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Chapter Text

It's been 10 months since her parents kicked her out and cut her off.

As cruel as it may sound, that was the day Rishe finally became free.

In this case, specifically, she was free to pursue a degree in Pharmacy and to work several low-paying part-time jobs to pay for her tuition.

"It's still better than being married to Dietrich and signing up for his schemes," She thought while yawning for the tenth time in the last hour. "At least this hard-earned money is clean". This didn't stop her from feeling drained. She took almost any part-time job she could find, and currently, she was working as a bartender and attendant at a popular café. Her manager was having a hard time finding people, so they would ask Rishe to cover several shifts. Since she was desperate to pay her bills, she couldn't complain much.

Being raised in a rich traditional family provided a lot of comfort. Even though she didn't mind living a simple life, going to school was her dream. After everything she'd been through, giving up was not an option. At least by 5 PM, things were calmer. Only one more hour and she would finally be able to catch the train back home. Then, she would be able to sleep and wake up at 4 AM to finish her Organic Chemistry assay.

The bell rang, snapping her out of her daydreaming.

"Welcome to Tokyo Cafe, may I take your order?" She said with a pleasant smile.

“Hello, Rishe,” said a voice that made her shiver, the shadow of a smirk painted his lips “You were a very hard woman to find”.

Rishe's smile faded as she glared back at Arnold Hein's ocean eyes.

Several memories flashed through her eyes, but she didn't know what to say, so she decided to play it safe "Hello customer, may I take your order?".

"I'm Arnold Hein," He smirked, "In case you forgot".

Rishe knew she wasn't getting away that easily, so she shot her best professional smile back at him. "Good afternoon, mister Arnold, what can I get you to drink?"

"I'm not thirsty, to be honest," He said while examining her face, "but I really wanted to talk to you," He hesitated, but his eyes never left hers "Is that okay?"

Rishe was taken aback by his question. She didn't expect him of all people to come looking for her. Her curiosity perked her mind and her stomach was uneasy. Maybe if she heard what he had to say...
"My shift ends in an hour. Maybe I can get you something to drink until then...?" She offered politely, already internally cursing her inner self for her uneasiness.

"I'll have a doppio then, no sugar," He said before breaking eye contact to reach for his wallet. Rishe stretched her hand to refuse the money, but as their hands touched for a second, she felt a slight static shock, and they both jolted.

"I'm sorry," She blushed and broke eye contact, feeling a mixture of guilt and awkwardness for touching him like that "It's on the house".

"It's the least I can do after all the trouble I caused," she said, her gentle socialite tone apparent. "So, please, Mr. Arnold, just accept it."

Arnold nodded, his expression unreadable as he moved to one of the empty tables. "Have it your way."

As he moved, Rishe let out the breath that had been stuck in her throat. She tried to steady herself, her hands shaking slightly as she prepared his coffee. It was a heavy dose of caffeine for this late hour, but she focused solely on preparing it properly.

His cool tone reminded her of that day at the Country Club, when Dietrich wanted to fence against Arnold but couldn't last more than 10 seconds. He was so annoyed he lost. When Rishe went for it, it turned out to be the best match she had in years.

She knew her potential was wasted on Dietrich's fencing, but she had to hold back when practicing with him.

It was the only way she could keep her passion sport. But when she fenced against Arnold, it was completely different. He challenged her and inspired her to give her best.

"Nice footwork," Arnold said after defeating her with the same cool tone he used to greet her moments ago. Despite ultimately losing to the top-ranking student at the time, it remained a fond last memory of a hobby she adored, before it was taken away from her.

"You fenced against Arnold Hein?! Don't you know who he is?! You could've gotten hurt!! This isn't a sport for a girl, you are now forbidden to ever touch a foil again!" Her parents scowled her pretty harshly that day. For a while, she even hated Arnold for taking it away from her, but deep down, she knew it wasn't his fault. So many things she wanted to do but was bound by them... Fencing was just one in a long list. "But not anymore," she thought to herself, "Now I'm free from these restraints, I only need to work hard and make enough money to go back to practicing it."

When Arnold's coffee was ready, she took it to the table he was sitting at.

His eyes moved from his mobile phone to her. Only when up close, she inspected him - tailored suit, fancy shoes, well-combed hair. The picture of a professional.

"Your coffee, enjoy," She said, placing it on the table before returning to the counter, feeling his eyes on her the entire time. What a nuisance. Yet her heart was beating so loud like a kid being caught red-handed.

Another two clients appeared right after, but Rishe's tension didn't fade.

"I should've heard what he had to say right away," she regretted bitterly, "Now the anticipation is killing me. What if..."

Memories of that tragic night flooded her mind.

It was her 18th birthday party when Rishe found out about her family's plots with Dietrich. His family and her family were money laundering behind her back... They tried to make her give up on going to college. And after she refused, Dietrich humiliated her in front of every guest, breaking up their engagement. Her parents couldn't help themselves and struck the last blow, disowning her in public.
Repulsed, humiliated, and without a dime to her name, Rishe retreated to her room, packed every piece of jewelry and valuable items she could find, and left, like a thief in the night. That night, she met Arnold while slipping away in the gardens. He took her to a hotel and when morning came, she ran away from him. Shame crippled her skin, but she couldn't afford to pay him back. She got to the pawnshop and quickly disposed of her once-precious belongings, which bought her a plane ticket and housing for the first month of college.

She felt dirty, burdened by the weight of the tainted money that raised her. That's when she decided to start over, never to accept anything she didn't rightfully earn. She was going to make up for the family's dishonest behavior. She had to. Which brings us to this moment.

Was he upset because of the hotel bill? What could he possibly want from her?

Her manager Raul came through the door 10 minutes before her shift was over.

When he approached her, Arnold rose to his feet. When Raul moved to the counter, Arnold sat back where he was before. Was he... Worried about Raul? Rishe couldn't understand him at all.
Raul and her had a little chat about changing shifts and she finished cleaning up. After her apron was folded and she changed to her regular clothes, Arnold approached the counter.

"Rishe," he said, "I can drive you home."

Rishe froze in place. She definitely was not giving her home address to him. A rich man like that would never set foot in a neighborhood like hers.

"Ah, don't worry about me, please," she replied awkwardly, "We can talk outside"

"Is that your boyfriend?" Raul's eyes moved from Rishe to Arnold and back again.

She meant to say something, but Arnold was faster.

"Yes," He said coldly. Rishe wanted the floor to swallow her.

"W-Wha-" She squealed, but he grabbed her wrist and took her outside before she could say anything. Raul must have been very confused.

As they stepped outside, Rishe's heart raced with confusion and embarrassment. Arnold's grip on her wrist was firm, guiding her away from the cafe's entrance. She stumbled slightly, trying to process what had just happened.

"Wait, Arnold, please stop!" He let go of her wrist immediately and faced her.

"I'm sorry for being so abrupt, I didn't want you running away from me again" His honesty made her speechless for a while. His ears were a little red. Maybe he was embarrassed too.

"No, I should be the one apologizing for..." Their eyes met again and she forgot what she was supposed to apologize for. She swallowed hard.

"I have a business proposal for you, Rishe" He caught her off guard again.

"Business proposal?" " Rishe repeated, her voice barely above a whisper."I thought you were going to ask for a refund..."

"I need your help to expose Dietrich's scheme and only you can help me," He said, a strange glint in his eyes.

"And how exactly do you plan to do that...?" She asked with disbelief. Of course, he had known about Dietrich's scheme. He probably knew that was the reason her parents disowned her too.

"Marry me." The proposal rang in her ears for a while. She thought she had misheard him and laughed nervously.

"Excuse me?" She said in disbelief.

"I said 'Be my wife'" Arnold replied, simply. She contemplated his face for a minute.

"N-No?" She replied, still in disbelief.

"We don't have to be a real couple. And your efforts would be paid off, of course. I can invest in your career, we would have separate rooms, only have to see each other for social events and I won't be in your way for most of the day."

Rishe's brain gears were working like crazy.

"Marry you?" she echoed, her voice tinged with incredulity. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. If you want to clean your family name-" He started to say, but Rishe interrupted.

"I don't give a damn about my family name," she said, her fists clenched. Arnold seemed surprised by her outburst. "How will it fix the wrongdoings my family did?" She asked, determination overflowing her emerald eyes.

"I want to buy your family business and..." Arnold started, but she interrupted again.

"So you have something to gain from it."

"I want to return the money to their rightful owners. And I will have to use my family's assets to get there, but I plan on being as transparent as I can, to you, my future wife" Rishe shivered when he said 'wife' while staring at her so intensely.

"So you're not here for the hotel bill...?" She asked. It sounded too good to be true.

"I'm not here for the hotel bill," He said, calmly "But I am in desperate need of your help."

She contemplated his eyes for a while.

"What will you gain from it?" He let out an impatient breath.

"I will sleep soundly knowing I fixed my father's biggest mistake" He replied simply.

Another memory came to mind. One of Arnold covered in his own blood while wearing a private school uniform. They said his own dad beat him for being a brat.

"If I agree - Will you grant me my every wish?" She asked, cautiously.

"As long as it's reasonable enough and in my power to do so, yes" He sounded almost desperate.

"Do you promise you won't ever touch me again?" She asked carefully, her wrist still felt hot where he touched her.

"I promise," He said, a strange glint in his eyes "Any more demands?".

"Lawyers," she started, but he nodded.

"We can go to the office whenever you like, I will appoint you any lawyer you prefer".

Another marriage of convenience, but this one sounded much more interesting to her.

Could she trust him, though? He was the Arnold Hein she knew and both waried and admired her entire life. His reputation preceded him, but all of those years he showed her nothing but kindness.
"I want to meet up with the lawyers before deciding," she said, a serious look on her face "But this will be made on my terms, not yours."

His expression softened.

"Very well. See you tomorrow, fiancée." He said while turning away and leaving.

Another memory from her birthday flashed by, at the hotel she grabbed the hem of his shirt and whispered "Don't leave me behind".

Rishe tried to shake the memories away as she walked to the train station.

There was a lot on her mind already, and much more to come.

Chapter Text

Rishe was very agitated on her way back home.

She kept thinking about her grandmother, a Pharmacist who started a little business to support her family during a time of crisis. Her little laboratory ended up a big business when her burn ointment became a success. Instead of selling the formula to another big company, she went against all odds and started her own company, Valkyrie.

 Rishe was proud of that part of her family history. However, after her grandmother passed away, her greedy parents took over the family business and turned it into something else entirely. Under the influence of the Hermity family, distant relatives with their own finance company, they fired their head of Research and Development and began to invest in health insurance.

Her parents proudly claimed that the Hermitys were family, so Rishe and Dietrich's engagement was settled when they were barely babies. 

"To keep all the money inside the family," Her father once told her when she asked why she should marry Dietrich. 

She crinkled her nose in irritation, "But he's such a crybaby. How am I supposed to love him then?", after all, all of the aunties, books, and even her school friends said marriage was supposed to be for love.

"Rishe, only fools marry for love. In our family, marriage is a duty. You will marry Dietrich to protect our family. One day you will learn to love that about him", her father replied. 

She was 7 years old back then and took his words to heart. She spent the following years dedicating her best to protect her family, became top of her class, and learned all of the hobbies her parents threw at her with perfection. 

But Dietrich always envied her for besting him in every single aspect, so she would always end up scowled or obligated to quit. She always thought this was a way to protect her family, and even though until she was 18, she couldn't find anything she loved about Dietrich, she always thought about her grandmother's legacy, which gave her enough strength to go on.

Until... Well. That night. She shivered with the memories of her last encounter with Arnold and buried her red cheeks in her hands.

'Why did he tell Raul he was my boyfriend?? Aaahh...'

Rishe definitely wasn't going to sleep soon. She ate, took a shower, and finished her University duties. Whenever she closed her eyes, the memory of those cold blue eyes haunted her. 'Marry me.' He said that with such ease. The Hein family probably viewed marriage the same way her family did, she told herself to make her heart stop beating so loudly.

Lost in memories and thoughts of the past, Rishe fell asleep.

-

Every Wednesday, whether rainy or sunny, Rishe had promised to meet with Professor Hakurei for lunch. They sat on a weathered bench in the university courtyard, enjoying the warmth of the early summer sun filtering through the trees.

Rishe gathered some courage to ask what had been lingering in her mind since the other night and broke the calm atmosphere.

"Professor Hakurei," Rishe asked, a bit shyly, "Has anyone ever proposed to you?"

The professor paused, her gaze drifting to the gentle sway of the leaves overhead. A soft smile graced her lips as she considered Rishe's question. "Why, my pupil, such a personal question," She replied with a hint of amusement in her voice, "I suppose you've piqued my curiosity. What motivates such a question?"

"Well, actually..." Rishe felt her cheeks burn, but her voice faltered. Hakurei chuckled at her pupil's nervous behavior.

"I've never had the pleasure," Hakurei admitted with a wistful smile to the younger girl. "But again, I dedicated my life to my career. I've loved a couple of times, but I never intended to tie myself to anything other than my work."

"Mhm," Rishe replied, considering her professor's words.

"Did mister Hermity come looking for you...?" The professor teased.

"Someone else, actually," she replied while covering her red cheeks.

"Oh?" Hakurei asked in surprise. Rishe stared at the ground for a while and Hakurei turned at her, her attention focused on Rishe "Now now, please don't let me interrupt you, it's rude to pique your advisor's curiosity in such a manner."

Rishe hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to share the details with her professor. 

"It was... Another marriage of convenience." Rishe said in a low voice.

"Oh?" Hakurei asked, her curiosity still going strong as she evaluated the girl's reaction. "A good one, give or take?"

Rishe nodded, still very shy to speak so bluntly to her admired professor. But she was once Rishe's grandmother's apprentice, a family friend. It was the closest person she had to talk about it.

