Guarded Hearts

Arno's Apartment

Arno arranged the bouquet of sunflowers in a delicate Nippon porcelain vase, the kind that looked exquisite that belong in a bungalow, not on her bedside table. She poured a bit of water in, watching it ripple like time passing too slowly.

The petals were already beginning to curl.

She smiled, but it wasn't joy exactly. It was that kind of smile you wear when you don't want your heart to know it's breaking. Ahhh... Why am I feeling uneasy...she murmured.

Then looked at the vase again, "Sorry you had to come to me," she whispered, talking to the flowers like they could understand. "It's more like… keeping people on life support, ain't it?" she mumbled, brushing a fingertip along a soft yellow petal.

They were from Lucien.

Yesterday, he had handed them to her with an unreadable look...then he literally ran off from the scene as if he trying to hide something. Though she had expected atleast a call from him but there was no messages afterward let alone a call. Not even a text, 'Hope you liked them.'

Her eyes flicked to her silent phone on the table.

"Is he... avoiding me?" Her lips formed a quiet pout, her cheeks puffing up as she slumped into the chair.

Ever since the assassination attempt, he'd kept his distance. And it wasn't just physically. He had vanished emotionally too. Not a word, nor a glance that lingered, not even his usual stubborn scowl.

She came back home feeling like a drawer left open. Hollow. So, she'd gone to Victoria Garden yesterday, hoping the fresh air would do what logic couldn't.

And then-

She saw him there picking flowers. The cold, stubborn CEO, Lucien was actually buying flowers! For who?

She shouldn't have stayed. Should've walked away. But something rooted her there behind the flower stall, peeking like a guilty teenager. She was curious... And she overheard the conversation between Lucien and the gardener. She eavesdropped on his conversation, her heart banging against her ribs like it wanted to make itself heard. It was actually for her!

And now?

"Heheheh," she grinned to herself like an idiot, hugging her knees to her chest. "My heart literally skipped... that's so stupid."

"No, no, no, am I blushing?" she darted a glance at the mirror across the room. "It's just... ugh! It's the lighting, okay?!"

Her phone buzzed suddenly, and the ringtone exploded:

"Pick me up, you lazy potato… Pick me up…"

She jumped. Her heart nearly fell into her stomach. She glanced at the caller ID and froze.

"Pa."

She hesitated for a second before picking it up. "Hello?"

"How DARE you break up with Auren?!"

Her father's voice boomed so loudly it felt like the phone shook.

"Do you have any idea what you've done? Do you know how critical the Lysell investment was?"

Arno closed her eyes, already exhausted. "You didn't even ask why I broke up with him," she said quietly.

"I don't need to!" her father snapped. "Auren and his mother already told me everything. That you bullied her, humiliated her in public, and you're fooling around with some wild man outside."

"I'm not," she cut in, but he wasn't listening.

"Come home. Immediately."

"I have to go to the hospital. I'll come in the evening," she replied flatly, jaw clenched.

"Listen to how you're talking to your elders now... tch."

The call ended with a sharp, soulless beep.

She slowly set the phone down, like it might break under the weight of all the disappointment.

"Sigh…" her voice trembled. "What was I expecting?"

When she was young, no matter what she did, she was never the daughter they wanted. Not soft enough. Not obedient. Not manipulatable.

If you couldn't love me then why you even bothered adopting me...sobbed. "Do I even have the right to feel sad?" she whispered. Her throat was tight. Her shoulders ached from holding it all in.

They hadn't checked on her once in two months- not even after she nearly died. Or even when Auren cheated her. They didn't even call to ask her if she is alright once in a while. It was always been like this. She was never a priority to anyone!

She let out a shaky laugh. It was bitter. Ugly.

"Ha... Haha..."

Her eyes burned. She wiped them hastily with the back of her hand, stood up, and forced her voice into something that sounded hopeful.

"Let's go. Hospital time," she told herself in the mirror. "Another day. Another fresh chapter."

But her reflection didn't look convinced.

---

In Lucien Malric Moreaux office-

Shan stood near the door with a digital tablet, voice clipped and businesslike. "Mr. Moreaux, the Ruxin Group has been trying to contact us for weeks. Shall we respond to their request?"

I nodded silently.

Shan turned to leave, but I stopped him. "Shan."

He paused. Turned back. His eyes twinkled.

"Yes, President? Would you like an update on Ms. Solace?"

I didn't answer right away. The room suddenly felt colder.

"She went to the hospital this morning," he continued gently. "But... something was off. Quiet. Tense."

I...

"You assigned two elite bodyguards to her," Shan continued. "And ordered to guard her from shadow, just in case."

"She can't know," I muttered.

"Why not tell her?"

"Because," I said sharply, "she'll think I'm stalking her. Or worst controlling her every move. I'm scared to tell her, or might misunderstood me! It's all because of me, she walked in my darkness because of my selfishness.

"Or maybe," Shan said with a light chuckle, "she'll realize that the cold CEO like her… and actually cares about her well-being."

I looked away.

I couldn't let her know as long as I can, while I'm still dragging blood on my heels, atleast not while the people who want me dead are still out there roaming freely...

"I'll schedule the Ruxin meeting for this evening, then?" Shan asked, more gently this time.

I nodded once.

But in my mind, I was still standing in that garden, watching her smile without knowing I was there. Listening her laughter in the back of my head.

And wondering... if she'd felt my absence as deeply as I felt hers.

Oh...Lucien...Lucien...am I falling for her?

---