"Luiz, you were just lying to us when you said you're poor, right?" one of his classmates asked him during lunch. He was waiting for his brother and Kath to come to the Canteen but someone else was waiting with him.
"I was telling you the truth. Would I even apply for scholarship if I'm rich enough to pay for my own tuition?"
"Then, how can you afford to have a body guard?"
"It's my sister's husband who arranged for him to guard me. I didn't pay him, my brother-in-law did."
"Oh! So, your sister got married to rich man?"
"It's already obvious. Why would you still not comment on it?
"If it's obvious, why do you have to ask me about it?" Luiz retorted, not sparing the fact that he was having argument with a female classmate. He just hated their gossipy mouths. He turned to the man beside him and smiled.
"Luiz!" Kath called for him while waving her hand, even though she was still at the entrance of the canteen. She's always jolly and carefree, not caring about what other people say regarding her relationship with Kyle.
Kyle was standing right beside her with a faint smile. And a man with a stoic expression was following behind them.
It's been three days since the students noticed these two men following the Ardolf brothers. They didn't pay it any mind at first but as the days continued to pass by, they started to get curious with the true identities of these two brothers.
"Sir, what do you want to eat? I'll go and get it for you." The man following Kyle asked beside him.
"There's no need. We can get it ourselves. What do you guys want to eat? I'll pay for it." Kyle responded and thoughtfully asked for their preferences as well. He can't just ignore them when they're around to make sure that they're safe.
They were told by Cayenne that someone will be guarding them and they thought that they'd be guarding them from afar. He didn't know that they'd be following them closely. They would even wait for them outside their classrooms. The professors were informed about this already so, they weren't surprised to see these two guards walking around campus while following the Ardolf brothers.
Because of this tight security, the people who wanted to cause them harm couldn't do anything to them.
After lunch, they went back to their classes. Luiz and his other classmates received a letter regarding the meeting for the parents. Since he wasn't aware that his father had gone out from the jail, she told asked Cayenne to come instead. After all, she's been their guardian for the past five years.
One week later, Cayenne woke up early and started making preparation. She will be attending the meeting with Stefan and she wanted to look presentable. She didn't want to embarrass her smart little brother. But since it was just a meeting, she can be casual with her get up.
"Ayen, let's buy gifts for your brother later." Stefan suggested but Cayenne glared at him. "Did I say something wrong?"
"You're spoiling my brothers. I don't like it."
"No, I'm not." Cayenne rolled her eyes at him. "I just want don't want them to be dependent on you."
"What do you mean why? I'd feel bad for them if something happens between you and me. And I know they'd still choose me over you but the things that you'll give them, they will only make things complicated in the future."
"Hey, what do you mean by that? Are you still thinking that we'd be separated? That won't happen. Not ever."
"You don't know what's in store for us in the future. You promised the same thing to me before but you told me you'll divorce me."
"But I didn't do it. You did it. You signed the papers first."
"Let me remind you just in case you forget. I won't fight a losing battle. If you give up on me, I won't think twice and give up everything we have. Don't even think of testing me. And if you don't like me signing the papers first, you can sign it first in the future."
"Why are we even talking about this?" Stefan sat on the bed with guilt and frustration crisscrossing his face. "I don't want to think about it. I won't even sign the papers, even if you will exchange my life for it. You will be bound to me for all eternity."
"Hold on to that promise and I won't let you go but the moment you let go of my hand, I won't try to stop you."
Stefan didn't expect that her insecurity was so difficult to fix. One wrong move and Cayenne will crumble into tiny bits of pieces. He needed to extra careful with her or he will break her fragile heart again.
Stefan pulled Cayenne and hugged her waist, burying his face on the warmth of her tummy. "I won't let you no matter what happens. So, you don't have to walk on eggshells anymore. I can exchange my life for yours. I can give up everything but you. Ayen, let me fulfill my promise this, okay?"
Cayenne looked at him and nodded her head. "This time, I will trust you with all I have. Please don't break me again. I won't really know how to start over next time."
"Hn. I will hold you in my arms with gentle care. I won't let you down."
Cayenne lowered her face and kissed him. Her tears fell on his face, evidence of her fear from letting herself go and give in to him once again.
For the first time since they reconciled, they shared the gentlest kiss they ever had. It was a seal to their new beginning. A seal to their promise of forever.
On the other hand, Arthur caught wind of the meeting for the senior high students in X university. He told his two men to stop following Chris and looked for Cayenne and Stefan in X University instead. He was sure more than anyone else that Cayenne will come to attend this meeting for her brother.
"Soon. Very soon. You will be mine."