Shane Prescott took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the restlessness in his chest.

He lifted a corner of the blanket and guided Luna Valentine to sit on the edge of the bed.

Luna glanced up at his flushed ears and chuckled. "First time in a relationship?"

Shane gave a low hum of agreement, bending down to untie her shoelaces.

Luna quickly leaned forward. "I can do it myself."

Their heads collided with a soft thud as they both moved at the same time.

Shane immediately leaned closer, gently blowing on her reddened forehead.

Rubbing her forehead, Luna laughed. "I'm new at this too. If I do anything wrong, just tell me."

After a moment of silence, Shane asked, "Why did you choose me?"

What he really wanted to ask was: How could someone like you fall for someone like me?

Luna's lips curved. "Love at first sight."

Shane said seriously, "You don't seem like the type to judge by looks alone."

Luna tilted her head. "All love at first sight is based on attraction. It could be charm, a feeling, something intangible. Or maybe I'm usually too rational, so I wanted to be reckless with my heart for once."

Shane disagreed silently: I'm serious about this.

He also wanted to say: I waited thirty years just for you.

But the words died on his lips.

Some things sounded too cheesy—saying them aloud might make them feel insincere.

"Wait here," Shane said before heading into the bathroom.

When he returned, he carried a basin of warm water.

Kneeling, he took hold of Luna's ankle. "Soak your feet."

Luna quickly pulled her foot back. "I can do it myself. Could you get me some water?"

Shane stood to boil water.

Once it was ready, he poured it back and forth between cups to cool it down.

When the temperature was just right, he helped her drink, then gave her a sobering pill.

They were too close.

When Shane looked down, he saw the curve of her body.

His heartbeat spiraled out of control.

In a rough voice, he asked, "Can I hold you?"

Luna smiled. "Yes."

Shane pulled her into his arms.

After a quiet moment, his voice grew even huskier. "Can I... touch you?"

Luna shot him a sidelong glance.

Shane immediately released her and stepped back. "Sorry."

Luna burst into laughter.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, mimicking his tone. "Can I touch you?"

Shane stiffened.

Her small hand felt like it carried an electric current, leaving sparks wherever it trailed.

His entire body tensed—except for his heart, which melted completely.

"Why are you so good to me?" His voice was hoarse.

Luna's nose stung.

A simple hug had moved him this much.

She tightened her arms around him. "You're so easy to please."

Shane didn’t respond.

He was using every ounce of willpower to restrain his impulses.

His hands stayed locked behind his back, fingers tightly intertwined.

Afraid that if he lost control, he’d cross a line.

Then, Luna's phone rang.

It was her mother, Gwendolyn Valentine. "Why aren’t you home yet?"

"I'll be back soon."

"Who are you with?"

Luna glanced at Shane. "A friend."

Shane’s eyes darkened.

Gwendolyn’s voice turned icy. "Is it Shane Prescott?"

"Yes."

"Did you forget everything I told you? His father has a criminal record—there’s no future for you two!"

Luna took a deep breath. "His father turned himself in. The sentence will be light."

"A stain is a stain! Your job has strict requirements—he’ll never pass the political review!"

"We’ll talk when I get home." Luna hung up.

Shane had already retreated to the door. "I'll take you back."

The drive was silent.

When they reached her neighborhood, Luna got out of the car.

Suddenly, Shane caught up and grasped her fingertips in the shadows.

"Don’t want me to leave?" Luna teased.

Shane nodded. "Not many people make it into my heart."

Luna blinked. "Maybe it’s because I’ve been given so much love, I want to share some with you."

Shane’s smile faded. "I’ll do everything to make your parents accept me. But if... it still doesn’t work, I won’t put you in a difficult position."

Luna raised a brow. "Weren’t you the one who promised never to betray me?"

"It’s not betrayal. I just don’t want you to suffer because of me."

Luna scoffed. "Idiot."

She turned to leave but suddenly doubled back, pressing a kiss to his chin.

Shane touched the spot where her lips had been, watching her walk away until she disappeared from sight.

The next day, in the Sullivan Group conference room.

Adrian Sullivan wore a mask throughout the meeting.

Victor Sullivan frowned. "Why the mask?"

Adrian shook his head, eyes brimming with silent grievance.

When it was his turn to speak, his assistant read his notes for him.

Across the table, Ethan Sullivan gave him a knowing look.

After the meeting, Victor called Adrian into his office.

Once inside, Adrian removed his mask, revealing a cut on his lip.

Victor’s expression softened with concern. "What happened?"

Adrian wrote on a notepad: Shane Prescott did this with a knife. He’s violent—almost killed me!

Victor recalled the strands of hair Shane had once sliced off his head. "Did you provoke him?"

Adrian shook his head.

Just as Victor reached for his phone to investigate, Ethan walked in.

"My brother was attacked in the northwest recently, then nearly killed in a car accident in Myanmar last night." Ethan’s smile was cold. "Care to guess who’s behind it, Director Sullivan?"

Victor’s face darkened. "It couldn’t have been Adrian."

Ethan sneered. "Some people seem obedient on the surface but are worse than a broken QR code underneath."

Adrian, wearing earbuds in his office, smirked at the comment.

Then, Ethan’s icy voice came through the listening device: "Had enough?"

Adrian’s face went pale.