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Mask and moonrise - Chapter 29


Chapter 29


Safia was beaming as she found Sion. He wrapped his arms around her and twirled her in a circle.

“Caught you my kitten. What happened? Why are you so happy?” Sion asked, his confusion genuine.

“A surprise!” she cheered. “I bought two tickets for us to go to a club this weekend. We’re going to have a lot of fun!” Her enthusiasm suddenly dimmed as a serious look crossed her face. “Wait, do you have a good pair of trousers and a shirt, or should I buy you one?”

Sion shook his head, a soft smile on his face. “Don’t worry. I have something put away for just this kind of occasion. But why did you buy those tickets? They must have cost a fortune. We could have just gone to a pocket-friendly restaurant and had dinner.”

Safia twisted her lips. “That’s what we always do! Once in a while, spending a little more to make ourselves happy is okay.”

“I didn’t want you to ask your dad for money,” Sion said, his voice laced with disapproval.

She took his hands in hers. “After spending so many days with you, I know what kind of guy you are! And why would I ask my father to pay for us? These tickets came from my savings. So, don’t worry, let’s just enjoy tonight. It’s going to be a whole lot of excitement!” She clapped her hands together like a little girl, waving the tickets in front of him.

“If you say so,” Sion conceded, kissing her on the cheek.

By seven in the evening, they stood hand-in-hand in front of a bustling club.

Safia sighed happily, pulling him inside. She was proud that she was finally able to show Sion something new, an experience he couldn't have had otherwise. “Come on, let’s dance!”

Sion, playing the part of the modest, middle-class guy, chuckled. “I don’t know how to dance. You go ahead and dance; I’ll watch you from here.” He sat on a bar stool.

Safia immediately dragged him onto the dance floor. “There isn’t a competition to judge your salsa skills here. Look around; everyone is in their own world. Come on, dance with me!”

Once, clubs were his entire life—drinking, dancing, and partying every weekend, surrounded by booze and wild revelry. But despite having everything, he had always felt a profound emptiness. Ironically, tonight, despite being away from his wealth and privilege, he felt a happiness so immense it filled him completely. Money can’t buy happiness. It comes from being with people you love, a lesson Safia had taught him.

She guided his hands to her waist and began to sway with the music. The club was a chaotic mix of young couples and pulsing bodies, with the smell of alcohol and sweat hanging heavy in the air. “Why don’t we go somewhere else and enjoy ourselves? Some place quiet?” He was no longer a fan of this empty glamour.

Safia laughed loudly. “Isn’t that all we’ve been doing?”

“You dance; I’ll watch you from here. My legs are aching,” he lied, sitting back on a bar stool. He caught the bartender’s attention. “One Yamazaki single malt whiskey, please.”

The bartender looked at him, from his worn shoes to his simple shirt. “Do you even know the price of that bottle? It’s a very expensive whiskey, not for students or first-timers like you. I can get you a tasty cocktail instead.”

Sion waved a thick wad of cash in front of him. “Now?”

The bartender's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Of course, sir. Right away.”

Sion took a slow sip and watched his girlfriend, full of life, dancing on the stage. She looked like a dream, a vision for every man in the room. A dimple appeared on her cheek when she smiled, making her even more beautiful. Dressed in a red gown with her hair flowing down her back, she looked like an angel. He felt a fierce pride, a possessive ache to claim her. She is mine, he wanted to scream to everyone, to show her off like a trophy. There were moments when he wanted to drop the facade and give her everything he was, everything he had.

Safia came over to his table. “Two shots of tequila, please!” she yelled over the music to the bartender.

“Have you ever had that before?” Sion asked, a flash of concern crossing his face.

Safia shook her head. “No, but tonight I’m going to try it. I’m going to be a wild, carefree girl.”

Sion was about to object, but she had already finished the shots, winked at him, and rushed back to the dance floor.

Damn girl! I wonder how long you’ll stay normal after those drinks, Sion thought, deciding to stay sober to keep a close watch on her.

With new found liquid courage, she swayed her hips, her head bobbing to the beat of "Dirty Diana." “Wanna dance?” she asked, waving at him again.

Sion shook his head, and before he could object, she downed two more drinks. “Hey handsome, it wouldn’t look nice if I’m here, drunk and wild, while you just sit there like a teetotaler.”