"Then why are you so taken aback, my dear?" Rishe stared at her professor. The warmth in Hakurei's eyes encouraged her to speak.

"It's someone I've known my entire life, someone I even admired but was taught to fear and keep my distance. Even though, he had shown me a lot of kindness in the past..." Rishe hesitated, her voice trailing off for a moment. "Part of me thought I was now free to marry whoever I wanted, and not because of another... Business-related reason."

Professor Hakurei giggled and sighed before talking.

"My dear Rishe," Hakurei's voice was firm yet her eyes were soft and warm. "You will find out soon enough that life has a curious way of trailing unpredictable twists and turns. As a scientist, I'm sure this unexpected journey will keep you entertained."

Rishe glanced up at her professor, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and admiration.

"I once found myself in a similar situation," Hakurei continued, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips. "I loved someone, but we knew our paths were dedicated to something bigger. Yet, in the brief time we shared, I found precious moments that I'll always treasure. Sometimes, what may seem like a detour can lead us to the exact place we wanted to go at first." Hakurei stopped for a moment and her expression shifted to a confused one. "Or somewhere better than we anticipated. Sometimes worse. Or just somewhere different than we expected..." Professor Hakurei mumbled a bit, debating her logic with herself before concluding "What I mean is... Life is full of choices, my dear, it's up to you to decide what path to take."

Rishe nodded, contemplating her professor's logic. Hakurei grabbed her purse and seemed absort in it for a moment, then handled Rishe a business card.

"And if you ever need a lawyer to fight for you, she is the one!"

On the same afternoon, during her shift, Arnold stopped by the cafe again. How could she ever get used to watching him come into the room without her heart beating like crazy?

"I don't want to pressure you, but I forgot to give you my card," He said while offering her the little piece of paper. "Whenever you're ready."

"Set up the meeting with the lawyers," Rishe said, and Arnold's brows raised in surprise. "Let's talk business, mister Arnold."

-

Diana's recommendation from Professor Hakurei proved invaluable to Rishe. They met two days before the official meeting to start discussing terms and review the first contract presented. Diana impressed Rishe with her professionalism and attention to detail. Despite her young age, Diana carried herself with confidence and competence.

Diana's family used to live in the same neighborhood as Rishe, but their family business collapsed. As the eldest daughter, Diana started working early to help with the bills. Despite the challenges, she managed to secure a place at a prestigious law school and excel in her studies. Now, she was proving herself as a diligent and capable lawyer, meticulously addressing every concern Rishe had raised.
On the day before the audience, Rishe sighed while staring at her lawyer with profound admiration.

"Miss Diana, you are such an inspiration," Rishe said, in awe. Diana blushed, her serious expression softening.

"As long as I can defend your interests, Miss Rishe, I don't need to be anything like that," Diana replied modestly.

Rishe chuckled. What a small world. She had never expected to get married to Arnold Hein, and even now, everything was sailing so smoothly, she couldn't believe it.

"There is only one clause I'm afraid mister Hein's lawyer is adamant about" Miss Diana continued, trying to go back to her professional behavior. 

"What is it?" Rishe asked warily.

"You have to live in the same house. Separate bedrooms, but they addressed it at the same apartment."

Living under the same roof as Arnold, even in separate rooms, was not a prospect she relished. The idea of such proximity to him made her uneasy.

"I'll have to think about it," Rishe replied, her voice strained.

Diana nodded understandingly, her expression sympathetic. "They claim it's for security purposes. But take your time, Miss Rishe. We can try to discuss it tomorrow when we meet face-to-face."

As Rishe left the meeting, her uneasiness grew. She really enjoyed living by herself, even if it was a simple apartment and the commute was a piece of work. It was her space.

Nothing had ever been hers until then, and that thought bothered her the most. During the train ride, she tried to build a counterproposal.

 
She was so immersed in thought that she didn't pay attention to a big, black car parked in front of her apartment building, and when she approached it, someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the car.

She screamed but a hand covered her mouth and she stared at those green annoying eyes she had known her entire life.

"RISHE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?" Screamed her former fiancée to her face.

Chapter Text

Rishe was so shocked to see Dietrich in front of her after so much time that it took her a while to respond, but then, her mind started working again.

With practiced precision, she grabbed Dietrich's wrist, twisted his arm, and hurled him against the car door, pinning him there with her body weight. 

"RISHE- OW- OWCH!! Why are you so violent all the time-" He protested, loudly. Some of the people in the street stared at them.

"Why are you here, Dietrich?" She asked, angry and scared at the same time.

"Let me go, please, I surrender" He whined in reply. She didn't release him but loosened her grip a little.

"Answer the question" She insisted, a suppressed anger burning in her chest. How dared he?

"You thought I wasn't going to find you after all of your crimes? OUCH-" Rishe pressed on him.

"What crimes?" She snapped at him, her knees faltering a bit.

"You ran away and stole all of my family jewels!! Jewels I want to give to my Betrothed!!" Rishe was so surprised she let him go and took a couple of steps back. She expected much worse coming from him, but jewels were quite easier to recover.

"I pawned them all," She said, crossing her arms on her chest. "You'll find them at Dori's Pawnshop."

"How dare you, Rishe?? My poor Mary has to be humiliated by buying pawned jewels!! Aaargh-" Dietrich lunged towards her, but before he could reach her, someone intervened. Arnold Hein grabbed Dietrich's arm and immobilized him, twisting his arm and kicking his knee from behind, forcing him to kneel.

"What the heck-" Dietrich screamed in pain.

"Arnold!! W- What are you doing here?" Rishe's voice wavered between desperation and surprise, a mixture of relief and unease washing over her at the sight of Arnold's unexpected appearance.

"Rishe-" Arnold said almost apologetic, "I'm sorry."

"ARNOLD HEIN, YOU'RE BREAKING MY ARM!" Dietrich screamed in pain, his voice echoing in the street.

Arnold stared at Dietrich with evident disgust, his grip tightening slightly.

"Please, Arnold, let him go," Rishe pleaded, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. A small crowd had gathered around them, watching the scene unfold with attention as if it were a soap opera playing out before their eyes.

"Don't you dare come near her," Arnold threatened Dietrich before releasing him. Dietrich stumbled and fell to the ground, his face reddened with anger, shame, and tears prickling his eyes. It was a pathetic sight, as usual. Arnold walked towards Rishe and positioned himself between her and Dietrich.

"Rishe, what is Arnold Hein doing here?" Dietrich pointed at Arnold, his voice trembling with anger and confusion.

"It's none of your business," She replied coldly, her gaze steady. "But I'm dying to know how you found me."

"I hired a private detective to keep an eye on you, and he reported you had a boyfriend. Don't tell me you left me to date him," Dietrich said, his accusation dripping with bitterness.

"First of all" Rishe started, her anger building from each lie he told. "You made sure to break our engagement and persuaded my parents to cut me off. You broke our engagement. Now this-" She pointed at Arnold and her. Her voice rose in frustration. "This is your fault. And now you run to Mary, as usual. You have no right to come here and disturb my life!" 

"I came all the way here to take back my jewels!!" Dietrich screamed back at her.

"I don't have your jewels! Go back to Mary and buy her new ones!" Rishe took several steps closer to Dietrich, but Arnold instinctively raised his arm to prevent her from getting too close. Arnold's touch, though slight, had a calming effect on her. Their eyes met, and even though his expression was impassive, he gazed at her with a sadness that made her shiver. They stared at each other for a moment, but Dietrich broke the silent screaming accusations.

"OH- OH! I knew it!! You and Arnold are a thing!!" Rishe's cheeks instantly blushed and she fell silent, as if confirming his theory. Arnold turned his glare back at him. Some people in the crowd gaped, their surprised expressions filled the air.

"It's none of your business." He retorted coldly to Dietrich.

"Of course it's my business!!! She used to be my fiancée!!" 

"Used. To be." Rishe breathed out, her eyes dripping with anger. "Now I'm engaged to Arnold and you have nothing to do with me anymore. You made sure of that." Rishe said coldly.

The crowd, now larger than before, gasped audibly, their murmurs of surprise echoing through the air.

"Wait until your parents hear about this!!" Dietrich threatened.

"They also made sure they have nothing to do with me anymore," Rishe replied quietly. A sadness panged in her chest.

"Rishe," Arnold said, his arm still supporting her. Their eyes met again. Why did it feel like he was comforting her?

"I'm done with this clown," She said coldly. "Please make sure he leaves or I'll call the police".

Dietrich took several steps back. "This won't be the end of it, Rishe. We'll meet again." He opened his car door and left.

The crowd started to boo and clap at his exit as if it was a satisfying outcome. As Dietrich's car left sight, the crowd disbanded and Arnold turned his attention back to her.

Rishe stared at the spot where the car's back was last seen. "Rishe. Breathe." Arnold's voice was calm. She held Arnold's arm for support and released a shaky breath, gasping for air while she trembled.

"I'm fine," she murmured, her voice tremulous with the remnants of adrenaline. "How did you find this place though?" She asked, tears prickling in the corner of her eyes.

"It was a series of coincidences." He said, still gazing at her. "I was tracking Dietrich."

"Tracking... Him?" She repeated, still a bit confused.

"Yes, I knew they were trying to find you, I've been trying to find you myself ever since that night-" She winced and he quickly changed the subject. "I knew that as soon as I came into the picture, they would do whatever it takes to avoid our engagement. So I was monitoring Dietrich. He landed today, so I followed him from the airport and found you." Arnold said, his eyes still staring at her intensely.

She faltered and he supported her again. Rishe sighed.

"Thank you for your concern, but I can protect myself."

"It's not you that I was protecting." He said, a glint of mischief in his eyes. 

"What do you-" She stared back at him and then realization dawned on her. "Oh. Yes, I was angry, I probably was a little too rough on that idiot..." She lowered her head, a little bit ashamed. Arnold chuckled, surprising her.

"I can give you a ride though," He offered. "To make sure you won't hurt Dietrich if he comes by to stop you from going to the audience."

Rishe chuckled too, surprised by her own reaction. "I guess it's a fair point."

-

On the following morning, Arnold Hein awaited her at her doorstep, perched on his motorcycle and extending an extra helmet to her.

She adjusted the helmet, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement as she climbed on behind him, grasping the back handles tightly. The proximity between them felt a little overwhelming, but after the events of the previous night, she found herself surprisingly comfortable around him.

"Are you secure?" he inquired.

"Secure and ready," she replied, her voice tinged with excitement. It was her very first time riding a bike, something she had always wanted to try.

"If you need to, feel free to hold onto me," he offered, a hint of playfulness in his tone.

"Aye, Aye, captain," She joked back.

"Ready... Here we go," Arnold said as they set off, starting slow to allow her to adjust. At first, she felt the excitement building, but as he accelerated to match the car's speed, she began to feel a bit too loose.

"You okay back there?" he asked, checking in at every opportunity.

When they stopped at a traffic light, she couldn't avoid it any longer and timidly put her arms around his torso. She felt his muscles tense under her touch and quickly retreated.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, grateful for the helmet hiding her flushed face.

"It's okay, you just caught me off guard. Come here," he said gently, reaching back to guide her hands around his torso again. Rishe flinched slightly at the contact but soon felt a little less uncomfortable. The cool morning breeze helped to cool her face, easing her nerves. She would never have guessed being someone's fiancée would bring this feeling of freedom.

Chapter Text

The distant loud music reverberated through the Weitzner family's estate, mingling with the chatter and laughter of guests at the extravagant party. The subject of the talks was surely about the absurd scene that had just transpired.

'What a disgrace for the Weitzner family, having their daughter's engagement broken in public and her 18th birthday.' It was a scene no one in high society would forget for a while. 

The Weitzners weren't particularly close to his family. After the passing of the matriarch, his father quickly dismissed the family as 'unfit' for doing business with Galkhein.

The high society social circle wasn't that big, though. He had met Rishe many times on social occasions. She was top of his brother's class, had a talent in fencing, had appealing looks, and had just been accepted to a privileged school, unlike her Betrothed (former, to be precise), the heir to Hermity, who was a twat.

Now she could be freed of that ridiculous family's antics. Arnold walked through her family's well-kept garden while collecting his thoughts and admiring the strange collection of flowers and plants.

Loud sounds were very disturbing to Arnold. Even though he had developed quite a tolerance during the years, it still reminded him of his father's abuses. It's been a couple of days since he had returned from his "exile" abroad, and his revenge plan to destitute his father and overthrow the family business was still a sketch, but it gained better insights by the day, all thanks to Oliver's help.

He approached a tall apple tree, close by the mansion, and grabbed one to examine. Suddenly, he heard a thump close to him. Arnold tensed, his self-defense reflexes on edge, but his guard softened when he saw Rishe descending from the vines above and a large travel bag on the floor. 

As she finally stood in the garden, a few meters away from him, he threw the apple at her, which she caught easily.

"Quick reflexes as usual." He said, but his voice was emotionless.

She was very surprised to see him there.

"W-What are you doing here?" She was still wearing the long party dress, even though it was ripped a little above her knee. Her light coral hair, once tied in a bun, was now a little disheveled. Her emerald eyes had a weird glint and were a bit swollen as if she had been crying. She threw the apple back at him, and he caught it effortlessly.

"Avoiding the party, just like you." He took a bite of the apple and stared at her. "Going somewhere?"

Rishe's sigh was heavy with resignation as she gathered her belongings. "Out of here, I've just been disowned and expelled," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Need some help?" He offered. She hesitated and stared at him, weighing his offer. "From one disowned to another." The apple tasted sweet in his mouth, so he took another bite.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, mister Hein, it wasn't my intention." She bowed in courtesy. "I'm really late, so I wish you a good time." She walked past him, but he wasn't satisfied.

