He's really powerful…
Aria stared blankly at the glowing television screen, her mind spinning as the news anchor's voice filled the quiet office.
> "Breaking news! The infamous E-Organization was completely destroyed in a sudden operation last night. According to sources, their base of operations was wiped out, leaving no survivors…"
Aria's breath hitched. E-Organization… That name still sent chills through her veins.
She remembered it vividly—the time she had been living with her grandmother, years ago. She had been out looking for herbs to make one medicine when she stumbled upon a man lying by the roadside, his clothes soaked with blood. He looked like he was dying. Without thinking, she had dragged him to her grandmother's house,cleaned his wounds, and nursed him back to health.
But she didn't know then who he truly was—a high-ranking assassin of E-Organization.
When he recovered, he had thanked her. Then, a week later, he came back—not with gratitude in his eyes, but with an invitation.
> "You have a sharp mind, little one," he had said, smiling. "Join us. You'll live like a queen."
Aria had refused instantly.
From that day on, they never stopped bothering her. At first, it was harmless visits, smiles from afar, soft threats disguised as jokes. But later, their eyes turned cold, and their smiles turned cruel.
She thought they had given up—until one afternoon, she saw that same man standing outside her grandmother's house, smirking at her with wicked amusement before disappearing again. As she entered the house , she was stunned at what she saw.That was the day she realized the world wasn't as simple as she thought.
And now… they were gone. Destroyed overnight.
Her chest tightened as she stared at the news reporter on the screen.
Why do I feel like this? she wondered. Shouldn't I be relieved? Then why does it feel… heavy?
Her thoughts shattered when she felt warm lips brush against the curve of her ear.
"What are you thinking about, staring at the TV like that?" a deep, magnetic voice murmured against her skin.
Aria shivered, her body tensing as a strange heat spread through her.
"I— I'm not thinking about anything," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.
Adrian leaned back slightly, studying her face. His sharp eyes caught the flicker of sadness that crossed her features. It made his chest ache in a way he didn't understand. His expression darkened, but he said nothing.
When evening came, the two of them left the office together.
Everyone in the company was stunned.
Their cold, workaholic Boss—who never left before midnight—was leaving early… and with a girl beside him.
The office erupted in whispers.
"Love is truly powerful," one of them said, chuckling.
"At least we get to go home early today," another whispered, grinning.
---
The car was quiet, thick with unspoken emotion.
Aria sat by the window, her gaze distant, lost in the colors of the evening sky.
Adrian's jaw tightened as he watched her from the corner of his eye. He hated seeing her like that—so quiet, so unreachable. Finally, he cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
"Darling," he said gently, "what's wrong? You've been quiet since we left the office."
Aria blinked and turned to him with a small smile. Her dimples appeared faintly, but the sadness in her eyes betrayed her expression.
"I just… remembered something unpleasant," she said softly.
Adrian wanted to press further, but he held back. He could tell she didn't want to talk about it.
When the car stopped in front of the villa, Aria quickly stepped out. But before she could take another step, Adrian came around and swept her off her feet effortlessly.
"Ah!" Aria gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
He looked down at her, his lips curling into a faint smile. "You walk too fast, little one."
Her cheeks flushed pink. "Put me down, Uncle…"
He chuckled and kissed her soft lips instead. The kiss was brief but deep enough to leave her heart racing.
When they reached the bedroom, he set her down gently. Aria darted into the bathroom, her face burning.
Adrian watched her go, a low chuckle escaping his throat. "Shy little thing," he murmured before loosening his tie.
---
The Next Morning
The sun was bright, spilling across the schoolyard like gold.
"I know you all have great grades," the principal said seriously, looking at the group of four standing before him. "But FD High School is no joke. They're filled with prodigies and academic geniuses. I chose you four because I believe you can win. The competition is next month—so work hard."
Aria, Sophia, Henry, and Mercy nodded in unison.
After the meeting, the principal handed them the key to a quiet practice room where they could study and prepare together.
Inside, Sophia clapped her hands excitedly. "Aria, you'll handle the piano part for our performance, right?"
Aria nodded with a soft smile. "Of course."
They practiced for hours—mixing music, brainstorming ideas, and even teasing each other between breaks. Finally, exhausted, they decided to grab lunch at the cafeteria.
As they sat down with their trays, Sophia sighed heavily. "I don't know if we can beat those geniuses from FD High. Their grades are legendary."
Henry glanced at her with an amused expression and sneered softly.
"What?" Sophia asked, confused. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Aria and Mercy burst out laughing.
Henry leaned back, crossing his arms. "You talk too much, that's why."
Sophia pouted, making Aria laugh even harder.
Henry's gaze lingered on Aria a moment longer, a faint smile tugging at his lips before he looked away.
---
Meanwhile…
In a dimly lit room far from the city, the scent of iron filled the air.
A man sat slumped in a chair, his body covered in blood, his breathing shallow. His face was barely recognizable from the bruises.
The door creaked open.
Adrian walked in, his presence cold and suffocating. Eric followed behind him, his face unreadable.
The man on the chair lifted his head weakly, his eyes wide with terror.
Adrian sat down opposite him, crossing one leg over the other. His tone was calm—too calm.
"You still don't want to talk?" he asked, voice dripping with menace.
The man's lips trembled, then curled into a faint, mocking smile. His bloody teeth showed. "Kill me if you want… I'll never talk."
Adrian's expression didn't change. Slowly, he pulled out a thin, sharp blade—its surface gleaming under the single light bulb.
Eric didn't flinch. He'd seen this before.
A sharp cry filled the room as Adrian made a precise cut, slicing through a piece of flesh. The man screamed until his voice cracked, his body shaking violently.
Adrian smiled—a cold, devilish smile that could freeze anyone's blood.
"Send this to his family," he said flatly.
Eric nodded, picked up the small bloodied piece with a cloth, and placed it into a sealed bag. He turned to leave when Adrian's voice stopped him.
"Wait."
Eric froze.
Adrian's eyes glowed faintly under the dim light, cold as steel. "Send his daughter's body here."
The man's eyes widened in horror. "No! No, please! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
Adrian leaned forward slightly, his tone deadly calm. "I'm listening."
The man's body trembled violently as he spoke through choked sobs. "We… We were ordered to keep an eye on a girl. The boss said she once helped one of ours years ago. But when she refused to join us, he marked her. Said she was too smart to be left alone…"
Adrian's fingers tightened around the blade, his expression turning lethal.
"Who gave that order?"
"I—I don't know his name," the man stammered. "He always called through a modulated voice. But I swear, she wasn't supposed to be harmed! Only watched!"
Adrian stood up slowly, towering over the man. His gaze could have frozen fire.
"Do you know who you were watching?" he asked coldly.
The man hesitated.
Adrian smiled, but there was nothing warm in it. "Aria. You were watching my woman."
The man's eyes went wide in disbelief. He didn't even have time to beg before Adrian's hand moved like lightning.
The room went silent—except for the slow, rhythmic dripping of blood.
Eric returned after a few minutes to find the man motionless. Adrian stood with his back turned, his voice low.
"Clean it up."
"Yes, sir."
Eric glanced once at the lifeless body and sighed quietly. The devil has no mercy for those who touch what's his.
Adrian walked out of the room, his expression unreadable, but his eyes still burning with the memory of Aria's distant face in the office earlier.
He clenched his fists.
Whoever had caused that sadness in her eyes—he would find them. And when he did, the world would know what it meant to provoke Adrian.