Elara froze, her breath catching. “What do you mean? I came by myself?” she asked, disbelieving.

“Yes.” His tone was steady, serious. “I was… interested in you, yes. But I never planned to have you that way. I came home after the party, about to sleep, when the doorbell rang. You were there. You kissed me before I could even ask why. You didn’t let me speak. I thought that maybe you were interested in me too. But when I heard Alax’s name… I…..”

Their eyes locked, the weight of his words sinking in.

“In the morning, you left without a word.”

Elara shook her head slowly. “That can’t be. How could I come here when I didn’t even know your address?”

“I was surprised too,” Ronan admitted, his eyes dropping.

Her lips parted, guilt creeping across her face. “I thought… I thought you forced me. I hated you for that night.”

“Maybe you were drugged,” he said simply, no anger in his voice.

Elara turned away, shame coloring her features. “Please… don’t ever tell Alax about this.”

Ronan’s jaw tightened, but then he nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”

“You’re not that bad,” Elara admitted softly, “but just your flirt — “

Before she could finish, Ronan caught her hand and tugged her closer. Her palm pressed against his chest, his warmth seeping through the fabric. She looked up instinctively, only to find his eyes locked on her — playful, teasing, and yet intense.

“What are you doing…..let me….”

Ronan silenced her with a fingertip on her lips. The gesture sent a shiver down her spine. His gaze dropped briefly to her mouth before returning to her eyes.

“Shhh…” Ronan leaned in, closing the space between them until their noses nearly brushed. His gaze lingered on her lips before lifting to lock with her eyes, dark and unreadable.

“You know what I’m thinking right now?” he murmured, his voice low, almost a whisper meant only for her.

Elara’s breath caught. “What… what are you thinking?” she asked, her voice trembling as she tugged at his grip, but his hand held firm, refusing to let her go.

Ronan smirked, tilting his head just slightly as if savoring her unease. “That I still have…” He let the words trail off, deliberate, letting the silence stretch between them.

Her eyes widened. “You have… what?” she pressed, though her voice betrayed her nervousness.

The corner of his mouth curved, a mix of arrogance and vulnerability flickering in his expression. “I still have a chance,” he said finally, the words hanging heavy in the air between them.

Elara’s heart raced. She struggled, telling herself to push him away, but something — something she couldn’t name — pulled her toward him instead. She had never felt this way before, not even with Alax.

Just as quickly as he had taken her, Ronan released her hand.

She stumbled back, flustered, brushing down her top to steady herself while Ronan only leaned back, smiling knowingly. Without a word, she turned and hurried into the washroom.

Inside, she gripped the sink with both hands, her reflection staring back at her with wide, restless eyes. She sucked in a deep breath.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” she whispered. Her fingers raked through her hair as frustration poured out. “Why didn’t I run away? Why…? Why am I letting him pull me closer?”

Her chest tightened as she pressed her palms flat against the cool porcelain sink, battling the storm of emotions Ronan had stirred inside her.

A few minutes passed before Elara heard a soft knock on the door. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, adjusted her top, and took a deep breath. When she opened the door, she carried herself with full confidence, her chin lifted.

Ronan stood there, leaning casually against the frame. His eyes met hers, sharp and unreadable. Elara refused to look away. She wouldn’t let him see the nervous flutter in her chest.

But he saw through her anyway. A small smirk tugged at his lips as he stepped forward, slow and deliberate. Elara instinctively backed up until her shoulders hit the door behind her. Still, she kept her gaze locked on him, refusing to blink first.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Ronan asked, his voice low as his face drew closer.

Elara’s heart skipped, but her lips curved into a smirk. “Afraid? Who, me? Of what?”

His hand came up, pressing flat against the doorframe right next to her face, boxing her in. He leaned closer, close enough that she could feel his breath ghost her lips. For a moment, it felt like he would close the distance.

But just as their lips were about to meet, Elara snapped back. She pushed past him quickly, her words sharp. “You’re crazy. I’m leaving.”

Snatching up her things in a rush, she stormed out the door without glancing back.

The moment she left, Ronan’s expression shifted. The teasing mask dropped, replaced by something grave, something weighted. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.

“I need some help,” he said quietly.

After a beat, he ended the call, staring at the dark screen in his hand before slipping it back into his pocket. His jaw tightened, his earlier smirk nowhere to be found.

The exams were finally over, and the hotel glittered with music, lights, and laughter for Alax’s birthday party. His closest friends had gathered, Aria among them, mingling easily with the elders who came to give their blessings. The only one missing was Elara.

Ronan sat at a table, glass in hand, his posture relaxed but his eyes restless. They never left the door. He kept waiting — half-expecting her to walk in at any moment, her quiet presence enough to change the atmosphere. But she didn’t come.