"It will be even worse if they see you leaving." He said, temptively. She stopped walking but didn't look back at him. "I can help you sneak away and drive you to a friend's house." After a moment, she turned back at him and emerald eyes met ocean eyes.

"I have nowhere to go, Mister Hein." Her dress and eyes sparkled in the moonlight and Arnold swallowed dry. He disposed of the apple, took off his blazer, and approached her, placing it around her shoulders. She stared at him. Tears prickled around her eyes.

"Let me take you to a hotel, you can rest there until you settle things up." He grabbed her travel bag's strap, but she didn't let it go.

"But I-"

"Your family may not see your value, but that doesn't mean you don't have any." He tugged the strap lightly. "Now come, before someone catches us here." 

She nodded silently, letting him carry her travel bag and guide her to his car. As they made their way to his car, Rishe hid her face under his blazer and sat in the back seat. Arnold sat beside her and the driver took them away. They stood in silence as she stared through the window until she lost sight of the place she had lived for 18 years, but now meant nothing to her anymore.

-

"I can give you a ride though," He offered. "To make sure you won't hurt Dietrich if he comes by to stop you from going to the audience."

Rishe chuckled too, surprised by her own reaction. "I guess it's a fair point."

They stared at each other for a while, but silence prevailed. Rishe looked around after a while because she felt a little awkward. There were still a few people from the previous crowd, and they were stealing glances from her and Arnold. 

Arnold seemed to notice too "Rishe. Are you hungry?"

"Hm, yeah, sure..." She was starving, but she quickly remembered she was broke. "Do you mind if I cook us something?"

Arnold's eyebrows rose in surprise and he nodded.

As Rishe and Arnold made their way inside the building, the stares from the lingering crowd only seemed to intensify. 

Rishe felt self-conscious under their scrutiny, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. 

She quickened her pace, eager to escape the prying eyes and Arnold's pace matched hers. 

They climbed the 5 flights of stairs quickly. Each step made her rethink the invitation. What was she thinking? She invited Arnold on a whim, and now that he was at her place, she felt even more self-conscious. He probably had never set foot in a simple apartment building like hers. But everything was so unexpected that day... Before opening the door, she turned to face him.

"It's not much, but it's home. Please make yourself comfortable."

Inside, the apartment was small and cozy, with a compact kitchen area, a modest couch, and a TV. A single door led to the bathroom and a curtain of fabric separated the entrance to her bedroom to the small living room. Arnold sat at the kitchen counter, the only table available to eat.

"It is cozy," He said. Because she felt so uncomfortable, Rishe decided to start working. She started rummaging through the refrigerator and separating the ingredients she had available.
Arnold leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her with a quiet intensity that made her heart flutter nervously. She tried to ignore the way his gaze seemed to linger on her, focusing instead on the task at hand.

After a few moments of silent preparation, Rishe finally broke the silence. "Is it okay if I make a vegetable soup?" she asked, hoping to distract herself from the lingering discomfort of being watched.

"Anything you wish to prepare." He answered, looking quite relaxed. He supported his elbow on the counter and rested his face on his palm. He looked too comfortable.

Rishe focused on the task at hand, chopping vegetables and preparing the soup with practiced efficiency. As the aroma of the simmering soup began to fill the small room, Rishe glanced over at Arnold, a hint of uncertainty lingering in her gaze. 

"I hope you like it," she said softly, a note of nervousness creeping into her voice.

"I'm sure it will be delicious," he replied, his voice warm and sincere. "Thank you for inviting me into your home, Rishe."

Her heart fluttered at his genuine gratitude and she turned back at simmering the pot, hiding her red face from him.

"I-it's nothing much, but it's all I can afford at the moment."

"You don't need to be ashamed," he reassured her, his tone gentle. "You've done a really good job considering the circumstances."

The heat of the soup was becoming almost unbearable, and Rishe struggled to keep her composure as she tasted it, only to whimper and stare at him in shock. "I'm sorry, but I don't think this will be adequate," she admitted, sweat threatening to drip from her face.

In a fluid movement, Arnold rose from his seat and moved closer to her. Taking a clean spoon from the counter, he tasted the soup himself. "Actually, it's very good," he said with a little smile, much to her disarray.

-

When Rishe first started living alone, Professor Hakurei kindly offered her a room in her apartment. However, Rishe was determined to be independent, so instead, the professor taught her a few basics of cooking. Or was it preparing medicinal herbs? Either way, Rishe learned the basics to prioritize her health when it came to her meals at home.

Although her culinary skills were still developing and her food tended to be a bit bland, Rishe didn't mind. So, she was surprised when Arnold Hein not only ate two portions of the vegetable soup she had just prepared but also complimented it several times. She couldn't help but wonder if he had lost his ability to taste food, but she didn't mean to be rude after he showed her so much kindness, opting instead to observe him quietly.

"My father disowned me too, for a brief period," Arnold revealed after finishing the second plate of soup.

"Really?" Rishe's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I never knew that."

"He sent me abroad to fend for myself when I turned 18," Arnold explained calmly. "Said I should never come back. He changed his mind eventually, though. I guess he didn't want the scandal to damage the Galkhein name." He spoke with his tone remarkably composed as he recounted his bitter past. "I met a friend abroad, someone who was also facing disdain from his family. We joined forces and started a new company. While I didn't have jewels to pawn," he smiled at her, "I had saved some money, so Oliver and I had a good start. My father only changed his mind when he saw me as a threat. So, I returned to this country just a few days before your birthday."

Rishe was stunned into silence by his revelation, staring at him in disbelief.

"No one knows Oliver is my partner, though. We want everybody else to think he's my assistant director or something like that. I trust your discretion in this matter." Rishe nodded and he smiled again.

"Why did you come back?" She asked, genuine curiosity in her voice.

"It's not yet the time to reveal all, but know that I'm working to correct my father's mistakes and take Galkhein from him," Arnold explained cryptically.

"And where do I fit into this plan?" Rishe inquired.

"I know you won't be able to do much about your parents and the Hermity family, but I know about their money laundering scheme, and I want to expose them without damaging your reputation. I also know your grandmother's ledger is with you, and that's the starting point for your own pharmaceutical company. Furthermore, I've been in talks with some companies that are eager to work with Valkyrie's true successor, and I want to be your partner in that endeavor," He said with a proud glint in his eyes.

"But... We don't need to marry to become business partners. Why do you want to marry me?" Rishe questioned, a hint of skepticism creeping into her tone.

"Because I fell for you," Arnold replied, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "Ever since you threw me that apple."

Rishe rolled her eyes, a mix of irritation and amusement flickering across her features. "I'm sure you jest," she remarked dryly as she stood up to clear the plates, feeling a bit exasperated by his teasing.

Arnold snickered lightly. "We can discuss the details of our arrangement tomorrow morning when the lawyers are present. Thank you for the meal," he said, rising from his seat.

"Where are you going?" Rishe inquired, a hint of confusion in her voice.

"Home. I have to pick you up quite early tomorrow," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact as he headed towards her, "but let me do the dishes first."

"It's pretty late, and the commute to uptown is quite long... You can sleep on the couch if you'd prefer," she replied with the same matter-of-fact tone as he washed the dishes. "It's late now; I don't think we will be able to sleep much either way."

"Oh," Arnold said teasingly, "I didn't know you were so eager to sleep close to me."

Rishe blushed furiously and stared at him in disbelief. Arnold laughed. She was torn between seeing his rare, beautiful smile so close and being mercilessly teased by him. Her heart fluttered nonetheless.

"Don't put it like that," she pleaded. "Or you can have the bed, and I will be fine on the couch."

"How rude of me as your guest," He said, a smile still on his face, "I shall do whatever my future wife commands."

-

After a sleepless night, Rishe gathered her grandmother's ledger, some other important belongings and left her apartment. 

Arnold Hein was waiting for her on his motorcycle, holding out an extra helmet to her.

With their bodies close and a newfound comfort between them, they commuted to his office, ready to discuss their marriage terms. 

His office was pretty close to the coffee shop where she worked, so since they arrived a little early, Rishe asked Arnold if they could stop to grab coffee for everybody.

Raul was working on his shift that morning, and he wore a surprised expression when he saw Rishe and Arnold come in together.

"Good morning, Raul! Can we please order to go-" Rishe said, while Arnold took out his card to pay.

While they were waiting, Arnold left to take a call from Oliver.

"Rishe, is everything okay?" Raul asked, warily.

"Yes, everything is fine. Why do you ask, Raul?" She asked, confused.

"Your boyfriend stares at me like he wants to murder me" Raul confessed. 

"He can be very serious, but he won't do anything, I promise." Rishe felt a little weird about Raul referring to Arnold as her boyfriend, but she smiled politely.

"Good," Raul replied, "I was kinda worried about you that day he came here out of the blue."

"We were in a weird place," Rishe started, immersing herself in thought, "But we're doing fine now."

Raul still seemed a little wary of Arnold, but he nodded and finished preparing the coffees. 

When things were settled, Arnold came back to the shop, his eyebrows furrowed.

"We should go," Arnold said in a serious tone. Rishe nodded.

"See you tomorrow, Raul!" As they left the café, Arnold seemed a bit nervous, but Rishe decided it was best to ask when they were not in public.

As the elevator doors closed, she couldn't help her curiosity, "What's wrong?"

Arnold sighed and hesitated, "You remember my half-brother, Theodore?"

Rishe and Theodore were in the same class during middle school, and in the first year of high school, he was sent abroad by their father. They weren't close because of their families' beef, but Rishe remembers he was a bright kid, though he would keep to himself most of the time. She nodded in response to Arnold.

"Good. Now if he tries to get close to you, let me know," He said in a very serious tone, "Because he came back to town yesterday, same as Dietrich. Stay away from him, Rishe."

And she couldn't help but nod before the elevator doors opened.

Chapter Text

"How interesting," Theodore murmured, his eyes fixed on his computer screen. The security footage displayed Arnold and Rishe in the Hein family's hotel lobby. Arnold, dressed in a tuxedo but with his jacket draped over Rishe's shoulders. "My brother brought a girl back to the hotel... And not just any girl, but Rishe Irmgard Weitzner... Wasn't she someone's fiancée?"

"Isn't that the one whose fiancé broke their engagement and then her parents disowned her, all on the same night during her birthday party?" Kamil responded, his eyes glued to his own computer screen. Theodore stared at him, shocked.

"And how would you know that before me?" Theodore demanded, typing furiously and then sighing as he checked the information on a gossip page. "How gallant of my brother, to save the damsel in distress."

"Elsie was rambling about it," Kamil said, the thought of Elsie making him glance at Theodore. "I don't mean to be rude, but don't you think that stalking your brother is a bit much?"

"I'm not stalking him," Theodore retorted with a pout. "So, Elsie was at the party?"

"Changing the subject, are we?" Kamil chuckled. "Yes, she was working that night, and she said they were particularly nasty to the girl. She didn't say a thing about your brother, though."

Theodore leaned back in his chair, considering Kamil's words. "Interesting... Arnold never gets involved in these kinds of things. Why would he go out of his way for Rishe?"

Theodore stared at the screen in silence. He knew his brother was recently allowed back, but Theodore wasn't exactly forbidden to return. He preferred to keep his distance from the family and the drama, working with his philanthropic foundation and studying computer science abroad. His brother being far brought him a bit of comfort, at least he would be away from their father. He made sure to keep watch over his brother to make sure he was doing well. His hacking skills could get him so far, though. But now Arnold was summoned to go back and work with the family business all of a sudden. Thinking about that made Theodore shiver. What was Arnold really up to? Should he use his hacking skills to delete any registration of his brother's antics? Or did he intend to be caught on camera with that girl? Was this a part of his grand return plan? He sighed, his big brother had always been a mystery to him and it was so frustrating.

"Brother and Rishe... What a peculiar match." Theodore thought out loud. Kamil came close to him and checked the still of the recording Theodore had been staring at.

"You know her?" Kamil asked. Theodore nodded.

"We studied together, she was the top of our class, a prodigy in any field she touched, but her family and fiancee were a bother. We weren't close though, my father has some old feud with them over business." Theodore smirked. "Maybe that's brother's type: smart, well-born, and still an act of defiance. I guess I'll have to keep an eye on the lovebirds for a while."

A couple of months passed, and for some reason, trying to catch up with Arnold and Rishe had become almost a hobby for Theodore. He knew firsthand that both the Weitzner and Hermity families were trying to track her down, but apparently, so was his brother. That piqued Theodore's curiosity even further. The most ironic part was that one of Rishe's part-time jobs was very close to Arnold's office. The idea of Arnold bumping into Rishe while trying so hard to find her amused Theodore. He even felt compelled to tip his brother off, but then Arnold would find out that Theodore was spying on them, and that wouldn't end well.

Theodore decided to try and reach Oliver, hoping to find out if he should at least erase some of his brother's footsteps, but Oliver also ignored his calls. Frustrated, Theodore began to consider returning home. Perhaps he should invite his brother for coffee at Rishe's workplace and see how things unfolded. One day, while leaning back in his chair, staring at his computer screen filled with various surveillance footage and snippets of information, Kamil started to reprimand him. Theodore would just pout and listen, knowing Kamil would never understand how he felt like he was finally doing something to protect his brother.

"Hey Kamil, I have a favor to ask." Kamil, though irritated by Theodore's apparent disregard for his words, listened anyway. The prospect of going back to work close to Elsie made it hard for him to refuse. So Kamil went back and started working under Oliver's supervision. Theodore felt lonely, but now he had information from the inside, making it easier to forward the details he gathered. Kamil and Elsie were childhood friends, and although Kamil had platonic feelings for her, they were very close. Now both were working at the same place, with Kamil in the IT division and Elsie as one of Oliver's most trusted assistants.