Little did she know, a teetotaler was the last thing he was. If she knew the real him, she would run. But to keep her safe, he would do anything. Love wasn’t about becoming a purist. Adoration was the unconditional commitment of an imperfect person to perfect himself for his beloved.

“If I get drunk like you, how would I keep a watch on you?” he asked, a smile on his face. But his expression quickly turned serious. A man was dancing close behind her, grinding his hips against hers.

A tsunami of rage rose in Sion’s eyes. He strode through the crowd, his movements quick and powerful. Grabbing the man by his collar, he pulled him away from Safia.

Safia’s eyes were wide with shock, fixed on Sion. “What did you do? Why did you hit him?”

“He was touching you,” Sion’s voice was a low growl, a sound she had never heard before. The carefully constructed mask of 'Guild Wade' had shattered. His knuckles, slick with blood, felt an unfamiliar, savage satisfaction. For a fleeting second, he’d forgotten who he was supposed to be, the facade he had so carefully maintained. He was no longer a shy, struggling student. He was a werewolf, an Alpha whose primal instincts had just taken over. He could feel the eyes of the other patrons on them, but all he saw was Safia’s horrified face.

His wolf, the creature he had kept caged for so long, was now fully awake, its power thrumming just beneath his skin. The air around him seemed to thicken, a palpable wave of raw, untamed authority that sent shivers down Safia's spine. The man on the ground scrambled to his feet and fled, but Sion barely noticed. His entire focus was on Safia.

He stepped toward her, his eyes blazing with an unholy light, a mix of protectiveness and a terrifying, animalistic fury.

She stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth, her eyes fixed on his. It was the first time she had ever looked at him with fear.

“Safia, I—”

“What happened to you Sion? What happened to your eyes? They seem to be changing their color. You are like….you are something different. You look like…a werewolf? Are you…”







Chapter 30

And those words brought him to the present.

Getting back to his human form he spoke but the animalistic edge to his voice was still there.

“You think so weirdly at times Safia. You’re so gin-soaked, you were too far gone to notice the dirty things that rogue was trying to do to you,” Sion immediately controlled his senses pointing to the sobbing man on the floor.

The club manager rushed over, his face pale with a mix of fear and anger.

“What’s happening here?”

“I was just dancing with her, and this guy hit me for no reason,” the man whimpered, wiping a trickle of blood from his nose.

“If you’re so possessive of your girlfriend that no man can dance near her, you shouldn’t bring her to a club,” he retorted, and a buzz of agreement spread through the crowd.

“It was far from just dancing. You were about to touch her breasts when I pulled you away. Do you think I didn't see that?” Sion's eyes, still blazing with a cold fury, seemed ready to combust.

“Enough of this nuisance. Let's go back to the hostel.”

Safia’s movements were clumsy and confused. She grabbed Sion's arm and pulled him toward the exit.

But a voice stopped them in their tracks.

“So, college sweethearts, huh? Your beard hasn’t even fully grown, and you already have a girl?” The man sneered, taking a step toward Safia.

The moment he moved, Sion's hand shot out, grabbing a nearby chair and throwing it at him.

The chair connected with a sickening thud, and chaos erupted.

No one could stop him.

Sion was a blur of motion, a primal force of fury, as he continued to hit the man.

Safia’s legs gave out, and she sank to the ground, her consciousness slipping away.

“I’m calling the cops! They’ll take care of you!” the manager threatened, but just as he spoke, a dozen muscular figures in dark suits appeared from nowhere, surrounding Sion and Safia.

The crowd fell silent, their eyes wide with fear as the bodyguards pulled out pistols and aimed them at the manager.

“Albert,” Sion said, his voice as calm and commanding as an Alpha’s, as he gestured with his chin toward the cowering manager.

“Take care of him.”

He scooped the unconscious Safia into his arms and walked out, leaving the chaos behind him.

Albert stepped forward, pulling out a thick wad of cash and pressing it into the manager's hand.

“I think this will take care of everything. We don't want any paparazzi involvement here. You will shut everyone’s mouths with that money. You want more? I’m only a phone call away. But by tomorrow, everyone should have forgotten what happened here. If not, you won’t be breathing from the next day.”

The manager's eyes widened at the sight of the fancy notes, too many to count.

He grabbed them like a starving beggar.

