Written in Love

Chapter 33: Moonlit Defiance

"Quila?" Kjin asked softly, his hand reaching out to touch her arm. "Are you ok?"

Quila's eyes were wide, and her hands trembled as she locked eyes with Nash Aden. "That's my brother," her voice barely above a whisper, "I can't... I can't deal with this right now."

Kjin reached out, his hand hovering, before gently pulling Quila into a protective embrace. He could feel the tremors running through her body, his own heart quickening in response. A flicker of pain crossed his features as he saw her like that.

"It's ok, Quila," he murmured, his voice soothing. "We'll just keep moving. We don't have to talk to him."

But it was too late. Nash Aden had spotted them, his smile widening into a predatory grin. He straightened up, his eyes glinting with a mixture of desperation and malice. "Quila! Long time no see," he called out, his voice a little too loud, a little too cheerful.

Quila's breath caught in her throat, her muscles tensing as she involuntarily shifted back, a wary look in her eyes. "What do you want, Nash?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper and her words laced with a chilling edge of defiance.

Nash Aden approached them, his hands held up in a placating gesture. "Look, I know I messed up," he said. His smile was wide, but his eyes held a flicker of something else, a cold, calculating glint. "But I need your help again. I'm in trouble, and you're the only one I've got."

Quila felt a surge of anger mixed with a deep-seated dread. "No, Nash. You don't get to do this to me again. I can't help you. You've done enough damage."

Kjin stepped in front of Quila, his body a shield between her and her brother. "You heard her," he said, his voice firm and his eyes narrowed. "Leave her alone."

Nash Aden's smile vanished, replaced by a scowl of frustration. "You don't understand; I'm running out of time," he said, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "I need money, Quila. Just a loan to get me back on my feet."

Quila's fists clenched at her sides, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Enough!" she shouted. Her gaze, once soft, now held a fierce determination that refused to yield. "You left me with so much debt that I had to work day and night to pay it off. I won't let you ruin my life again."

Nash Aden's gaze flickered between Kjin and Quila. His breath hitched, a sharp gasp escaping his lips as a wave of anxiety washed over him, constricting his chest and making it difficult to breathe.

He mumbled a curse under his breath, a low growl that vibrated in his throat. "Fine," he said, his voice strained. "Let's talk somewhere else, somewhere private." He turned on his heel, his shoulders slumping with a defeated air.

Kjin and Quila exchanged a worried glance before following him. Quila's hand trembled as she walked, her eyes welling up with tears. She fought back the urge to let them fall, her pride battling with the raw vulnerability that threatened to consume her.

Kjin reached out and gently squeezed her hand, his touch a silent reassurance. "Don't worry, Quila," he whispered, his voice soft but firm. "I'm here."

Quila's hand tightened around Kjin's, her knuckles turning white. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill over. A silent plea for strength passed between them, a shared understanding in the way their fingers intertwined.

Kjin's eyes locked with Quila's, a subtle furrow appearing on his brow. His grip tightened slightly, conveying both his concern and his determination to protect her.

"Thank you, Kjin," Quila whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Kjin's gaze softened with concern. "Don't say that," he said, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of her emotions. "I know you're strong enough, even without me by your side."