Theodore put his plan into motion, asking Kamil to take Elsie for coffee at Tokyo Café, where she bought some coffee to take back to the office. For some reason, no one seemed to understand, Arnold seemed to really enjoy the coffee from there, so their visits to Tokyo Café became regular. One day, during a crisis meeting, Oliver had to buy coffee for a very grumpy boss who hadn't slept in two days. At first, he thought he had seen the attendant's face somewhere, but since he had met many women, he pushed those thoughts away as he returned to the office with Arnold's coffee in hand.

Back at the office, Oliver handed the coffee to Arnold, who took a sip and visibly relaxed.

"This is the only thing keeping me sane right now," he muttered. Oliver's curiosity got the better of him.

"I wonder... Why do you enjoy this brew so much?" Oliver asked casually.

Arnold scowled at him. "It's plain coffee, not too sour, not too sweet. A perfectly balanced dose of caffeine."

Oliver smirked. "The girl who brews it... She's very pretty." Arnold completely ignored Oliver's comment, returning to work. "Maybe one of these days you should buy me coffee and ask for her number."

Arnold's brows furrowed. "What's with this nonsense? We have a lot of work to do."

"I know you're looking very hard for the Weitzner girl," Oliver said, an irritating smirk still on his face. "But there are plenty of fish in the ocean."

Arnold still looked impassive. "None of them is her."

"But she was really pretty. I'm sure my lord would be pleased by her looks. It wouldn't hurt you to talk to females." Oliver continued to tease him.

"Stop calling me that, and I talk to females all the time," Arnold said, his eyes still on the report he was finishing.

"Employees of our company don't count," Oliver said as he sat on the couch and stretched his arms. "Everybody could use a break, you know, we'll all die from overworking under your guidance."

"I will buy you coffee next time if you stop bothering me right now," Arnold said, scowling at Oliver, who chuckled, satisfied.

"Very well, make sure to ask for her number then," Oliver said while leaving Arnold's office.

Meanwhile, Theodore felt a mix of satisfaction and nervous anticipation, as he now was keeping a close watch on the Hermity and Weitzner families as well. He hoped his meddling wouldn't backfire, but for now, he was content to watch the drama play out. Then one day, what he expected the most happened. Arnold walked into Tokyo Café and met the woman he was trying so hard to find.

Theodore was both nervous and excited as he watched the recording of them talking in the street. His brother's face was very different from his usual impassive glance. Something really happened between them that night at the hotel. He almost dropped the popcorn he was munching as his phone rang.

"Her coworker is a private detective. He just tipped the Hermitys," Kamil's voice said in a low but hurried tone. "They know she's with Arnold. You take it from here."

Theodore immediately started to work on tracking Dietrich Hermity's actions, and an alert for a plane ticket reservation for the following day popped up. But how could he tip his brother that his beloved Rishe was in trouble? And then... it hit him. Arnold may not have found her on his own, but the Hein family kept a very close watch on their children. Theodore packed his belongings and rushed to the airport, making a reservation for the same flight as Dietrich. 'If they check the passenger list, they will see my name right next to his. I will have given him the information without having to say a thing!'

As Theodore made his move, as predicted, Oliver also came to know that very quickly.

Oliver walked into Arnold's office with a serious look on his face. "Arnold, we need to talk."

Arnold looked up, sensing the urgency. "What is it?"

"There's been a development," Oliver said, lowering his voice. "The Hermitys are making a move. Dietrich has booked a flight and is coming over. But guess who else is on that flight? Theodore."

Arnold's eyes narrowed. "Why would he be coming back?"

"Maybe he's also tired of being exiled," Oliver guessed.

Arnold stood up, determination in his eyes. "I can't deal with Theodore right now. But we must hurry. Ask someone to cancel all my meetings. We need to make sure the Hermitys don't get close to Rishe."

Oliver nodded, already pulling out his phone to make the necessary arrangements. "I'll handle it. Let's make sure she's safe."

As Arnold and Oliver rushed to the airport, Theodore sat on the plane, avoiding Dietrich as they boarded. He hoped his plan would work and that his brother would understand the message. He just needed to buy them enough time to protect Rishe.

Chapter Text

The elevator doors opened with a bell. Rishe and Arnold stepped out, witnessing an unusual scene unfold. Oliver was chatting happily with Miss Diana, but she maintained a serious and composed posture. As Rishe and Arnold approached, they could hear Oliver's words.

"I graduated a couple of years before you, so you should call me senior," Oliver smiled at Diana, but her expression remained unfazed.

"I'm sure a true senior would be much more considerate than you're being right now, Mr. Friedheim," Diana said, her tone solemn.

Oliver's smile dropped a little in frustration, but Rishe chuckled at the scene. Miss Diana was indeed such an inspiration.

"Forgive my lawyer's rude behavior, Miss," Arnold apologized earnestly, offering the hand that was not holding the coffees for her to shake. She politely shook his hand and then returned to her former position.

"Are you sure you want to proceed with him as your lawyer, Mr. Hein? I can recommend a senior or two who can behave properly. I'm afraid this lawyer will be somewhat inadequate to work with a name such as yours," Diana replied. Oliver seemed to grow more frustrated but ignored them, turning to offer his hand for Rishe to shake.

"It's good to finally meet you officially, Miss Weitzner," he said as Rishe shook his hand in return. "I'm Oliver Laurents Friedheim, but you can call me Oliver."

"Nice to officially meet you, Oliver. I brought coffee for my regular customers," Rishe smiled politely at him, handing him a cup.

"Thank you, Miss Weitzner," Oliver said, his frustration easing slightly as he took the coffee. "Your coffee brewing is indeed superb, no wonder mister Hein decided to snatch you."

"Please don't mind his nonsense, he's a good lawyer despite having a bad personality," Arnold said apologetically as he handed the other coffee to Diana, who accepted it with a nod of gratitude. "Shall we proceed with the meeting?" Arnold suggested, steering the conversation back to business.

As they moved to the conference room, Diana gave Oliver a sidelong glance. "I hope your behavior improves, Mr. Friedheim. This is a significant matter we're dealing with."

Oliver nodded, a smile still on his face. "I'll do my best to meet your expectations, Miss Diana."

Rishe chuckled lightly and Arnold whispered, "I'm sorry for Oliver."

"It's okay," She whispered back. "I'm sure he's just trying to break the ice."

They were so busy whispering to each other that they failed to notice Diana and Oliver's glances at them.

"This is not the occasion to break the ice, please extend my apologies to Miss Diana," He whispered to Rishe.

Rishe nodded as they took their seats and the contract discussion began.

-

"Is it really necessary that both parties keep living under the same roof?" Diana asked, her tone professional.

"Well, it came to our knowledge that Miss Weitzner's family and the Hermity family hired a private detective to keep an eye on her. The private detective did report back to them when he found out Miss Weitzner had a 'boyfriend', which brought Dietrich to her doorstep. We don't want that to happen again, that's why we insist on the housing arrangement for security reasons. Even if they cut you off from their inheritance, you still have legal breaches to act against them if you wish." Oliver replied, his tone now much more serious than before.

"So you're saying they cut ties with me but still want to keep me in check?" Rishe asked, her stomach twisted into a knot.

"They probably didn't think you would have escaped as you did. The minute they lost control over you, they realized you were a threat," Arnold explained.

"I don't want anything to do with them anymore," Rishe started, her stomach hurting a bit. "Why can't they just leave me alone?"

"I'm afraid Mr. Friedheim is not wrong, Miss Weitzner," Diana replied. "You can still take legal action against your family. They can't deny your birthright. And if you marry, your husband may become the inheritor as well. Even though it's antiquated, there are precedents."

Rishe glanced at Arnold for a while.

"We can add a clause in the contract regarding this matter. I have no interest in stealing your rights from you," Arnold said, his cold blue eyes glinting warmly at her. "I'm interested in what we can build together from now on. Whatever comes from your family is yours to administer."

"You intend on keeping all of the assets separate?" Diana asked.

"I want Rishe to be the sole inheritor of what I may own. And I have no interest in inheriting anything from her," Arnold said firmly.

"But... why?" Rishe asked, confused.

"You know our families had a feud years ago. We wanted to invest in your grandmother's company, but she wouldn't accept. She knew my father was a bad person and didn't want to tarnish Valkyrie's good reputation with his bad practices. He tried very hard to sabotage her business afterward, causing her to lose a lot of money. I want to pay that back," Arnold explained calmly. "Your parents made a lot of mistakes after your grandmother's death, but I can't hold that against you. They don't have the brains you do."

He continued, "I want to help you build your company with your grandmother's legacy. I have business expertise; you have the biochemical potential. The Coyolles heir is very interested in working with you. His head of research approached me a while ago. Apparently, he worked with your grandmother in the past."

Rishe's mind was racing. The blend of anger and anxiety made her stomach clench tighter. She glanced at Arnold, his expression sincere.

"And what if my company fails?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"We have a very good team involved," Oliver said. "Some of them were personally trained by me. Me and Arnold are young, but we have a strong background in running a business. And we chose to support you, as a way of fixing the mistakes from the past."

Rishe stared at Arnold, remembering the mischievous glint in his eyes when she asked him why he wanted to marry her.

"Because I fell for you, ever since you threw me that apple."

"Then... We'll be business partners. What if..." She swallowed dry, the question was looming around her mind ever since he proposed. "What if one of us wants to have a real relationship?"

Diana and Oliver stared at Arnold to check his reaction. He was impassive as ever and replied.

"I don't intend to have a relationship at all. You don't need to worry about it. And you're free to do as you please, as long as it doesn't come in the way of our arrangement."

Rishe felt her stomach ache rise to her chest as he replied. They stood in silence for a while.

"The Hein family doesn't believe in love marriages, I'm sure your family thinks similarly." He said after the weird silence. "So I'll be satisfied with having a wife I chose. I can't stop you from wanting more than that."

"I understand," Rishe said, though the discomfort in her chest remained. Why? Did she expect a different answer? "I was raised believing marriage was a way to protect my family. Now I'll protect both myself and the husband of my choice."

Arnold stared back at her with a quizzical look on his face.

"I guess we need to review some of the terms and we're settled then. Miss Diana, would you be so kind as to accompany me for a while?" Oliver said, rising from his seat. Diana walked outside of the meeting room alongside him.

After a moment of silence, Rishe spoke again, the words escaping her mouth on a whim. "Why do people think you're cruel? Ever since you helped me out of my parent's place, you showed me nothing but consideration and kindness."

"Don't be so naïve," He replied, his voice cold as ice. "If you wish to survive in this business world, you can't afford to think like that."

"I trust the actions you showed towards me," She retorted, stubbornly.

"You have no idea what you're saying," Arnold cut her off.

"This contract is completely selfless, you are basically giving me full control of everything you own, how can you say you're not kind?" She stood up, the frustration from the past days boiling over.

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm using you." He said as he stepped closer to her.

"Even so, I can't think of you as someone cruel," She faced him, annoyed. He grabbed her wrist.

"You said I shouldn't touch you, how do you feel now that I'm breaking the promise I made?" He snarled.

"You'll have to find a way to pay me back, won't you, husband?" She stared fiercely into his eyes, and Arnold took a step back, his expression confused.

"Why don't you fear me?" He asked, eyes locked onto Rishe's.

"I fear a great deal of things, but I feel we are very much alike, so I can't fear someone who is just like me, as naïve as that may make me." She replied, her heart pounding on her chest. "I will fight until the end to correct the mistakes my family made. If those are your terms, then I'm all in."

Arnold snickered and came closer to her, holding her chin up to face him.

"Do you remember that night, when I asked you what you wanted most in life?" He asked her, his breath tickling her cheeks. Her face burned bright red at the memory.

"I- I-" Rishe stuttered.

He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, his voice husky and low.

"You are too smart to be this foolish, Rishe." He murmured, stepping back and returning to his seat as Oliver and Diana's footsteps approached.

-

"We thank you both for your patience in closing this marvelous deal. We'll make sure everything is smooth and efficient." Oliver stated, his tone professional yet caring.

As they wrapped up the meeting and were meant to leave, Oliver handed Diana his business card with a charming smile. "Feel free to reach out if you need anything. It was a pleasure meeting you."

Diana raised an eyebrow but remained unfazed by his subtle flirting. "No need for that," She replied, tucking his card away in her case.

Once the formalities were concluded, Arnold turned to Rishe. "I can say as your husband, it would be wise for you to clear your schedule as much as possible to focus on college and your company," he advised.

"I'll consider it," Rishe replied, the recent tension between them still palpable, even after signing the contracts.

"I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable. I will refrain from touching you from now on," Arnold said in a low voice, ensuring only she would hear it. Rishe felt her stomach drop, but she kept herself composed. "And you can ask for anything you wish as a way to make amends."

"I'll think about it. Thank you for apologizing; I may have overreacted," she replied, feeling slightly relieved.

"Let us know if you need help with moving," Oliver interjected, joining the conversation.

"I surely will," Rishe smiled politely.

"Oh, that reminds me, we have to introduce you to your new assistant!" Oliver said as he typed furiously on his phone. "She will be here any minute now!"

"Thank you both for your kindness," Rishe expressed her gratitude once more.

"If you need anything, Miss Weitzner, don't be afraid to reach out," Diana said.

"Thank you, Miss Diana, we'll surely invite you to the ceremony." Rishe smiled warmly at her lawyer, whom she had grown to admire..

Rushed footsteps echoed in the hallway, and a blond girl appeared, bowing her head respectfully towards them.

"Ah, Elsie, there you are!" Oliver exclaimed. "Miss Weitzner, please meet Elsie; she's your personal assistant from now on."

"It's a pleasure, Miss Weitzner. I'm honored to be working with you," Elsie said, her voice filled with profound admiration.

