The warehouse became completely silent.
Rain echoed outside while the eastern alliance leader's body lay motionless on the floor.
But Nithya saw only one thing.
Blood.
Aryan's blood.
A dark stain slowly spread across the side of his black shirt where the bullet hit him.
For one terrifying second…
Devil stopped thinking clearly.
"Aryan."
Her voice came out softer than expected.
Aryan stayed standing, gun still in his hand.
"I'm fine."
Liar.
Nithya immediately moved closer and pressed her hand against the wound.
Blood covered her fingers instantly.
Rohan rushed inside with armed men.
"Sir!"
Aryan looked irritated already.
"Why are you shouting?"
Rohan stared at the blood in shock.
Because nobody had ever seen Eagle injured before.
Nithya's eyes turned colder.
"We're leaving now."
Aryan looked down at her calmly.
"It's not serious."
"You were shot."
"I've had worse."
That answer only made her angrier.
Without warning, Nithya grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the exit.
Aryan blinked once in surprise.
"You're ordering me now?"
"Yes."
For some reason…
That almost made him smile.
Even injured, Eagle found Devil interesting.
Inside the moving car back to Seoul, tension filled the air.
Rohan drove quickly while doctors waited at the mansion already.
Aryan leaned back silently while Nithya sat beside him pressing cloth against the wound.
Her face remained calm.
Too calm.
Aryan noticed immediately.
"You're angry."
"No."
"Lying doesn't suit you."
Nithya finally looked at him sharply.
"You jumped in front of a bullet."
Aryan answered immediately.
"He aimed at you."
Silence.
Then Nithya spoke quietly.
"You could've died."
Aryan's eyes stayed on her for a moment.
"But I didn't."
Simple answer.
Dangerous effect.
Because hearing him speak casually about death scared her more than expected.
And Devil hated fear.
Back at the mansion, doctors immediately surrounded Aryan.
The bullet had passed through his side without hitting vital organs.
Painful.
But survivable.
Still, Nithya refused leaving the room.
One doctor finally said carefully,
"Ma'am, we need space."
Nithya's cold eyes moved toward him.
The poor doctor almost stepped back immediately.
Aryan noticed and sighed softly.
"Nithya."
She looked at him instantly.
"Go outside for five minutes."
"No."
"That wasn't a request."
Silence.
Then finally she crossed her arms angrily and moved toward the balcony instead.
Even injured…
He still controlled rooms naturally.
Impossible man.
An hour later, the doctors finally finished treatment and left.
Aryan sat on the bed wearing a fresh black shirt loosely over the bandages.
The moment the room emptied, Nithya walked back inside immediately.
Aryan looked amused slightly.
"You waited outside like an angry bodyguard."
"You almost died."
"There you go again."
Nithya stopped near the bed.
For a few seconds, silence filled the room.
Then suddenly she asked quietly,
"Why did you do it?"
Aryan looked confused.
"The bullet."
Silence.
Then he answered honestly.
"Because I couldn't watch you get hurt."
The words hit harder than expected.
Nithya slowly looked away for a second.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Because Eagle was becoming important to her.
Too important.
Aryan studied her carefully.
"You were scared."
Nithya immediately denied it.
"No."
"You looked terrified."
"That's impossible."
Aryan smiled faintly despite the pain.
"Devil feeling fear. Interesting."
Nithya narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Keep talking and I'll reopen your wound."
That actually made Aryan laugh softly again.
A real laugh.
Even injured.
And somehow…
Hearing it relaxed her.
Late that night, after everyone slept, Nithya remained sitting beside Aryan's bed quietly.
Moonlight entered through the windows while the mansion stayed silent.
Aryan opened his eyes slowly.
"You're still awake."
Nithya didn't look at him.
"Sleep."
Aryan watched her for a moment.
Then quietly asked,
"Why are you really staying?"
Finally she looked toward him.
And for the first time since becoming Devil…
Her answer carried vulnerability.
"Because when you got shot…"
She stopped briefly.
"…I realized I don't want to lose you."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Real.
Aryan stared at her quietly.
Then slowly…
He reached out and held her hand gently.
No games.
No mafia titles.
No Eagle.
No Devil.
Just Aryan and Nithya.
And for the first time…
Both finally understood something terrifying.
They had fallen in love.