Silas Vance was the son of my father’s bodyguard. I spent ten years of my life hopelessly in love with him. When high school ended, I went to him, my heart overflowing with joy, and confessed: "Silas, marry me. I’ll give you the family you’ve never had." He narrowed his eyes in pure disgust. "Get lost. Stay the hell away from me." Later, my world crumbled. I, the princess of a golden empire, was dragged into the mud. I did exactly what he wanted. I got lost. I vanished without a sound. But now, he’s the one panicking. He looks at me with desperation in his eyes. "I’ll give you my body, my soul, my everything. Just stay." I look back at him, my voice colder than ice. "Don't you think you’re being a bit pathetic?" 01 Ten years. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve set foot in this city. The moment I stepped off the plane, my phone was bombarded with messages from Chloe. She was insisting that I attend the high school reunion organized by our old class president tonight. Ten years ago, my father’s company collapsed overnight. Scams, scandals, and debt collectors were all anyone could talk about. My father loved me. In the final, desperate moments, he managed to ship me off to London. I stayed there for a decade. Walking out of the airport, I pulled my sunglasses down. The crowd moved around me like a tide. On a massive billboard nearby, a man stood tall. His features were sharp, his gaze lethal. He was Silas Vance—now a world-renowned billionaire. Ten years. Everything has changed. I felt a bitter smile touch my lips. The proud red rose of the past had withered in the dirt, while the silent, lone wolf had fought his way to the highest peak. At 8:00 PM, I changed into a simple, modest outfit and headed to the reunion. I hadn't wanted to go, but Chloe wouldn't take no for an answer. In high school, I was the "it-girl." I was the crown jewel of the Thorne family. I had been wealthy, well-educated, and genuinely kind to my classmates. Because of that, even when I showed up in my plain clothes, no one sneered at me. They were as warm as ever. "Oh my god, Elena! You’re finally back! We missed you so much!" "Exactly! As soon as Chloe said you were back, I must have called her twenty times to make sure she brought you!..." I was ushered to a seat in the center of the group. I took a sip of red wine and just smiled. I scanned the large private room several times, but I didn't see him. Just then, someone in the crowd blurted out, "Hey, is Silas Vance skipping again this year?" The table went dead silent. A few people glanced at me, then quickly shifted the conversation back to other topics, pretending they hadn't heard a thing. The question was drowned out like a pebble thrown into the ocean. 02 Twenty years ago, my father hired a new bodyguard. That bodyguard brought along a young boy with a fierce, handsome face that mirrored his father’s intensity. They moved into our guest house. That boy, Silas, went to the same private school as I did. I was only eight then. Spoiled by my father’s affection, I was bossy and arrogant. I demanded that Silas be my personal bodyguard at school. It was a status symbol. I walked through those hallways feeling like royalty because I had Silas trailing behind me. I don't know exactly when my feelings for him shifted into something more. Maybe it was middle school. By then, Silas had grown into a strikingly handsome, rugged young man. He was already much taller than me. I was 5'6", barely reaching his shoulder. Walking home together after school, I would watch our shadows in the sunset—sometimes close, sometimes drifting apart. I always found myself subconsciously leaning closer to him. ... "Elena." Chloe tapped my shoulder. I snapped out of it. "What?" "Silas hasn't attended a single reunion since our high school graduation party," Chloe whispered in my ear. I gave a soft "mhm" and stood up. "I'm going to the restroom." I knew Silas hated me. He probably hated everything about high school. After all, I had used my family’s wealth and his tragic background to treat him like a servant for a decade. From age eight to eighteen, Silas never once refused me. Except for that one time. And if I hadn't heard him say, "Get lost. Stay the hell away from me," I might have forgotten that Silas had pride, too. The guilt weighed heavy on me as I walked toward the door. Just as I reached for the handle, it was pushed open with force. I gasped, my eyes widening as I looked straight into a pair of cold, dark eyes. Ten years. It really was long enough to change a person. The fierce boy had become a mature, imposing man. He was taller now. He wore a black suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and lean waist. His long legs stood firm, and his deep gaze was locked onto me. 03 "Elena Thorne? It really is you!" Another man at the door shouted in surprise. "Yeah." I nodded and offered a small smile. "Liam, it’s been a long time." I didn't acknowledge the heavy, dark stare Silas was leveling at me. I stepped aside to let them pass. As I walked out, I heard Liam’s boisterous