Chapter 21
The only thing I could do was look down at the gun. Then, he kissed my temple. A warmth spread through me—a complete contrast to the feeling of cold metal in my hand.
“Remember, don’t do anything Adeline says or let her take you anywhere. Tomorrow, the driver will bring you to me in the afternoon, so don’t be shocked if you find yourself taking a detour.”
With that, he walked out of my room. The way he had appeared in front of me was like a dream, a ghost, a shadow. But the way he was leaving made him feel so real that I couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around it.
He clearly hadn’t broken into my room through the door. If that were the case, he might have heard everything–the conversation between Kevin and me. He had come from the balcony.
I knew I didn’t need to worry about him getting caught, but something about him sneaking out of here made me nervous.
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to shake off the feeling, then looked down at the gun still in my hand, remembering his words.
“The day I betray you, use it. Kill me.”
A shiverran down my spine, and I put the gun in the drawer by my bedside. The feeling of its weight in my hand didn’t leave me until morning, and I
couldn’t sleep.
What was I supposed to do now? How should I handle this? I was used to getting away from Adeline’s surveillance, but how would I be able to get away from Killian Knight’s eyes?
He seemed to want to help, but he would also end up restricting me.
That morning, when I came downstairs, Adeline was standing in the lobby, speaking to a new driver. He was a man in his forties–blond, blue–eyed, with an ordinary face. His head was lowered as he listened to whatever Adeline was saying.
The moment she noticed me, she stopped and gave me one of those motherly smiles that never reached her eyes. It seemed painted onto her face. I kept my expression neutral, refusing to let her see the nausea I felt.
“Did you have breakfast?” she asked in a sweet voice.
I lost what little appetite I had left.
“I don’t seem to have much appetite.”
“Now, that won’t do, my dear. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
She came to my side, put an arm around my shoulder, and pulled me into a half–embrace–one that probably looked maternal to anyone watching.
“Why don’t you sit at the table? I told them to make your favorite pancakes with maple syrup. I don’t want you eating something outside–it’s not good for your health. And this,” she pointed at the man, “is your new driver, David.”
Then, without giving any further explanation about the change in drivers, she pulled me toward the breakfast hall.
I didn’t ask.
I needed to ask David’s real boss how, on earth, he managed to replace my driver so quickly. How did Adeline trust this new person to keep an eye on
me?
I put on my best happy smile and nodded, stepping out of her cold hug. I hated sweet things. It was a miracle I didn’t have a trauma response whenever
someone smiled at me.
I ate without thinking, but a nagging feeling crept over me, like I was forgetting something. I shook it off and focused on figuring out a way to sneak
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Chapter 21
around David my new surveillance officer.
When I finally got to the car, David gave me a smile and a nod.
“Good morning, ma’am.”
I almost startled. I nodded and reached for the car door, but he beat me to it. I climbed inside,
“Thank you?” I said, but it came out like a question.
He closed the door and went to the front, taking the driver’s seat.
“Just so you know, if you treat me like that, you’ll be fired before it’s time to pick me up.”
I had seen too many staff members who were remotely nice to me either fired or abused in this house.
“Don’t worry, ma’am. This is a temporary situation. I will be more neutral in front of Mrs. Anderson,” he answered politely.
I nodded.
The drive to college was filled with silence–a comfortable silence. I kept watching him, though. No matter what I thought, he wasn’t what I had expected.
David disappeared the minute he dropped me off. For a moment, I thought he might be keeping an eye on me somehow–he was a Shadow Knight, after all–but no matter how I turned or looked around the corners, I saw no one.
Only when I exited the main gates of the college in the afternoon did I see him again.
And, just as Killian had said, I found myself taking a detour.
David didn’t say anything. I didn’t ask anything.
We stopped at the same restaurant Killian had tried to take me to before. David opened the door for me. I stepped out.
“Boss is waiting inside. This is Eva–she will escort you.”
The petite East Asian girl standing next to him had tan skin and was a few inches shorter than me. I was 5’4“. Eva had black hair in a short cut with light bangs covering her forehead. She wore a full–body suit with full sleeves, buttoned up to her neck, and had a pleasant smile on her face.
But her dark brown eyes were sharp.
She looked graceful and kind of cute.
A lie, though. I could see it.
I nodded.
“This way, miss,” she said.
I followed her.
It wasn’t like I had never been in this restaurant before. However, today, it felt different. The place was empty–completely empty.
The classical décor remained the same. Mahogany wood. Illuminating lighting. A crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Black and white marble flooring. Elegant paintings on the walls.
