"I heard my dear cousin got into some mischief?"
Yvienna turned toward the man entering their house and quickly tossed a throw pillow at his face — which he easily dodged.
"What the hell?! Is that how you welcome me?!" Dashylle gritted his teeth, but Yvienna only rolled her eyes. She was busy combing Medusa's fur — her cat's tail flicking lazily.
"I missed you, Medusa!" Dashylle ran toward the cat, but it hissed at him.
"HAHAHA!" Yvienna's laughter echoed through the room, teasing her cousin mercilessly.
"Stop those silly moments," Meg said, greeting her nephew with a faint smile.
"Mom, is this necessary?" Yvienna muttered.
"Your father thinks otherwise."
Her father had called Dashylle to personally train his daughter in combat — a man who was a champion in multiple martial arts, including taekwondo, judo, and kickboxing. It was his way of protecting her.
"Don't act like I want this either!" Dashylle retorted, pinching his cousin's cheeks.
"What the hell!"
They looked like two kids again — chasing each other around the house like five-year-olds. Meg could only shake her head, their laughter bringing back memories of when they were toddlers fighting over toys.
But her smile faded when she climbed up to the attic. Pulling open a hidden compartment beneath the floor, she carefully lifted a black box engraved with the words Crimson Viper. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it.
"I never thought I'd hold you again…" she whispered.
Inside lay the Deep Crimson Knife, its metal gleaming like dried blood under the faint light. The handle coiled in the shape of a viper, carved with unsettling precision — scales etched along the hilt, the serpent's emerald eyes glinting with a cold, silent threat. It wasn't just a weapon; it was a legacy — beautiful, venomous, and meant to kill with grace.
"If being the Crimson Viper is what it takes to protect my daughter… then so be it," she murmured, eyes hardening as a dangerous smile formed on her lips.
The next day, sunlight shimmered on Yvienna's skin as she trained under Dashylle's watchful eyes. Sweat dripped down her face while he barked orders.
"Lower your stance!"
"I'm doing my best, okay?!" she shot back, gritting her teeth.
"This isn't the time to act like a brat!" he snapped.
After a long, grueling session, training finally ended. As she wiped the sweat from her forehead, a familiar scent brushed past her senses.
"Hi."
Her eyes widened. That voice — she knew it too well. She turned and saw Kyle leaning against the glass door leading to the garden.
"Miss me?" he teased.
Yvienna instinctively ran toward him, but froze midway when she realized how sweaty and messy she looked.
"Why'd you stop, hmm?"
"Wait for me there!" she pointed at the couch, but he just brushed her off and stepped closer.
"D-don't come near me!" she protested.
"Why so?" His smile was playful, teasing.
She scrambled for excuses — she didn't want him to smell her sweat or see her messy hair — but Kyle quickened his pace. She stumbled back, instincts kicking in as Dashylle's lessons replayed in her mind.
As she was about to fall, she twisted her body, hooked her foot around his leg, and spun — sending him crashing to the ground.
"What the—?!" Kyle yelped, completely off guard. But since Yvienna lost her balance too, she ended up falling right on top of him. Their breaths hitched as their faces hovered just inches apart.
"If you had just let me hug you, we wouldn't be in this situation," Kyle scoffed, smirking.
"What kind of wildness is that, my cousin?!"
Yvienna's cheeks flared when she realized their position — Kyle lying on the grass, her body pressed over his.
"Oh gosh, I didn't know you had this side!" Dashylle teased from afar.
Mortified, Yvienna immediately stood and glared at him before flashing a sweet smile and raising her middle finger.
"F**k you," she said in a sing-song tone, then hurried inside the house.
Kyle, now on his feet, couldn't hide his laughter.
"Tsk, you're just shy because you got humiliated in front of your boyfriend!" Dashylle shouted.
"Why are you shouting?" Meg appeared at the door, looking confused before sighing. "Come inside, both of you."
"Here's your graceful daughter, Aunt!" Dashylle grinned as they joined the dining table, waiting for dinner to be served.
Yvienna glared at him, but the quiet giggle beside her caught her attention. Kyle was trying his best not to laugh — and it only made her angrier. She stomped on his foot under the table.
"Ouch!" Kyle winced. Everyone turned to him, but he just smiled awkwardly.
