Adrian's perspective....
The moment Oliver's voice laced through the night air,, I felt it—like the strike of a match near dry timber. A calculated intrusion. His presence always had a way of slithering into peaceful moments,, poisoning them without leaving a visible wound.
But this time was different.
This time,, Rimi was involved.
Her fingers had barely settled on mine... The soft shimmer in her eyes as we sat beneath the garden lights—it was delicate,, tentative, like she was about to open a door between us that had been shut for far too long.
And then he showed up.
"Rimi,," he purred,, his eyes locking onto her like she was prey wrapped in silk.
My hands clenched under the table. I tried to breathe through it. Tried to give her the space to respond,, to reject his compliment politely,, But when he called her breathtaking—breathtaking—I felt something in me snap. Not from jealousy, not exactly. From fear,, From the undeniable fact that someone like him saw what she meant to me,, and would use it.
"Oliver,," I managed,, voice low, controlled—but barely. The syllables felt like cold steel on my tongue.
He didn't look at me,, Not even a flicker of acknowledgment. Just kept watching her,, his words sharp and wrapped in velvet.
"I must say,, your dance performance tonight was captivating,, It almost felt like a confession in motion."
I saw Rimi shift. I saw her smile falter,, She tried to be neutral,, kind—but I knew her too well. That wasn't comfort in her eyes,, That was restraint.
And then he said it...
"Almost… but not quite."
I couldn't sit anymore...
The chair scraped violently behind me as I stood. "Rimi,, let's go..."
But before she could even react—before she could choose—I saw her mother moving toward us,, smiling,, warm,, arms open. And Rimi—sweet,, dutiful Rimi—turned to her like nothing else existed,, As if Oliver and I had disappeared.
She didn't see the way I stood frozen,. Or the way Oliver leaned back,, victorious.
She didn't see me break a little...
And then, Mike was suddenly beside me.
"Walk with me,," he said,, voice firm.
I didn't resist. I couldn't. My body moved on its own,, and we walked a few steps down the garden path,, far enough from the light and the laughter to feel like the world had narrowed into something quieter...
I didn't speak.
Mike did...
"Adrian,," he began,, and already I knew where this was going,, "you need to stop this."
I turned to him sharply. "Stop what??"
"This,," he gestured back toward the table. "This nonsense. This reckless,, public display of tension. I know you care about Rimi. I know you love her,, hell,, even a blind man could see that,, But the way you're handling it—you're making her a target."
"I'm protecting her,," I snapped.
"From what?? From Oliver?? From Luka?? Or from yourself??"
I flinched.
He continued. "You're so focused on proving something that you're not seeing what's right in front of you,, People are watching. Not just tonight,, not just here. Everyone in your world is watching her now,, Because you made it obvious that she's your weak spot."
I stiffened,, jaw tightening. "She's not weak..."
"I didn't say she was,," Mike said gently. "But loving someone makes you vulnerable,, Adrian. And in our world?? Vulnerability is a weapon. Especially in the wrong hands..."
My stomach churned. I knew he was right,, I hated that he was right.
Mike sighed,, running a hand through his hair. "You have enemies who would destroy her just to make you bleed,, And Oliver??He's not just some ex-flame or rival. He's calculated. He's dangerous,, And you handed him the perfect leverage."
My throat burned. "What was I supposed to do, Mike?? Sit there while he threw poison at her disguised as compliments?? Let him twist the knife with that smug smile??"
"No... But you could've handled it better."
I stayed silent,, fists clenched.
Mike's voice softened. "I've watched you with her,, Adrian... When you look at her,, it's like the world disappears. I've never seen you like that. But love isn't enough. Not here... Not when the stakes are this high."
"I never wanted to involve her in this,," I murmured. "She walked in with all her light and innocence,, and I—God—I should've walked away."
"But you didn't."
"I couldn't."
And that was the truth. I had tried,, I had pushed her away more times than I could count. But every time,, she came back. Every time,, she looked at me with those eyes like I was worth saving.
"I thought I could keep her safe,," I admitted, voice hollow. "I thought if I just… if I stood between her and the darkness,, she wouldn't see how deep it went."
Mike looked at me for a long moment,, his eyes steady,, understanding.
"She already sees,," he said quietly. "She sees more than you think,, But if you really want to protect her,, you need to stop reacting. You need to start thinking."
I stared at the night sky,, the stars dull compared to the lights strung above the garden. Rimi's laughter floated through the air from somewhere behind us,, soft,, like a dream slipping through fingers.
"She makes me forget,," I said,, "For a moment,, when she's near… I forget everything... The company... The war... The past. All of it..."
Mike nodded. "That's love,, But don't let it blind you."
He stepped closer,, dropping his voice. "You've been groomed for power since you were a kid. You know how to read people,, predict moves before they make them. Use that,, Adrian. Because right now?? Oliver is already five steps ahead. And if you keep letting your emotions rule you,, you'll lose her before you even have the chance to be with her..."
I swallowed hard,, guilt tightening in my chest. "She deserves better."
"She deserves truth,," Mike said. "And a man who'll fight smart,, not just hard."
"I'm scared,," I admitted,, surprising even myself. "Not of Oliver,, Not of anyone out there. I'm scared of what I'll become to keep her... Scared of losing myself in the process."
Mike put a hand on my shoulder. "Then hold onto who you are... Don't let the fear turn you into something you're not. But don't let it paralyze you either,, You can love her and protect her. Just not like this."
We stood in silence for a moment,, the breeze brushing past,, the scent of roses heavy in the air.
"She doesn't know anything,," I said. "About what I've done. About who I've had to be,, I don't want to see her eyes change when she looks at me."
Mike's gaze didn't waver. "She's stronger than you think,, But you're not giving her the chance to decide for herself."
I glanced back toward the lights,, where Rimi stood with her mother,, smiling. I could see the faint dimple in her cheek,, the way she tilted her head when she was trying to listen earnestly. She looked like she belonged in a painting—warm,, vibrant,, untouchable.
But she wasn't untouchable...
And that was the problem.
"She's in the center of it now,, isn't she??" I asked quietly.
Mike nodded. "And it's only going to get worse."
"I need to end this with Oliver..."
"You need to outsmart him,," Mike corrected. "Publicly confronting him like that?? That just gave him power. You need to take it back."
"How??"
Mike leaned closer. "You show him he doesn't matter. That you trust Rimi. That she trusts you... You show strength without words. That's what rattles men like Oliver. Silence. Control,, Calm power."
I looked at Mike and saw not just my friend, but the strategist he was—loyal,, thoughtful,, brutally honest.
"Thank you,," I said.
He smiled faintly. "Just don't mess it up."
I nodded,, a quiet vow forming in my chest.
No more outbursts.
No more scenes...
For her,, I would be better.
And as we began walking back toward the soft glow of the garden,, I knew one thing for certain:
I couldn't afford to lose her...
Not again.
To be continue...