✦ EIRA POV ✦
The moment I heard Peter's words, it felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath my feet.
He knew.
He knew about the DNA test.
But how?
My mind raced desperately, searching for answers that refused to come. Fear wrapped itself around my chest so tightly that I could barely breathe.
Claira.
The thought of her sent a fresh wave of panic crashing through me.
If Peter knew, then Claira was in danger.
Her baby was in danger.
Cold tears spilled down my cheeks as my hands trembled uncontrollably. For a few seconds, I simply stood there, frozen by fear.
Then I forced myself to move.
No.
I couldn't fall apart now.
I wiped my tears away and clenched my fists.
I wasn't going to let that monster hurt her.
No matter what happened.
I needed to warn Adrain.
The problem was that Adrain never listened to me.
Still, I had to try.
The engagement party was tomorrow evening, and somehow I had to get inside.
I just didn't know how.
Then fate answered for me.
"Are you stupid?! Is this the time to come? Move those supplies to the canteen immediately!"
The furious shout came from the canteen manager, who was screaming at a worker nearby.
An idea formed instantly.
And suddenly, I knew exactly what I was going to do.
A few hours later, I barely recognized the girl staring back at me in the mirror.
The short black skirt felt far too revealing.
The heels were torture devices disguised as shoes.
And the mask covering half my face was the only thing giving me confidence.
At least nobody would recognize me.
Hopefully.
The hotel was already buzzing with activity when I arrived.
Workers rushed around carrying decorations, flowers, and trays of food.
Near the entrance, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache was gripping a waiter by the collar.
His face was red with fury.
"If you make one more mistake, I'll throw you out myself!" he barked. "This is Mr. Peter Dawn's engagement party. Everything must be perfect. Now move!"
The staff scattered instantly.
Then his eyes landed on me.
"You."
I froze.
"Y-Yes, sir?"
"You're the new waitress?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then stop standing there and get to work. Guests are already arriving."
Before I could say another word, he shoved a tray into my hands and pointed toward the ballroom.
"Go serve drinks."
Swallowing nervously, I obeyed.
✦ ADRAIN POV ✦
"Claira. Let's go."
I had already unbuckled my seat belt, but she remained motionless.
Her hands trembled in her lap.
Her face was pale.
"Claira?"
Slowly, she looked at me.
Fear filled her eyes.
"Adrain... I'm scared."
Her voice shook.
"What if he hurts my baby? What if something goes wrong? I don't want to do this anymore."
For a moment, I simply stared at her.
Then I reached over and took her hand.
"Look at me."
She hesitated before finally meeting my gaze.
"Nothing is going to happen to you."
My voice remained firm.
"Nothing is going to happen to your child either."
She looked unconvinced.
I squeezed her hand.
"I promise."
The silence stretched between us.
Finally, after several long minutes, she nodded.
"Okay."
I pulled her into a brief embrace before leading her inside.
The hotel ballroom was packed with students from college.
Everyone wore elegant black and blue outfits, many of them hiding behind decorative masks.
Keeping Claira close, I guided her upstairs to a private room.
Once inside, I locked the door.
"You stay here."
She nodded.
"When it's time, I'll come get you myself. Don't open the door for anyone else."
"Okay."
I handed the spare key to a trusted waiter outside.
My eyes locked onto his.
"If anything happens to her, I'll kill you."
The poor man nearly dropped the key.
Good.
Fear would keep him alert.
As I headed toward the ballroom, a hand suddenly landed on my shoulder.
Peter.
"Enjoying the party?" he asked with a grin.
I forced one of my own.
"So where's my gift?"
I leaned closer.
"You'll get it soon."
My smile turned cold.
"And trust me, Peter. It's a gift you'll remember for the rest of your life."
Then I walked away.
A second later, a familiar scent reached me.
My entire body stiffened.
Impossible.
She was here.
✦ EIRA POV ✦
I moved through the ballroom carrying drinks, pretending to work while secretly searching for Claira.
The crowd was enormous.
Music echoed through the hall.
Laughter filled the air.
Yet I couldn't focus on any of it.
Then I saw him.
Adrain.
Walking directly toward me.
Panic shot through me.
I lowered my head and tried to walk past him unnoticed.
It didn't work.
His hand clamped around my arm and dragged me behind a massive marble sculpture.
My back hit the wall.
His chest was suddenly inches away.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
His voice was low and furious.
"I came for Claira—"
"I told you to stay home."
His grip tightened.
"Peter knows about the DNA test," I whispered urgently. "Claira isn't safe."
His jaw clenched.
"It doesn't matter."
"It does matter!"
"Eira."
The warning in his voice made me fall silent.
"You're leaving."
"No."
His eyes flashed dangerously.
"No?"
"I won't leave Claira here."
"Peter is dangerous."
"So why are you here?"
The question slipped out before I could stop it.
For a second, something flickered in his eyes.
Something raw.
Something I couldn't understand.
Then his hand slammed against the wall beside my head.
I flinched.
His face hovered inches from mine.
My heart hammered wildly.
For one impossible moment, neither of us moved.
Then he abruptly stepped away.
Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Leaving me breathless and confused.
✦ ADRAIN POV ✦
She was driving me insane.
Every instinct screamed at me to drag her out of this building myself.
Yet somehow she always found a way back into danger.
"Hey, man."
Peter appeared beside me again.
I clenched my jaw.
"Come have a drink."
I followed him toward the bar.
The moment we sat down, voices from a nearby table caught my attention.
"Look at her."
"She's gorgeous."
"That skirt should be illegal."
The men laughed.
My eyes followed their gaze.
Eira.
The tray nearly slipped from my hands.
One of them grinned.
"I'm taking her home tonight."
The others laughed.
Something dark exploded inside me.
Every muscle in my body tightened.
I wanted to tear them apart.
Wanted to wipe those smiles off their faces permanently.
Instead, I stood.
And walked straight toward her.
✦ EIRA POV ✦
I was trying my best to ignore the disgusting comments from the guests when a familiar voice suddenly cut through the noise.
"Waitress."
I turned.
Adrain stood there.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
His face was tense.
His eyes burned with barely controlled rage.
"Serve my friends."
He pointed toward the group of drunken men.
Reluctantly, I obeyed.
As I approached them, my heel suddenly caught on something.
My balance vanished.
The tray tipped forward.
A gasp escaped me.
But before I could hit the floor, a strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back.
Glass shattered across the floor.
The tray crashed loudly.
My hands instinctively grabbed the nearest thing for support.
Adrain.
For one suspended moment, I found myself pressed against him.
His arm remained around my waist.
His eyes locked onto mine.
Neither of us moved.
Then the manager's furious voice shattered the moment.
"What is going on here?!"
We immediately stepped apart.
"I-I'm sorry, sir—"
"What kind of staff are you hiring?" Adrain interrupted coldly. "She can't even carry a tray properly."
The manager's face turned pale.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir."
"I don't want apologies."
Adrain's voice was merciless.
"Fire her."
I stared at him.
Surely I had heard wrong.
"What?"
"Fire her."
"No!" I protested. "Someone tripped me—"
"I don't care."
His expression remained unreadable.
"You're fired."
The words hit harder than they should have.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Couldn't think.
Could only stare at him.
Because deep down, I knew.
He had done it on purpose.
And somehow, that hurt far more than losing the job.