He stood up abruptly, pulling her up with him thanks to the handcuffs, and pinned her against the wall. His grip on her wrist tightened.
Ni-ki leaned in closer, his voice a cold whisper. "You're playing with fire, angel. Don't think for a second tha...
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RHAINE SAT QUIETLY ON THE EDGE OF THE COUCH, her eyes tracing the peaceful rise and fall of Ni-ki's chest as he slept. The blanket he was wrapped in had shifted slightly, revealing the tension in his shoulders that had been there for days.
It was hard to believe how much had happened in such a short time. And yet, here he was, vulnerable and calm, resting.
She watched him for a long moment, softening as she thought about everything he'd been through, everything she'd been through with him. There was something so disarming about the way he looked when he wasn't guarded. No walls, no defense. Just him.
She'd never seen him like this before.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she gently reached over, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. He didn't stir, only shifted slightly, the peaceful expression remaining on his face. It made her smile, though there was a heaviness in her chest that she couldn't shake.
The past few weeks had been crazy, but despite that, Rhaine felt more certain than ever about her relationship with Ni-ki. Even though there had been some moments of doubt and conflict, she felt like they could work through it.
For now, she let him sleep. She let herself enjoy this quiet moment, just the two of them, before the world came crashing back.
Rhaine was snapped out of her daze by the sound of Mr. Jin's voice, his tone firm yet polite. She blinked, momentarily startled, and turned her head to find him standing just a few steps away, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"Rhaine, may I speak to you for a moment?" he asked, his voice calm but with an edge that suggested urgency.
She hesitated for a moment, glancing down at Ni-ki, who had fallen back asleep on the couch, completely unaware of the conversation that was about to unfold. With a quiet sigh, she stood up, smoothing the wrinkles in her clothes, and gave Ni-ki one last look before following Mr. Jin into another room.
The door clicked softly shut behind them, and she found herself standing in the quiet hallway, her hands nervously clasped in front of her.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, unsure of what was coming next.
Mr. Jin studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her expression.
He didn't waste any time. "How's your relationship with Mr. Nishimura?" he asked, his voice steady, yet his eyes never left her.
Rhaine froze for a moment. She didn't expect him to bring it up so directly, but she'd also been feeling the weight of it herself. She wasn't sure if she should lie or be honest.
After a moment's hesitation, she met his deep stare. "We're together for real now," she said.
Mr. Jin's face showed a sign of dismay, but he kept his composure. He studied her for a few seconds, and then spoke again.