"No need for such formalities; you can call me Rishe," she replied, smiling kindly at the girl.

"Thank you so much, Miss Rishe," Elsie responded, her eyes shining with admiration, almost as if she was about to cry with happiness.

"I will be under your care," Rishe smiled warmly at Elsie.

"Well, now that you are acquainted, I will show Miss Diana the way out, and I guess Mister Hein should go back to his office, as he has a huge amount of work he left off since yesterday," Oliver said, a mischievous look on his face.

Arnold met his gaze with an impassive look. "Don't be rude to Miss Diana anymore, and come to my office afterward."

Oliver nodded and left, accompanying Miss Diana.

"Rishe, I'll see you sometime soon," He said.

As Arnold was about to leave, though, Rishe reminisced about his words.
"I won't be in your way for most of the day."
Her chest felt a bit compressed again, then she impulsively reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt. Arnold stopped in his tracks, surprised by the unexpected gesture. Both were instantly reminded of the night at the hotel, the tension palpable in the air between them.

Blushing furiously, Rishe struggled to find her voice. "Don't be a stranger," she finally managed, her eyes meeting his with a blend of determination and vulnerability.

Arnold's expression softened, a rare warmth in his gaze. "I won't," he promised.

With that, Rishe turned and left with Elsie, who was ready to show her around the building. As they walked away, Arnold watched her go, the unusual warmth of his cold eyes still lingering for a moment longer.

Chapter Text

Rishe laid in her new bed, staring at the ceiling of her new room. Her lower back hurt a bit after she and Elsie packed her belongings. It wasn't much, but it was tiring all the same. The new home was a very nice house in the suburbs. She had the impression they would share an apartment, but Oliver had said something about how they decided to renovate the apartment to make some adjustments, so they would spend some time in the house before moving back to the city.

To be completely honest, she preferred it that way. She missed her garden back at her parent's mansion, and being able to enjoy nature made her really happy. 'I must ask for permission to use the garden to plant a few herbs, it will come in handy with my research.' She thought to herself.

Rishe felt a bit embarrassed as she thought about asking for Arnold's permission. Whatever happened between them during the audience still made her chest feel tight.

"Do you remember that night, when I asked you what you wanted most in life?"
He approached her face to his and whispered in her ear, his voice husky and low.
"You are too smart to be this foolish, Rishe."

She buried her face in a pillow, mortified by the memory. But putting those thoughts aside, something else nagged at her—the private detective who had reported she had a 'boyfriend.' The day Arnold proposed to her, there had been three other people at the café, but only one had been close enough to hear when Arnold claimed he was her boyfriend. Her stomach churned at the thought. Maybe Arnold was right; maybe she was naïve to trust people so easily. But after Raul had told her his sister's story, she believed he was a good person. She was supposed to work at the café the next day, and she resolved to gather her courage to confront him.

Rishe opened her laptop and logged into her email, hoping to find something to distract her from the swirling thoughts and emotions that had occupied her mind all evening. As the inbox loaded, she absentmindedly scrolled through the usual mix of promotional emails and spam, until a very awaited e-mail caught her eye.

"Congratulations! You've been accepted for the summer job." Her heart skipped a beat. She clicked on the email with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. The message opened to a warm letter from the resort manager. Rishe's eyes widened as she continued reading. She had almost forgotten about this application. It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, driven by her longing to see the sea and experience something new. Now, the prospect of spending the summer by the ocean filled her with a sense of exhilaration.

A smile slowly spread across her face as she imagined herself working by the beach, the salty breeze in her hair, and the sound of waves in the background. It was exactly the kind of change she needed, a chance to step away from the chaos of her recent life and find some peace. She quickly scanned the rest of the email, noting the details about her start date, the accommodations provided, and the tasks she would be responsible for. It all sounded perfect. For a moment, the worries about her current situation faded away, replaced by a sense of anticipation and hope.

Rishe closed her laptop and lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling with excitement. She couldn't wait to tell Arnold she was going to spend the summer by the beach. Maybe he would be able to tag along and they would take long walks on the beach together. She felt ashamed again for making plans to spend time with Arnold, her face burned as she buried her face in the pillow once more. But... Wait. Wasn't the wedding going to happen by the end of summer? She would have to discuss her plans with Arnold to avoid issues. They were bound by a contract after all.

-

Arnold was cramped at work. He had left early the previous day because of Dietrich and Theodore's arrival. He followed Dietrich while Oliver followed Theodore and made sure he wasn't going into trouble. Rishe did occupy a lot of space in his mind lately, but he was trying very hard to finish his work for the day, she was all alone at home and he hated to think that he was the reason she might be feeling lonely.
When he finally finished the last task, his phone rang, and it wasn't a call he could refuse.

"Yes?" He said.

"Hello, mister Arnold," Lowein's voice rang in his ear. "I'm glad you picked up the phone this time."

"How can I help you?" He replied, his tone almost bored.

"Your father received your report and asked me to give you an immediate reply," Lowein continued.

"He's unable to call me himself?" Arnold retorted.

"Your father is busy in a meeting with the Governor, so he is not available at the moment," Lowen replied politely.

"And what is his reply?" Arnold asked, already bored of the conversation.

"He said he approves of your marriage to the Weitzner girl," Lowein answered, "And he's looking forward to the day her assets are incorporated to Galkhein."

"Of course he is," Arnold snickered. "Should I add him to the ceremony's guest list?"

"That will not be necessary at the moment," Lowein answered impassively, "But he will set up a reunion when he has the time."

"Of course. Have a good evening." Arnold said and hung up immediately, his head hurt a bit from the effort of talking to his father's secretary.

With a sigh, he pushed his chair back and stood up, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The fluorescent lights of his office seemed harsher than usual, casting an unforgiving glare on the paperwork strewn across his desk. He glanced at the clock—it was later than he thought. He had hoped to get home earlier, to spend some time with Rishe, but now it seemed like she might be asleep by the time he arrived.

As he gathered his things, his thoughts drifted to her. He remembered her expression from that morning, the way her eyes seemed to lack their usual spark. He wanted to be there for her, to make sure she felt safe and not alone in the unfamiliar environment. The thought of her waiting for him in that big, empty house filled him with a sense of urgency.

'She’s probably making herself busy already,' he mused. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at him.

Arnold made his way out of the office, the halls empty and echoing with his footsteps. As he stepped outside, the cool night air hit him, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of his workplace. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind, and headed to his car.

'Theodore and now my father. What a handful of the Hein family to deal with in the same week.' He thought, tired. He barely slept in the previous night, not because of the discomfort of laying in the couch, but because of the proximity he was to her. He meant when he said he had no intention of having a relationship, but sometimes it was really hard to hold back when Rishe was around.

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle it if she has a relationship with someone else?" Oliver had asked him earlier.

"I don't intend to keep her as a caged bird," He replied, frustrated with his own answer, but knowing he did what was right.

"Why marry her then?" Oliver asked, an annoying know-it-all expression on his face.

"Because I want to protect her," Arnold replied for the thousandth time. Oliver sighed.

"You should at least have told her you were free to have a relationship too," Oliver said in frustration, "Now she'll think you want nothing to do with her."

"It may be for the best," Arnold replied dryly as he felt his stomach drop. There was no point in lying to himself, he and Rishe should keep it short and professional. Daydreaming about all of the things he wanted to do with her was just a waste of time and energy.

"I'll never understand that about you, Arnold," Oliver said, his tone unusually serious, "Just because your family treated you like garbage, it doesn't mean you can't find someone to love you." Arnold ignored him, the subject was discussed tirelessly after the years they spent together. Oliver sighed and continued his report, "Well, Theodore moved to your apartment building, so I told Rishe the apartment is going through renovations and moved her to the suburbs house. I had a team pack your stuff and move it all there too."

"That's good, she will like the garden," Arnold said, remembering the glow on her face when she saw the fireflies on the balcony of the hotel.

As he thought about her, Arnold remembered to check the chat with Theodore, which he had kept on mute for ages. Several messages had accumulated over the past few months, and it almost made him feel bad for ignoring him. Arnold sighed and decided to type a reply.

"Don't get into trouble with Father," he typed. It seemed too protective. He erased the message.

"Don't come close to me or my fiancée." Still, it wasn't the message he wanted to deliver. He erased it all.

"Don't be impulsive." That also didn't seem proper enough to send to his estranged brother, so he decided silence was the best option. He locked his phone and put it aside as he drove his way back home.

When Arnold arrived home, he found Rishe asleep, curled up with a book on the couch. She was probably waiting for him when she fell asleep. He felt a pang of guilt for making her wait and decided to carry her back to her room. Gently, he scooped her up, careful not to wake her. As he placed her in her bed, she tossed and turned, mumbling softly in her sleep.

Arnold chuckled quietly, his chest warming at the sight. Using the tips of his long, slender fingers, he brushed the hair away from her face, revealing her peaceful expression. He pulled the blanket up, tucking her in securely.

Just as he was about to leave her room, he heard her whisper in a husky voice, "Welcome home."

Startled but touched, Arnold turned back to her. "You too," he whispered back, his voice barely audible. He stood there for a moment, watching her as she settled back into a deep sleep. A soft smile formed on his lips as he quietly exited the room, closing the door gently behind him.

Chapter Text

Rishe woke up in her bed the following morning. At first, she thought it was a little weird since she remembered reading on the couch while waiting for Arnold to come home. Then, the faint memory of Arnold carrying her to her bed and tucking her in made her gasp. Embarrassed for even saying "Welcome home" to him, Rishe decided to cool down under a cold shower before showing her face for breakfast.

Luckily for her, Arnold had hired people to cook, clean, and manage the house, so she could focus on work and study only. After dressing for her first day at the office, she hurried down the stairs, nearly colliding with Arnold. His hair and shirt were damp with sweat, the fabric clinging to his skin and highlighting his broad chest and abs. Rishe tried her best not to stare, meeting his eyes quickly. The embarrassment from the previous night was nothing compared to the shock of seeing him like this so early in the morning.

“Morning,” she said, her face flushing.

“Morning,” he replied.

They stood in silence for a moment. Rishe’s mind raced, trying to find something to say that wasn't about his looks, but she accepted defeat.

“Nice workout?” she blurted out, cursing herself as soon as the words left her mouth.

“Mhm,” he replied simply, his large hand brushing his damp hair from his face so his eyes could meet hers.

Rishe forgot how to breathe as she admired his perfect features, sculpted as if by a Renaissance artist. She wondered what had taken her so long to notice his incredible handsomeness, leaving her speechless.

Arnold seemed to sense something was amiss. He interrupted the silence, “Have some breakfast. I’ll shower and then give you a ride to the city.” Unfazed, he moved away.

“Okay,” Rishe said, hurrying down the stairs and nearly tripping on the last step. She managed to catch herself, avoiding a fall.

‘How can I ever get used to his distracting, unparalleled beauty?’ she wondered as she sat down and poured herself some coffee. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of flowers from the garden. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart.

-

As Arnold drove his car back to the city, Rishe admired the changing landscape, avoiding his gaze at all costs after embarrassing herself on the staircase. She focused on the work she would start at the office, thinking about project ideas to discuss with Arnold and Oliver. He had designated an office for her inside his company headquarters, fortunately somewhat far from his own office.

“I will set up a meeting with Kyle Cleverly next week,” he said after they had sat in awkward silence for a while.

“I appreciate it,” she replied, turning her gaze back to him.

“We should start assembling a team to help you,” he remarked, finding that talking about work was easier.

“Do you have any suggestions?” she asked, interested.

“We have a list of trustworthy employees that you can interview. Oliver and I handpicked them.”

“I’m sure they will be qualified,” Rishe said simply.

Silence filled the space between them once more.

“You can ask for a driver to take you to university when you have classes,” he suggested.

“I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.” Another round of awkward silence ensued.

“Oh, I wanted to ask you last night, can I grow a small field in the garden? It’s for research purposes,” her eyes glinted with anticipation.

“You should make yourself at home,” he said, his tone unexpectedly cold.

Rishe thought his tone was odd, but she brushed it off as her imagination.

“There is something else I need to discuss with you,” she continued. “I applied for a summer job a couple of months ago and I was accepted. It’s at a summer club by the beach.” Suddenly, she felt really nervous about suggesting her summer plan.

“You should do as you please, but depending on the summer club, I might let you stay at one of my properties,” he replied, still with that strange tone.

“Won’t you come along?” she asked, her frustration peeking through.

“Do you want me to come along?” he asked in return.

“Do you want to come along?” she countered.

Arnold finally glanced at her, and it seemed to improve his mood.

“I’m sorry for making you wait for me last night,” he said suddenly.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, I had a good book about plants keeping me company,” she replied, a bit relieved.

“That being said,” he continued, “I may accompany you to the beach, but I need to check my office schedule first. Send me the details and we’ll make an arrangement.”

She clasped her hands together in excitement and smiled. “Great news! I think you could use some relaxation in the sun too.”

Arnold nodded back, his usual impassive expression returning.

“Is that your request to forgive me for breaking my promise?” he asked.

“Oh no, your debt has increased immensely after last night,” she blurted out and immediately regretted it.

“Funny of you to mention debt,” he replied teasingly.

“I will pay you back, I just didn’t specify when,” she retorted, trying to match his teasing tone.

“Do you mean to say we’re even?” He stole a glance at her while waiting for the light to change.

Rishe immediately felt her face heat up and covered her cheeks.

Arnold chuckled at the effect he had on her. “I just decided your interest rate is rising exponentially today,” she retorted.

He chuckled again, and Rishe could swear she saw his eyes soften a bit.

