CHAPTER 72: NOT SURRENDERING HIMSELF TO THE LION’S DEN

"It’s not your job to protect me like that..."

That sentence struck a chord in Siera. She turned her face away, pretending to wince from the pain, though behind that gesture was a subtle, hidden smile. "Then..." she whispered, "let’s just say I wanted to be selfish. Just once. I wanted to matter, even a little, in your eyes."

She leaned back against the pillow. The words she said in her mind felt strange to hear out loud. Thankfully, she hadn’t said everything. Alaric would probably start suspecting she had an ulterior motive.

For now, she figured that this small step was enough to catch his attention. She didn’t want to rush things. All she needed to do was plant a bit of sympathy—something that, over time, could grow into closeness. And maybe, into something more than just a boss-assistant relationship.

The hospital room fell quiet again. Alaric pulled a chair over and sat beside her, maintaining a respectful distance, but not leaving.

To him, perhaps it was simply responsibility. But to Siera... it was a sign.

The seed she had planted was starting to grow. Now, all she had to do was wait until the fruit was ready to be harvested.

Inside the hospital room, Alaric could still feel the lingering tension from the incident at the café. He sat back in his chair, but his fingers were restless, constantly moving.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and stared down at the screen. The blue light reflected on his face, making his eyes appear sharper. Quickly, he typed out a message:

"Find out who tried to hurt me at the café. Send me everything once you’ve got something."

He paused, eyes fixed on the screen, making sure his words were clear and firm. Then, he hit send.

Less than a minute later, a reply came through. Short and to the point, just like always.

"Understood, Boss."

Alaric let out a slow breath. Though his face remained composed, a cold fury still simmered beneath the surface. Someone had the audacity to attack him in public. That was no small matter. And he needed answers, fast.

He locked his phone and turned toward the hospital bed. Siera was still lying there. Her face was pale, but her eyes were open, quietly observing his every move.

Alaric drew a quick breath before speaking, hoping a brief explanation would help her understand. "Siera, I have something to take care of. I’ve asked Damian to come and stay with you."

At the mention of that name, Siera tried to sit up. Her body looked heavy with fatigue as she pushed herself up with effort. "What? You’re leaving now?" she asked, her voice faint and fragile.

Instinctively, Alaric raised his hand, signaling her to stop straining herself. "Don’t push your body. Lie back down."

Siera obeyed. She exhaled deeply, then pulled the blanket up higher, as if trying to hide her anxiety. Her eyes shifted, then returned to him, filled with lingering fear.

"But... what if that person comes back? What if someone tries to hurt me again?"

She gripped her own hand, seeking a sense of safety.

Alaric was silent for a few seconds. He ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture he often did when thinking or when trying to hold something back. His eyes briefly flicked to the floor before returning to hers.

"Damian can protect you," he said in a calm but certain tone. "He’s trained in combat. I trust him with your safety."

He stood up, reached for the suit jacket hanging on the chair, and slipped it on. His expression hardened. He was ready to face something far more dangerous than sitting by a hospital bed.

"I’ll wait for Damian outside. He’s almost here," he added, walking slowly toward the door.

Siera watched his back as he walked away. There was a heaviness in her chest. A mix of disappointment for not being able to keep him by her side, and curiosity because it was clear Alaric was hiding something. The faint smile she’d shown earlier was gone, replaced by a more serious expression.

Her bandaged arm clenched the blanket slightly. In her heart, she whispered, "What are you really planning, Alaric?"

Meanwhile, Alaric stepped out of the room. The door closed quietly behind him, leaving the hospital room in silence once again. He walked down the long hallway, his shadow trailing behind. In his mind, there was only one thing: find out who dared to come after him—and make sure they would never try it again.

The hospital corridor was quiet that night. The fluorescent lights on the ceiling cast a cold, white glow, adding to the stillness. Faint beeps from patient monitors echoed now and then, mixed with the soft footsteps of passing nurses. Alaric stood tall in front of the waiting area, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Siera’s room.

Not long after, the sound of brisk footsteps echoed from the far end of the hallway. A tall man with a sharp look and a black jacket approached with purpose. It was Damian. His expression was alert the moment he saw Alaric.

"Damian," Alaric called clearly enough for him to hear.

Damian quickened his pace. "Alaric," he replied curtly. Once he stopped in front of him, he immediately asked, without preamble, "How is she? Is she okay?"

There was concern laced in his voice.

Alaric exhaled before responding. "She’s been treated. The injury’s not too serious, just a long gash on her arm. But it wasn’t deep."

Damian nodded, his gaze sharpening. He stared at Alaric, clearly trying to understand how the incident could’ve happened. "How did this happen? Wasn’t she with you?"

Alaric held back, not replying right away. He looked down for a second, then met Damian’s eyes with a calm expression, though there was a hint of guilt. "Yeah... I slipped up." He didn’t want to dwell on that mistake any longer.

The truth was, he hadn’t seen it coming, someone trying to stab him out of nowhere. But what surprised him even more was that Siera had saved him.

Damian clenched his fist. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t push the issue.

Alaric continued, his voice more serious now, "I’m already working on finding out who the attacker was. I hired someone to trace the lead."

Damian studied him for a few moments. His gaze seemed to weigh how much he could trust Alaric in a situation like this. Eventually, he sighed and gave a subtle nod. His right hand reached out and rested on Alaric’s shoulder.

"Alright," he said simply.

Alaric looked at Damian for a long moment. He was the right person for this. After all, he was Siera’s cousin. The one person who made sense to leave her with. Someone who had a bond with her by blood, and someone who could be trusted in dangerous situations.

"Take care of her. I have to go," Alaric said at last.

Damian then turned toward the hospital room. He opened the door slowly, his tall frame disappearing inside, and the door quietly shut behind him.

Alaric remained where he stood, staring at the door for a few seconds. Part of him felt relief knowing Siera was now in good hands. But the other part,driven by anger and unanswered questions. Was still wide awake.

He took a deep breath, eyes narrowing toward the long, empty hospital corridor. With steady steps, Alaric began walking away. The sound of his shoes echoed against the polished floor, marking each step as he headed toward his next move.

---

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the large windows in Alaric’s office, but it did little to chase away the restlessness still hanging over him. Yesterday, he had nearly lost his life. The image of that sharp blade rushing toward him kept playing in his mind. He could still feel the chill that crept down his neck.

He leaned back in his large black leather chair, one hand propping up his chin while the other scrolled through his phone. His eyes occasionally glazed over. His thoughts moved faster than his fingers.

Then his phone buzzed. The name on the screen pulled him straight back to focus. It was his informant, the one he had sent to track down who was behind the attack.

"Yes?" Alaric asked, already anticipating what he’d been waiting for.

On the other end, the man’s voice sounded cautious. "Boss, I found something. It’s important. We need to talk in person."

Alaric frowned. "Where?"

"I’ll set up a neutral location. Somewhere quiet, where no one will know we’re meeting."

He paused. Yesterday, he had been caught off guard. Someone had tried to take his life. If he agreed to meet in an unknown place, he’d be walking straight into danger again.

A voice inside him echoed: "Every man has a blind spot. Yesterday, I proved that includes me."

He exhaled slowly, then spoke with certainty. "No. We meet here, in my office. It’s safer. I’m not going to risk dying like a fool."

There was a brief silence on the other end, then the informant responded, "Understood, Boss. I’ll be there."