Liora's eyes flew wide open in absolute shock. But as Ronan's lips gently moved against her, playing with a tender, intoxicating rhythm, a wave of warmth washed over her. Unconsciously, Liora's eyelids fluttered shut, surrendering completely to the sensation.
Was a kiss always this incredible?
She felt entirely weightless, as if she were floating far above the pavement. A distant part of her mind screamed at her to push Ronan away, to protect her boundaries, but her hands, and her entire body, were utterly paralyzed by the magic of the embrace. A deep, sudden yearning bloomed inside her; she wanted desperately to taste Ronan's lips in return, to respond to the pressure, but she had absolutely no idea how. Helpless and overwhelmed, Liora simply let herself ride the wave of pleasure, allowing Ronan to take complete control.
Ronan, meanwhile, was fighting a fierce battle within himself. He had originally intended to stop reading into Liora's mixed signals and finally force the younger girl to understand the truth. He had captured Liora's lips to shatter the wall of misunderstandings between them, he wanted her to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that he liked her. Even though he had been terrified of how Liora might react, the moment their lips met, all his hesitation evaporated.
The kiss transported Ronan to an entirely different realm. He became instantly addicted to the sweet taste of Liora's lips, profoundly intoxicated. Closing his eyes, he leaned into the wonderful, overwhelming rush of emotion.
There, on that desolate, shadow-drenched street, with no one else around, the two of them became entirely lost in each other's universe.
With their eyes tightly closed, neither of them noticed the supernatural shift occurring within their own bodies. Suddenly, a breathless, choking sensation gripped Liora's chest. Needing air, she weakly patted Ronan's broad chest. Sensing her distress, Ronan reluctantly broke the contact, his lips slowly parting from Liora's.
Gasping for breath, both them snapped their eyes open. But the moment they looked at each other, the sheer shock of what they saw forced them both to stumble several steps backward.
A brilliant, diamond-shaped crest had manifested on both of their foreheads, illuminating the dark alleyway. Ronan's crest glowed a fierce, vibrant red, while Liora's pulsed with a luminous, ethereal blue. The contrasting lights radiated outward, casting long, sharp shadows against the brick walls.
They stared at each other with wide, breathless eyes, their hearts hammering against their ribs in utter disbelief.
And neither of them had any idea that from the deepest shadows of the street, someone was silently watching their every move.
Within seconds, the glowing marks faded into nothingness, vanishing from their skin. Still reeling from the shock, Liora took another frantic step back.
"L-Liora-" Ronan breathed, extending a hand toward her, his voice laced with a rare vulnerability.
But Liora couldn't take it anymore. Turning on her heel, she sprinted away into the night, fleeing from Ronan as fast as her legs could carry her. Ronan didn't chase her. He figured the younger girl desperately needed space to process what had just happened. Letting out a heavy, conflicted sigh, Ronan simply stood under the streetlamp, staring at the empty path long after Liora had vanished from sight.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Liora didn't stop running until she reached her apartment. Rushing inside, she slammed the door shut, locking it securely before pressing a trembling hand against her racing heart. She let her side bag drop carelessly to the floor and hurried over to stand in front of the mirror.
Anxiously, Liora traced her fingers across her forehead, checking for any sign of the diamond crest. She vividly recalled a strange sensation, the way her skin had briefly mirrored the blue glow when Ronan had looked at her. But because the mark had vanished so quickly, her reflection showed nothing out of the ordinary now.
Letting out a breathy sigh, she lowered her gaze to her reflection's lips, which were flushed and slightly swollen from the intensity of the kiss. A beautiful, involuntary smile spread across her face.
It had been her very first kiss. And strangely, she didn't feel a single ounce of regret that Ronan had been the one to steal it from her. She couldn't quite explain the profound comfort that came with the memory.
Does this mean... he actually likes me? Liora thought to herself, her heart fluttering.
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, she cupped her burning, crimson cheeks in her hands and let out a quiet, giddy laugh. Just then, the distinct sound of the front door unlocking echoed through the quiet apartment. Realizing Sophia had finally returned home, Liora composed herself, quickly heading into the bathroom to wash her face and clear her head.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
By nine o'clock that evening, the two sisters had finished eating their dinner and were settling into their respective routines. Sophia had moved her laptop and a mountain of files onto the dining table, entirely consumed with writing an independent reporter's brief on the Vante Group incident.
