Aciel waited silently for Xylia’s answer.
He had allowed Simon to speak to her because he genuinely wanted to hear her decision for himself.
The silence between them became suffocating as the boys waited for Xylia to respond.
Finally—
“I’m sorry,” Xylia said softly.
“I need to talk to Aciel. He didn’t force me to come with him.”
A faint smile immediately appeared on Aciel’s lips after hearing her answer.
Meanwhile, Simon glared at him while Chris and Leiam looked completely shocked by Xylia’s decision.
Simon sighed heavily before shaking his head.
“I’ll let this slide for now,” he muttered.
“But whatever you’re planning, Aciel, I’m against it.”
Aciel simply smirked before getting inside the car without another word, leaving his friends standing there in confusion.
Once the car finally drove away from the university, Xylia quietly looked at him.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked softly.
“Somewhere we can talk alone,” Aciel answered simply.
Xylia remained silent afterward and stared out the window instead.
Deep inside, she felt nervous.
But at the same time— she could no longer take back her decision.
For the first time in her life, she had chosen something entirely on her own without her parents controlling it.
A few minutes later, Aciel drove into an underground parking area.
Xylia frowned slightly while observing the surroundings.
Every vehicle parked there was luxurious, expensive, or limited edition.
The place looked more like a private luxury residence than an ordinary building.
Curiosity slowly appeared on her face.
Aciel noticed it immediately.
“This is one of the places I usually stay,” he explained casually.
“I own the penthouse upstairs.”
Xylia nodded quietly but said nothing else.
When Aciel parked directly in front of a private elevator, one of the valets immediately rushed toward them.
Aciel tossed him the keys before walking toward Xylia’s side and opening the passenger door for her himself.
“Come on,” he said while taking her hand gently.
The moment the elevator doors closed behind them, Xylia finally realized how dangerous this situation actually was.
Coming here with Aciel was a terrible idea.
If anyone discovered she had gone alone to a penthouse with a man— her mother would never forgive her.
When the elevator finally opened on the top floor, Aciel led her directly inside the penthouse suite.
Xylia’s eyes widened slightly the moment she entered.
The place was breathtaking.
The spacious penthouse overlooked the entire city through massive glass walls, while a private indoor garden filled with rare and colorful flowers decorated the space beautifully.
Everything looked elegant.
Luxurious.
Peaceful.
“Is this a hotel?” Xylia asked softly.
“Not exactly,” Aciel answered.
“This is a residential tower.”
Then he glanced at her.
“And this penthouse is mine.”
Xylia slowly walked toward the glass wall to admire the breathtaking city view below.
Meanwhile, Aciel quietly watched her every movement.
And when she smiled softly while looking outside—
Annoyed by the unfamiliar feeling, he immediately looked away.
“So,” Aciel finally said, “tell me the truth.”
His expression darkened again.
“What really happened to your lip?”
Xylia stayed silent for several seconds while staring down at the streets below.
Then suddenly, she spoke.
“Do you know why the Antonov Clan remained the wealthiest family in Bloomsdale for decades?”
Aciel leaned against the wall casually.
“Not really,” he lied smoothly.
“I only know your family is powerful.”
In reality, he already investigated nearly every influential family in the city long ago as part of his Mafia training.
His father taught him that every family had weaknesses.
And someday— those weaknesses could become useful.
“Our family maintained power through alliances,” Xylia explained quietly.
“Most of those alliances were created through arranged marriages.”
Her fingers tightened slightly against the glass.
“My mother already chose someone for me.”
Aciel’s jaw immediately tightened.
“She wanted me to meet him,” Xylia continued bitterly.
“But I refused.”
For some reason, hearing those words irritated Aciel deeply.
He thought he was the only one being forced into an arranged marriage.
“So your mother hurt you because you rejected him?” he asked coldly.
Xylia slowly nodded.
“Ever since I was born, my entire life has already been planned for me,” she whispered.
Her voice sounded painfully exhausted.
“My daily schedule, my future, my education… even my friendships were chosen by my mother.”
A bitter smile appeared on her lips.
“I was like a doll.”
Her emerald eyes lowered sadly.
“Or maybe a robot.”
Aciel remained silent while listening to her.
“I never wanted to disappoint them,” Xylia continued softly.
“So I obeyed everything they wanted.”
Aciel stared at her carefully before asking quietly,
“Were you ever happy?”
Xylia chuckled weakly.
“The happiest thing that happened to me was becoming friends with Chelsea,” she admitted.
“My mother chose her too… but Chelsea became a real friend.”
Then she looked down.
“So yes… I was hurt by the board’s decision to remove her as vice president.”
Aciel frowned slightly.
“Then why didn’t you fight back?”
“Because my mother would find out.”
Xylia slowly turned toward him.
“She has people watching me inside the university. Professors, students, staff…”
Her lips trembled slightly.
“They all report to her.”
Aciel’s expression darkened.
“You skipped school today,” he pointed out.
“What if she finds out about this?”
Xylia looked back toward the city lights below. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“I don’t know,” she admitted honestly.
Then she smiled sadly.
“But for once… I just wanted to escape.”
Her voice lowered into almost a whisper.
“That university feels like a prison.”
Something inside Aciel shifted after hearing those words.
Slowly, he walked toward her before gently touching her cheek.
“Do you know the name of the man your mother chose for you?”
Xylia nodded nervously.
The warmth of his hand against her skin made her heart beat faster again.
“It’s Ivan Harlow,” she answered quietly.
“His family owns shipping and airline companies.”
She looked at him carefully.
“Do you know them?”
Aciel did not answer immediately.
The name sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
He vaguely remembered hearing about an Ivan Harlow involved in harassment allegations before, though he could not remember the details clearly.
“My mother said he’ll transfer to our university tomorrow,” Xylia continued.
“She wants me to personally welcome him.”
Aciel’s jaw tightened again.
“Why don’t you just leave your family?” he asked suddenly.
“You’re an adult now. Stand on your own.”
Xylia immediately stepped back.
“You think it’s that easy?” she snapped.
Aciel frowned.
“I’m not like you, Aciel.”
Her voice trembled emotionally.
“Don’t compare me to someone who grew up disobeying his father whenever he wanted.”
Her emerald eyes filled with frustration.
“You only know how to live for yourself.”
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Aciel’s expression darkened dangerously.
Before Xylia could react, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pushed her gently—but firmly—onto the couch behind her.
Xylia gasped softly in shock.
Fear instantly appeared in her eyes.
“No one talks back to me like that,” Aciel muttered through gritted teeth.
His silver eyes looked stormy with anger.
Slowly, he loosened the first few buttons of his shirt, exposing part of his chest and toned abs.
Xylia’s heartbeat became uncontrollable.
She immediately understood what he was implying.
“A-Aciel… no,” she pleaded softly.
Aciel leaned closer toward her.
“You already knew coming with me here could lead to this,” he said darkly.
His voice lowered dangerously.
“I’m angry right now.”
Then his fingers slowly brushed against her chin.
“And when I’m agry, I want something to calm me down.”
Xylia’s breathing became uneven.
“Besides…” Aciel whispered while staring directly into her eyes, “if I make you mine first…”
His lips nearly touched hers again.
“No one else will ever be allowed to claim you.”