Evelyn navigated the bustling streets of Vespera City, stealing glances at Elias in the passenger seat. He wore headphones and a grim expression, clearly pissed off.
Growing up, Evelyn had always been her parents' least favored child, a convenient target for their frustrations. But things slowly changed when Elias turned six and began shielding her from their wrath, even to the extent of bearing their blows. And he had never once given up on that role.
To Elias, it didn't matter if Evelyn was his biological sister or not. Despite their eight-year age gap and step-sibling status, she had showered him with the love their parents hadn't. He would stand for her even if the world accused her of wrong. But the problem was she still treated him like a kid, despite his now imposing physique.
Evelyn's eyes lit up as she spotted his favorite ice cream shop. Slowly navigating through the traffic, she parked the car nearby.
"I'll be late for my first class," Elias grumbled. His school was just two streets away, but even sprinting wouldn't get him there on time.
"My little brother is angry," Evelyn commented, unbuckling her seatbelt. "How can I send him to school like this?" Ruffling his hair, she added, "Let me make it up to you with your favorite ice cream."
Elias scoffed, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. He couldn't stay mad at her, especially when she was being so kind, allowing him to skip school for the day. They entered the shop together, and the bell above the door tinkled merrily.
The sweet aroma of freshly made waffles enveloped them, instantly lifting their mood. Elias settled into a chair near the glass wall, granting them a view of the bustling street outside. Meanwhile, Evelyn placed their order at the counter. Despite the early hour, a few other customers occupied the tables as the shop's popularity made securing seats a challenge in the evening.
Evelyn returned with a tray, and as they enjoyed the fresh ice cream, Elias couldn't resist asking about last night. He had missed the party to attend a school competition in Velara city, arriving home late to hear the rumors. "Did you really push that voodoo doll?"
"What do you think?" Evelyn replied nonchalantly, scooping a spoonful of chocolate sundae into her mouth.
"You would never," Elias murmured with a scowl. As much as he wished to see her beat that rat into a pulp, Evelyn would rather tolerate than entertain Annabelle's tricks.
"At least that loser finally dropped his act," Elias added, referring to Vincent. It had pained him to see her suffer, locking herself in her room for weeks as that jerk started acting differently ever since the birth swap news. And William had declined her pleas to break off the engagement for business reasons, leaving the power solely in Vincent's hands.
Evelyn shrugged, her expression wavering slightly at his mention. She had truly loved Vincent for four years, and his betrayal had shattered her heart. But now, she was eager to watch him make a clown out of himself when Annabelle showed her true colors. That would be the best show to watch with some cold drinks!
As they enjoyed their ice cream and engaged in light banter, a little girl suddenly approached their table.
"Can I sit here?" she asked, looking up at them adorably with two cups of ice cream in her hands. The girl was cute, with deep, doe-like brown eyes and medium-length hair tied into two pigtails. With a pink backpack on her back, she seemed ready for kindergarten in her light blue uniform.
Evelyn's face beamed with a smile. She loved kids and missed the adorable little Elias who used to cling to her, unlike the rebellious giant sitting beside her now. "Sure!" she replied, helping the girl sit on the empty chair beside her.
"Are you here alone?" Elias asked, skeptical as the little girl didn't seem to have any guardians. Even the worker at the counter seemed concerned, talking to his manager while pointing in their direction.
Kiana's bright smile turned into a pout at his question. Glancing at the watch on her hand, she replied, "Daddy will be here soon." Her teacher would have informed him that she hadn't come to class, and he would look for her through the tracker and come here soon, fuming that she had yet again skipped school.
Evelyn nodded, thinking that her parents might be in the parking lot and the girl had rushed into the shop, unable to hold her excitement. Elias also didn't question the girl further as she was keeping Evelyn distracted.
"It's good," Kiana mumbled with a mouthful of ice cream. A giggle escaped her lips in delight, making Evelyn smile.
"But you should have brought two different flavors instead of just strawberry. Chocolate and blueberry are great here too," Evelyn replied with a smile. Taking out a tissue, she passed it to the girl as the cream formed a cute mustache on her face.
