Charles lowered his gaze and took off the flower crown from his head. He walked


    over to ra, wanting to put it on her.


    But Dn moved faster—he cut in between them and grabbed the crown right out


    of Charles’s hands, tossing it aside without a second thought.


    The tension in the air was razor-sharp, so intense it made everyone freeze.


    Except for Richard, no one even saw how quickly the two of them exchanged


    blows.


    Charles had pulled a dagger, aiming straight at Dn. But Dn blocked it with


    the flower crown he’d just picked up, like it was nothing.


    ra looked down, surprised to find the flower crown in her own hands. When did


    she even pick that up? Her eyes darted from Charles to Dn, trying to make


    sense of it all.


    Dn didn’t look fazed at all. He knew exactly how dangerous Charles could be—


    he was practically famous for it.


    ra’s voice was soft and a little confused. “Big brother, why are you two


    fighting?”


    Charles pressed his lips together and slid the dagger away. “Just be good to my


    sister, that’s all.”


    He’d barely finished speaking when ra grabbed Dn’s hand and looked up at


    him. “Babe, can’t my brothere with us to the Capital?”


    Dn frowned, about to say no, but before he could get the words out, ra


    leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to his cheek.


    “Please?” she asked, sweet and hopeful.


    Honestly, she was a natural at this.


    Whatever argument Dn had vanished on the spot. Instead, he just said,


    “Alright.”


    A sh of happiness crossed Charles’s face. He was about to agree when a


    cough sounded behind him. The family doctor piped up, “Young master, the eldest


    needs to talk to you. You’ll have to go back first.”


    Charles’s excitement faded, reced by a quiet, numb calm.


    ra tried to make him feel better. “It’s okay. You can alwayse visit me in the


    Capital.”


    Charles started to walk away, then hesitated and came back. “I’ll be there soon.


    The gemstones for the helicopter are almost done—I’ll have someone bring them


    to you. And I’ll leave the big guys with you too. Remember that phone number I


    gave you? If anything happens, call me, okay?”


    The doctor nearly choked. The “big guys” were Charles’s two beloved dogs—


    basically his whole world. Even the eldest and Mitch couldn’t get him to part with


    them. If anyone else even thought about taking the dogs, they’d get a bullet for


    their trouble.


    They meant more to him than his own life.


    And now, just like that, he was handing them over to ra—a woman he’d only


    known for a few days—and he didn’t even hesitate.


    “Brother, let them stay with you,” ra said gently. “I’m afraid you’ll have no one


    to y cards with if they’re gone.”


    Charles’s eyes went red. “ra, wait for me. Promise you’ll wait for me toe


    find you.”


    ra nodded and gave him a bright smile.


    Charles walked away, turning back every few steps, lookingpletely lost.


    Dn could barely stand listening to


    their long, drawn-out goodbye. If he


    didn’t know that Charles was totally


    clueless about romance and only


    cared about his dogs, he probably


    would’ve killed him on the


    spot—several times over.


    But before Dn could say a word, ra was already sliding into the car, waving


    at him. “Come on, let’s go!”


    Just like that, all his frustration disappeared.


    Once they were inside the car, ra


    nced around with wide, curious


    eyes as they started moving. She


    turned to Dn, her tone soft. “Don’t


    be mad, okay? My brother really is


    good to me.”


    She called him “babe” like she’d been doing it her whole life.


    Whatever Dn was feeling, he just reached over and took her hand, checking


    the bandage on her wrist.


    But what he asked was, “Did he touch you?”


    With the way she was now, if anyone


    tried something, she probably


    wouldn’t even realize it. And Dn


    wasn’t going to let that slide, not


    even by ident.


    “What do you mean, ‘touch’?” ra blinked up at him.


    Dn looked down, his pale face finally getting some color back. He pulled her


    close and bit her gently on the lips.


    “Like this,” he said.


    ra’s face went red—so did her nose and the tips of her ears. “No, he didn’t.”


    Dn’s lips curved into a satisfied little smile. “Good.”


    And because of that kiss, ra sat next to him, feeling heat rush through her


    whole body.


    Definitely not a normal kind of warm.