-

Rishe walked briskly through the city streets towards the café, her mind occupied with the series of interviews she had conducted earlier. She had decided to keep a small, efficient team for starters. Elsie had recommended her childhood friend, Kamil, who had very good cybersecurity skills, which could come in handy.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the café. The familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee, once invigorating, now made her anxious. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The café was half empty, with only a few regulars working on their laptops and sipping drinks. Raul was behind the counter, and he waved at her. Gathering her courage, she walked up to him.

“Hey Raul, can we talk?” she asked, trying to control the storm of emotions within her.

“Sure, Rishe. Are you okay?” he said in a tranquil tone.

"It depends on what you're going to answer me," she said, clenching her fists.

His expression turned serious. "I think we need to have this conversation somewhere more private."

“I'm not going anywhere.” Her voice trembled a bit, but she steadied herself. “I know that you are a private detective.” She searched his face for any sign of guilt. As he remained impassive, she continued, “You are reporting my every move to the Hermity family, aren’t you?”

His face finally showed some emotion, but instead of confirming his guilt, he burst out laughing. Rishe stared at him like he was mad as he rubbed his eyes. His laughter was so loud some of the clients glanced at them. That made her even more furious.

"Raul," she said with a trembling voice, "this isn't funny."

His laughter only grew louder. When he finally recovered, he said loudly, “Whoa, Rishe, didn’t take you for a comedian.” She felt lost and angry, but then he motioned towards the manager's room. “Wait here, I have a little gift for you.”

Rishe was dumbfounded, but she did wait. Two clients left in the meantime, leaving only three people behind. She kept waiting, growing nervous and impatient. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, she pushed the door to the office open and went in. As soon as she entered, Raul pushed her against the wall, immobilizing her and closing the door.

"I'm really sorry, Rishe, but I can't risk you ruining my business," he said, his face close to hers in a menacing way.

"Get off me," she struggled, wincing at his grip, but he was strong. She was pretty sure she could set herself free once he got distracted.

"Now listen here, princess, before you come here and tarnish my good name, let me tell you how a good private detective does his job," Raul said, a side smirk on his face as he brought his face closer to hers. "First, we observe. And we observe your every movement, where you go, what you do, when, with whom, and how. We know what you had for breakfast, we know what shirt you used without laundering it, we observe, we study, we get to know our target in ways no one else knows, not even yourself. We don't play little games with our target," he continued, getting even closer, making Rishe whine at his proximity. "You may be a pretty little thing and smart regarding academics, but you lack a lot of observation skills for a rich girl of your stand," he said, his tone now angry. "The audacity of coming here and accusing me of such a lousy job when I was the one saving your back..."

"W-What do you mean saving my back?? You were the one who heard Arnold when-" Rishe started to say, but he cut her off, banging on the wall next to her, then hanging his head while he laughed like a madman.

"Your precious boyfriend thought I was the one who sold you?? Is that why he looked at me like I was a piece of trash??" He started laughing again. He let her go and went to his desk, retrieving a folder and handing it to her. "This is my gift to you. This lousy bastard came to my café to spy on you every single day. He was so lousy I caught him many times and even told him off, but he always came back during your shifts, so I asked you to switch with other people to confuse him." He smirked at her from across the room.

Rishe took the file and opened it, seeing pictures of a customer who had always been friendly towards her, following her in the street in front of the café on several occasions.

"He's the worst private detective someone could ever hire, yet that's the best rich people's money can buy. Pathetic," Raul said, frowning at her. "When your prince came to save you, oh, what a fuss he made, so very obvious. Even a lousy detective could connect the dots."

"Then... How did you know who I was?" Rishe asked, embarrassment and regret flooding her.

"I'm retired, but I have a reputation to maintain. So obviously, I ran a background check on you as soon as you set foot in here. It didn't take long to find out the truth," he said, playing with a pen from his desk. "I did think you and my sister were very much alike, so I told you about her. I even protected you as I protect her - and you come back with the most absurd accusations."

Shame made tears prickle at the corners of her eyes. She felt her head dizzy and her knees went weak, so she supported herself against the wall. "I- I'm sorry..."

"Guess you can't judge a book by its cover, now can you, princess?" He repeated the nickname with scorn, approaching her again and opening the door. "Now get your prince and his minions out of my way. They are tiring, and I've been nothing but a great watchdog for him."

As Rishe staggered out of the office, she collided with a client and fell to the ground, the contents of the folder scattering across the ground. When she looked up to apologize, the man in the pictures stared back at her, his face surprised as he was caught in the act. The shock of recognition made her quarrel with Raul seem insignificant. Before her brain fully processed what was happening, the private detective bolted from the café, and she instinctively followed after him.

Rishe's heart pounded as she sprinted down the street, the adrenaline coursing through her veins fueling her determination. She had to catch him. The detective darted through the bustling crowd, but Rishe kept him in her sights, weaving through pedestrians and dodging obstacles.

“Stop!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the traffic noise. The detective glanced back, his eyes widening in fear, but he kept running.

Rishe's legs burned with exertion and she cursed herself for the lack of exercise her busy schedule had imposed, but she pushed herself harder, refusing to let him escape. She was gaining on him, the distance between them shrinking with each step. Suddenly, he took a sharp turn and she collided again with someone, falling back to the ground and losing him of sight.

Her head almost hit the pavement, but luckily the person she collided with managed to catch her, his arm around her waist. "Thank you," she said raggedly between breaths, looking up into cold blue eyes. Rishe gasped as she recognized him and wailed, "Theodore!"

His concerned face quickly turned into a boyish smile as he teased "Hello there, sister."

Chapter Text

Even though Theodore impulsively came back to help his brother, the more he tried to meet Arnold, the harder the wall he hit.

Oliver found him as soon as he got off the plane and lectured him for being a hassle. Despite his lecture, Theodore moved back to his apartment, next door to his beloved brother, but then Arnold started renovations and moved to the suburbs as if he was doing it on purpose.

At first, he felt rejected. Was he so repulsive that even after years away, his brother couldn't even handle being in the same building as him?

At those moments, he reminded himself of their school years.

Once, Theodore organized a protest in school because some students were being discriminated against for being poor. The principal called his father and he was suspended for a week.

Then, Arnold patted him on the shoulder and said "Well done". But his father had decided to teach Theodore a lesson. He struck his face, but Arnold shielded him, taking over every single blow directed at Theodore.

His father was even angrier at his act of defiance, so he hit Arnold intensely. The entire school saw his brother in his school uniform drenched in blood, but he wore a blank expression, as if not even violence could break his determination. That was a sight the entire school wouldn't forget for a while.

Back then, Theodore felt guilty, as if he was the cause of all of the abuse his brother had endured. How could Arnold step up and just accept being hit like that?
Maybe his brother didn't actually hate him, but maybe he resented him. Arnold had helped him and protected him so much, how could Theodore leave him as soon as he could?

Reminiscing about the past made Theodore even sadder that he was being avoided so harshly.

It didn't help that Kamil and Elsie were too busy working. He felt sad and alone, so his impatience grew and he became impulsive again.

He had already tagged Arnold and Rishe for so long, now that he was closer, things could be easier... If only Oliver was a little less efficient in his job.

Theodore tried to follow her through his usual means, but she was annoyingly low profile online. One afternoon, he got tired of waiting and decided he was going to the café where she worked, but he couldn't quite decide if he would approach her or only watch her from afar. They weren't exactly strangers, but they weren't close either, and he hated talking to new people.

Then, he found out a snippet of a street recording of Arnold's motorcycle. A small figure had their arms around his broad frame. How intimate, he mused, jealousy creeping up his skin.
He kept digging and digging until he found out Rishe was moving to the suburbs alongside his brother. And the suburbs house had belonged to Arnold's mother, so Theodore really was shut out. How come they were living together? The mystery didn't last much, as Kamil texted him telling about how Elsie was now assistant to Arnold's fiancée.

They were getting married! They were getting married? Was Arnold really trying to do justice for a girl abandoned by her own family? Or were they something else? He was getting a sister. She was becoming his sister. It's not like he cared that much about her, but it was so unfair that he was being pushed away while she had his brother all for herself.

On a whim, he left his apartment and decided to walk to her café, still trying to decide on what he would do. As he was getting closer and closer to his destination, someone collided with him. He instinctively held the person, an arm around their waist.
Emerald eyes met his, and between ragged breaths, the woman he was looking for gasped. He couldn't help but smile at his luck and replied "Hello there, sister".

-

Rishe felt a little bit guilty as she sipped her beer. She ended up running into the person Arnold specifically asked her to stay away from. But how could she turn him down after he saved her from a concussion? She stared distractedly at the surroundings of the bar as she sipped her beer.

“First time at a place like this?” Theodore asked with a polite smile, his beer untouched.

“I’ve been to similar bars before, just never noticed this one was so close to work,” she replied sincerely.

“I thought you were used to more… refined settings?” He teased her. Rishe smiled politely.

“That’s what one should expect from a Hein family member”, she retorted.
Theodore giggled.

“I’m glad we get along so well, sister,” He said in a giddy tone.

"It's been a while, yet you were so quick to call me sister," She pointed out, a little annoyed at their exchange.

“How long have you and my brother been together?” Theodore asked, his eyes narrowing slightly despite the smile on his lips.

Rishe took another sip at her beer before answering. "About a year." She thought it would be easier to lie as little as possible.

"Interesting," he said, leaning forward. "Jumping straight to marriage, I've heard. Should I be expecting nephews or nieces soon?"

Rishe nearly choked on her beer but quickly composed herself. “That would be too soon.”

"It's not quite common in our family," He said, tracing a finger along the cold mug's exterior. "We usually go for a very long engagement, and my brother had been adamant about not getting married until recently. How curious. It's clear how love-struck you both are." Theodore gave an impish smile.

Rishe smiled back, trying to keep it together. She was supposed to convince a lot of people besides Theodore that they were madly in love. After all, her family also used to go for long engagements such as her previous one. "We've known each other for a very long time, so when we met again, it was like rekindling an old flame."

Theodore's smile faded slightly, a hint of frustration flickering in his eyes. "Rekindling an old flame, huh? Funny how he never mentioned you before.”

Rishe shrugged, maintaining her calm demeanor. "Life has a way of keeping people apart sometimes. But when the timing is right, everything falls into place."

He leaned back, studying her carefully. “You seem quite certain about this.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Rishe replied smoothly. “I'm happy we found each other.”
Theodore stared at her and she felt amused at how natural those words sounded. None of it felt like a lie, which made her stomach weird. The alcohol, it was decidedly the alcohol. So she decided it was time to drink a bit more to get more courage. Theodore still hadn't touch his drink.

“Is that what you think?” Theodore's tone was mocking. “Do you really think you know him?”

Rishe considered his words for a bit. She thought about the recent moments she spent with Arnold and how their story became untangled. “More than family,” she replied on a whim, thinking about her own. She could see the hurt flash in Theodore's eyes and regretted her words immediately. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply-"

“Oh, I’m sure you think you do know him better than me,” Theodore said bitterly. “But let me tell you something, sister. He’s capable of things you can’t even imagine.”

“Theodore, I'm-” Rishe tried to apologize, but he kept on cutting her off.

Theodore's expression darkened. “Did he ever tell you how he killed his mother?”

Rishe stared at him, trying to gauge the truth behind his words. Theodore snickered at her silence.

“Anyone who gets close enough to him always ends up getting hurt,” he continued bitterly, his tone raising after every word as his agitation grew. “Because in the end, we are all toys to him, and when he gets bored of playing with us, he discards us.” Theodore suddenly stood up as he finished talking, his expression flustered.

Rishe stood up too, still studying his face. “Theodore, I think you’re misunderstanding—”

“No, I’m not,” Theodore snapped. “You don’t know him like I do. You never will. And if you think you’re different, you’re just fooling yourself.” His words made her heartache, but she grabbed his hands so he wouldn't dare leave.

"I just meant to say I know him more than I know my family, I'm very sorry that I implied otherwise." That seemed to calm him down a bit, but he still tried to recoil his hand from hers. Her grip on them was strong. Rishe sat back again and took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t know everything about Arnold. But I know enough to trust him. And I trust you too. Please, let's have another drink and chat more.”

Theodore pouted at her as he drooped back in his seat. She couldn't help but smile and pinch his cheeks.

"I never had the opportunity to have brothers or sisters," Her smile broadened. "I know you care a lot about your brother and I will never have what you have," She continued, her smile turning sad. "But I would be delighted to have a caring brother like you by my side."

Theodore folded his arms as his cheeks reddened. "I'm not that caring," He replied in protest.

"I'm sure you came back from abroad worried that I was going to steal your brother from you," Rishe chuckled at how his blush deepened. "Let me assure you this will never happen."

Theodore stared back at her. "I don't care about my brother, all he does is work, work, work, who would like some work addict like that?" He said, trying to dismiss her point.

Rishe giggled, feeling a lot more comfortable now. "Won't you drink your beer with me?"

"I hate beer, it stinks," He replied.

"Then let's get something else to drink, It's on me," Rishe said, the alcohol in her stomach making her feel giddy.

"Fine," Theodore replied, the corners of his mouth turning a little bit upwards. "Get us something sweeter."

"A drink for my brother, coming right up," Rishe said as she danced her way to the bar.

Chapter Text

“And then my parents disowned me in public after my fiancé broke up our engagement. I fled from my own birthday party, packed my bags, grabbed anything I could sell to make a living for the next couple of weeks, and left. And just like one of those romcoms, as I climbed down the window into the garden, I met him... Your brother." Rishe made a dramatic pause. Cheeks flushed from the sake, Theodore leaned in, completely absorbed in her story.

"It's almost a fairy tale, except you were the thief and he caught you red-handed," He chuckled.

"I guess you're right," Rishe smiled, reminiscing for a bit. Despite Arnold’s warnings about Theodore, she couldn’t help but enjoy the chance to talk about Arnold openly. And she and Theodore had known each other for years, it brought her some nostalgic peace too.