voice behind me. "Silas, Elena is back. Why are you acting like you’ve seen a ghost?" I gripped my napkin tightly, my lips curving into a hollow smile. What reaction was he supposed to have? I was just a reminder of a humiliating past when he was "lesser." Seeing me probably only deepened his resentment. Silas’s arrival turned the lively reunion into a stiff, quiet affair. He sat directly across from me. People at the table kept sneaking glances at him, then at me, before returning to their food in silence. The power dynamic had completely flipped, and no one knew how to handle it. After all, I used to be the one on the pedestal. Liam, being the social butterfly he is, noticed the tension and smirked. "Hey, let's play Truth or Dare." The idea was met with immediate approval from everyone desperate to break the awkwardness. Even away from the table, Silas sat directly across from me. His long legs were stretched out lazily. He leaned back against the sofa, his eyes half-closed, his gaze flickering over me as if I weren't even there. But every time I looked up, he was looking elsewhere. It made me feel like I was hallucinating. After a few rounds, the atmosphere finally lightened. Until... The beer bottle on the table spun and pointed its neck at me and its base at Silas. I looked up. Our eyes met. 04 "I'm first! I'm first!" Liam rubbed his hands together, grinning like a shark. "How many relationships have you both had?" The rules were that both people the bottle pointed to had to answer or take a penalty. The room went quiet again. The vibe turned weirdly electric. Chloe sat beside me, her grip on my arm tightening. I patted her hand and said softly, "It's fine. Go grab me a glass of wine." "Come on, what's with the hesitation?" Liam prodded. "You either have or you haven't. It's not that deep." He looked at me and added pointedly, "Unless the answer is 'none'." I tilted my head, feeling a sudden urge to laugh. I glanced at Silas. He had always been a masterpiece, but ten years had refined him into something dangerous. Under the dim lights, his jawline was a sharp blade, his features flawlessly carved. Once Chloe returned with my wine, Liam realized he couldn't bully Silas into answering, so he turned his focus to me. "Are we continuing the game or what? You're stalling the whole party!" "Three," I said flatly. The man on the sofa snapped his eyes to mine. His gaze was heavy. I took a sip of wine and smiled at him. "One in high school, two abroad." The room went silent. Liam looked like a stunned bird. I kept the smile on my face even though my palms were sweating. Silas’s eyes were a storm of emotions before they turned into a black abyss. He stared at me with a terrifying intensity. After a long pause, he rasped, "None." Heh. I sneered inwardly. Keeping yourself pure for your secret lover? 05 Ten years ago, right after graduation, our class had a party. I was wearing an expensive gown my father had bought me for my 18th birthday. I was holding 99 deep red roses, and I ran to Silas with a heart full of hope. My smile was brighter than the flowers I was holding. "Silas, marry me. I’ll give you a real home." A cool breeze swept through the evening air. Everyone was cheering and watching, even our teachers. The world had given me all the status I needed. And Silas gave me exactly what I deserved. He narrowed his eyes in disgust, his voice cold and hard. "Get lost. Stay the hell away from me." The wind messed up my hair. It blew the petals off the roses. That night was the first time I didn't go home with Silas. I stayed out late, wandering the streets in a daze. In the early hours of the morning, under the pale moonlight, I kicked off my heels and quietly pushed open the front door. A familiar voice drifted from a dark corner of the foyer. "Don't worry. I'll take you to New York with me later." A girl’s voice chirped in surprise. "Really?!" The man’s voice was still cold, but softer. "Mhm." I stood barefoot on the cold tile, feeling completely lost. My heart felt like it was drowning in a vast, dark sea. I couldn't catch my breath. No wonder he told me to get lost. He already had Maya. I laughed a bitter, internal laugh. ... The reunion ended as a heavy rain started to fall. People were calling Ubers or hopping into cars. Chloe pulled at me. "Elena, do you want a ride? My boyfriend can drop you off." "No thanks," I said with a smile. Silas walked out behind me, stopping about six feet away. Chloe asked, "Did you drive here?" I shook my head and waved my phone. "No, someone is picking me up." "Oh..." Just then, a black Maybach pulled up through the rain. 06 A tall, elegant man carrying a black umbrella stepped out of the car. He walked over to me and complained in slightly broken English, "This weather is absolutely insane!" Something about his tone made me giggle. I naturally looped my arm through his. "You'll get used to it." A gaze as sharp as a cold blade swept over us from six feet away. I looked over, confused. Silas’s lips were pressed into a hard, thin line. Chloe gasped. "Elena, is this your