A short while later, Sophia paused, her eyes widening in surprise as Liora strolled back into the dining room. The younger girl was completely spaced out, a faraway smile resting on her face as she unconsciously licked her lips. Liora stopped right in front of the glass cabinet, staring at her faint reflection and smiling like a fool.
"Liora? Are you okay?" Sophia asked, adjusting her glasses.
Liora was too far gone in her own thoughts to hear her. Suddenly snapping out of her trance, she hopped eagerly into the chair across from Sophia, flashing a wide, toothy bunny grin.
"Did you say something, Sophie?" Liora asked brightly.
Sophia rolled her eyes, a fond but suspicious look crossing her face. "Yeah. I asked if you were okay. What on earth is making you look so incredibly happy, hmm?" she asked, raising a sharp eyebrow.
Liora immediately shook her head from side to side, trying to suppress her grin. "Oh, it's nothing."
"There is absolutely no way that's 'nothing.' What are you hiding from me, you thief?" Sophia teased, pointing her pen at her.
Liora simply smiled her signature bunny smile and quickly tried to change the subject. "A-Ah, it's really nothing, Sophie! Anyway, what are you working on over there?"
In reality, Liora chose to keep the encounter a secret because she was still trying to understand her own chaotic emotions. Sophia was like a real older sister to her, but until she figured out exactly what was happening between herself and the billionaire CEO, she felt it was best to keep it to herself.
Liora leaned forward, glancing at the magazines and printed articles scattered across the mahogany table. Sophia let out a weary sigh, leaning back in her chair.
"I'm putting together a detailed brief on the Vante Group case." Sophia explained.
At the mere mention of Vante, Liora's eyes instantly illuminated. "Oh. I thought that case was practically resolved since Miss Scott provided a solid alibi."
The moment the words left her mouth, Liora froze. Sophia raised both eyebrows, staring at her with deep, intense scrutiny. Liora realized her massive slip-up immediately.
"How exactly do you know about Miss Scott's testimony?" Sophia asked slowly.
"A-Ah, well... um..." Liora stammered, her mind racing for an excuse. "It was... it was broadcasting on the evening news update!"
"Hmm," Sophia murmured, though the explanation clearly didn't fully satisfy her. Deciding to let it drop for now, she turned her attention back to her laptop screen. "This is just a personal report I'm compiling. Pure professional curiosity."
"Mmm... Sophie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you happen to have any entertainment or business magazines with information specifically about Mr. Brown?" Liora asked carefully.
Sophia looked up again, both eyebrows practically shooting into her hairline. "Why? Since when do you care about high-profile business profiles? You've never read a tabloid in your life."
Liora pouted slightly, trying to look nonchalant. "Oh, no reason. It's just that my exams are officially over, and I have absolutely nothing left to study tonight. Please, Sophie... just let me borrow one."
Unable to withstand Liora's sudden, uncharacteristic begging, Sophia let out a defeated sigh. She reached into her neatly organized pile, pulled out a thick corporate lifestyle magazine, and slid it across the table.
"Here. This should have everything you're looking for." Sophia said, refocusing on her laptop.
Seeing Ronan's striking face plastered across the front cover, Liora's expression softened into a brilliant, captivated smile.
Wow... Liora thought to herself, completely mesmerized. It is honestly no wonder he was voted the world's most handsome face.
She eagerly flipped through the glossy pages until she found the extensive profile feature halfway through the magazine. As she poured over the text, Liora's expressions shifted rapidly. But when her eyes landed on a paragraph detailing Ronan's childhood, the smile vanished from her face, replaced by a wave of profound sadness.
The article revealed that Ronan had grown up entirely alone in a secluded orphanage, completely devoid of maternal or paternal care.
So that's what Miss Scott meant when she said he had never known real affection, Liora realized, a heavy blanket of guilt settling over her chest.
She deeply regretted being so incredibly harsh and defensive toward Ronan at the police station. It finally made sense why the older man carried himself with such a cold, stubborn, and abrasive armor. Recalling the intense look in Ronan's eyes inside the interrogation room, Liora finally decoded what that desperate gaze had been begging for.
It was love. The kind of pure, unconditional affection that Ronan had been starved of his entire life.
Liora felt a bittersweet mixture of heartache and profound joy. Heartache for the lonely boy Ronan used to be, but immense joy because Ronan was actively seeking that missing warmth from her. She marveled at how deeply she was beginning to understand the enigmatic CEO.