“There will be no press. No media. Nobody will talk about it. I promise.”

Sion took Safia to his apartment instead of the hostel, avoiding any unnecessary fuss.

The next morning, she woke with a splitting headache, groaning as a shaft of sunlight hit her eyes.

“Please close the window. I can’t stand the light.”

A figure moved immediately, closing the curtains.

As she stretched her hand, her pink blouse rode up, revealing a sliver of creamy white skin and a small, beautiful birthmark on her waist.

He swallowed hard, a feral hunger rising in him, a primal urge to lick it, to claim her.

She was driving him insane, her innocence was a tantalizing spark.

He could undress her, watch her as she slept, and still not touch her, a feat he’d never before been capable of.

This was the power of love, a new and intoxicating concept he had learnt from her.

After a long minute, Safia was able to open her eyes.

“What are you doing in my room, Guild?”

“I am not in your hostel. You are in my room,” he said, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

“Had fun with the tequila last night?”

“Oh, my God. My head feels like hell,” she groaned.

He just stared at her, saying nothing, but he placed a glass of lemon juice and two Tylenol tablets beside her.

She swallowed them immediately, her eyes full of questions.

“Why are you so angry with me? What happened yesterday? Why am I in your room instead of mine?”

“You don’t remember anything from yesterday?” he asked, a hint of genuine surprise in his voice.

Safia shook her head.

“I asked you to dance, you refused, and then I took two more shots and went back to the dance floor. That’s all I remember. What happened next?”

“I told you we could go back to our usual place. But you wouldn't listen. You wanted to drink and dance amidst those philanderers and that crazy, ear-splitting music,” he snapped, the anger returning.

“But I did all of that for your happiness! I wanted to give you all those experiences and excitement that rich youth have, the kind you’ve never even seen,” she said, her voice filled with a genuine, sad sincerity.

“I am relishing what I have with you, and I don’t feel like I’m lacking anything in my life by being poor. Those clubs, drugs, and drinks don't define a person’s character. The people who go there are just wealthy, and nothing more. What you have is unique and beautiful, something none of those rich girls have. The innocence in your personality, the purity in your eyes, and your virtue—these are the things that define you. You have an elegance that very few women of this generation have. I don’t need any of that false glamour or extravagance we experienced last night. I like you the way you are, Safia,” Sion said, his voice dropping to a gentle sincerity as he cupped her cheeks.

“Are you sure?” she whispered, her hands reaching out to him.

He nodded, pulling her into his lap and kissing her cheek.

“What happened yesterday?” she asked again, her voice smaller now.

“Nothing much. Some idiot tried to get too close, and I handled him before bringing you here.”

Sion finished his sentence quickly, then moved to the bathroom to shower, not giving her a chance to ask more.

Safia knew there was more to it than he was letting on.

But the strangest thing was when she left for college the next day, no one was talking about it even when she probed them.

A chilling feeling crept over her.

Her boyfriend was acting like a powerful man, and a terrifying question began to form in her mind: what if he was not who he said he was?






Chapter 31


Lies Etched in Stone

Though she tried, Safia couldn’t get any information about what happened the night she got drunk. Sion wouldn’t even give her a single clue. Tired, she finally dropped the matter.

Two days later.

Sion was waiting for Safia in their usual spot. “I’m so sorry I’m late! I couldn’t finish my assignment yesterday because of my headache, so I had to complete it for today’s submission.” She ran to him, her words breathless before she went in for a hug.

“Is it still painful?” Sion ignored everything else she said, his concern focused on her. He pointed to her head.

Safia shook her head, pouting. “Not anymore.”

“Christmas vacation is coming fast. You’ll go home, and I don't know how I’ll spend all that time without you,” Sion said glumly.

“You know, we can always take this friendship to the next level.” She leaned forward and kissed him softly, then slipped a thin band onto his finger. “Do you know the significance of this ring? It's a promise that I will be yours until I take my last breath. Will you walk with me in this relationship, Guild ?”

Sion could only nod, his throat tightening with intense emotion. She placed another ring in his palm. “Now, put this one on me.” She extended her left hand, and he carefully slipped the ring onto her finger. “During the Christmas holidays, I’m taking you home with me to meet my dad. I’ve already told him about you, and he’s eager to meet you.” Her face was bright with glee.