Kiana blinked innocently at her suggestion. Her eyes quickly fell on Elias's cup, its blue color bringing little sparks to them. Gulping the ice cream in her mouth, she requested, "Then, can you get me one, big brother? My daddy will pay you later."
"Of course!" Evelyn replied instead, quickly shoving Elias to get one for this adorable girl.
As Elias walked away, Evelyn smiled at the girl and started a conversation. "What's your name, sweetie?"
"Kiana."
"Oh, that's a sweet name!" Evelyn replied, smiling and helping the girl wipe the cream. "How old are you, Kiana?" Kiana, still enjoying her ice cream, lifted four fingers to indicate her age, her mouth too full to speak.
Evelyn's smile widened, and as she was about to continue, the bell at the entrance door rang, signaling the arrival of a customer. Evelyn glanced up and her eyes widened to see a handsome man walking in with a worried face. It took a moment for her to register who it was, and when she did, a gasp escaped her lips.
What was the Zevian Reign doing here?
"Oh no! My daddy is here," Kiana's frightened voice added another layer to Evelyn's shock. The girl immediately jumped from her seat and went to hide behind Evelyn's chair. This lady was very sweet and kind, so she would definitely save her, right? Kiana thought, stealing glances at her father.
Evelyn looked at Kiana and then back at Zevian standing at the entrance. She subconsciously stood up from her seat, compelled by his midnight-black eyes. He was considered to be a god's gift to society, both in looks and skills, and she understood why.
Before Evelyn could even digest the surprise, gunfire erupted, bullets shattering the glass walls of the shop. Screams pierced the once serene atmosphere, and Evelyn stumbled back as three assailants covered in all black stood in front of the shattered walls, a meter away from them.
Her eyes locked with one of the attackers, his face obscured by a mask but the malice in his eyes panicked her. The man suddenly raised his gun to directly aim at her, and before Evelyn could react, he pulled the trigger.
"No!" Elias's voice broke through the chaos, distant yet desperate amidst the screams and cries. The gunshot echoed in her ears, and Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut, ready to take the hit.
But before she could feel the searing pain of the bullet, a strong hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her urgently. She collided with a firm, warm body, the mild scent of sandalwood awakening her paralyzed senses.
The bullet that was fired in her direction hit the clock on the wall by the counter. Nearby customers screamed and ducked for cover, as did Elias, his terror-filled eyes fixed on Evelyn.
"Are you alright?" Zevian's deep, husky voice breathed new life into her, shaking her out of her daze. Evelyn opened her eyes, confused and breathless.
Before she could process what was happening, Zevian pulled her even closer, shielding her with his body as he ducked. They squatted down as the attackers continued firing, and the man guarding Kiana instinctively pushed their table up, using it as a makeshift barrier against the barrage of bullets.
"Daddy!" Kiana's cries grew louder as she looked at Zevian. Freeing herself from John, her bodyguard/chauffeur's arms, she moved closer to Zevian, who quickly pulled her into a protective hug with his other free hand.
Evelyn's eyes quickly searched for Elias in the chaos, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips when she saw him ducked beneath a table with two other refugees.
"I won't skip school again!" Kiana murmured, her words accompanied by choking sobs. She finally understood the danger John always warned about when she sneaked out alone and swore never to do it again.
Zevian kissed the top of her head and patted her back, attempting to comfort her. He couldn't be angry, not when her sneaking out this time had given him a chance to meet someone again, someone special in such a filmy way. He thought, his eyes softening as they fell on Evelyn beside him.
"John and I will fight them. Stay with her, okay?" he said, ushering Kiana toward Evelyn. Evelyn quickly embraced the little girl as the two men stood up.
Evelyn rubbed Kiana's back and comforted her as the trembling little lamb clung closer to her. 'So that's why she looked familiar,' Evelyn thought, hoping Zevian would be safe. She knew he was a great fighter and had witnessed it during one of their dates years ago, but her heart still pounded hard, the sound of guns bringing back her agonizing childhood memories.
