Xylia’s eyes widened.
For a moment, she couldn’t answer.
What was she supposed to say?
That she had missed him every single day?
That seeing him from afar had become the only thing she looked forward to?
She wasn’t his girlfriend.
She wasn’t anything to him.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
“Sit down,” Aciel said.
She knew she should walk away.
Instead, she found herself obeying him.
Xylia sat down beside him and took a deep breath.
Her heart was beating so fast she thought it might burst out of her chest.
“You ignored me for weeks,” Aciel said.
“Then you suddenly kissed me, and now you’re just going to walk away?”
Xylia lowered her head.
Unable to meet his gaze, she stared at the floor.
“I didn’t ignore you.”
“Really?”
“There was never an opportunity to talk to you.”
“Because of Ivan?”
She remained silent.
Aciel scoffed.
“Are you really going to marry that guy?”
“What am I supposed to do?” she whispered.
“My family won’t let me see my mother if I refuse.”
“You already know my answer to that.”
Xylia frowned.
“Your answer?”
She finally looked at him.
“You asked me to stay with you before. But when I confessed my feelings, you let go of my hand.”
Aciel sighed heavily.
“Because I didn’t want you to regret it.”
Xylia blinked in surprise.
Aciel ran a hand through his hair.
“You drive me crazy, Xylia.” His voice lowered.
“I don’t even know why.”
She remained silent.
“I could distract myself with other people before I met you,” he admitted.
“But after you came into my life, nothing feels the same anymore.”
His silver eyes met hers.
“And that’s one of the reasons I was angry.”
Xylia stared at him.
“You really changed because of me?”
Aciel laughed quietly.
“Unfortunately.”
For the first time, a small smile appeared on her face.
“But that’s not important right now.” He leaned closer.
“Why did you kiss me?”
Xylia immediately blushed.
“I already told you.”
“No. You avoided the question.”
She looked away.
“Liliana told me the principal wanted to see me here.”
Aciel raised an eyebrow.
“And?”
“When I arrived, there was nobody except you.” She sighed.
“I figured our friends planned the whole thing.”
Aciel couldn’t help but smirk.
“So why did you kiss me?”
Xylia groaned in embarrassment.
“Fine.” Her face turned bright red.
Aciel’s smirk widened.
“Happy now?”
“Actually, yes.”
Xylia wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
He was obviously enjoying her embarrassment.
“I liked it, by the way,” Aciel added.
“Stop teasing me.”
His chuckle echoed softly through the room.
Then his expression gradually became serious.
“I don’t think you came here just because you missed me.”
Xylia hesitated.
He was right.
Deep down, she already knew what she wanted.
What she needed.
After several seconds, she finally gathered enough courage.
“If I ask for your help…” Her voice became quiet.
“Would you help me?”
Aciel stared at her.
“Help you do what?”
She swallowed hard.
“Save me.”
The words finally escaped.
“I want you to save me.”
Silence filled the room.
Xylia nervously studied his expression.
She expected hesitation.
Maybe even rejection.
Instead, he looked relieved.
As though he had been waiting for her to say those words.
“If I save you,” Aciel said carefully, “will you stay by my side?”
Xylia blinked.
“What?”
“No matter what happens.”
His gaze never left hers.
“Will you stay with me through everything?”
Her heart pounded.
“Y-Yes.”
Aciel continued staring at her.
“Promise me you’ll never leave.”
Xylia frowned.
She didn’t understand why that promise seemed so important to him.
But she could tell he was serious.
“Then promise me something too.”
Aciel raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“When you’re ready, tell me the truth.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Tell me why you’re really doing this.”
For a moment, Aciel remained silent.
Then he smiled.
“A fair deal.” His voice softened.
“I promise.”
He took a deep breath.
“I just need to be absolutely sure first.”
Xylia nodded.
Then Aciel said something she never expected.
“If I help you…” His eyes darkened.
“You’ll become the wife of the future Mafia Boss.”
“What?”
He didn’t look away.
“You heard me.”
“W-Wait.”
She stared at him.
“Wife?”
Aciel nodded.
“You don’t seriously think I’d save you and then let another man marry you, do you?”
Xylia was speechless.
“I’ll protect you,” he continued.
“But if I do, you’ll be tied to me and my world.”
His voice lowered.
“There will be no turning back.”
Xylia swallowed hard.
Was she really willing to leave one cage only to enter another?
She searched his eyes.
For the first time, she didn’t see any mockery.
Or anger.
Or arrogance.
He was completely serious.
After a long silence, she finally asked, “If I say yes… will you stay faithful to me?”
Aciel looked genuinely surprised.
Then he laughed softly.
“Yes.”
“And you’ll respect my decisions?”
His expression softened.
“Yes.”
Xylia looked down nervously.
“Then… I think I can accept that.”
A smile slowly appeared on Aciel’s face.
The genuine kind.
The kind she had never seen before.
He stood up and walked toward her.
Then, to her complete surprise, he knelt in front of her.
Taking her hand gently, he pressed a kiss against her knuckles.
“Xylia Lovelle Antonov.”
His voice was warm.
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
Tears instantly gathered in her eyes.
Not from sadness.
But from happiness.
After everything she had gone through, he still asked properly.
He gave her a choice.
And somehow, that meant everything.
A beautiful smile spread across her face.
“Yes.”
Aciel smiled back.
Then he stood and pulled her into his arms.
Xylia rested her forehead against his chest as his arms wrapped securely around her.
For the first time in months, she felt safe.
“What happens now?” she asked quietly.
“My family won’t approve.”
“And Ivan?”
Aciel smirked.
“Leave that to me.”
He offered her his hand.
“Do you trust me?”
Xylia looked at him for several seconds.
Then she placed her hand in his.
“I trust you.”
Her heart raced when his fingers intertwined with hers.
And for the first time in a long while the future didn’t seem quite so frightening anymore.