Sion was happy, but only for a moment. “What if he doesn’t like me? When I meet him, I’ll tell him everything about myself—the good and the bad.” He looked past Safia, his gaze distant and troubled.

“You’re talking as if you’re some kind of cold-blooded murderer. Could there be anything bad about you?” she asked, trying to hide her sudden fear behind a smile.

But Sion’s stare was unblinking and intense. “Sometimes, everything you see isn’t the truth. But my love for you has always been sincere. Despite anything that might happen between us, will you still love me and be mine?”

Safia waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. “Sometimes you frighten me with your questions. If he doesn’t accept you as his son-in-law, then I’m going to run away with you. I’m an adult, and I have the legal right to make decisions about my own life.”

Ten days later…

“What are those stones with the names of places on them?” Sion asked, amazed, as he saw a jar of stones on a shelf in her hostel room.

“It’s my hobby. I collect a stone from every place I visit as a memento. The numbers on them are the dates I went there. I’ve loved traveling since I was a child, and I collected these stones to keep those beautiful places with me forever.” She kissed a stone in the jar before placing it back.

Sion looked thoughtfully at the transparent jar. “Interesting.”

“What’s your hobby? Anything engrossing I don’t know about?” Safia asked, circling her hands around his neck.

“Hmm,” Sion looked away in deep thought. “Well, that’s something I need to show you rather than tell you.”

Safa’s eyebrows shot up. “Show me? This sounds fascinating.”

“Wait here. I’m going to get my bike,” he said, turning to leave.

She pulled her jacket tighter, rubbing her palms together. “It’s getting cold and dark out here.”

“So what? I'll drop you back at the hostel before the gates close. Don’t worry.”

“It’s not about the gates. I’m afraid of the dark. I’ll walk with you.”

A crooked grin spread across his face. “If you want me to walk with you, it comes with a price.”

“A price? What price?” Safia asked, her eyes full of innocent curiosity. She could see the mischief playing out in his mind, and whatever it was, she was ready to embrace it.

“You have to let me kiss you, wherever I want.” He winked, a mischievous smile on his lips.

“Well, don’t you think the price is a bit high?” she countered, thrilled to play his game.

“Then you can enjoy your walk in the dark alone,” he shrugged, trying and failing to suppress a smile.

Before he could react, Safia jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

Sion had to take two steps back to balance them, his arms instinctively going to her buttocks to hold her in place.

She was no longer aware of the world around them. All she knew was the need for Guild and his passionate kisses.

Before he could surprise her with the secret he was about to reveal, they found themselves in the bed of a small wooden cottage in the middle of the woods. Sion pulled her blouse over her head and began kissing her bra-clad breasts, a primal need building inside him. His hands roamed over her body, memorizing every curve. But then his hand stopped, as if it had been bitten by a snake, just before he reached the zipper of her pants.

Safia looked at him, confused. “Who’s stopping you? Come on, Guild . I need you, now.” Her voice was a mix of urgency and helplessness.

“I don’t want you to regret this after the heat of the moment is over. You’re the type of girl a man wants to settle down with. And these things… they’re not for you. You are a girl with values, and I respect you for that. You don’t have to give them up for me.” He cupped her cheeks, his voice a breathless whisper, unable to meet her gaze, consumed by guilt. He pulled away from her, putting his shirt back on.

“Is this a polite way of saying you’re already bored of me?” The words were out before she could stop them, and Sion’s head shot up. The look in her eyes was one he had never seen before—fear. He hated seeing it.

“No, sweetheart. Never. I will never get bored of you. You are my life, my breath, my everything.” He kissed her then, a kiss so passionate it held all the promises he couldn't yet speak aloud. The kiss was soft and hot, a silent plea for union and closeness. It was the sharing of one breath, one sensation, one timeless moment. The heat rose in her cheeks as his tongue gently caressed the recesses of her mouth.

“Hmm,” Sophia moaned softly. His mouth tasted of wine and cocoa. His lips grew firmer, more determined, seeking out the fire within her, a liquid delight that surged through them both.

“Do you believe me now?” he asked, pulling back for a moment to catch his breath.

Safia nodded, and only then did she realize where she was. Her eyes roamed the small wooden room, and she took two steps toward the single window. “Wow,” she breathed.