billionaire boyfriend from abroad?" Silas’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening visibly. I looked at Joe and smiled, ignoring the question. "We’re heading out. Bye, everyone." The walk from the door to the car was short, but I felt like a cold sword was pressing against my back, ready to run me through. "You’re using me as a shield again," Joe grumbled once we were inside the car. I pressed my palms together. "Big thanks. Just one last time." "Sure, sure," Joe rolled his eyes and shrugged. I laughed. Joe was my business partner from London. The reason we were back was that the headquarters wanted us to scout some talent for the company’s upcoming global campaign. Maya was on that list. The rain got heavier. Exhausted from the flight and the reunion, I leaned against the window and slowly fell asleep. 07 Maya and I were nothing alike. Chloe once said I looked like a silver fox in a snowstorm—cold and beautiful. Maya was the opposite. She was pure, cute, and full of energy. She was the daughter of our old housekeeper, Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller had worked for my family since I was five. After her husband died in a drunk driving accident, my father brought her and her two-year-old daughter into our home and gave her a job. My mother passed away early, so Mrs. Miller practically raised me. We were very close, and I always treated Maya like a sister. Two years later, my father played matchmaker for Silas’s father and Mrs. Miller. They got married. Maya became Silas’s stepsister. When Silas and I were in middle school, Maya was in elementary. When we were in high school, Maya was just starting middle school. Back then, I blamed my own denseness. I never realized when something started happening between Silas and Maya... I remembered that suffocating morning again. The morning the Reaper arrived. Five hours after I got home, my father’s company was hit by a massive financial crisis. Three days later, they filed for bankruptcy. A week later, the scandals broke. I was on a plane leaving the country that raised me. My father was driven to his death. I saw the photos of his final jump on the news. "Elena!!" I woke up sobbing, seeing Joe’s worried face. I wiped my eyes with a tissue, my voice raspy. "I'm okay." Joe handed me a bottle of water. I took a sip. "Joe, you should go to Skyline Entertainment alone tomorrow." Skyline was the biggest agency in the country. Silas Vance had acquired it five years ago. Joe was confused. "Why?" I smiled faintly as I pushed the car door open. The rain muffled my voice. "Because I have a reputation to maintain." 08 It turns out, even the proudest person has to bow for a paycheck. I was at the hotel researching talent when I found a promising young actor, and Joe called me. "Elena, you have to come down here." I was a mess, huddled in my computer chair. "What happened?" "The people at Skyline said that if you aren't here, our company isn't showing enough 'sincerity'." Sincerity my foot! I rushed to the bathroom to get ready. "Give me thirty minutes." Thirty minutes later, Joe and I were waiting in the CEO’s office at Skyline. The mission was simple: sign Maya. Ten minutes later, the CEO walked in. He was tall, confident, and moved with a purpose. I stood up and walked over, extending my hand with a professional smile. "Hello, Mr. Vance." "Mhm." The man’s dark eyes swept over me. "Sit." "Mr. Vance, our company has already sent an invitation to your agency. We’re looking to—" Before Joe could finish, the man on the sofa crossed his legs and glanced at the files. He looked up at us and interrupted, "Business partners?" "Uh, yes..." Joe was completely baffled by the question. I frowned slightly. "Mr. Vance, we’re here because we want to collaborate with Ms. Maya on our upcoming campaign. If it’s convenient..." "It’s not." His voice was cold and hard. "If your company wants to shoot a campaign, my agency has plenty of other talented stars. But Maya is off-limits." "Then forget it." I cut him off, my voice turning icy. I stood up to leave. "We look forward to a potential future collaboration with Ms. Maya." I said it through gritted teeth as I dragged Joe out of the office. Anyone but Maya. Silas, you really are a devoted lover, aren't you? I was so angry I could barely breathe. 09 A week later. I was wearing an expensive evening gown, attending a star-studded gala. Skyline wasn't the only agency in town. I took a glass of champagne and walked toward a promising young actor I’d scouted—the one I’d found while researching at the hotel. Hollywood can be a shark tank. Before I could reach him, a greasy, balding man in a cheap suit blocked my path. His fleshy hand landed on my waist, his smile making my skin crawl. "Hey gorgeous, I haven't seen you around before." My expression went cold. "Let go." "Oh, don't be like that. Every girl here is looking for a sugar daddy, right?" "Didn't you hear her? She said let go!" A perfectly tailored leg swung out with lethal precision. The greasy man slammed onto the floor on his ass. Silas stood there, his presence overwhelming, his eyes full of murderous intent. He walked forward slowly and stepped his polished dress shoe onto the man’s right hand. