At 6:59 PM sharp, a sleek black car pulled up outside Lina's apartment.
She hesitated as she looked in the mirror.
Long black hair brushed her waist, curled softly at the ends. Her dress was simple but elegant—just enough to look like she belonged in an expensive setting, even if she didn't feel like she did.
[System Notification: Task – Dinner Engagement with Target: Kael Montrevé]
[Objective: Maintain Composure | Observe Environment | Emotional Awareness Test]
[Reward: Charm +1, Kael Affection +0.2, Intelligence Boost if Critical Detail Noticed]
[Failure: Affection Drop, Opportunity Loss, Confidence -2]
[System Comment: Proceed carefully. You're not the only one watching tonight.]
---
The restaurant wasn't just exclusive—it wasn't even listed on the public map.
They took a private elevator beneath a bookstore, where a man in a white tuxedo greeted Kael with a bow.
"Mr. Montrevé. Your usual table."
The private suite looked like something out of a dream. Velvet chairs. A full view of the city skyline. Candlelight.
And not another soul in sight.
"You look like trouble," Kael said quietly as he pulled out her chair.
"I thought I was supposed to be afraid of trouble," she replied.
Kael's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You've lived with worse."
---
He ordered for both of them without asking. She wasn't even offended. Somehow, with Kael, it didn't feel controlling. It felt like he'd already read the kind of food she would like—and was simply doing what he always did:
Taking control.
The food arrived in delicate, impossible portions.
But Lina barely touched it.
"Why am I really here?" she asked, finally.
Kael met her gaze, his expression unreadable.
"You're not ready for the truth. But you're ready for pieces."
He leaned forward.
"You were betrayed by someone you trusted. You were abandoned. You've survived with nothing but silence, grit, and that damned spark in your eyes that you try to hide."
Her throat tightened.
Kael reached into his inner coat pocket and dropped something on the table.
A USB.
"That's everything your old 'friend' did. Bank transactions. Identity forgeries. The jobs she stole."
Lina stared.
"How…?"
"I don't like loose ends," Kael said. "And I hate snakes."
---
[System Alert: Emotional Instability Detected]
[Breathing Regulation Protocol Initiated]
[AI Companion: You are not alone. Accept the help.]
She blinked, forcing down the shake in her hand.
Kael said nothing. Just passed her a glass of water like he knew.
"I can handle it," she murmured.
"I know," he replied. "But I didn't bring you here to test you."
She looked up.
"I brought you here," he said, "because I'm not good at pretending I don't want something. And right now, Lina Vale, I want you."
---
Her heart kicked against her ribs.
Kael's eyes were cold, but not cruel. And behind the silver calm was something dangerous. Something real.
"You barely know me," she whispered.
"I know enough. And the rest," he said, "I'll learn. One layer at a time."
He didn't touch her. Didn't move closer. But the air between them felt heavy, like it was begging for something to break.
---
As they stood to leave, he pressed a small card into her palm.
"I want you to call that number. Only if you're ever in danger. Any kind. No questions asked."
"What happens if I do?"
"Then the danger becomes mine."
---
[System Notification: Task Complete – Dinner Engagement Success]
[Reward: Charm +1, Kael Affection +0.3, Reputation +1 (Private Network), Bonus Reward – Data USB Received]
[System Comment: He is not safe. But he is real.]
[Kael Affection: 5.3 / 5 – Critical Boundary Crossed]
[Emotional Link Status: Growing | Volatile]
---
That night, Lina didn't sleep.
She watched the USB file with shaking fingers.
And when she saw the name Nari next to numbers—her stolen identity—she didn't cry.
She smiled.
---
System Log: Lina Vale
Kael Affection: 5.3
Charm Lv. 4
Emotional Resilience: Increased
Hidden Skill: Pattern Recognition (Unlocked)
Storyline Branch: Divergence Point Detected
Status: Changed
---
End of Chapter 20
---