The window overlooked a beautiful blue pond just a few steps away, with a pair of ducks swimming peacefully. The moonlight reflected on the water, creating a stunning, picturesque scene. The garden was surrounded by small plants with colorful roses, lilies, and jasmine. “This place is a paradise. How did you find such a beautiful location amidst all these shadowy trees?” she asked, awe in her voice.

Little did she know, Sion didn’t need to find beautiful places. He owned and built them. He was a billionaire, the owner of millions of dollars worth of properties across London and beyond. “My friend owns this land. He rented it to me until I finished my education here,” he lied.

“Amazing. Your friend has great taste. So who maintains all this?” she asked, pointing to the ducks.

“He has a maid…” Sion stopped himself, correcting the slip. “He employed a maid who cooks, cleans this cottage, and maintains the garden.”

Safia was still staring, entranced by the beautiful scenery. “This house is the work of a rich man. It showcases his pioneering status and vibrant ideas.”

“Do you like it?” Sion asked, a flash of gaiety in his eyes. She was unknowingly praising his aesthetic sense.

“Like it? I love it. It’s the perfect place for a weekend or a holiday. But I don’t think I could ever buy or maintain a house like this,” Safia said, her fingers running appreciatively over the African wood furniture.

“Why do you think so? Maybe we could work together, make millions, and buy ten places just like this. Think positively, Safia. Maybe one day we could be billionaires,” Sion said, holding her small, thin hands in his large, warm ones.

She took a step back, her gaze turning introspective. “Are you really a poor guy whose dad is just a wine dealer? Because sometimes, your words sound strange, as if you’re hiding something very important from me.”

And in the next moment, all the color drained from Sion’s face.







Chapter 32

The suspicion

“What are you saying? I’m just a normal guy who got into the London School of Business purely through his grades.” He waved her thoughts away and brought her into his arms before kissing her. 

In a way, Sion was right. His father had not used his immense reputation to get him a seat in the famous institution. He had gotten in solely on his own merit.

Safia pushed up a smile. “I was just joking with you. Why did you take it so seriously?”

She looked around the cozy cottage. “So this is the surprise you were waiting to show me? I hope the owner of this house isn’t a female I need to worry about,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

Sion raised his hands in surrender and lied. “No, you don’t have to worry. He’s a dear friend of mine from school.”

Soon enough, she would have many more exciting places like this to enjoy. Everything that belonged to him was hers, too. “There’s more. Do you want to see?”

“More? I am more than excited. Jesus! I’m going to faint from happiness!” A loud rumble from her stomach broke the spell. “I’m sorry, that was unladylike,” she said with an embarrassed laugh.

“Don’t be. You’re not the only human here who feels hunger and thirst. And that’s where my next surprise comes in.” He wiggled his fingers. “It always works to calm your nerves. Just give me fifteen minutes, and I will serve you the best Spanish dinner you have ever tasted.”

Safia gasped softly. “You can cook Spanish food, too?”

Sion pulled a chair out for her like a true gentleman and put on a chef’s hat. “At your service, ma’am.”

A minute later, he returned. “Since I don’t want to see you wasted, and you’re alcohol-intolerant, here is some fresh lemonade I made for you. While you enjoy your drink, I will prepare a steaming hot dinner for you to enjoy in this cold weather.”

Safia giggled like a schoolgirl. “You really are an impressive man.”

She took a slow sip of the lemonade, letting the taste settle on her tongue. “Mmm, this tastes like heaven.”

True to his word, Sion returned exactly fifteen minutes later and placed a porcelain dish in front of her. “This is tortilla Española, one of the most popular dishes in Spain. But in reality it's a Spanish omelet.”

He then placed another bowl on the table. “And this is… Gazpacho.”

Safia’s eyes lit up like stars, and her mouth watered. She took a spoonful and licked her lips. “This is divine.”

Sion watched her with a soft smile. “You need a good coating of olive oil to give it a delectable look. Make sure you don’t lose the seeds of the tomatoes to make this the perfect dish for any tapas party.”

“Where did you learn to make all these dishes? I never knew you were such a good cook,” Safia said with enthusiasm.

“I just spent the last few hours in a jail with a sleepy Giuseppe who can only be described as Santa-Manson,” Sion said with a shrug, sitting down across from her. “So, it’s a kind of a try-and-experiment situation.”