"Then what happened?" Theodore asked, resting his cheek on his hand, still very amused with her story.

"Then he threw me an apple," She said, simply. 'Because I fell for you, ever since you threw me that apple.'. Rishe blushed at the memory. "And I surprised him by throwing it back. He offered to help me, and since I had nowhere to go, I accepted. I was in a dark place back then. I had to start college in 3 weeks, so I pawned everything I could and bought a ticket to this city to fend for myself."

“Out of a lion’s den into the wolf’s,” Theodore remarked.

“I’ve always heard about how hostile the Hein family could be,” Rishe said. “At least I can trust your brother.”

“I’m not worried about my brother, but you never know what’s on my father’s mind,” Theodore grimaced. “There is a reason I decided to leave… A reason we all left. Brother is the only one he sent away and then asked back.”

“I’m sure we will figure things out,” Rishe said with a sad smile. “My family is not quite pleasant either.”

“That Dietrich guy treated you pretty badly, didn’t he?” Theodore’s tone turned serious.

“I got used to him,” Rishe said, eyes dropping to her empty glass. “It was manageable.”

“The best way to manage the abuse people inflict on you is distance,” Theodore said, reaching for her hand. “That’s why my sisters and I left. Brother always made sure he was the center of attention so Father would take it all out on him. He did it his entire life. Now I want to protect him. Protect you too, sister.”

Rishe’s gaze met Theodore’s. His eyes glinted with tears at the faint light. She held his hand and gave him a soft smile.

“We are very lucky to have you looking out for us, Theodore,” Rishe said gently.

“Even if I‘ve been monitoring you and brother’s every step?” He asked, tears pooling in eyes that looked so much like Arnold’s.

“Oh my, how?” Rishe asked, genuinely curious.

“I have very good computer skills, I even found pictures of you and my brother at the Hein Hotel that night. I had to erase them all to avoid your family coming after him,” Theodore said with a shaky breath. “I’m sorry for being such a liar and a bad brother. I only wished to help,” he said as his tears ran free.

“So you knew that there were private detectives after me?” Rishe asked, never removing her hand from his. Theodore nodded as he sniffed. “And you came back… Because you saw Dietrich coming here??” Theodore sobbed in reply.

“That’s… Pretty amazing to be honest.” She said, amused at his talents. Theodore looked at her like she was crazy.

“I just told you I was breaching in your privacy and you think that’s amazing?” He said, shocked, between sniffs.

“Because of you, I’ve lived ten months of a perfectly normal life with no one from my past coming after me. I mean, they would’ve found me eventually… but I guess I had a lot of help.” She smiled at him. “I owe you a ‘thanks’, brother.”

That made Theodore cry even harder. Rishe switched seats so she would sit beside him, letting him cry on her shoulder. She patted his head, gave him some tissues, and constantly asked him to drink water.

After a while, Theodore tugged at her sleeve. “I’m sorry for spying on you and brother,” he said with a low voice and a pout.

“I said it’s okay.” She smiled gently. “Your brother may not like it though, but I’m sure we can talk it out.”

“Brother… I’m sure he'll hate me for it.” Theodore said with a gloomy expression.

“If he hated you so much, he wouldn’t have asked me to avoid you.” She said.

“That makes no sense!” Theodore protested.

“It makes perfect sense,” Rishe explained patiently as she patted Theodore’s head. “He knows this is a dangerous situation from both sides, he wants you to be safe from it. Both my side and your side have a lot of money to make out of our wedding, so the stakes are pretty high.”

Theodore stared at Rishe amazed.

“He always tried to protect me from Father, even when I messed up, he would do something even worse and be punished in my stead.” Theodore let out a little sob. “How can I ever repay him?”

“I have an idea,” Rishe smiled at him. “More like a business proposal.”

-

Arnold was determined to finish his work early enough to pick Rishe up from her shift, but the week had been exceptionally busy, and he found himself buried in tasks.

He texted Rishe earlier, and she mentioned her shift at the café would end at 11 PM. With an hour left, he figured he had enough time to wrap things up. But then, his phone rang unexpectedly. Seeing Rishe's name on the screen, he answered quickly, but the voice on the other end wasn't hers.

“Brother,” Theodore’s voice rang in his ear. Arnold froze in place. “I'm with Rishe,” The reception cut out a bit after he heard Theodore’s words; he couldn’t understand properly what he was saying, but Theodore’s next words made Arnold jump off his seat. “She is in danger, hurry!!”

“Theodore, what the hell are you…” Arnold started to say but the call suddenly ended. Arnold tried to call Rishe’s number back, but it went straight to voicemail.

He cursed under his breath, grabbed his jacket, and ran out of his office. Oliver was talking to Kamil, the new IT worker, a recommendation from Theodore. As soon as Oliver saw his agitated state, his serious face turned into a shocked expression.

“What’s wrong?” Oliver asked.

“Why did Theodore just call me from Rishe’s phone?” Arnold growled. “I thought you said they were safe from each other.”

Oliver took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ah, Theodore...”

“Don't fret, Mr. Hein,” Kamil said in a serious tone. “He means no harm to your fiancée. He has been monitoring her and misleading the private detectives that were after her.”

“He has been doing what?” Said Arnold in a cold tone.

“Protecting her from private detectives. I’m sure you know your brother has great abilities…” Kamil said nervously.

“Well, mister Hein, I guess you have your answer as to why she was so hard to find,” Oliver said, calmly. “Now we have to find them. Kamil, can you help?”

Kamil nodded, opened his laptop, and started typing quickly. Arnold turned to Oliver.

“Call me as soon as you have info, I will look for them myself.” Arnold left, his cold expression making Oliver shiver. When Arnold’s back disappeared from sight, he sighed.

“I would never believe this if I hadn’t seen it myself, but I guess Mister Hein really likes his fiancée,” Oliver said, putting his glasses back on.

“I found them,” Kamil said.

“Where?” Oliver asked.

“Tokyo café.”

-

Raul couldn’t believe what had just transpired. He sat on the sidewalk outside his café, holding a tablecloth with ice to his bruised left eye.

He was getting ready to close when that stupid detective came in, begging for help.

“That crazy girl almost caught me,” the detective said frantically. “She chased me like I was a street robber. How will I finish the job now? I’m afraid she’ll hit me for real!”

“I warned you before, but you never listened. You don’t mess with these people,” Raul replied, wiping down the counter. “Even when I threatened to expose you, you didn’t listen.”

“This was the highest paycheck I’ve had in a while!” the detective squealed.

“Still, I told you off many times. No use asking me for protection now that the tables have turned,” Raul had replied, uninterested. “She also came after me. That girl is a monster. Now go away before I make you. I won’t be as benevolent as I have been.”

“Please, Mr. Raul, have mercy!” the man had cried, bowing to Raul. The bell had rung as he did so, and Raul had turned to see new customers.

“We’re closing!” he started to say, but then his eyes met Rishe’s face. A tall man stumbled while he had his arm around her shoulders for support, a man who resembled her boyfriend a little too much.

“I’m sorry for barging in, I just wanted to get him some water, and almost everywhere is closed around here,” Rishe said. Raul tensed in response. She placed the man on the nearest couch and approached the counter.

The private detective rose from his bow just in time to meet Rishe’s gaze. Her face instantly contorted into a scowl, and Raul leaped over the counter to separate her and the detective. In the middle of the commotion, the detective pushed Raul forward, causing him to fall to the ground on top of her.

“SISTER!” the drunk man screamed. A huge ruckus had erupted as the detective, Rishe, and Raul had become entangled. In the end, she accidentally hit Raul’s left eye. He finally managed to separate them, cuffing the detective to the counter and Rishe to the table where her drunk 'brother' sat.

The drunk man burst into tears when she approached him, hugging her protectively. Rishe patted his back, cooing him until he calmed down. Then, he laid his head on her lap and fell asleep.

“You have some nerve coming back here,” Raul said with a serious face.

“I’m sorry. I’ve brought you too much trouble,” she replied, ashamed.

“I guess I failed to protect you anyway. Maybe we’re even now?” He offered her some ice wrapped in a clean tablecloth for her bruised hand. She winced but held it.

“You were a good employee. And to be fair, I wasn’t very nice to you either,” he grimaced.

“You were a very good boss,” she offered him a sad smile. “And I thank you for always taking care of me too.”

Raul felt a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was a mixture of shame and something else he couldn’t quite pinpoint.

“I’m sorry for being so hard on you earlier. I was really pissed at your tone, but I understand where you were coming from.”

“Thank you for saying that. And please…” Rishe handed him the ice, pointing to his left eye. “You need it more than me.”

As his fingers met hers while grabbing the ice, the bell rang again and he jolted backward.

“Rishe!” Arnold entered the cafe and rushed to her. “Are you okay?” He came between her and Raul and placed his hand on her cheek, examining her.

“Ah—Arnold!” She didn’t wince at his touch, which made Raul’s stomach drop. “I’m really sorry, a lot happened tonight.”

“Are you hurt? Why is my brother here? What happened?” Despite his tone being cold, Raul felt the urgency in the man’s voice.

“I’m fine. We met and had a chat. We might have had a bit too much to drink, and then I came here to get him some water and ran into the private detective that has been tailing me,” Rishe explained. As soon as she finished talking, Arnold raised his head to Raul, who pointed toward the detective.

“Please, have mercy-!” the detective wailed from across the café.

“I had to separate them. She’s a menace,” Raul explained, pointing to his left eye.

“I see.” Arnold’s tone was cold.

The bell above the door rang again, and two of Raul’s regular clients barged in.

“Arnold, what the hell…” one of them said.

“Oliver, ask for two drivers. Kamil, can you take Theodore home?” The second man, Kamil, nodded and approached them.

As Oliver spoke quietly on his phone, Kamil tried to lift Theodore off Rishe’s lap, but Theodore wouldn’t budge. Arnold looked extremely displeased at the situation, but Rishe kept repeating that she didn’t mind and that it was her fault Theodore had ended up like that.

“We were chatting and drinking, and before I realized it he was very drunk,” she said apologetically.

“You don’t sound drunk at all,” Arnold remarked.

“Ah, I have a high tolerance,” she said, blushing.

“I’m sorry for the mess, mister…” Arnold turned to Raul.

“Raul,” he replied.

“I thank you for taking care of Rishe and keeping her out of trouble. I guess I misjudged you. I apologize,” Arnold said seriously, and Raul nodded. “We shall be on our way in a moment.”

“Suit yourselves,” Raul replied as he returned to the counter to check on the disheveled detective. Oliver handed the detective a piece of paper.

“Don’t ever approach Ms. Weitzner or any member of the Hein family, or I’ll make sure you never work again. Understood?” Oliver said with a peaceful smile, which made Raul shiver. Why were these people so weird?

Raul removed the cuffs from the detective. “I told you to stay away. I hope you learned a lesson.”

“Thank you, mister Raul, for your benevolence. And to mister Oliver too.” The detective bowed to Oliver and then to Arnold and Rishe. “I’m very sorry, miss. I hope we never meet again,” he said and hurriedly left.

“Why is he so afraid of you, Rishe?” Arnold asked.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she replied, smiling at him.

Seeing her smile at another man like that made Raul feel strange again.

Oliver turned to Raul. “I’m very sorry for the mess. We really appreciate your establishment. If you need any compensation, feel free to reach out.” Oliver handed him his card, but Raul refused to take it.

“You people think you can fix anything with money. Just don’t make a mess at my café again,” Raul said and went to unlock Rishe’s cuffs. “And you, stay out of trouble.”

She nodded, but the smile on her face suggested otherwise.

As Oliver’s phone rang again, they started to leave. Rishe had to gently shake her ‘brother’ so he would let her go. Kamil carried Theodore out of the café, followed by Oliver. As Rishe and Arnold were leaving, Arnold stopped at the door and turned to Raul.

“I know what you did for her. And I will never be able to repay you.” His voice was cold but sincere. “If you ever feel like changing careers again, let me know.” He offered Raul his card, and this time, Raul felt compelled to take it.

Raul followed them to the street, where two black vehicles were waiting. “Rishe,” Raul said, and she turned to look at him. “Goodbye.”

She waved back at him and got into the back seat of one of the vehicles with Arnold. As they drove away, Raul sat on the sidewalk, feeling a miserable sensation he knew was all about a certain pair of emerald eyes.

Chapter Text

As soon as she closed the car door and the vehicle started moving, Rishe felt the fatigue and the effects of the alcohol weighing heavily on her. She began to feel drowsy, her eyelids growing heavy as she leaned back against the seat. She knew she had to give Arnold some explanation, though.

"I'm sorry for causing you a lot of trouble," she started to say, but before she could finish, Arnold pulled her into his arms. As his familiar scent flooded her nostrils, her body relaxed even more, and sleep beckoned her once more, but she resisted. "W-what's wrong?"

"I was worried," he replied, his grip around her tightening.

"Aren't you mad that I did the opposite of what you asked?" Despite the happiness she felt from reconnecting with Theodore, guilt gnawed at her.

"That's not the time for it," He replied coldly.

"Arnold, I'm sleepy..." She said as her mind started to feel foggy.

"Then sleep, we can talk in the morning," His arms were still around her.

"There is something important I must say first," she said.

Arnold released her enough so that she could face him. They were very close to each other.

"I'm all ears," he said, his breath tickling her lashes.

"About Theodore," she began, and he flinched. "I know you want to protect him, but I can't help it. He loves you so much, he can't stand being apart from you." Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. "And I can't help wanting to be close to him too. So please, please, don't shut him off anymore."

Arnold's fingers brushed her tears away as he gazed at her with a cryptic yet sad expression.

"No," he replied.

"But you said you would grant me my every wish," she protested, struggling to hold back her tears. She clutched his shirt, fighting against her fatigue and sadness.

