The air in the room dropped without warning. A chill settled between them before anyone spoke.

Aria let her hand drop, the phone sliding down inch by inch.

Shaking took hold of her fingers. A quiet tremor ran through her palms.

Kael immediately noticed.

Kael: “What happened?”

Fingers trembling, Aria worked to keep her words even.

Aria: “My brother said someone from Orion went to our house.”

Leo frowned.

Leo: “That’s… not normal.”

Aria nodded.

Aria: “He sounded scared.”

Frowning took hold of Kael's face without delay.

Kael: “Did he say who it was?”

Aria moved her head from side to side.

Aria: “No.”

A spark cracked between his hands. The air jumped. His eyes lit up. A beat passed. Then everything changed.

Leo: “The uncle.”

Kael didn’t respond.

Yet stillness spoke louder than words ever could.

Aria’s eyes widened.

Aria: “He wouldn’t go after my family… right?”

Into the quiet space she stood, Kael moved. Quiet steps carried him closer.

It came out steady, yet unyielding.

Kael: “He absolutely would.”

Aria's gut twisted tight. Her breath caught low. The floor seemed to slide sideways. A cold hush filled her chest. Everything paused, just then.

Aria: “Why?”

Kael fixed his eyes on her without blinking.

Kael: “Because you embarrassed him in front of the board.”

Leo muttered quietly.

Leo: “Villains are very sensitive about public humiliation.”

Aria dragged her fingers up into her hair.

Aria: “This is insane.”

Kael reached for his coat.

Aria: “What are you doing?”

Kael: “We’re leaving.”

Leo blinked.

Leo: “We?”

Kael moved toward the door before anyone noticed.

Kael: “Yes. We.”

________________________________________

Outside Orion Headquarters

Suddenly, drops began to patter down. A soft hush settled over the ground as water touched soil.

Footsteps pounding, Aria stayed close behind Kael.

Aria: “You don’t have to come with me.”

Kael stopped walking.

Into her direction his body shifted.

His expression serious.

Kael: “Yes, I do.”

She hesitated.

Aria: “Why?”

Kael kept his eyes on her.

A flicker of doubt crossed his face. Then it was gone.

Softly, he spoke next -

Kael: “Because if my uncle is targeting you… it’s my fault.”

Aria stood there, words failing her completely.

Outside the doorway at their backs, Leo stretched forward.

Leo: “Should I bring snacks for the dramatic road trip?”

Kael stood still, not facing it at all.

Kael: “No.”

Leo sighed.

Leo: “Rude.”

________________________________________

Inside the Car

Fog rolled in as the miles passed. Silence sat heavy between us. The road stretched ahead under gray light.

Faint drops kissed the glass, one after another.

Aria stared out the window.

A momentary look passed from Kael to her. He turned his eyes away just as fast.

Kael: “You’re thinking too loudly.”

She sighed.

Aria: “I just started this job few days ago.”

Kael smirked slightly.

Kael: “You’ve already stopped a board coup and angered a billionaire.”

Aria groaned.

Aria: “Worst employee orientation ever.”

A laugh escaped Kael, brief but clear.

Then the tightness inside the vehicle began to ease.

Yet the moment slipped away fast.

Fingers twitched toward the pocket just as the ringtone sliced through the quiet.

She answered immediately.

Aria: “Rohan? Are you okay?”

Quiet cracks ran through his words. A tightness sat high in his throat when he spoke.

Rohan (on phone): “They’re still here.”

Aria lifted herself into a seated position. She held her back stiff, eyes forward.

Aria: “They?”

Rohan: “Two men.”

Fingers of Kael's curled a little more around the wheel. The grip shifted without sound, just pressure building slow beneath his palms.

Rohan: “They’re asking about you.”

Aria swallowed.

Aria: “Did they say why?”

A silence fell between them. Then nothing moved.

Out of nowhere, her brother spoke a sentence that froze her chest.

Rohan: “They said you’re interfering with Orion’s future.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

Aria: “Rohan, lock the doors. We’ll be there soon.”

She hung up.

The car sat without sound once more.

Aria: “This is crazy.”

Kael spoke quietly.

Kael: “No.”

Her eyes met his. A pause followed. Then silence filled the space between them.

Kael: “This is exactly how my uncle works.”

Aria frowned.

Aria: “So what do we do?”

For a moment, Kael stayed silent. Then words didn't come right away.

He stopped the vehicle abruptly - no warning, just wheels cutting sideways across pavement.

Aria blinked.

Aria: “Why did you stop?”

Kael shifted his gaze in her direction.

His expression serious.

Kael: “Because there’s something you need to understand.”

Aria folded her arms tight across her chest.

Aria: “I’m listening.”

Kael eased into the chair, tipping it backward.

Kael: “My uncle won’t stop now.”

Aria: “I figured.”

Kael: “He’ll keep pushing.”

Aria: “Also figured.”

Kael turned his gaze straight toward her.

Kael: “So if you stay involved with Orion…”

He paused.

Kael: “You’ll become a target.”

Her eyes stayed fixed on his face. He did not look away.

Then slowly smiled.

Kael looked confused.

Kael: “Why are you smiling?”

Aria shrugged.

Aria: “I already am.”

Kael blinked.

Aria let the chair tilt backward.

Aria: “So I guess I don’t have much choice now.”

Kael studied her.

He gave a small shake of his head.

Kael: “You’re either very brave…”

The engine turned over once more.

Kael: “…or very reckless.”

Aria grinned.

Aria: “Probably both.”

They continued driving.

A shadow rolled behind, unseen by either.

A glance at the mirror changed everything. Then Kael froze behind the wheel.

Right then, his face shifted. A different look took hold without delay.

Aria noticed.

Aria: “What?”

Kael’s voice dropped.

Kael: “We’re being followed.”

Aria began to pivot, movement measured. Her back faced forward now, shift complete.

Far back, a dark-coloured SUV followed close. Behind them it stayed, steady without rushing.

Maintaining precisely that gap between them.

Blood moved fast through her chest.

Aria: “Tell me that’s not your uncle.”

Kael eased into the gas.

A moment passed, then the SUV came right behind. It moved without delay.

Kael sighed.

Kael: “Unfortunately… it probably is.”

Ahead of it, their vehicle saw the one trailing lurch forward without warning.

Filled the gap between them.

Fast.