“You’re funny at times, I’ve learned that. But tell me the truth,” Safia said, closing her eyes as she savored her dinner.

“Well…” Sion sighed. “My dad worked for a brief period in Spain, and we had a house help who used to cook for us. Since I’m a culinary enthusiast, I learned a few Spanish dishes from her.”

“You had a cook?” Safia asked, taken aback.

Sion cleared his throat as if something were stuck in it. “She was my mom’s friend. My mom used to teach economics to her son, and in return, she used to cook for us. It was more like a barter system.”

His breath hitched. He had no idea how many more lies he would have to tell her to keep up his facade of being a poor boy. He was almost caught.

“I can clear the table and wash the dishes. Barter system,” she winked. “You cooked for me, so I’ll clean up for you.”

“That’s not necessary. My maid will come tomorrow morning and clean everything,” he gulped, quickly correcting himself. “I mean, my friend’s maid.”

“So, it’s a two-room set with a small living-cum-dining room, a kitchen, and a bedroom. It’s a nice place,” Safia said, looking around in admiration.

Before her eyes could land on the family picture on the mantelpiece, he quickly snatched it and shoved it into a drawer. If she saw a photo of his father, she would know his true identity in a matter of seconds because she reads business news every day.

After a little more chatting, they went outside, where a bed with neatly spread white linens was arranged for them. “When did you do this? I didn’t see it before,” she asked in surprise.

Sion sighed in exasperation. “You ask too many questions, sweetheart. You’d better be a lawyer than an entrepreneur. Enjoy the romantic atmosphere and stop interrogating me.” The reality was that he didn’t know what to tell her.

“Can we go for a swim there along with those ducks? We still have a long night ahead of us,” Safia suggested.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go back to your hostel? It's about time,” Sion asked, looking at his watch.

“I don’t want to be lectured by the warden for coming in late. So I plan to go to college directly from your house tomorrow. And the water out there is calling me for a swim.” Safi bit her lip.

“The water might be very cold,” he cautioned.

“I hope you’ll join me for a swim. In that case, the warmth of your body is enough to keep me from freezing.” She chuckled with a naughty glint.

Sion grinned and began to take off his clothes, leaving only his underwear on. “I can come with you for a swim here, but don’t ask me to go to a swimming pool. I am chlorine-intolerant.”

“Noted,” Safia said with a sniff, her hands running appreciatively over his muscled chest. 

“What are some of the things you’re allergic to?” Sion in turn asked her putting her hair in a bun which was getting wet in water.

“Hmm, I’m not allergic to anything, but I hate touching fish soaked in oil. It makes my skin crawl,” Safi said, making a face.

Sion pulled her closer. Her entire body was pressed against his. “It’s going to take a lot of control to not take you right here.” He kissed her again, this time with a raw desperation as if he were going to swallow her whole.

His lips crushed hers as if trying to flatten and destroy her mouth. She pushed back hungrily, her tongue working its way past his clenched teeth. The bristles of his beard scratched her soft cheeks as she gripped his head. Their tongues battled back and forth like wrestlers, each trying to pin the other.

“Mmm,” Safia moaned softly. That sound brought more fire to him. Suddenly, there was a loud sound, and he immediately pulled away from her. He looked around suspiciously but saw no one. “Put your clothes on. I need to look around.”

“What happened? I heard a loud sound. Is everything alright?” 

Sion walked a few steps into the woods, making sure Safia was inside before he spoke to Albert.

“Yes, everything is fine, sir. One of our men slipped in the mud because of the drizzling that continued until an hour ago. That's it.” 

Sion still looked unconvinced.

Albert sighed, rolling his eyes. “None of us were watching you two, though we were guarding the place to make sure no animals came around to attack you.”

Sion walked back to the house. Safia came out wearing one of his shirts. “You look sexy in that oversized shirt of mine,” he said, kissing her nose.

Safia snickered. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

Sion, in a light gray T-shirt and white pants, looked simple, but the smooth, refined texture of the fabric of his clothes proved his immense wealth.

“Those clothes look very expensive. Where did you buy them?”

“I bought them with money I saved up from tutoring. You took me to a club and asked me to put on something pricey, right? So here I am. Am I looking impressive now?” he asked with a self-assured grin.

Safia didn't say anything but dragged him to the bed. “Yes, you look impressive. But looking impressive here comes with a price.”