"Rishe," he murmured.

"No, please," she shut her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Theodore loves you so much. I never had anyone in my life like that. All I've ever wanted was to feel like I mattered to someone like you mattered to him." She opened her eyes and stared into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. "I never had a brother or a sister, or anyone who ever wanted to be by my side. And it pains me so much to see him being dejected by the person he admires the most."

Arnold continued to brush away her tears with the tips of his fingers. He stared at her in silence, the sadness still in his eyes as he held her and comforted her. He let out a long sigh, his breath warm against her skin. He pulled her closer, resting his chin on top of her head. "It's not that simple."
She nestled into his chest, her voice muffled against his shirt. "I know it's complicated, but pushing Theodore away won't make it any better. He needs you, Arnold. And I need you to be there for him."

He was silent for a long moment, his fingers gently stroking her hair.

"And I need him too," she said, almost desperately. "It feels so nice to have a brother; I can't go back."

"I never treated him like a brother. I always pushed him away," Arnold said in a low voice. "I don't know how to be a brother or how to be close to someone."

"We can always learn," she said, still fighting sleep. "And he's so talented, he can help me with the company."

Arnold chuckled softly and continued to stroke her hair. Rishe was still trying not to sleep, but Arnold was making her so relaxed it was starting to become a real struggle.

"I never knew... I felt so alone," Rishe said after a long while. Arnold held her close.

"You are not alone," He reassured her.

After a moment, her breath finally became rhythmic. The car soon parked and Arnold lifted her, carrying her inside.

He carefully placed her on her bed and sat beside her. Rishe grabbed his wrist before he could leave.

"Arnold... Do you remember that night..." She stared at him between her lashes. "At the balcony at the hotel?"

"Mhm," He replied softly, caressing her hair with his free hand.

"You asked me... What did I want most in the world," she said with a drowsy voice.

"I remember that," He replied, gazing at her.

"I lied back then," She said.

"What do you want most in the world?" He asked her again.

"This," She said before pulling him down towards her and pressing her lips against his.

She parted from him right after and hid her face on his neck.

"I'm sorry for being so selfish," She said in a muffled voice.

"You can be as selfish as you want, and I shall grant everything you wish," Arnold whispered in her ear with a husky voice.

"Please stay with me... Like you did that night." Her voice was so low and sad.

"As you wish, Rishe." He said as he lay down beside her. Rishe buried her face to his chest and he held her.

-

They had remained silent all the way from the Weitzner Mansion to the Hein Hotel. Rishe followed Arnold with an impassive expression, her eyes lacking the usual glint. He quickly arranged for her to stay in one of the family suites, with his room next door, just in case she needed something. The thought of her being alone made him feel a pang of guilt. As they ascended to the room, she still hadn't said a word.

"This is your room, Rishe," he said, opening the door. She stepped inside, examining the space.

The room opened into a charming waiting area and an adjacent door led into a luxurious bedroom, where large glass doors opened onto a sprawling balcony. The cool night breeze filled the room with floral scents from the garden. Rishe walked towards the balcony immediately, washing her face in the cool breeze. Arnold placed her bags in the waiting room and followed her to the balcony to make sure she was settled. Before he can say anything, she has a smile on her face as she examines the gardens. Little bubbles of light floated in the night.

"This is most wonderful! Fireflies! And the smell... Ah, this is amazing!" All of her sadness dissipated in a second. Arnold couldn't help but admire her excitement.

"Don't you feel disgusted by the bugs?" he asked in a low voice. She turned to him, a smile still on her face.

"Not at all," she replied, her eyes sparkling, "They are such wonderful beings."

Arnold watched her, captivated by the light in her eyes. "I'm glad you like it," he said softly.

She blushed slightly at his words, turning back to the view. "Thank you, Arnold. For everything."

He nodded in reply, feeling a weird warmth spread through his chest. "You're welcome. I'll be next door if you need anything. Get some rest."

He turned to leave, but before he could move, she tugged the hem of his shirt. He paused for a while, surprised by her action. After a while, she whispered "Please." Arnold turned at her, but her head was facing downward. After a moment, she finally raised her head, tears pooling in her emerald eyes. "Don't leave me behind," She managed to say.

He instantly felt a pang of pity and debated internally about what to do. All he could manage to say was "Are you hungry?"

They ordered pancakes to eat outside, admiring the fireflies. Silence reigned as they ate, but he suddenly felt compelled to break it. "What will you do now?" He asked, trying to start a conversation.

She stared at the garden for a while before answering, "I don't know".

"I almost envy you," He said a bit more bitterly than intended. "A blank canvas right in front of me, a world of possibilities and no strings of family duty attached."

She stared at him in silence for a while. Enough for him to curse himself, what a dumb conversation to have right now, but she nodded in reply.

"What are your aspirations?" He asked.

"I want to graduate in Pharmacy," She replied. "I got a scholarship at a top school, but my family told me not to go," She sighed. "I guess now I can do that." She replied as she admired the fireflies dancing in the night.

"That's more than a lot of people like us get," He offered. She chuckled and stood up, approaching the balcony's railing.

"What's so funny?" He asked, standing next to her.

"You're so different from what I expected." She said, still avoiding his eyes.

Arnold couldn't move his eyes from her face though. He reached out to put a stroke of hair behind her ear and she squirmed. His chest felt constrained as he realized she was the prettiest thing he had ever laid eyes on.

"It tickles," She explained.

"There was a bug on your hair" He lies instead, ashamed that he couldn't touch her as intended.

"Thank you" She smiled at him, her eyes brightly reflecting the bug's light.

"What do you want most in the world?" He asked, thinking only that he would do anything to see her smile like that again.

Rishe pondered Arnold's question for a while. "I want..." She began her voice barely above a whisper, "I want to make a difference. To create something that matters, something that lasts beyond me."

Arnold watched her intently, captivated by the earnestness in her eyes. Suddenly she burst into laughter.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever said," She used her fingers to remove the tears that prickled on the sides of her eyes.

"It is foolish," He remarked softly, "But that's a noble aspiration."

"I guess I just want to have a better life ahead," She said in a more serious tone. "And what about you?" she asked, turning the question back to him. "What do you want most in the world?"

Arnold paused, his mind racing as he grappled with the weight of the question. "I know what I don't want," he admitted after a moment, his voice tinged with uncertainty. Rishe regarded him with a curious expression, waiting for him to continue.

"I guess I want to live life on my own terms," he managed to say, "But I never wanted anything for myself, so it's hard to answer."

Rishe listened intently, sensing the weight of his words. "I guess I want that too. But going to college was the first thing I ever wanted for myself."

"You're free to do so, now," Arnold said, staring at her.

"I'm free to do a lot of stuff now, am I not?" She replied, looking back at the garden.

"It's both a blessing and a curse," His voice was tinged with a hint of resignation. "Until this point, you've lived your life fulfilling the expectations of others, bound by duty and obligation. Your own desires, your own dreams, have been buried deep, beneath layers of blind obedience. As you try to dig them out, it's like they never really existed in the first place."

Rishe stared back at him in awe, struck by the profoundness of his words.

"How can we be so different and so similar at the same time?" Rishe asked mindlessly.

Arnold's gaze softened, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Perhaps it's because we both carry burdens that others cannot see," he mused, his tone thoughtful. "Life is equally unfair to all of us, but we trick others into thinking we're doing better."

"I suppose, in the end, we're all just trying to navigate this world the best we can," Her gaze locked with his. His eyes, blue like the frozen ocean, held a depth that captivated her.

Arnold chuckled softly and teased her. "I guess you are indeed naïve."

"I'm not naïve," She replied, a hint of defiance in her voice.

"Then what's next?"

"I have to get some money to go to college."

"Oh, you will pay me back for the hotel bill, right?" He teased her again, his eyes dancing with mischief.

"One day I will..." She blushed at his playful challenge.

Arnold watched her reaction intently. "I have no doubt you will," His tone was gentle and reassuring. "Until then, I will charge with interest."

Rishe's eyes widened, "Interest?" she echoed, her voice filled with amusement. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, I assure you, I would," he replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But don't worry, I'll give you a good deal."

Rishe chuckled softly, feeling a warmth between them. "To think my family warned me not to do business with the Hein family," she remarked, shaking her head.

"I'm nothing like my family," Arnold said, his tone turning serious.

When she meant to apologize, he cut her off with a solemn declaration. "I'm much worse than them. I will have you work hard to pay me back in full."

She rolled her eyes playfully, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips. "Well, I should find a job as soon as possible then."

"Deal," he said while offering her a handshake. Their hands stayed intertwined for a moment, but Rishe didn't let go.

"Arnold..." She trailed off, their eyes locked in an intimate gaze.

"Yes, Rishe?" He replied with a tender voice, his heart quickening in his chest.

"Can you please stay with me until I fall asleep?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

Arnold hesitated for a moment, but he softened as he saw her eyes filled with tears. Without a word, he released her hand and pulled her gently towards him, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace.

"As you wish," he murmured softly, holding her close as she cried on his chest. They stayed like that for a while, the sound of the night filled with her sobs, his regular breathing, and pounding heart. When her breath finally steadied, he gently cupped her face with his hands, wiping away the tears that stained her cheeks. Leading her to the dressing table, they sat together as he assisted her in removing the clips from her hair and helping her remove her makeup. Arnold watched her every move with a tender gaze.

When Rishe shyly asked him to unzip her dress, he felt a strong sense of restraint. With a steady hand, he found the zipper and closed his eyes momentarily as he pulled it down, the intimacy of that act demanding more and more restraint. When he finished, he placed his jacket over her shoulders once more.

As Rishe headed to the bathroom to shower, Arnold's mind swirled with conflicting emotions, but he couldn't leave her like that. When she returned wearing the hotel robes, they lay down together on the bed. Arnold held her close as her tears continued to dampen his shirt. Eventually, she finally succumbed to sleep, and despite his initial intention to move away, as exhaustion weighed heavily on his eyelids, he surrendered to sleep as well, his arms wrapped securely around his precious Rishe.

Chapter Text

Rishe’s eyes fluttered open to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, she was comfortable, snuggled up in the warmth of the bed—but then she realized someone was next to her.

Turning her head slightly, she found herself staring at Arnold’s sleeping face, inches away. His arm was wrapped securely around her waist, holding her close.

Her heart skipped a beat. 'We slept together. Again. Just like that night.'

And that's when reality hit her again. Her lips on his. The heat that rose to her cheeks made her want to disappear under the blankets. 'I kissed him. I actually kissed him.'

Carefully, she tried to slide out of bed without waking him, but his arm clenched around her waist.

“I guess some things never change,” Arnold murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

Rishe squeaked in surprise. “I-I’m sorry! You can let me go now.”

“I don’t think I can let my fiancée feel so lonely,” he whispered, his breath warm against her neck sending a shiver down her spine.

“I really need to get up,” she stammered, the pressure in her bladder making itself known.

“You don’t need to run away, you know.” He shifted closer, his face nuzzling into her neck.

“I’m not running away,” she squealed, face burning as her flustered mind scrambled for words. “I just... have some physiological needs to attend to.”

Arnold chuckled softly. “Then I’ll make it quick.” In one swift motion, he shifted his weight and pinned her beneath him, his messy hair falling over his eyes. His gaze, still heavy with sleep, was intense, almost dangerous as if he might devour her right there.

Rishe froze, her breath catching in her throat.

“I don’t want to take advantage of you, Rishe, or make things awkward,” he said, his tone serious. “But if we’re going to get married, I want you to rely on me. If you need comfort, I’ll be here. If you need space, I’ll give you that too. You don’t have to run away. You can use me, just like I’m using you. Let me be here for you.”

“Arnold, I—” She was touched by his words, but her bladder kept on protesting. “I really appreciate that, but please, I need to go!”

“Fine,” he said, releasing her with a small smirk. In one swift motion, he got off the bed.

As Rishe scrambled out of bed, desperate to reach the bathroom, Arnold grabbed her wrist, spun her around, and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

“Now we’re even,” he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes before letting her go and disappearing from the room.

It all happened so fast that Rishe barely had time to register it. And by the time she did, he was long gone.

Her bladder reminded her of its needs once more, snapping her fully awake. She rushed to the bathroom, deciding that after this, a very cold shower was definitely in order.

Chapter Text

Hello, dear readers.

This isn’t easy to say, but I’ve decided to discontinue this work.

I’ve been stuck on it for months, torn because I wanted to take the story in an entirely different direction. After much thought, I’ve finally decided to follow that new path. I can only apologize for leaving this work unfinished and thank you sincerely for all the support you’ve given me here.

In the meantime, I’ve grown a lot as a writer by working on other fanfics and reading the amazing stories on this site. You all inspire me every day, and I hope you’ll enjoy my new work: [A Business Proposal v.2].

Here’s the link and summary if you’re feeling curious:

A Business Proposal v.2

Summary: 

Six years after a one-night stand neither of them can forget, Arnold and Rishe meet again for a business meeting.

“I proposed to her twice,” Zahad said with a smile. “And she refused me both times.”
“You’re kidding,” Arnold replied, jealousy flickering beneath his calm.
“She said her daughter was her priority.”
Arnold froze. “…She has a daughter?”
Zahad sighed. “A little clone of her.”
Arnold’s pulse quickened, the truth dawning. “How old?”
Zahad chuckled. “I just told you to give up, my friend.”
“I said… how old?”

TL;DR: Arishe secret baby and lots of drama.

And yes, it’s explicit. And yes, it’s quite different. But I’m proud of the new version as much as I’m proud of this one. And I’m having a blast writing it.

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart ♥

P.S.: I may be drunk as I write this, so please forgive any mistakes.

Edit: It’s fine. I’m fine. I hope everybody is fine too.