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" "Mr. Vance, please! Have mercy! I didn't know!" The man was pinned to the floor, his face contorted in agony, begging for his life. Silas looked down at him with an icy stare. "Which hand touched her? This one? Or both?" He pressed down with his heel. A sickening crack echoed through the room. The man’s bones shattered. "AHHHH!!!" The man’s scream was blood-curdling. Silas looked exactly like the fierce, unyielding boy from ten years ago. I stared at him, dazed. A wave of conflicting emotions hit me. I felt bad for him, and I felt bad for myself. If it weren't for me, he might have had a better life. And I... I was the one who had made his life a living hell. ... While I was lost in thought, security dragged the man away. Silas turned to look at me. I snapped back to reality. I offered a polite, professional "Thank you." Then I turned and started walking toward the young actor. "Elena Thorne." A large hand suddenly clamped around my arm. 10 "You want him?" I turned back to find Silas’s gaze heavy and deep. I looked at his hand on my arm and smiled sarcastically. "Why? Mr. Vance, surely he isn't one of your actors?" After a long silence, Silas’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was hoarse. "Anyone at Skyline. If you want them, they’re yours. Except Maya." "Let go!" I wrenched my arm away, my face flushed with anger. Maya, Maya. If I heard that name one more time, I was going to lose it! Silas’s eyes were a swirling vortex of emotion. He narrowed them, then finally compromised and let go. "Fine." I gave him a dismissive look and walked away. The next second, the world spun. I was thrown over Silas’s broad shoulder. "Silas! What the hell are you doing?!" I was screaming and hitting his back, but it was like hitting a brick wall. Silas didn't miss a beat. He carried me out, threw me into his car, and drove me to his house. As expected of the richest man in the city, his mansion was even more luxurious than the one I grew up in. "What do you want?" I was furious at being forced. I turned to confront him. But the moment I looked at him, I saw his face was deathly pale. I panicked. "Hey, what's wrong?" He looked at me, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He didn't say a word. The next second, his massive frame collapsed. I lunged forward and caught him just before he hit the floor. By the time I managed to drag him onto the sofa, I was panting for breath. Silas was slumped against the cushions, his brow furrowed in pain. Seeing him like this for the first time, a pang of worry hit me. My voice softened. "Silas, what is it?" He was in too much pain to speak. Just then, his phone started ringing. It rang for ten seconds, but he didn't move. I didn't care about his privacy anymore. I reached into his pocket and pulled it out. I swiped to answer. "Hello?" 11 "Holy shit!" That familiar, annoying voice. "Elena?" I felt a headache coming on. "Yeah." "How do you have Silas’s phone? Are you guys together? Wait, since when are you two a thing? Also..." I cut him off. "Stop. I have one question: does Silas have a medical condition? He’s... not doing well right now." I looked down at the man on the sofa. He was pale and shivering. It looked bad. "Oh crap, did he drink again?" Liam yelled. "That idiot has a severe stomach ulcer!" "Is it serious?" "Yeah! At the reunion last week, I looked away for one second and he drank until he had a stomach bleed. He had to be rushed to the ER." I hung up. Liam’s words were echoing in my head. Joe’s FaceTime call came through while I was in the kitchen making honey water. Silas’s fridge wasn't empty, which was a good sign. "Elena, where are you?" I walked out of the kitchen with the glass. "What’s up?" "Come to the club! I found a great guy for you!" Joe’s end of the call was a mess of flashing lights and loud music. He was clearly at a bar. I put the phone on speaker and set it on the coffee table. I sat down and helped the "fragile" man sit up. "Go have fun. I'm busy." "Why?" Joe looked horrified. "Don't tell me you're using me as a shield again? My girlfriend is going to kill me!" I was confused. "Since when do you have a girlfriend?" After a few minutes of rest, Silas seemed to be feeling a bit better. He lazily opened his eyes, staring at me, then at the honey water in my hand. He didn't say anything. "I just met her! She's so cute, so beautiful..." Joe was rambling when his face suddenly changed. "Elena, don't interrupt. Seriously, this guy I found for you... he’s very handsome!" I handed the honey water to the man on the sofa and reached for my phone. "Fine, just send me his contact info. I don't have time today—" Crash! A sudden sound of breaking glass. I turned around, stunned. 