This building was built in the ‘80s. It used to be a gentleman’s club before the owner, Mr. Andrew Stewart, sold it to a man named Michael Miller. Mr Miller had then transformed it into a restaurant in a 1920s style for his wife, Isabelle Miller.
Chapter 21
Then, two months ago, it had been sold again to none other than Killian Knight.
One of the few properties that could be directly linked to him.
I was led to the back, then upstairs, where a private balcony was set up for dining.
Unlike what I had imagined–bodyguards everywhere–the place was eerily quiet.
On the mahogany–carved wooden table, a small white vase held a single red rose. The white plates were set face–down on the table.
I blinked.
A strange sensation squeezed my heart. I clutched my messenger bag strap tightly. I took a step back–only to collide with something solid and warm
A hand clasped my shoulder, steadying me.
“Do you like it?”
I turned and looked at him, stepping out of his hold.
I scratched my eyebrow, trying to compose myself while I took him
He wore a white full–sleeved shirt and navy–blue pants. The dark aura that usually surrounded him was gone, replaced with a genuine smile.
Once again, it put me at ease.
I looked away, straightening my posture. “It’s fine,” I finally said.
Then, I looked around, a bit surprised.
“Where is she?” I asked.
“Who?”
“Eva.”
“Oh, her?” He put his hand on my lower back, guiding me toward the table. “She’s gone.”
I frowned. “Is there anyone here who isn’t in your Death Eater organization?” I asked sarcastically.
He looked confused. “Death Eater?”
“Honestly, don’t you read?” I shook my head.
twent for the seat across from him.
He chuckled and grabbed my elbow, stopping me gently. He removed my bag, but I grabbed it before someone else could take it away. He took it and placed it at the foot of the table, then pulled out a chair for me.
“You know I can sit on my own,” I said.
“I know, but this is better,” he replied as he went to sit across from me.
“In what way?” I asked.
A waiter came and poured a glass of water, then placed the menu in front of me. I nodded my thanks, and he left.
“It’s romantic,” Killian answered.
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Chapter 21
“Ah.” I nodded. His obvious tone made me a bit awkward. I picked up the glass of water.
“You seem very serious about this,” I murmured under my breath before taking a sip.
“You still don’t believe me,” he stated.
“I’m reserving my judgment,” I said after a moment of thought.
He nodded. “What would you like to have?”
I scanned the menu. It felt strange to choose. My meals were always chosen and prepared for me. The few times I had gone out with Franny, I had simply ordered whatever she got.
An uneasy feeling climbed up my spine.
It was an English menu with some Italian fusion dishes. I recognized the names. I had tasted them at some point or another. Yet, I couldn’t decide what I wanted.
I cleared my throat and handed the menu to him.
“You decide.”
“You sure?” He raised an eyebrow.
I nodded.
He waved to the waiter, and a man in his mid–twenties appeared again. He was different from the one who had served the water.
I watched as he walked away, a little uneasy at the thought that anyone here could be exceptionally well–versed in the art of murder.
“They’re not… what did you call them? Death Eaters?” Killian asked.
“The waiters or Eva?”
“The waiters are fine. Eva is a Shadow Knight, but she’s more talented in acquiring information.”
I nodded, looking at him. He was telling me this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It hurt–the way he looked so casual, so light.
In the afternoon sunlight, he looked particularly striking. A slight smile played on his lips.
I found myself relaxing in my seat.
+had never felt like this before, not even when I was at the Den, surrounded by people I trusted.
“What are you smiling at?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, amusement in his voice.
I quickly schooled my expression and looked away, I hadn’t even realized I wa
smiling.
Why was I smiling?
I shook myself and then-
My phone pinged.
A message popped up on the screen, giving me a perfect excuse to compose myself.
“Give me a minute,” I muttered.
Chapter 21
He nodded, and I glanced down.
It was from Franny.
I clicked on it.
“Isn’t she the one who used to be your guardian at the orphanage?”
A link to an article was attached.
I frowned. What was she talking about?
I tapped the link, and as the page loaded, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me.
There were two photos of a dirty–blond woman in her mid–fifties.
The right–side photo showed her smiling with dull brown eyes–the smile I hated most in the world.
The left–side photo showed the same woman sprawled on the floor at an odd angle, her bruised neck bent unnaturally. A broken chair leg could be seen at the edge of the photo.
The headlin
e read:
**Miss Grace Milton, Former Orphanage Guardian, Found Dead in Her Apartment. Case Under Investigation.**