"Aunt, she's wild!" Dashylle accused.
Yvienna raised a brow, hiding her irritation when her mother looked her way.
"What do you mean?" Meg asked.
Yvienna's glare could have set her cousin on fire, and he knew it.
"H-her cat is wild!" Dashylle stammered.
Meg only shook her head and went to the kitchen.
"I will seriously kill you," Yvienna muttered.
Dashylle only stuck out his tongue.
Dinner went smoothly until Kyle's phone rang. Everyone looked at him as he excused himself to take the call outside.
"He's a good guy," Dashylle said casually.
"Yeah," Meg added. "I'm grateful he can handle her attitude."
The air grew cold. They could feel Yvienna's murderous glare from across the table.
"I'm just joking, my daughter," Meg said quickly, forcing a nervous smile.
When dinner ended, Kyle still hadn't returned. Yvienna, curious and uneasy, went to the garden. There he was — back turned, still on the phone.
"Kyle—" she began softly.
"Yes, I'll be there, Cassandra," he said into the line.
Yvienna froze. A sting hit her chest. Cassandra? Why were they talking? And what did he mean by I'll be there?
Not wanting to eavesdrop, she quietly returned inside and sank into the couch, sighing deeply. Her thoughts spiraled. Should she trust him? Was she overthinking?
But Kyle had never given her a reason not to trust him… right?
Maybe it's nothing.
"Why the long face?" Kyle's voice startled her as he suddenly sat beside her.
"N-nothing," she said quickly.
Kyle chuckled, pinching her cheek before pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Are you better now?"
Maybe Kyle wasn't like the man she once hated. Maybe her past wouldn't repeat itself. Still, her heart hesitated — afraid to believe, afraid to be hurt again.
"Are you leaving?" she asked softly.
Kyle blinked, then smiled. "You want me to?"
For once, Yvienna wanted to be selfish — to ease the jealousy gnawing at her heart.
"C-can you not?" she blurted out.
"Alright," he said with a grin, "if that's the wish of my Luna."
Her chest lightened at his words. Maybe she really was just overthinking.
"Why does your face look like you want to ask something?" Kyle teased, leaning closer — but before anything could happen, a piece of popcorn flew between their faces.
"Stop being lovey-dovey! Respect the single!" Dashylle yelled, leaning against the stairs with a bowl of popcorn.
"Let's just watch a movie!" he added, squeezing himself between them. His foot nudged Kyle aside while his elbow pushed Yvienna.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Yvienna hissed, pinching his waist.
"Ouch! Brutal girl!"
Kyle just watched the two cousins bicker, amused — until his phone rang again. His expression darkened when he saw the name. Cassandra. Again.
A cold aura filled the room as Yvienna's eyes narrowed at him — jealousy flickering beneath them.
"Answer that damn phone," she said icily.
Kyle smirked. "Only if I'm beside you."
He already knew she'd overheard the earlier call. Now he wanted her to hear everything herself.
"I'm gonna get some milk," Dashylle muttered, escaping the tension.
Despite Yvienna's sharp glare, Kyle stayed close beside her and answered the call.
[Where are you, Kyle?! Your father is drunk with my father! He's punching our wall—]
[I'm not going, Cassandra. There's something more important I have to do.]
[What?! But you said you'll fetch hi—]
[Stop bothering me. My girlfriend might kill you if you call me again.]
Click.
Yvienna stared at him, confused and a little shocked.
"I don't know what's running through your mind," Kyle said, meeting her gaze, "but if my instinct's right, let me reassure you."
"I'll never see Cassandra as a woman. The only thing I feel for her is anger — because she's been attacking you." He gently caressed her cheek, leaning closer.
"The only connection we have is through our families' business. But if you want me to completely ignore her, I will. Just say it, my Luna."
He brushed a strand of her hair between his fingers and kissed it softly.
Yvienna's heart pounded. Her doubts began to fade — his words calmed the storm inside her.
Why did I ever think he'd cheat on me?
"From the beginning to the end, you're the only person I'll ever love and lay eyes on. I'm all yours, Yvienna — even from the start."
The romantic silence shattered when someone loudly coughed.
"Okay, cut, cut! Let's continue watching!" Dashylle yelled, earning a death glare from Yvienna.