Sion's eyes twinkled playfully. “I can use the couch.”

“The bed is large enough for two, and I trust you, so we can share it.” She pulled him down and covered them with the blanket.

“Can I ask you something, Guild? But you have to promise you won’t deny me.” She played with his ring.

“I promise you that as long as it doesn’t harm you, I will do anything for you. What is it?” Sion kissed her lips, pulling her face closer.

“Help me come. I’m feeling too hot.”

Sion pulled her into a hug, and she could feel his heart beating as erratically as hers. “We’re both in the same boat, my love. The only difference is that you said it aloud, and I didn’t.”

His hand, which was cupping her cheek, immediately went under the blanket and into her underwear. Within moments, the room was filled with heated kisses and moans, accompanied by the scent of cum.

Sion knew at that moment he couldn't continue this for much longer. They needed to be engaged so he could give her everything she desired.

Sion decided he was going to propose to her soon, and on that same day, he would tell her his true identity. He didn’t care about his father’s rules. Even if he were to be deprived of his inheritance, he would have no regrets as long as Safia was his. She had already accepted him, believing he came from poverty. There was no problem anyway.

However, the bottom line is that things don’t always go according to our plans. Sometimes, things go the exact opposite way. Was Sion's life going to be as easy as he wanted? He had his doubts about Safia's dad.







Chapter 33


Blood on the Moon

In a way, Sion was right. From the beginning, he had a bad feeling about Soren, a cold knot in his stomach he couldn't explain. 

“Safia, I had your boyfriend investigated. Are you in your right mind to think of marrying that beggar from the streets? You must always remember you are the sole heir of Best Wines, the most famous company in all of Northern America. Guild neither holds the status we belong to, nor will he be able to breathe in this high-class society. You put a dog on a throne and ask him to rule the kingdom, he will piss on it and run away because he doesn’t realize the importance of kingship.”

“Dad!” Safia cried out in alarm, but Soren continued, the words a barrage of callous indifference.

“His father is an ordinary wine dealer, and his mom, a house help. They belong to the status of our servants. You give him a napkin, he’ll clean one of our cars and be ready to be your driver to take you to places. That’s his status. Of all the capable and wealthy businessmen in the world, why do you want to marry a man who struggles to buy even his two-course meal? Is this why I sent you to London School of Business to study Business Analytics? Let me make this clear: I will not marry my daughter to rags because I can’t bear to see her running pillar to post for a piece of bread.”

“Stop it, Dad!” Safia fumed at Soren. “I didn’t fall in love with him because of his financial status. What are you going to do with all the wealth you’ve amassed all these years? Are you going to carry it with you to your grave when you die? There’s no end to earning, Dad. You will always find someone above you, so we must be happy with what we have. Besides, Guild is an intelligent, hard-working guy. He got into the London School of Business by merit, not by bribing officials, unlike me. I’m confident he can rule our wine empire and take it to the next level with his intelligence.”

“That’s what I’m worried about. I want my son-in-law to have his own status and support my daughter in her business, not take away what belongs to her because he has no other place to back on. Forget about this boy. Erase these few years from your memory. I will marry you to a smart and famous businessman. You will own immense wealth, he will be an asset to our company and will help you in our business whenever you need it,” Soren said firmly.

“If that’s your decision, Dad, then I will give you mine. You have no right to control my future. I’m over 21 years old and I can marry the man I like. Be prepared to hear the pathetic news: If you don’t accept Guild into our family, you will lose your daughter too,” she threatened venomously.

Soren snickered. “Then, my princess, you don’t know your father fully. I can guess he’s soon going to propose to you. It seems you already bought a promise ring and exchanged them. That engagement shouldn’t happen if you want the Guild to breathe peacefully on this earth. I think you know me very well. He will, anyway, not be yours because I’m not going to let that happen. Additionally, he will lose his life too if you go against my wish.”

At once Safia’s threatening features turned to fear. Her face went red and fingers started to tremble. She was about to have a panic attack. “Please don’t do anything to Guild. Allow him to live. I will do everything you want,” Safia cried.

“Calm down. As long as you keep your word, I keep mine.” Soren pacified Safia and walked away. Little did he know the man in question (Sion) was hundred times more powerful than him. That's why his wealth stayed hidden even under Soren's surveillance cameras.