As she kept reading, the article transitioned into Ronan's rapid rise to corporate power, along with a list of his personal likes and dislikes. Liora's heart skipped a beat when she read a translated quote from Ronan confirming that he was not involved in any romantic relationship.
Throughout this entire time, someone had been silently monitoring every single micro-expression flitting across Liora's face.
Sophia quietly observed the sheer adoration in her younger sister's eyes. Recognizing the dangerous path Liora was wandering down, Sophia silently picked up her smartphone. Leaving a completely engrossed Liora alone at the table, Sophia slipped out of the dining room, walked out of the apartment entirely, and paced down the quiet corridor before dialing a secure number.
After a few tense rings, a sharp voice answered.
"Sophia?! Is everything alright?"
"Hey... Ethan," Sophia whispered, checking over her shoulder. "Do you have a minute to talk? I know it's late."
"Yeah, I can talk. Is there a problem regarding our Liora?" Ethan asked, his tone immediately hardening with protective instinct.
"No, nothing like that." Sophia reassured him quickly. "I was just wondering if we could meet up first thing tomorrow morning. I have something incredibly critical to discuss with you in person."
Ethan let out a frustrated growl over the line. "Don't tell me another guy like Samuel is bothering her at the university. Ugh... I literally just finished dealing with him."
Sophia's breath caught in her throat. She lowered her voice to a bare whisper, glancing warily back toward the apartment door. "Right, I wanted to ask you about that. Liora mentioned that Samuel mysteriously vanished from campus a week ago. I didn't realize you had... taken care of him so quickly."
Ethan let out a heavy, unrepentant sigh. "The bastard crossed a line, Sophia. If I hadn't stepped in when I did, there's no telling what he would have done to Liora. We are entirely out of options; we cannot afford to take any more risks with her safety. What if something happens when I'm not around to protect her?"
Sophia closed her eyes, leaning against the cold hallway wall. "You're right. I know."
"Exactly," Ethan muttered. "Anyway, what's the emergency? Why the sudden meeting?"
Sophia swallowed hard, her expression turning deadly serious. "Because just like with Samuel... we have someone else we need to eliminate."
On the other end of the line, Ethan let out a long, weary breath. "Sophia, you know I despise mindless killing. We have to thoroughly investigate the target before we make a move. We need to be absolutely certain."
"That is exactly why we need to meet tomorrow morning," Sophia insisted. "We need to coordinate and go over the details."
"Fine," Ethan conceded. "But who is it this time? Someone new? Is it another student from her university, or what?"
Sophia gripped her phone tightly, her voice dropping to a chilling register.
"No. He's not from the university. But you know exactly who he is, Ethan. It's... Mr. Brown."
. . . . . . . . . . . .
At that exact moment, back inside the dining room, Liora finally finished reading the profile. She looked up, only to realize that Sophia was no longer sitting across from her. Setting the magazine aside, she scanned the empty room.
"Where did Sophie go?" Liora muttered to herself.
Curiosity getting the better of her, he began absentmindedly sifting through the messy pile of papers and journals left on the table to see if there were any other articles. As she moved a heavy stack, her eyes caught a small, yellowed fragment of an ancient newspaper sticking out from the bottom.
Intrigued, Liora carefully lifted the overlying magazines and slipped the fragile piece of print out.
"Where on earth did Sophie even find a newspaper this old?" Liora whispered, noticing it was a jagged, isolated clipping rather than a full page. "Let's check the date..."
Her eyes widened as she read the timestamps printed at the top corner: September 2, 1997.
Liora focused her attention on the bold, dramatic headline running across the faded paper:
THE DAILY NEWS:
"CEO and Wife of The Heirs Group Disappear; Murder Suspected After Bodies Found."
Liora looked at the black-and-white photograph printed just below the headline. "Wow... what a beautiful couple. How tragic." she murmured.
Driven by pure curiosity, she began reading the grainy description typed below the image:
"The prominent CEO of The Heirs Group, Mr. William Johnson, and his elegant wife, Mrs. Emily Johnson, were confirmed dead late last night under deeply mysterious circumstances. A few hours ago, local authorities discovered their abandoned bodies deep within a dense forest in Oakham, a highly secluded region in East Midlands-"
"Hey!! What are you doing?!"
Before Liora could finish the sentence, Sophia stormed back into the dining room, a look of pure panic distorting her features. She aggressively snatched the fragile piece of newspaper right out of Liora's hands.