12 In an instant, the man with the bloodshot eyes knocked the honey water out of my hand. He grabbed my wrists, flipped us over, and pinned me beneath him. He leaned down and bit my lip hard. It happened so fast I couldn't move. I turned my face away and yelled, "Silas, you're crazy!" "Yes, I'm crazy." He grabbed my face and forced me to look at him. His voice was raw. "I'm crazy for you. I'm driving myself insane with jealousy over those men." I froze. He took the opportunity to kiss me desperately. A few seconds later, my eyes were burning. I used every ounce of strength to push him away. "Silas, what are you doing? What about Maya?! Aren't you afraid she'll see this?!" "What does this have to do with Maya?" The man stopped. He stayed pinned above me, his brow furrowed as he stared into my eyes. "You're literally with her..." I turned my head away, trying to hide the tears in my eyes. Silas didn't let me. He forced my head back, his voice demanding. "Elena Thorne, look at me." My voice was trembling. "What? You dog! You want your cake and you want to eat it too!" Silas let out a frustrated laugh. "Which idiot told you I was with Maya?" "..." I stayed silent. He pinched my chin and kissed me again, hard. "Who I love... you still haven't figured it out?" I felt a mix of awkwardness and a strange, sour sweetness. I pushed him away in a panic and ran for the door. He caught my wrist, sat up, and pulled me back into his lap. "Where do you think you're going?" I felt a bit ridiculous. Maya was the one he’d been hiding and protecting. And he was the one who told me to stay away from him. Even if he wasn't with Maya, the damage was already done. I looked at him, my eyes clearing. "But Silas, I don't love you anymore." The man’s grip on my wrist tightened. I tried to pull away. Surprisingly, he let go easily this time. He sat there for a long time, his broad shoulders slumped, looking defeated. Finally, his voice came out raspy. "It's late. You can stay in the guest room. I'll take you back tomorrow." 13 The next day was another rainy day. Silas drove me back to the hotel in total silence. When I tried to open the car door, it was locked. I looked at him, confused. The man’s sharp features were hidden in the shadows. His eyes were like a dark vortex, ready to swallow me whole. "Elena Thorne." His voice was terrifyingly raspy. "Are you leaving again?" My heart skipped a beat. After a long silence, I listened to the rain and whispered, "Yeah." "Two weeks," Silas said suddenly. I looked up. "What?" "In two weeks, I'll take you to see Maya. Just stay away from that prick Lucas until then." Off-limits Maya. He really was keeping her hidden. I wiped my mouth aggressively, feeling a wave of disgust. Lucas was the young actor I’d scouted. Noticing my confusion and annoyance, Silas pressed the door unlock button. "He's dirty," he explained. I suppressed the discomfort in my chest, nodded, and opened the door. "Elena." Silas frowned and called out to me again. "Did you hear me? Stay away from him." I stepped into the rain with my umbrella. "I heard you." Silas was a mature, stable man. If he said Lucas was dirty, I believed him. Joe had been sent by the company to find another star who was filming in another state. He left, and I was alone at the hotel. Since that day, Joe’s old room had been taken over by Silas. He was right across from me. Knowing that, I rarely went out. I didn't want to run into him. One rainy day, I had a sudden craving for a bowl of spicy noodles. Even though I had no family here, I still missed home. I missed everything about this place. It was only 5:00 PM. Silas should still be at the office. I grabbed my umbrella and cautiously left my room. 14 As soon as I stepped into the elevator, a pair of long, elegant legs followed me in. I instinctively gripped the handle of my umbrella tighter... Silas followed me for a long time. To get my noodles, I had to cross a wide road. At the pedestrian crossing, the light turned green. Ignoring the person behind me, I started walking across. The rain got heavier, pounding against my umbrella. The road was flooding, and my sandals were soaked. Suddenly, a massive truck barreled toward me. It kicked up a huge spray of water in the torrential rain. I stood frozen under my umbrella. In the next second, a powerful force swept me up. A broad, warm body slammed into me, and we tumbled toward the curb. The rain soaked through our intertwined bodies. Rainwater mixed with bright red blood. I lay on the ground, my head ringing. I pushed myself up, feeling weak. Silas was lying in the street, blood pouring from his body. I frantically pushed my wet hair out of my face, my body shaking with cold. I fumbled for my phone in the water and dialed 911. "Elena, why are you crying?" the man on the ground opened one eye and offered a weak smile. "I'm not dead yet." Rain mixed with my tears as I pulled him into my lap. "I'm not crying!" Silas smiled and tried to close his eyes. I was terrified he would drift off. I kept talking to him. "Silas, why did you run out there?" He let out a soft laugh, blood bubbling from his mouth. "Because... I’m your bodyguard." I tasted the rain. It was salty.
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