Fionn turned to walk away, his body aching to at least turn back, but luckily, his brain countermeasured, and continued to walk on.
On reaching the restaurant, he took a quick shower and changed into fresh attire. By the time he got done, the ladies had also reached.
Fionn walked to the security room and briefed the guy on what he wanted. The security guy was kind enough to grant him his wish by leaving the room.
He focused at the right angle and zoomed in, getting a clear view of Kiara. Yes, it's true. He wanted to watch Kiara but didn't want to make it so obvious. The best way to do that was to watch her over the security footage.
She ate her food peacefully, her eyes searching for who? What? He didn't know. All his attention remained glued to the screen, so he didn't realize someone had entered the room until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
He wasn't startled, nor did he flinch; he knew who was there. Probably she'd looked for him in the kitchen and didn't find him. Or maybe the security man had told her where he was.
"You love her." It was supposed to be a question, but the way she said it, like she knew that Fionn loved Kiara.
He rolled in his chair and turned to face her. Fionn adored Belinda to an extent that he regarded her as his second mother. To the extent that if he ever had a chance to choose his parents, he would choose her and his mother for parents instead of having a father.
"No, I don't, and how does that concern you?" He replied. She smiled, looking at him.
"What's so hard to admit. You think she won't love you back. I don't know how you met or what's between you two, but I've been there, and I can tell from how she looked at you earlier. She likes you, or should I say she loves you. Fionn, your feelings are mutual."
Was he supposed to be happy or scared? He chose to be scared. Fionn didn't know how to respond.
How could she even possibly love him? It had been only a couple of days since she challenged him to make her fall in love with him. Back then, she'd clearly shown she wasn't into him. So how? How was it so fast?
He didn't want to keep his hopes high, so he chose not to believe Belinda's words. Unless he heard it from the horse's mouth, there's no way he would believe Kiara loved him after how he had treated her.
He clearly knew that Kiara had no reasons for loving him and a thousand for hating him. No way, there's no way she loved him.
"There's no way she loves me back," he said, not knowing he was giving himself out.
"So you actually love her," Belinda said, her eyebrows raised and curved, her jaw dropping.
Shit. Fionn cursed within. She tricked me into confessing.
"Go for it, boy, you deserve to be happy. Anyway, you are needed in..." She didn't finish her sentence.
Her eyes were glued to the screen behind Fionn. "Who's the guy?" She asked, squeezing her eyes to get a clear view. Fionn turned in his seat to face the screen.
You son of a bitch. What do you want from her?
He loathed Edward to the core. He'd already taken someone dear in his life; he wasn't about to let him take another.
Fionn quickly got off the chair and slammed out of the room.
"What's wrong? Do you know him? Is he dangerous?"
Her voice was fast-paced, but he didn't wait to answer Belinda's questions.
As he ran to where Kiara was not standing with Edward, his strides felt delayed, but soon he got there.
Fionn didn't want to create a scene. It would hurt Belinda's reputation, so he cooled down as he got to the table.
Edward, you're so full of yourself. How dare you think you have the right to touch her?
He got hold of Edward's hand that gripped Kiara's own so tightly.
You don't even care that you are hurting her.
Fionn returned the humble gesture by tightening his grip. The pain from his grip forced Edward to release the girl's hand. Fionn then pulled Kiara to his side, Belinda taking charge of checking out her hand.
Edward scoffed as he ran a hand through his hair before gently massaging his hurt hand. "You act as if I'm the main villain of the story," he said leisurely.
He turned to Kiara with a hurt smile. "I see now you are hanging out with the big dog. I guess that's the end of me and you." He said and turned to leave.
"Wait." Kiara stopped him in his tracks. "Just tell me where she is." She said, her words rushed, trying to catch a breath.
Edward turned to her, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips. "You still consider her a friend? I'm impressed. Anyway, I don't know where she ran to."
Fionn didn't know who they were talking about, but he, too, wasn't yet square with Edward. He needed to know where his sister was. He missed her. Even though he was never the ideal big brother to her, after she disappeared without a trace, that's when he realized how much he actually loved her.
He walked to where Edward was standing, not so close to completely invade his personal space, but enough to whisper something to him without anyone else hearing.
"I don't care, and I don't want to know what happened between you two. I just want to let you know, Kiara is now my responsibility, and if you want anything from her, you'll have to go through me. And I hope you still remember that you owe me an explanation. I want to know where my little sister is. You should pray she's safe wherever she is, and if even a single strand of hair goes missing from her. It won't be good for you. Stay away from Kiara and anything to do with her."
Fionn didn't mind how Edward took his words. A threat, a challenge, he didn't care.
Edward was no ordinary man; he was a man that many feared, one who wasn't easily intimidated by anything, a worthy rival of sorts.
Still, he knew Fionn and what he was capable of, so Fionn's words weren't simply empty threats to him.
He looked at Fionn with a sly grin that screamed, "Challenge accepted."