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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THE NEXT AFTERNOON, Rhaine was sitting across from her mom, focused on their chess game. She was so deep in thought, trying to anticipate her mom's next move, that the message notification from Garam almost went unnoticed.
check ur bf's ig hehe
Rhaine raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued as she unlocked her phone and navigated to Ni-ki's Instagram. She knew he wasn't much for social media—he hardly posted at all—but he still had millions of followers, each post drawing massive attention.
When she opened his profile, her eyes widened.
Right at the top was a new post: a behind-the-scenes shot from yesterday's photoshoot. In the image, she stood in the shimmering dress, gazing off-camera, with Ni-ki watching her in the background, a faint, private smile on his face.
The caption was simple but telling: "Yesterday's muse."
She felt her cheeks warm, not just from the post itself but from the way he had captured her. She hadn't even noticed him taking the picture. Rhaine glanced up at her mom, hoping she wouldn't notice her sudden blush, but her mom was focused on the chessboard.
Curiosity got the best of her, and she tapped on the comments under the post, half-expecting mixed reactions. But to her surprise, nearly all of them were overwhelmingly positive:
"She's so pretty! They look amazing together!"
"omg is this for the new fashion line set? i'm looking forward to see the results!"
"When did Ni-ki get a girlfriend? She's gorgeous!"
"ni-ki never posts~😍 ig she's an exception"
"I've never seen him smile like that before. He looks so happy."
"Rhaine is stunning!"
Rhaine blinked, scrolling through, a little stunned by the warmth in the comments. The fans were rooting for them, picking up on something she hadn't realized was so visible—the way Ni-ki looked at her, the ease between them.
She'd always been a bit wary of his public presence, knowing how intense the spotlight could be. But seeing these reactions made her feel... comfortable. Almost accepted.
It was as if all her insecurities fades away.
With a small, shy smile, she locked her phone and took a deep breath. The moment felt amazing, seeing herself through his lens, shared with the world.
"Rhi, it's your move," her mom's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the chessboard.
"Oh. Right," Rhaine said, blinking as she set her phone down, a small smile lingering on her face. She glanced at the board, quickly realizing she'd lost track of their game. "Sorry, I got distracted."
Her mom raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile spreading across her lips. "Distracted, huh? By anything... or anyone in particular? Is it Ni-ki? Is he frustrating you again?"
Rhaine looked up at her mom, her voice dropping to a soft but determined tone. "No. Uhm, Mom."
"Yes?" she slightly sang, expectantly waiting for a response.
Rhaine swallowed, not exactly sure how to start. "Ni-ki and I... actually together now. For real. It's not just because of Mr. Jin's deal anymore."
Her mom's hand paused mid-move, her eyes widening slightly. "Wait, really?"
Rhaine bit her lip, feeling a little thrill of nervous excitement. "Yeah, it's real," she said softly. "We've been together for a while, actually. It just sort of happened."
Her mom blinked, absorbing the news, and then a smile broke across her face, genuine but tinged with surprise. "I thought the whole point was for it to be just business. Rhaine, honey, are you sure?"
Rhaine nodded, feeling her heart flutter as she thought about Ni-ki. "Yes, I am. It's complicated, but I really care about him, Mom."
"What about McGill?"
Rhaine's slightly shoulders dropped at the thought of her dream school. She had almost forgotten about the university, the very thing that had pushed her into the deal with Mr. Jin in the first place.
She met her mom's gaze, suddenly feeling the tension between her two worlds.
"McGill's still there," she said quietly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the chessboard. "I haven't forgotten about it."
Her mom's eyes softened as she studied her. "I know it's been a big dream for you, Rhi. But if it's making things harder with Ni-ki, you need to figure out what you really want. He has a business here, so I don't think he'd be willing to move there with you. Life doesn't always give us what we expect, and sometimes, we have to make choices."
Rhaine swallowed, a lump forming in her throat. She hadn't thought about this.
Her mom leaned forward, her expression gentle but firm. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just take it one step at a time. And remember, you don't have to do it alone. You have people who care about you."
Rhaine smiled, feeling a sense of comfort from her mom's words. "Thanks, Mom. I guess I just have to figure it out."
Her mom studied her for a long moment, and then her expression softened with understanding. "Well, if he makes you happy, then that's all that matters for now," she said, reaching over to touch Rhaine's hand. "Just remember that you deserve someone who cares about you deeply. Promise you'll keep that in mind?"
"I promise," Rhaine said, giving her mom's hand a squeeze. Her heart felt lighter, and she couldn't help but smile to herself. As she got up to sit next to her, her mom reached out, pulling her into a warm hug.
"You're growing up so fast, Rhi," her mom said softly. "My little girl's becoming a big girl now."
Rhaine laughed quietly, resting her head against her mom's shoulder. "I guess so."
After a moment, her mom pulled back slightly, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. "So, does your dad know yet?"
Rhaine froze for a second. She shook her head slowly. "Not yet. I haven't had the chance to tell him. I will, though."
Her mom smiled, nodding. "You've always been independent. But don't forget, you've got us, okay?"
Rhaine felt a sense of relief wash over her, the weight of her mother's understanding easing the tension she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Thanks, Mom."
Her mom gave her a knowing look. "I'll wait for the big announcement," she teased, giving her a playful wink.
Rhaine rolled her eyes, laughing. "It's not like that, Mom."
As she leaned back against the couch, feeling the warmth of the moment with her mom, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out absentmindedly, expecting another message from Garam or maybe a reminder notification about something.
But when she glanced at the screen, it all fell apart.
