He paused for a moment. "I never found out how it started. But the investigation back then ruled it an ident."


    He''d been just a teenager at the time. After surviving something that terrifying, digging into it hadn''t even crossed his mind.


    Later, he never revisited it, but he vaguely remembered his grandfather saying it was an idental fire.


    Now, hearing Anneliese bring it up, Jonathan''s brows drew together.


    "Why? Is there something wrong with that?"


    Anneliese nodded. "The report said the fire started because of faulty wiring in the kitchen. But Grandma never believed it. She looked into it herself. The vi was fairly new and had routine maintenance.


    The chance of wiring failure was extremely low. I also asked one of my father''s old colleagues a man whoter became a police chief. He was evasive. So I''m sure the fire wasn''t that simple. If..."


    Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip, unsure how to continue.


    Jonathan seemed to understand what she was afraid to say. He reached out his hand.


    She gave him hers and walked closer.


    He held both her hands and looked up at her.


    "If the fire really was caused by someone, you don''t have to worry. No matter who''s responsible, I''ll find out. I''ll never hide the truth or protect anyone."


    His voice was steady and low, every word certain.


    It wasn''t just a promise to her. It was a vow to the dead.


    "Do you trust me, babe?"


    Anneliese lowered her eyes and nodded firmly.


    "Of course I do."


    She wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Thank you."


    Jonathan pulled her back onto hisp and said softly, "Don''t thank me. Your father


    gave his life to save mine. If I can''t even do this much, I''d be no better than a monster. I''d have no right to face you, let alone marry into your family."


    He said it like it was nothing, like it didn''t weigh a thing.


    But Anneliese knew it wasn''t that simple. People were selfish. They always protected their own blood first.


    Plenty could talk about honor and justice. Very few could actually live it when it came to their own family.


    And those who did often got condemned instead of praised, branded heartless for doing what was right.


    He made it sound easy, but his words went straight to the softest part of her heart.


    She held his face between her hands, her eyes glimmering. "From now on, I''m calling you Mr. Dreamy."


    Jonathan arched a brow. Anneliese''s lips curved. "Because you''re exactly what I used to dream about. You meet every hope I''ve ever had. You never disappoint me. You make me fall for you a little harder every single day it''s like you walked straight out of my dreams."


    Jonathan''s hand slipped behind her neck, and he pulled her in for a kiss.


    His warm lips captured hers, teasing and tasting until his tongue parted her lips and tangled with hers in a slow rhythm that made her lose herselfpletely.


    Her mind went hazy, but then he suddenly bit her.


    "Ow! That really hurt!"


    She pulled back, pouting as her eyes watered.


    Her re was more wounded than angry.


    She''d bitten him before, but this was the first time he''d ever done it to her and he hadn''t held back.


    He''d done it right when she was most lost in him.


    Jonathan met her stunned gaze, his eyes glinting as he pinched her cheek.


    "You just called me dreamy. I just wanted to make sure you could tell the difference between a dream and the real thing."


    Anneliese huffed. "You really can''t take apliment, can you?"


    Jonathan chuckled and squeezed her puffed cheeks again.


    "I n on spending my life with you. And I''m very real. I''ve got bad habits, worse moods, and plenty of ws. o my dear, don''t expect perfection. You''ll only end up disappointed.


    She finally understood what he meant and nodded with quiet seriousness.


    "Then you need to show me the real you too. You don''t have to keep everything bottled up on try to protect me all the time. If you''re tired


    or upset, I want to know. Let me share that load with you."


    She could feel how much he pampered her, how he always put her first.


    It had to be because of what happened between their families. He still carried that


    guilt and tried to make up for it by taking care of her in every way.


    Jonathan studied her earnest little face, and his heart softened.


    He raised a brow and smirked. "Whatever you say, honey."