familiar with it. In fact, I am feeling it right now and I hate it! I hate you! You promised me nothing bad will happen!" I should have known we would end up doing something like this. Should have anticipated that he would not feel content with simple sightseeing and walking around. There were so many signs, albeit subtle ones. I actually enjoyed everything yesterday. But now that I think about it, it’s more like being tricked into falling in love with the whole place so that I would be comfortable enough to go with him everywhere. All of it was so lovely, so safe and easy. He made me feel like a princess, being toured by my very own prince up in that magnificent train station up in the moun

(Raya’s POV)“I'm sorry, what?"I laugh. "I'm just kidding. You were supposed to laugh."He frowns. "How is that funny?"I clear my throat awkwardly. "Uhm, because…you know…it's a silly request. It's outlandish. Unthinkable. Did you hear me right? Five million dollars. In cash. It's absurd. It was a—" I stop mid-sentence, feeling my cheeks burn. "Oh god, you can't actually give it to me, can you?"He purses his lips. "Well, it would be a bit more complicated than a bank transfer and I would need to pull a lot of strings and do a lot of explaining about why it has to be cash, but it's not impossible. I'm just wondering how you plan to hold all that money while we're here and why you need it all of a sudden—"I wince, thinking how mercenary it must have sounded. "I was kidding, Kaan. I swear. It was supposed to be funny. I just wanted you to smile a little. You were supposed to tell me ‘Don’t be absurd, Raya. I don’t carry around that much change in my pocket.’ And I was going to answer

(Raya’s POV) “...I have no one else to save me…from you.” Kaan seems to consider my words and says nothing for a while. And then he sighs. “There you are again, assuming I would hurt you.” There’s a little bit of hurt in his voice and I close my eyes, swallowing painfully. “Oh, Kaan…it’s not—” “I will say this for the last time. I care about you…and I will never willingly hurt you. And if I ever do unwittingly, I will make amends… or die trying.” I scoff, even though I’m melting inside quicker than butter in a heated pan. “Oh, don't be so melodramatic. I am no one—” Kaan reaches out to hold my chin, gently compelling me to face him. “Open your eyes, Hiraya. Look at me.” I do what he says, almost sobbing at what I see. Vulnerability. And something even more dangerous and thrilling. It can’t be. It’s too soon. What reason does he have to feel the same way I do? I close my eyes again. “Don’t look at me like that.” “Why not? Last time I checked, honesty is still a virtue.” He

(Raya’s POV)I stare at Kaan who looks so serious all of a sudden.Hope blooms in my heart and I bite my lower lip to stop myself from smiling like I won the lottery jackpot.I haven’t burned my bridges so badly, after all!He sighs and opens the folder again. “Next: Public Display of Affection: Both parties agree to maintain an appearance of genuine affection when in public or in the presence of others. This includes, but is not limited to, holding hands, hugging, and light displays of physical intimacy.” He glances at me, raising an inquiring eyebrow. “Well? I shake my head, still feeling too elated to nitpick. “It’s fine.” He gives me a strange look, probably thinking I have a lot to say about that part since I’ve had something to say about every little thing until that one. In truth I have written in my copy to ‘specify light physical intimacy’. However, after what he just said, I don’t really care anymore. He shrugs. “If you say so… okay… ‘Confidentiality:’ Yes, very important