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--x--The Chapter Starts Here--x--

Flashback continues: About 11 years ago

“Danny… Danny… Where are you?” A girl in her late teens, still in her school uniform, ran into the orphanage mess hall, scanning frantically.
Before she could turn, a boy slightly older, dressed in shabby clothes, slipped behind her, grabbed her by the waist, and lifted her clean off the ground, spinning her around.
“Areyy… What!!” she squealed, her wide eyes melting into laughter once she recognized who it was.
“Danny! Put me down, idiot!”
Both of them were laughing so loudly the room echoed with it. He finally steadied her on her feet, still grinning.
“How much did my Rabbit score?” Dylan asked, cupping her cheeks.
“Guess… guess,” Candice teased, her eyes sparkling.
“Ummm… 90%?” he guessed with exaggerated thoughtfulness.
She shook her head mischievously.
“Come on, say it na… please?” he begged, stomping his foot like a child.
Instead of answering, she dug into her bag, pulled out a certificate, and thrust it in front of him. Dylan carefully took it and scanned the page.
“Oh. My. God. Candice!” His jaw dropped, while she was already bouncing into a little happy dance, her arms flapping in ridiculous moves.
“You scored a freaking ninety-nine percent!”
“Yaaayyy!” she cheered, throwing her arms up before resuming her absurd celebratory moves.

By then, half the orphanage was staring. The wardens sighed and face-palmed, but beneath their exasperation, pride warmed their faces. These two children had grown up before their eyes… always protecting each other, always together.
“Oh, my baby, we are so proud of you,” one of the wardens said, kissing her forehead. Others hugged her, making her cheeks burn pink.
Dylan, standing off to the side, just smiled. Watching her shine was enough.
When the crowd finally dispersed, he stepped forward, cupped her face again, and spoke with quiet seriousness.
“This is just one milestone, Candice. Don’t stop here. You have to go out and achieve the world.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then pulled her into his arms.
“Yes, Danny. I remember.” She smiled against his chest.
“Rabbit…” he began again after a pause, his arms still tight around her.
“Yes, Danny?”
“I want to tell you something… I always wanted to…”
“What?” she prompted, looking up.
“That I…”
“Un hun??”
“That I… I…”
“Speak up, Danny!” Candice frowned, stepping slightly back.
“I… I think… I love pizza,” he blurted.
“What??” she nearly screamed.
“Y-yeah. Pizza. I love pizza,” Dylan repeated, scratching his head furiously.
Candice’s sharp eyes instantly caught the lie, her lips parting to demand the truth when a voice rang out:
“Candiceee!”
“Edward!” she cried, running straight into the arms of another boy. He hugged her warmly as Dylan froze, watching.
“Congratulations, my topper!” Edward beamed.
“Thanks, Ed.” Candice’s smile was wide and innocent.
“Honestly, all thanks to Danny. He made me memorize the formulas, taught me everything.”
“Oh, come on, Candice. Stop underestimating yourself. If Dylan was that great, he would’ve topped too,” Edward teased.
Candice’s face hardened. She raised her hand sharply. “Not one word degrading Dylan.”
“Okay, okay! Sorry,” Edward said with mock surrender, his hands in the air, while she giggled.
“And… did you confess? Or did he?” Edward pressed, his tone sly.
Candice’s smile faltered. “I thought he was about to… but he said he loves pizza.”
“What?? Pizza??” Edward doubled over laughing. “You got yourself a coward, babe.”
“Stop it, Edward. He’s the strongest boy I know. He’s fought men twice his size, taken punishments that weren’t his just to protect me. He’s not a coward… just scared to confess.”
Edward leaned closer, whispering, “Then why don’t you? Why wait for him to say it first?”
Candice blinked, then a slow smile spread. “Yeah… why didn’t I think of that?”
“Only great minds think great things.” Edward smirked, popping his imaginary collar. They high-fived.

Meanwhile, Dylan stood far back, fists clenched on the edge of a table, knuckles blanching white. He couldn’t hear the words, only see their closeness, the laughter, the smiles she shared with Edward.
“I wanted to say I love you, Candice. I always did,” he whispered, his throat burning as his eyes misted. He turned away, hiding his tears, and slipped out quietly.
Candice turned just in time to see him leaving.
“Okay, Ed. I’m going,” she said quickly.
“Where? Behind Majnu?” Edward teased.
“Of course! Laila is always behind Majnu!” she yelled back, already running to follow Dylan.

Present

“Sir… sir…”
Dylan jerked awake, his head snapping up.
“Yes… yes. Is Candice okay?” he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes in panic.
Dr. Sen gave a small, reassuring smile. “She’s fine, sir. She’ll wake up in a few more hours. Why don’t you get freshened up?”
“Of course,” Dylan muttered, standing immediately. Then he fixed the doctor with a hard look.
“How secure is this hospital?”
“Don’t worry, sir. This is a VIP suite. No one can enter without authorization.”
Dylan hesitated, then nodded. “Stay here for a few minutes. Don’t leave her. I’ll be back.”
Dr. Sen thought for a while but agreed. “Alright. Please be quick though… I have my rounds.”
“I will.” Dylan rushed into the washroom.

Left alone, Dr. Sen glanced back at the unconscious woman. Whoever she was, she clearly meant the world to Dylan Paul. Strange… he’d never once heard of Dylan being involved in any affair. If his wife ever knew, she would have raised hell. He shook the thought off.
As he checked Candice’s pulse, a commotion outside broke the silence.
“Leave me! Leave me!”
Dr. Sen sighed. “Not again. That man… I need to call the inspector.”
He hurried out, forgetting to close the suite door.
Inspector Jack was already there, his men grappling with the same disheveled man they had found near Dylan’s car earlier.
“What’s going on?” Dr. Sen demanded.
“Doctor, please… don’t let them take me!” the man pleaded, dropping to his knees. “I have to find madam first. Please, I beg you.”
“Sir, you’re healed. Now you must go to the station. That’s the law,” one officer barked.
“Nooo!” the man screamed, wrenching free and bolting into the suite.
“Damn it,” Dr. Sen muttered, rushing after him.

Inside, the man hovered over Candice’s bed, his trembling hand held just shy of her face, too afraid to touch. His voice was low, broken.
“Ma’am… get up. Please, let’s go home. Sir will kill me… ma’am, please…”
His tone was heartbreakingly different from the rage he had outside… fragile, pleading.
The others burst in behind Dr. Sen just as Dylan came charging out of the washroom.
“What the hell!” Dylan roared, rushing to Candice’s side, pushing the man away and pulling her protectively into his arms. “Who are you?”
Dr. Sen groaned inwardly. Now you’re dead, Sen.
“Sir… I… I don’t know how he got in. We’re taking him out right now.” He signaled to the police.
“No… ma’am, wake up… come home with me…” the man whispered, even as they dragged him away. His voice faded into the corridor, full of despair.
Dr. Sen turned to Dylan, bowing his head. “I’m so sorry, sir. I swear, our hospital is secure. I don’t know how this happened.”
Dylan said nothing… his eyes were locked on Candice’s face, his entire being centered only on her.
Dr. Sen lingered a moment, studying the way Dylan held her, the storm brewing in his eyes, before silently excusing himself and leaving the room.