Just as Soren wished, nothing Safia planned could happen. Sometimes God intends to do different things to us, and Sion and Safia were no exception.

“Pick up the phone, damn it!” Sion growled and threw his phone when the call went to her voicemail again.

That evening, he called her at least a hundred times when she didn't show up at their usual spot. All sorts of scenarios crossed his mind. Sion anxiously went around the entire university campus and hostel, but there was no clue of Safia.

It was their prom night, and he was supposed to propose to her. Sion held the twenty-two-carat uncut diamond ring, a silent prayer escaping his lips for Safia to accept his proposal. He kissed it. “Please forgive me for my deception, sweetheart. I have lied to you about my identity, and I know it is a mistake, but my love for you has always been sincere. Tonight, after the prom, I will tell you everything about me. Positive or negative, whatever your decision, I will accept it wholeheartedly.”

With a rush of eagerness, his eyes went around the thousands of students gathered in the hall, searching for Safia. Finally, when he found her, the happiness in his eyes was unparalleled.

In hasty steps, he reached her. “Where have you been? I searched the whole college and hostel block for you. You have no idea how worried I was.” He took a seat beside her and kissed her cheek, not minding the audience.

Safia didn’t reply. She sat there with no emotions, but Sion didn’t see through her morose features. He was too excited, rehearsing the lines in his mind to propose to her.

Finally, the moment arrived. He got on his knees with the ring in the velvet box. “You make my heart race, my soul soar, and my life complete. From the moment we met, I knew you were my missing piece. Every moment with you feels like a fairytale, and I never want it to end. Will you be my forever, Safia Jose Blacksmith?”

The crowd cooed and clapped. “Say yes!” they said in a chorus.

But unlike everyone’s wish, Safia kept silent and stared at Sion for long moments with no emotions.

With passing moments, the happiness in Sion’s eyes was replaced with pensiveness and, finally, melancholy. Safia took the ring from the box and threw it. “How could you think that a millionaire’s daughter like me would marry a guy like you from rags? Can you at least afford a two-course meal every day? Everything we had in the past was only a drama. If I need to survive in this university, I must have good grades, and that’s where you came into the picture. I used you. Now I no longer require your services. My dad hired a tutor for me. So it's time to say goodbye.”

Everybody noticed Sion’s lugubrious features but not the tearing eyes of Safia, who ran away from the scene like a bird which lost its wings to a gray-haired man.

Soren had no trust that Safia would break up with Sion. She was deeply in love with him. So he came all the way from California to London to personally monitor everything about their love coming to a finish.

He was standing at the end of the hall, watching her. Making a heart of stone, Safia decided she had to hurt him so badly that he would not turn back and see her again.

However, if he had turned, their story would have been different.

“That was a stellar performance.” Soren congratulated her, and they both got into a white Lamborghini that was waiting outside.

“I wonder if you really fell in love with Mom and married her. Because if you did, you wouldn't have threatened me to break up with Guild to keep him alive,” Safia spat her words with venom on Soren.

“Do not talk nonsense. If I didn't love your mother, I would have another wife by now. It’s been fifteen years since she died, and there hasn’t been a single day when I didn’t think of her. Everything I do is for your own good. I was a very young man when we lost your mom. If I remarried, I would have had a wife, but you wouldn’t get your mother back. I didn’t want you to suffer at the hands of a stepmother, which is why I stayed unmarried.”

Soren scoffed defeatedly when he saw no emotions in Safia for his timeless sacrifice. “Stop seeing me as your enemy. That guy is bad news in your life. He will not only continue to stay there but also bring you down to his begging level with his sweet words, and you will stupidly follow him because you are blinded by his love. As your father, I want to see you go higher and higher in your life. I want to see you even more prosperous than me. But you’re a fool. You aim to choose the contrary. Thus, being your well-wisher, I had to step in and eliminate that cunning fox from your life.” Soren spoke bluntly to Safia.

“I see.” Safia rolled her eyes in sarcasm, a reaction that Soren did not like. After dropping her in the waiting room, he made a call, a call that would change everything between Guild and Safia. “I don't trust my daughter regarding that bastard. I want him dead.”

“Sure, sir,” the other person replied.

“Showcase it like an accident, though it would be a murder.”

A heavy grin was heard from the other line. “You will see it in the news by tomorrow morning.”

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