Zevian's gentle demeanor shattered the moment he got up, his expression darkening like that of a devil. One of the shooters stumbled back as he saw him, fully aware of who he was. His mates' expressions also changed, shock filling their eyes as Zevian calmly rolled up his sleeves and walked in their direction.
"Why the fuck is he here?" one of them grumbled, his hand trembling in panic. He pointed the gun at Zevian but couldn't dare to pull the trigger. Only a fool would shoot the richest man in the country, one whose connections spread far and wide in the underworld.
John quickly fought the other two attackers who had marched at him, his strong hands twisting their wrists, forcing them to drop their guns. Unlike him, Zevian took his sweet time to stand right in front of the other attacker, one who had fired at Evelyn earlier. He stopped just a few inches away from the gun, his hands casually tucked inside his pockets as if being kind enough to let the man shoot him.
Zevian extended his palm, demanding the attacker hand over the gun with his eyes. The man gulped, his mind racing, unsure if he should just shoot himself or allow Zevian to do the deed. But as Zevian's expression darkened, he quickly passed the gun.
"Who sent you here?" Zevian inquired, checking the last bullet left in the pistol.
"We were on our own! We attacked for money!" the young mob lied, almost pissing his pants when Zevian suddenly pointed the gun at his head.
Zevian raised an eyebrow and placed his forefinger on the trigger. "You should do a background check on your targets before blindly falling for money."
His words left the man gasping in shock. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, not expecting this devil to catch it in the chaos. He glanced at the table behind which their target was hiding, his mind forming theories before his eyes popped wide in realization.
No way! Did they just attack Zevian's secret woman? He wondered, wide-eyed, recalling how Zevian had pulled that woman when all he was trying to do was bruise her shoulder and scare her as per the orders.
"W-we were sent just to scare her, sir! Please leave us! Please!" One of his mates, suffering under John's kicks, answered instead, his wrenching cry following as John kicked him hard in the stomach.
Zevian sighed, running a hand through his hair, annoyed at being interrupted by the officers. He simply nodded, ordering John to let them handle it from here as he could always find these rats later, even if they escaped the cops.
The crowd that had stopped at the commotion slowly dispersed as the cops started restricting the area, while the people inside the shop heaved long sighs of relief, slowly emerging from their hiding spots.
Many, specifically women, couldn't help but squeal as Zevian walked back with John following him. While a few quickly recognized him, many envied Evelyn holding Kiana for catching such a cool husband.
Elias ran to Evelyn's table, and so did John from the other side. He removed the table shielding his little miss and threw it aside, making room for his boss. Kiana broke from Evelyn's arms and pounced on Zevian as he squatted down to check on them.
"Are you okay?" Both Elias and Zevian asked in unison, their concern directed at Evelyn, who looked like a frightened mess.
"Let me get some water," Elias said, and Evelyn nodded, fighting to stay calm.
Memories of her kidnapping when she was six replayed in Evelyn's mind, her mother's petite figure being shot with bullets by the kidnapper with a jagged scar running across his right cheek. The pain, the cries, all flooded back in a torrent, making it hard to breathe. Her chest tightened, her vision blurred, and she felt the familiar, suffocating grip of a panic attack closing in on her.
Zevian's face darkened with worry as he watched Evelyn's expression turn paler. Her breaths came in short, rapid gasps, her eyes brimming with tears. "Evelyn?" he called softly, his voice breaking through her spiraling chaos.
She looked up at him, her eyes unfocused, the monsters in her head growing stronger and more brutal. Tears slowly streamed down her, and she moved closer, seeking solace in his arms, the only place that felt safe.
"Get me out of here. Please!" Evelyn begged, her voice barely audible as she buried her face into the crook of his shoulder, her tears soaking into his shirt.
Without hesitation, Zevian instinctively picked her up in his arms. "Bring Dr. Mike to my home." He ordered to John before walking out of the mess.
"Did we finally find my mommy?" Kiana wondered, looking at John who was equally stunned to see his boss carry a woman. "I think we did!" Kiana mused, her face lighting up with a smile.
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