The moment Jason's eyes met Elena's—
Something shifted.
A cold rush ran through his body, starting from his spine and spreading outward. His fingers twitched slightly, his chest tightening like he had forgotten how to breathe.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
But something close.
Her gaze held him in place—calm, steady, unshaken.
"Good thing I found you early," Elena said, stepping closer, breaking the silence between them.
"I was honestly about to scream your name."
Jason blinked.
"You… you can do that?" he asked, half-serious, half-panicked.
A small smile curved her lips.
"Of course not."
She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers into his like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Let's go to my car," she added softly. "It's too noisy here."
Jason hesitated for a second.
Then nodded.
"Yeah… lead the way."
He tried to subtly pull his hand away—
But she didn't let go.
From a distance—
Daniel watched.
Quiet.
Observant.
His phone slightly raised.
Recording.
Maya noticed him briefly… but didn't think much of it. That was normal. Moments like this always ended up in the group chat anyway.
But this?
This wasn't for fun.
Daniel typed quickly.
"Father, she came to my school today. Should we attack or still lay low?"
Victor Kane smiled as he read the message.
A low, satisfied chuckle escaped him.
"My boy…"
Then he replied:
"Not now. I don't want the trust broken."
Inside Elena's car—
Silence.
Heavy.
Jason stared down at his palm, his mind blank.
Since Vivian—
He had lost it.
The ability to start conversations.
To be natural.
To be open.
Elena, on the other hand, just watched him.
Carefully.
"You seem shy," she said.
"You weren't like this at the party."
Jason let out a small breath.
"I'm not shy… just… trying to understand why you came."
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"I like you, Jason."
Simple.
Direct.
"From the moment I saw you at the party," she continued, her eyes never leaving his face.
"And after everything you told me… and the little investigations I did, you seem completely different around me and I don't want that."
Jason snapped his head up.
"Wait—what? Investigations?"
She didn't flinch.
"You don't investigate someone you like?"
That hit him.
Hard.
Because maybe—if he had done that before…
Vivian wouldn't have happened.
Jason looked away.
"I… I'm not really comfortable," he muttered, reaching for the door.
"I think I should go home. It's been a long day."
Before he could open it—
Her hand caught his.
And just like that—
That feeling again.
His heartbeat.
Fast.
Unsteady.
Goosebumps rising across his skin.
"Jason," she said softly, tightening her hold slightly.
"I like you. And I don't let go of something I really want easily."
He swallowed.
"Elena… I don't want to waste your time," he said quietly.
"I don't think I want to involve myself in relationships anymore, I mean I like you too, but… I'm not ready. My past—"
"Then we make it work."
She cut in.
Firm.
Certain.
He looked at her.
Their eyes met again.
And just like before—
His heart betrayed him.
"So… what now?" he asked, gently pulling his hand free this time.
Elena exhaled slowly.
"I'm willing to go slow," she said.
"But it hurts knowing you're not mine yet… that someone else could take you."
She leaned closer.
Soft.
But intentional.
"Jason… will you be mine? I mean, you can take your time to think about it but…"
He didn't answer.
Not immediately.
"Elena, my heart is flexible. I'm not as strong as I look. I am still healing, my past still haunts me. If I'll be someone's lover then I should be a good one" Jason said looking at her this time.
"So you are turning me down?" Elena
So she smiled faintly and added,
"Or maybe I should rephrase…"
She moved even closer.
"Can I be yours?"
Silence.
Jason sighed.
He wanted to agree the first time anyway,
Maybe he was just waiting for the right words.
"And what makes you think I'd say no to this beauty?" he said softly.
That was it.
Her answer.
It didn't come directly but she knew.
Her lips curved into a smile.
"Is that a yes?" She asked
"It doesn't sound like no to me," he replied.
And then—
The space between them disappeared.
Their lips met.
Soft.
Careful.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just… new.
Jason's hand slowly moved to her arm, unsure at first, then steadier. Elena responded gently, guiding the moment without overpowering it.
It wasn't intense.
It wasn't wild.
It was… reassuring.
Like something fragile being tested.
Elena pulled back first, her eyes still locked on his.
"I can't believe you're mine now," she whispered staring at him.
Jason exhaled softly.
"Should we go somewhere?" she asked. "To maybe talk more?"
Before he could respond—
His phone buzzed.
He glanced at it.
And everything changed.
"You are being followed, Jason. I'll send my men to your place. Take Janaya and make sure you're both safe."
Jason froze.
"Elena… I need to go," he said quickly, opening the door.
"It's urgent. I'll explain later."
She caught his hand again.
"Will you at least tell me you love me?"
He paused.
Looked at her.
"I love you… so much."
He leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I love you too" she whispered
Then he stepped out.
And ran.
Jason ran back toward the lecture hall.
That was the last place he had seen her.
But when he got there—
She wasn't.
"Hey—Maya!" he called, breath uneven. "Where's Janaya?"
Maya looked up, slightly confused by his urgency.
"She went to the restroom."
Jason paused.
"Oh… okay… safe," he muttered, letting out a quick breath of relief.
But then—
Something clicked.
His head snapped back up.
"How long?" he asked sharply. "How long has she been there?"
Maya frowned slightly.
"I'm not sure… maybe thirty minutes?"
Jason didn't wait.
He ran.
The moment he got to the restroom—
He didn't think.
He didn't care.
He pushed the door open.
"Hey!! This is the ladies' space —what are you doing?!" voices echoed immediately.
But Jason ignored them.
"Janaya!!" he shouted, moving from door to door, pushing them open one after the other.
Screams filled the space.
Girls rushed out in panic.
The noise caught Maya's attention—she ran in after him.
"Jason, what's going on?!" she asked, her voice rising.
"Check the other side," he said quickly. "We need to find her."
He moved faster.
Door after door—
Nothing.
Then—
A scream.
"Maya?!"
Jason turned instantly and rushed toward her.
And then he saw it.
Janaya.
On the floor.
Unconscious.
Blood slowly trailing down the side of her head.
And beside her—
A note.
"If I can't have her… then you can't."
Everything around him went silent.
"Janaya!" he dropped beside her immediately, his hands shaking slightly as he checked her pulse.
Alive.
But weak.
"Keep the letter," he said quickly, his voice tight. "I'm taking her to the emergency room."
Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms and rushed out.
From a distance—
Fred and the security team froze.
They had been searching.
Tracking.
But they were too late.
Fred immediately pulled out his phone.
"Sir… Janaya is unconscious. I think they got to her." He sent