He texted her once. Twice. No reply. His jaw tightened, his hand tightening around his glass as he ordered another drink. The party went on around him — Alax dancing with Aria, laughter echoing through the room.

Ronan’s gaze darkened. He lifted his phone, snapping a picture of Alax and Aria laughing together, their closeness obvious. His thumb hovered over the send button, ready to forward it to Elara. But he couldn’t do it. Something inside him stopped. With a sharp breath, he locked the phone and shoved it into his blazer pocket.

“I heard Alax might be engaged to Aria,” one of his friends remarked casually while chewing on a canapé.

Ronan’s head snapped toward him. “What?” His voice cut through the music.

“Not sure,” the friend shrugged. “But their parents are business partners. And the way those two look at each other… yeah, wouldn’t be surprising.”

Ronan’s hand froze halfway to his glass. His chest tightened, his thoughts colliding.

Another friend, Mark, added with a laugh, “No, Alax won’t marry Aria. He loves Elara.”

The words stabbed deeper than the alcohol ever could. Ronan’s eyes shot to Mark — sharp, dangerous, a glare that made him swallow his drink and shut up instantly.

Without a word, Ronan stood, pushing back his chair with a scrape, and walked out. The party lights dimmed behind him as he strode into the night, the weight of silence heavier than the music he left behind.

He saw Elara outside. She was wearing a beautiful maroon dress that fell to her knees, paired with dark maroon heels that perfectly matched. Her hair was half up, half down, the loose strands swaying in the breeze. Ronan’s eyes stayed fixed on her.

She was on the phone, holding a box in one hand. Before Ronan could approach, he saw Alax walking toward her. Even from a distance, they noticed each other. Elara gave him a bright smile and raised the cake box toward him, but he didn’t take it — he hugged her instead.

Ronan, a little way off and hidden behind a large plant, watched silently. He could see and hear them, but they couldn’t see him.

“Happy birthday,” Elara said as she hugged him back.

“You said you wouldn’t come,” Alax replied, gently pulling away.

“How can I not come? I made this for you,” Elara said, handing him the cake box.

“Really? Wow, thank you so much,” Alax said, kissing her forehead. The sudden gesture left Elara slightly shocked, though she didn’t react much. But someone couldn’t tolerate the scene — Ronan’s eyes were fixed on them, lost in their closeness.

“Alax…” a voice called from behind. It was Alax’s father, anger flashing in his eyes as he saw them together. Ronan remained still, not interfering.

“What are you doing here? Leave Aria alone inside,” the father demanded, glaring at Elara.

“Dad, I came to meet her,” Alax said, looking down.

“I told you not to invite filthy people to the party!” the father shouted. “But you didn’t listen. And you,” he turned to Elara, “if you need money, why don’t you just ask for it?”

“I’m not here for money. I’m here because it’s Alax’s birthday. I came to wish him, not attend your party,” Elara snapped back.

Alax’s father, unable to tolerate her speaking back, raised his hand as if to strike her. Alax stepped in.

“Dad, please, she’ll leave,” he said.

“If you say another single word, I’ll throw you out too!” the father barked.

Ronan stepped forward, taking the blow intended for Elara himself. The slap landed hard. He touched his face, then looked at Alax and his father. “If you’re done, can we go?” he said calmly.

He grabbed Elara’s hand and started to lead her away.

“I’ll tell your dad that you support a dirty girl,” her father shouted.

Ronan paused, looked back, and smiled. “Go ahead — and She has a name… Elara. And she is not a dirty girl.”

He held her hand tightly as she silently followed him to his car. Ronan didn’t let go until she was seated in the front seat. He took the driver’s seat, noticed her lost expression, and leaned slightly toward her.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He fastened her seatbelt. “Seatbelt,” he said.

As he drove toward Elara’s apartment, her eyes remained fixed outside the car, lost in thought.

Ronan stopped the car in front of the building. Elara was about to step out.

“Are you okay?” Ronan asked, his voice soft.

Elara’s hand froze on the handle. She looked at him. “Thanks for today.”

She moved to open the door, but he spoke again, his eyes filled with concern. “Do you really like him?”

Elara paused, turning back to him. She was silent for a few seconds, lost in thought.

“I met him in high school when he told me he knew me before that,” she began, her voice tinged with a sad smile as she drifted into the past. “Everyone around me looked down on me in school… but he… he was the only one who stayed by my side.”

Then she looked at Ronan. “I’ve liked him since then. I don’t know about his heart, but mine belongs to him.”

Ronan forced a painful smile. “Can you stop liking him? he is just…..” he stop in midway.

Elara’s expression hardened. She didn’t like what he was saying.

“I can’t. There is something he gave me when I really needed it.”

She looked away.”I think you should leave,” Elara said firmly, stepping out. “And… thanks again for today.”

She walked away with gratitude in her eyes, and he stayed behind with everything he couldn’t say.