Dangerous Attention
The atmosphere inside the Li mansion remained tense long after Jonathan revealed that Monica was being watched.
Monica sat quietly at the dining table, confusion and fear slowly building inside her chest. She had never truly experienced the dangerous side of Denzel's world directly before. Yes, she knew her brother was powerful. She knew people feared him.
But hearing that someone was secretly watching her made everything suddenly feel real.
Very real.
"Denzel…" she called softly.
He looked at her immediately.
"Do you think I'm in danger?"
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Denzel walked toward her slowly before resting a hand gently on her shoulder.
"No one will touch you."
His voice was calm, but Monica knew her brother well enough to hear the anger hidden underneath.
Jonathan stood nearby, serious as always.
"We've already increased security around the university."
Monica sighed heavily. "Great. Now everyone's going to think I'm some politician's daughter."
Hunter walked into the room holding a cup of coffee.
"You kind of are worse," he joked lightly. "You're Denzel Li's sister."
Monica glared at him.
"This isn't funny."
Hunter's playful expression softened slightly. "I know."
Denzel turned toward Jonathan again.
"I want every camera around the university checked."
Jonathan nodded once. "Already working on it."
"And find out why they're interested in Monica."
The coldness in Denzel's voice made the room quiet again.
Whoever was behind this had crossed a line.
A very dangerous line.
—
Meanwhile, across town, Harmony sat quietly inside a small café near campus while reviewing notes for class. A half-finished cup of coffee rested beside her, though her attention remained elsewhere.
Her mind kept drifting back to Denzel.
She hated how much she had been thinking about him since the birthday dinner.
Everything about him confused her.
One moment he seemed cold enough to scare the entire world, and the next moment he spoke to her so calmly that she almost forgot who he really was.
Harmony sighed softly before closing her notebook.
"Why am I even thinking about him?"
"Thinking about who?"
Harmony nearly jumped in surprise.
Safia sat down across from her dramatically while grinning.
"You looked completely lost."
Harmony relaxed slightly. "You scared me."
Safia smirked proudly. "Good. Now answer the question."
"There was no question."
"Oh please," Safia said while stealing one of Harmony's fries. "You've been acting strange since Monica's birthday dinner."
Harmony looked away immediately.
Safia's eyes widened.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You like him."
Harmony almost choked. "What?!"
Safia leaned forward excitedly.
"You do! You like Denzel!"
"Lower your voice!" Harmony whispered quickly while looking around nervously.
Safia laughed loudly.
"This is unbelievable."
Harmony rubbed her forehead tiredly. "I do not like him."
"Then why are you blushing?"
"I'm not blushing."
"You literally are."
Harmony groaned softly.
The truth was, she didn't understand her feelings herself.
Denzel frightened her sometimes.
Not because he had ever treated her badly, but because of the dangerous power surrounding him. Everyone in Sun City knew rumors about Denzel Li.
People disappeared after crossing him.
Businesses collapsed overnight because of him.
Even powerful men feared him.
Someone like that shouldn't affect her this much.
And yet…
For some strange reason, she couldn't stop thinking about the softness in his eyes when he asked if she got home safely.
Safia suddenly became quieter.
"You should be careful though."
Harmony looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Safia hesitated before answering.
"Denzel's world is dangerous."
Harmony lowered her eyes silently.
She already knew that.
—
At Li Corporation, Denzel stood inside his office while several men nervously waited before him.
One of them trembled slightly under Denzel's cold stare.
"You lost them?" Denzel asked calmly.
The man swallowed hard. "Boss, we tried following the vehicle but—"
"But what?"
"They disappeared."
The dangerous silence that followed made everyone nervous.
Denzel slowly walked toward the large window behind his desk.
"I gave you one job."
"We're sorry, Boss."
Denzel closed his eyes briefly before speaking again.
"Leave."
The men quickly disappeared without another word.
The second the office door closed, Hunter sighed dramatically from the couch.
"You know, one day your death stare is going to kill someone."
Denzel ignored him completely.
Jonathan entered the office a moment later holding another file.
"We traced one of the suspicious vehicles."
Denzel turned immediately.
"And?"
"It belongs to a company connected to Victor Moretti."