"Didn't I explicitly tell you never to touch my personal research?!" Sophia yelled, her voice echoing loudly against the walls.
Liora recoiled, her brow furrowing in deep confusion. Sophia had never raised her voice at her like this before. "No... you never said anything like that, Sophie."
Realizing she had overreacted, Sophia quickly tried to smooth over her anger, though her hands were still trembling as she hurriedly gathered all her documents, laptop, and the old clipping into a messy pile.
"Well, consider it a rule starting today." Sophia snapped defensively, avoiding eye contact. "It's late. Go to bed."
Liora remained frozen in her chair, staring at her older sister with a deep frown. "Sophie, why are you getting so defensive over a simple historical article? Do you just collect random ancient newspapers?"
Sophia stopped at the doorway, stiffening slightly. "Have you completely forgotten what I do for a living? I am a investigative journalist, Liora. It is entirely normal for me to keep historical archives for reference. Besides, I stopped you from reading it because it has absolutely nothing to do with you. It's useless information."
Without waiting for a response, Sophia hurried down the hall and locked herself inside her bedroom.
Left alone in the quiet dining room, Liora let out a soft sigh, trying to shake off the strange interaction. The Heirs Group... she thought, turning the unfamiliar name over in her mind. She had never heard of such a corporation before, nor did she understand how a powerful couple could just vanish into the woods like that.
But within moments, the dark mystery faded from her thoughts. She raised a hand, her fingers gently tracing her lower lip as a warm blush rushed back into her face. The thrilling memory of Ronan's lips pressed against her completely consumed her mind, and she smiled into the empty room.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Meanwhile, in an entirely undisclosed location, a towering figure clad in a heavy black robe stood motionless in the pitch darkness. He took a slow, deep breath, the sound echoing ominously in the cavernous space.
"A great deal has changed in this pathetic realm over the last twenty-two years." the man murmured to himself, his voice dripping with ancient malice.
Just then, a pale, slender young man stepped out from the shadows, bowing his head in profound reverence. It was Lucas.
"What took you so long?" the robed man demanded coldly, glaring down at his subordinate. "Did you successfully tail the target like I commanded?"
Lucas kept his head lowered, his voice trembling slightly. "Yes, Your Majesty. But the dormant power of the red gem is still incredibly weak, which made pinpointing their exact coordinates an agonizingly slow process. I was even forced to eliminate a troublesome human secretary who accidentally crossed my path early this morning."
The robed King burst into a dark, booming laugh that echoed off the stone walls. "Excellent! Let the mortal authorities scramble. The gem's power may be weak now, but we must simply grant it time. Soon, its essence will swell to cataclysmic proportions... because the two ancient gems have finally intertwined."
The King sneered, a sadistic glint in his dark eyes. "And what of the vessel's location? You ensured that no evidence traces back to us?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lucas replied smoothly. "I personally sabotaged the building's localized power grid and completely obliterated the digital security archives. There are no tracks left behind."
"Magnificent. Now tell me where it resides, Lucas," the King commanded, a wicked, ravenous grin stretching across his pale face. "Where is the Red Gem?!"
Lucas swallowed hard, bracing himself as he delivered the shocking revelation. "To be completely precise... I have successfully located the coordinates of both mystical gems, Your Majesty."
The King's eyes widened in sheer astonishment. "Both of them?! Haha! This is an even greater development than I could have ever anticipated! Speak, boy! Tell me where they are hidden!" the man thundered, his dark aura flaring with excitement.
"I am still uncertain as to how the cosmic alignment allowed it, but... the two gems..." Lucas hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Both gems have successfully bonded with and taken over two living human bodies."
The King froze, his triumphant laughter dying down as he processed the information. He let out a long, calculated sigh, a terrible realization washing over him.
"Aha... it seems the wretched Goddess Mo decided to play a final game of chess with me." the King whispered, his expression twisting into an expression of sheer malice. "No matter. This actually plays into our hands perfectly. We shall construct a meticulous plan to harvest both gems, but we will let them roam free for now... let them cultivate and amplify their powers within those fragile human vessels."
Lucas remained perfectly still, silently absorbing his master's commands.
The cloaked figure turned away into the darkness, a horrifying, wicked smile breaking across his face. "But before we can initiate the harvest... I must first secure a powerful human vessel of my own."
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