When ra walked back into the master bedroom, Dn still had his eyes closed. But she knew him too well-not a chance he was actually asleep. His mind was always a storm, and right now, it was probably running wild with thoughts he''d never admit out loud.


    She repeated what the mysterious stranger had told her, then asked quietly, "Dn, do you think this is aimed at me or at you?"


    He finally opened his eyes, staring up at the ceiling, looking lost. But it wasn''t tonight''s drama that had him shaken; it was something else, something deeper he wouldn''t let her see.


    "ra, I just want to sleep," he said, voice t.


    She came over, worry creasing her brow as she caught the emptiness in his gaze. Gently, she pressed her hand to his forehead-just to reassure herself-then let out a soft sigh.


    "Don''t keep me guessing, Dn. If something''s wrong, just say it. Don''t make me figure it out on my own."


    He was already impossible to read, and when he chose to hide things, she feltpletely shut out. She was terrified of making things worse for him without even knowing it.


    But if he was the type to open up easily, maybe he wouldn''t be so broken in the first ce.


    She took a deep breath, leaned down, and kissed him-just a gentle brush, a wordlessfort.


    His hand started to reach for her, but fell back halfway.


    ray down next to him, her head on his shoulder, her voice soft. "You don''t like Eli and Seth either, do you?"


    Otherwise, why would he suddenly say he wanted to sleep at a moment like this?


    Dn never bothered hiding his dislike for people. Just look at how obvious he was with Z.


    With his eyes shut, he squeezed her hand tight. "No. I don''t like them."


    Too much of her past was tangled up with Eli and Seth-just enough to make anyone jealous.


    ra rolled over, pressing her cheek to his chest. "Why not? Or are you just not going to answer?"


    "They don''t like me either," he said quietly, eyes still closed. "They hate me. Hate me so much, they wish I''d just disappear. Only, they can''t actually make it happen."


    ra fell silent, her brows furrowing. Something shed through her mind, but she couldn''t grab hold of it.


    Her eyes grew dark as she closed them, pulling him closer.


    *


    The next morning, someone from the Ferguson family''s old estate showed up-it was the butler again.


    Last time, he''de in acting all high and mighty. Today, he was humble, almost pleading.


    "Sir, do you really have to go this far?"


    ra nced over at Dn, who sat on the couch reading his newspaper,pletely ignoring the butler.


    After a few seconds, the butler dropped to his knees.


    "Sir, don''t let things get this ugly between you and your father. It''s really not worth it—not over a woman. If there''s some misunderstanding, why not sit down and talk it out? The master says he''s willing to give you another chance. You should take it. He''s not even asking you to leave ra for good-you can still have her with you if that''s what you want. But the American branch of the Ferguson family... we can''t say no to them. You know how much power the Chester family has over there. If you want to keep your position, you have to marry Loue. Otherwise, who knows what the old patriarch might do next?"


    Dn put down the newspaper, irritation flickering in his eyes.


    The butler, realizing Dn wouldn''t respond, turned and kneeled in front of ra instead.


    He used to look down on her, but now he was desperate.


    "ra, are you really going to just watch him throw away everything he''s worked for? If you love him, you can''t just let him ruin himself."


    ra looked at Dn, lowered hershes, and was quiet for a moment. "If he''s happy, that''s all I care about."


    The butler stared at her, stunned, then snapped, "What kind of answer is that? The master was always happy until you showed up! You''re the reason he''s acting crazy now."


    ra had heard enough. She walked straight over to Dn and asked, "Are you hungry? I''ll make us some breakfast."


    He nodded, and she turned toward the kitchen without another word.


    The butler stayed kneeling, watching as ra ignored him. He finally shouted, "ra!"


    She didn''t look back.


    The master was right-ra was nothing but trouble.


    She was just as stubborn and wild as Dn-maybe even more.


    With a heavy sigh, the butler slowly got up, bowed respectfully to Dn, and said,


    "Sir, I''ve said everything I can. If you go to war with your father, it''s going to destroy you both. The master is still willing to give you a chance. Don''t be so stubborn."


    Dn sat there, not moving an inch.


    Seeing there was no hope, the butler turned and left. As he reached the front door, he let out a long, weary sigh.


    ra brought breakfast out to the table, checked the bandage on Dn''s hand to make sure it wasn''t worse, and led him to sit down with her.


    Watching him eat slowly and carefully, she suddenly asked, "Did you see those two words carved on the wall?"


    Was that what made hime back so suddenly?<fn6242> This content belongs to </fn6242>