Hunter cursed quietly.
Victor Moretti.
One of the few mafia leaders in New York powerful enough to challenge Denzel directly.
The two men had avoided open war for years through an unstable understanding.
But now…
Jonathan placed the file on the desk.
"There's more."
Denzel remained silent.
Jonathan's expression darkened slightly.
"Victor recently lost a major shipment because of us. Millions of dollars."
Hunter leaned back slowly. "So this is revenge."
Denzel's face became emotionless.
"No," he corrected coldly. "This is stupidity."
Because threatening Monica meant Victor Moretti had officially declared war.
And wars in Sun City never ended peacefully.
—
Later that afternoon, Monica finished class earlier than expected.
As she walked through campus with Harmony and Safia, several black vehicles remained parked nearby quietly.
Harmony noticed immediately.
"Those cars have been there since morning."
Monica sighed. "Denzel's security."
Safia looked impressed. "Honestly, your brother treats you like the president."
Monica rolled her eyes. "It's embarrassing."
But despite her complaints, a small part of her felt safer knowing Denzel was protecting her.
Suddenly, Harmony slowed slightly.
"What is it?" Monica asked.
Harmony looked across the street carefully.
A black motorcycle stood parked nearby.
The man sitting on it wore dark clothing and a helmet, making it impossible to see his face.
But something about the way he stared toward them felt wrong.
Very wrong.
"Harmony?"
The motorcycle suddenly sped away.
Harmony frowned slightly.
"What happened?" Safia asked nervously.
Harmony hesitated before answering.
"Nothing."
But deep inside, uneasiness slowly began growing.
—
That evening, rain poured heavily across Sun City.
Thunder echoed through the dark sky while expensive cars filled the streets below.
Inside her apartment, Harmony sat beside her mother helping her drink medicine.
"You should rest," Harmony said softly.
Mrs. Jones smiled weakly. "You worry too much."
"That's because you never take care of yourself."
Her mother laughed quietly before suddenly coughing painfully.
Harmony's smile disappeared instantly.
Fear gripped her heart immediately.
"Mom?"
"I'm okay," Mrs. Jones whispered weakly.
But Harmony could see the pain clearly.
Hospital bills.
Medicine.
Surgery.
Everything felt impossible lately.
After helping her mother back to sleep, Harmony quietly stepped outside onto the apartment balcony for fresh air.
Rain fell heavily around the city.
She wrapped her arms around herself while staring silently into the distance.
Then suddenly—
A black car slowly stopped outside the apartment building.
Harmony frowned slightly.
The car looked expensive.
Too expensive for this neighborhood.
A few seconds later, someone stepped out.
Her breath caught instantly.
Denzel Li.
Even beneath the rain and darkness, she recognized him immediately.
Confusion filled her face as Denzel walked toward the building entrance calmly.
"What is he doing here?" she whispered softly.
A moment later, her phone rang.
Her heartbeat strangely quickened the second she saw his name on the screen.
She answered slowly.
"Hello?"
"Come downstairs."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You're outside?"
"I know."
Despite herself, Harmony smiled faintly.
Five minutes later, she stepped outside the building holding an umbrella.
Rain continued falling heavily around them.
Denzel stood beside the black car wearing a dark coat, his expression calm as always.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Harmony finally broke the silence.
"What are you doing here?"
Denzel looked at her quietly.
"I was nearby."
Harmony raised an eyebrow immediately.
"You expect me to believe that?"
For the first time, amusement flickered faintly across his face.
Maybe not.
The realization shocked both of them slightly.
Denzel Li almost never smiled.
Yet somehow, Harmony kept bringing out reactions he didn't understand.
Harmony looked at him carefully.
"You came all the way here… just to check on me?"
Denzel remained silent briefly before answering honestly.
"Yes."
Something inside Harmony's chest tightened unexpectedly.
Rain continued falling softly around them while the city lights glowed in the distance.
For a brief moment, the dangerous world surrounding Denzel disappeared.
He simply looked like a man standing in the rain because he wanted to see her.
But neither of them noticed the black vehicle parked silently across the street.
Watching them.
And inside that vehicle sat a man already speaking into his phone.
"Boss," he said quietly. "We found the girl."