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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THEY STOOD IN SILENCE, looking out from the hospital window at the massive crowd of paparazzi gathering below. Cameras flashed constantly, a sea of strangers waiting for any glimpse or sign of Ni-ki, hungry to capture his every move in the aftermath.
Rhaine glanced at him, worry flickering in her eyes. "Are you ready to face all of that?"
"I don't have a choice. They'd follow me anywhere."
Rhaine reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "You don't have to do it alone."
He looked down at their joined hands, a hint of softness breaking through his stoic facade, a facade that displayed his attempt of disassociation. "I guess not," he murmured, almost to himself. But he didn't let go.
Mr. Jin stood beside them, glancing between Ni-ki and Rhaine with a calm, businesslike demeanor. "We need to push through to the limousine," he said, his voice clipped and direct.
Rhaine frowned, glancing outside once again. "Why couldn't you park it closer?" she asked, a hint of frustration in her voice.
Mr. Jin raised an eyebrow, unruffled. "Over this crowd?" He gestured out the window, where people pressed tightly against each other, cameras flashing in every direction. "It's the best we could manage. You'll just have to stay close."
"How about behind the hospital or in the more private areas?"
"We tried, but the staff said that they didn't want those areas covered by a swarm of people," Mr. Jin replied. "We'll just have to make do of what we have. Mr. Nishimura has done this many times, so he will help you."
Ni-ki gave a small nod, his face impassive but his grip on Rhaine's hand firm.
Security guards moved in, forming a protective barrier around them as they prepared to step outside. Ni-ki slipped on a pair of sunglasses, then held out another pair to Rhaine without a word.
She accepted them with a small, grateful smile, sliding them on and feeling a bit more shielded. "Stay close," he instructed.
They pushed forward, and the wall of paparazzi pressed in closer, cameras flashing and questions being shouted from every direction. Rhaine could barely see past the blinding lights and struggled to keep her footing as they moved.
The noise, the flashes, the pressing bodies—all of it crashed down on her senses at once. Rhaine could honestly feel her head slowly losing it, her breath coming in shallow bursts as her mind struggled to filter out the overwhelming chaos.
She clutched Ni-ki's hand a little tighter, hoping it would ground her. But every shout and camera flash seemed to grow louder, blending into a dizzying whirl.
She glanced over at Ni-ki, noticing how unfazed he seemed, head down and shoulders squared as if this chaos was just background noise. He was like stone, moving without hesitation, as if every shout and flashing light was nothing more than a passing breeze.
He was not okay, but he had to look like he was.
Her fingers trembled slightly in his, and she fought to keep up, forcing herself to focus on his steady presence.
The questions tore through the crowd like jagged blades, each one sharper than the last.
"Is it true the real CEO of NishiCo is dead, Ni-ki?"
"Is it finally time for therapy?"
"Are you ready to take over, Mr. Nishimura?"
"Where is your father?"
"Is this the downfall of NishiCo?"
"What's it like to have no mom at 19?"
Rhaine checked him, worried, but Ni-ki didn't so much as flinch. He was used to all types of questions, after all.
A sudden shove hit Rhaine's shoulder, and she stumbled, nearly losing her footing in the crush of people. For a terrifying second, she felt herself slipping back, the noise and flashes closing in around her.
Then, Ni-ki was there. He turned immediately, pulling her close without a word. His hand left hers only to slide firmly around her shoulders, holding her to his side with protectiveness.
With his arm wrapped around her, they pressed forward again, Ni-ki guiding her closely, his attention never wavering as he cut a path through the chaos.
When they arrived to the limousine, one of the security guards opened the door to let them in. Rhaine went in first then Ni-ki. When the door shut and the vehicle began driving away, they breathed out in relief as they sat across from each other.
Rhaine sank into the plush seat of the limousine, feeling the weight of everything around her crashing down. She tugged off her sunglasses, letting them drop into her lap, and stared out the window, trying to steady herself.
The noise, the flashing cameras, the crowd—it was all too much.
Her breaths hitched, and she bit her lip to stop herself from fully breaking down. She couldn't quite control the rush of emotions, the overstimulation of it all.
Heart still racing, the tears welled up before she could even try to stop them.
Ni-ki's gaze flicked over to her the moment he noticed. His expression softened, and without a second thought, he reached across the seat.
"Come here, angel."
Rhaine hesitated, sniffling, but before she could second-guess herself, he softly smiled.
She couldn't fight it anymore. She slid across the seat into his embrace, curling against him as his arms wrapped around her. The warmth of his touch was a comfort, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt safe.
Ni-ki's hand stroked her hair gently, his voice soft. "It's okay. I've got you, you did amazing."
From the front passenger seat, Mr. Jin glanced over his shoulder, his eyes briefly catching the their closeness. His expression was unreadable, but the way he looked at them—silent and calculating—spoke volumes.
