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

At Damice Enterprises,

The press clustered in the conference hall, restless chatter echoing as they anxiously awaited Damien George’s arrival.
“What do you think, Neil? Why did he call us?” one asked, shifting nervously in his seat.
“Umm… don’t know, brother. Maybe a sponsorship?”
“Yeah, last time he called us, he announced one.”
“And did you forget the time before that?” another whispered, leaning forward. “He banned one of us for clicking a picture of Candice.”
“Shhh! Idiot. Don’t take her name like that. At least say Candice Ma’am.” The first one tapped him sharply on the head.
“Shit. Sorry.”
Their eyes darted around the room, scanning for hidden audio devices that might have picked up their careless words. The tension thickened as the conference hall door opened.

“Everyone, silence. Damien sir will arrive in two minutes.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly. As if a king himself were coming. Not a king… a dictator, one journalist thought bitterly.
Then he appeared. Damien George swept into the room with an aura that demanded reverence. Everyone bowed as he passed, but he didn’t spare them a glance, heading straight for the platform.

“Good morning, everyone. Let’s get to the point.” His voice carried easily, resonant enough to still the air. The chatter died into a pin-drop silence.
Uff. If he weren’t this cruel, I’d try to seduce him, a female journalist thought, thighs pressing together as she tried to banish the thought.
The screen behind Damien lit up, displaying a photograph.
“To anyone who doesn’t know her… this is Candice Dale George.”
A ripple of whispers exploded across the room.
“Silence! Silence!” Robert barked, raising his hands in a futile attempt to calm them.
“If anyone utters one more word,” Damien said evenly, not raising his voice, “I will make sure every single one of you loses your job.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

“This is Candice Dale George. My beloved wife. She has been missing for a few days. Anyone who brings me information about her will be rewarded with five crore rupees.”
Every throat tightened. Secrets burned on their tongues, but none dared to speak.

Damien’s eyes softened as he looked straight at the camera, his expression raw. “Candice, my buttercup. Wherever you are, I’ll reach you. Don’t you worry that pretty little brain of yours. Your Damien will find you.” His eyes gleamed with unshed tears.

The staff and journalists gaped. To see Damien George, the ruthless devil, crack under love? Perhaps this was what love did. Men and women alike stared at Candice’s picture with something like awe, envy, even longing.

“That’s all.” Damien turned on his heel. The entire hall rose as one, bowing as he left.

“She must be an angel to tame such a devil,” someone whispered reverently.
“Angel? I pity her. Such a pure woman, captured by this bastard.”
“I should have been in her place. Who is she anyway? A nobody.” Jealousy curled bitter in the words.
“Shut up, bitch. If anyone hears you, we’ll both be hanged.”
The press filtered out one by one, hushed murmurs trailing in their wake.

At the hospital

“My cute little Rabbit… wakie wakie. We have miles to run,” Dylan sang softly to the sleeping Candice, brushing his fingers across her cheek. It was the same rhyme he had sung to her back at the orphanage, when the world was simpler.

His voice carried him down memory lane.

Flashback: Eight years ago

“Candice… Candice…” Dylan, now grown into a fine young man, burst through the orphanage doors.

“What now!” the wardens groaned among themselves, but before anyone could move, a young woman ran toward him and leapt into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.

“I did it, my Rabbit!” Dylan shouted, holding her tightly.
“I’m so proud of you,” Candice beamed, her smile radiant.
“And… here’s my first paycheck.” He held out the slip of paper to her.

Her eyes widened. “Oh my God. Danny!” She slapped her palm over her mouth, shock widening her gaze. “Sixty thousand rupees?”

He nodded, eyes glassy with emotion.

“Yahoooo!” She jumped up and down, raising her hands in triumph. The others in the room watched curiously, but Dylan only saw her.
When she settled, he took a deep breath. “Candice, we need to talk.”
“Hm?” “Let’s move out.”
She froze, taken aback by his sudden bluntness. It was unlike him.
“But Danny…”
“No. I won’t listen to excuses.” Dylan shook his head firmly.
“But this is for you… the paycheck, everything. I haven’t started earning yet. I don’t want to burden… ”
“Stop right there.” He cut her off gently, pressing a finger against her lips.
“What’s mine is ours, Candice. Remember? You always said we’re one unit. If you feel guilty, then fine… when you start earning, you can return it with interest. Okay?”
Her eyes lingered on his finger against her mouth.
“Oh… sorry.” He chuckled awkwardly, patting his own head.
“Okay,” she whispered, still unsure.

Seeing her hesitation, Dylan cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Don’t worry, my Rabbit. Your Danny will always care for you. I want you to have everything, not cry over these small things.” He kissed her forehead softly, then rested his forehead against hers. Both of them teared up.

Present

“Danny… Danny…” Candice mumbled in her unconscious state, her lips trembling.
“Yes, yes, my love. Your Danny is here,” Dylan whispered, running his hand through her hair, pressing the call button for the nurse.
“Danny… run… Danny…” she stuttered, lost in a fevered dream.
“It’s okay, my love. I’m here. It’s okay, Rabbit,” he soothed, stroking her hair.

The door opened. A nurse entered… different from the one before.
“Please move aside, sir. She’s panicking in her unconscious state,” the nurse said briskly.
Dylan stepped back reluctantly as the woman injected something into the IV drip. She began rubbing Candice’s feet, and Dylan quickly joined in, desperate to comfort her. Slowly, Candice calmed.

“Is she alright, ma’am?” he asked anxiously.
“Yes, yes. It’s very common among unconscious patients.” She smiled, though a little too nervously.
Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “And… wasn’t another nurse assigned here?”
“Uh… she’s on leave today. I’m her replacement.”