7(Part 1)

Isaac Killian.

Thirty-six years old bachelor. The owner of several hotels, two high-end private bars in the city, and several subsidiaries companies.

He also owned several real-estate properties under his name that worth billions. His office is one of them, and he transformed it into an ordinary workplace to conceal his real job.

Isaac had had messy, tousled black hair. His unruly hair had a healthy and shiny luster. He will always gel them to the back, giving out a sense of propriety and formality. His chiseled jawline and high-bridged nose immaculate his handsome feature.

The pair of striking scarlet irises usually look dull. The man lacked interest in many things and felt that nothing could excite him. However, once he is attracted to something, those orbs become unusually lively and glowing brilliantly. Staring into his eyes is like you're looking into a milky way. You get drawn into the fathomless abyss and lose yourself in them.

Although Isaac seemed serious and workaholic, he is actually a laid-back person. He loved to spend his time observing others while drinking his favorite red wine in one of his private bars. Sat on his comfy couch in one of the VVIP rooms, his hand will languidly stir the wine by slowly spinning his glass. Then, his mind will fly somewhere, thinking nothing or reminiscing about his past.

He rarely mingled with others and preferred to talk less. His friend is only his right-hand man, a.k.a his secretary, Jack Neil.

As the saying goes, birds of feathers flock together. Jack is also a man with few words. He will respond to you curtly and give you a straightforward answer. Simply said, he is blunt with his words, and be prepared to get hurt if you're expecting an honest remark from the man.

Isaac is famous for his frosty eyes. His gazes alone could freeze you up, and everyone around him couldn't help but fall back under his seemingly casual yet oppressive stares.

Isaac had a fair and healthy complexion. His physique is the picture of health. Broad chest, impressive eight-pack abdominal muscles, and long, sturdy legs. Even his towering height is quite imposing, making you feel like a dwarf.

Unlike Arthur, who is rarely smiling, Isaac is more flexible. He is generous with his smile. However, his sincere smile is questionable. There's no warmth radiated from it, lacking honesty. When he led a meeting or dealt with a business matter, one could only shrink their necks and willingly submit to his demand.

The protagonist met Isaac Killian in a private cruise party hosted by the Gambling King, Carl Rodgier.

In this otome game, for route 2, the pairing is Isaac Killian and the white lotus flower, the pure and innocent orphan girl, the protagonist.

She went there with Arthur as his secretary and accidentally attracted Isaac's interest. The man felt the woman fascinating. Her petite, delicate figure and lovely appearance gave out a pure and innocent aura that aroused the protective desire inside the other's heart.

And, as cliche as it could be, she got separated from Arthur, got harassed by hooligans in the cruise ship, was drugged and taken away by Isaac.

In the beginning, Isaac's interest in her is a mild one. However, after spending an accidental one night passion with her, he couldn't forget her, became obsessed, and started chasing her to make her him alone. Both had an intense push and pull competition between them. One person hotly pursuing and the other one passionately running away.

Showering the protagonist with endless love, abundant gifts, and showing sincerity with matchless tenderness towards her, the protagonist's heart wavered, and she finally accepted his relentless pursuit. At the same time, her pregnancy is revealed, and Isaac's eagerness to marry her intensifies. He knew the baby was him and vowed to make her happy.

And, please don't forget the existence of the villainous cannon fodder, Xie Winchester. Before the protagonist's pregnancy got revealed, Xie marched into his husband's company in rage. He heard a vicious rumor about his husband's improper relationship with his secretary. He went to attack her first thing in the morning.

Chaos erupted, and they got into a violent scruple. Several people tried to stop the fight. Unfortunately, the protagonist got pushed by someone and unceremoniously fell. She had bleeding.

Seeing this, Xie angrily slapped the woman. He yelled without any hint of guilt, saying the child should die.

Arthur managed to restrain his outraged wife with difficulty. He dragged him out of the office and threw him to the security guards.

Arthur felt that Xie was jealous over nothing, and he adamantly said their relationship was not as Xie imagined. He sent the protagonist to the hospital and locked Xie at home.

This news reaches Isaac, and the man is angry with the situation. He rushed to the hospital and sighed in relief when the woman he loved was safe and sound. The baby inside her stomach is also alive and healthy.

However, he heard about the chaotic situation that happened to his lover and how she almost lost her life. He heard about the misunderstanding between the protagonist and the cannon fodder's husband. Isaac held a deep grudge against both of them and decided to seek revenge. Alas, Xie, due to his jealousy, had courted his early death.

He got divorced by Arthur and got thrown away.

Xie's reputation got smashed to pieces to the point of being disowned by his family. He is forced to live in hiding and lead a very harsh life.

In the end, Xie died young because of a mysterious illness. The end.

What happened to his husband? Well, the protagonist defended her boss and said everything was a misunderstanding. So, nothing terrible occurred to Arthur.

He willingly divorced his contracted male wife and escaped his demise. Arthur continued his mundane life alone.

--------

"..." Xie covered his face. Multiple creases appeared on his smooth forehead.

This stupid story. Why did it include Xie in the protagonist's every interaction with the capture targets? Do his life worth nothing more than a bottle of spice?

Does he exist solely to actively seek death for no reason? And why would he suddenly die due to a mysterious illness? Isn't it obvious?! Isaac must have poisoned him! Looking at his frosty face, he sure held a grudge over a petty thing. And this original sure love to court death everywhere he goes. Everything related to his husband made him crazy.

Also, isn't it unfair that the slag husband escaped the capture target's vengeance just because the protagonist claimed that it is only a misunderstanding between the two of them? What about Xie? You guys must have done something that roused Xie's suspicion. How could he suddenly attack you if nothing is brewing between you two? Xie might blindly love his husband, but he is a rational person.

How deep is your enmity towards Xie that you cannot let him off easily, protagonist? You must hate Xie. Right? That's why you didn't bother to clear the misunderstanding and push him to the pit of fire.

Xie sighed again. In the future, I must avoid meeting the protagonist at all costs. She is the bane of my life. Who knows what kind of trouble she incited and dumped on me later on? I also need to leave this town as soon as possible. Seeing the stoic face of that slag husband made my heart bitter. Tsk.

"Mr. Killian?" Xie had decided to go far away from this place. Hence, he wanted to ask that man any suitable area he could settle in in the future. He will put ahead three basic requirements.

Isaac jolted from his stupor-like state. He is surprised when Xie is looking at him with a complicated expression.

"Ye...yes?"

"I need a place. Either within the kingdom or outside, I don't care. The far, the better. However, I required privacy and secrecy. That place must be secured from any probing gazes. And, I don't want anyone to know where I live once I settled in that place, especially that person." The latter sentence is said in a low voice.

Isaac barely grasped the meaning of Xie's words. At first, he wanted to ask. Who is that person? Yet, as his eyes hooked on the quivering emerald eyes, he seemed to understand it. He knew the answer without the need to affirm his suspicion.

"Why?"

Xie fiddled with his thumb. He subconsciously rubbed the flesh around his finger and nervously avoided Isaac inquiring gazes.

"Do I need to answer that question?"

"No. You don't need to. It was just that I knew you loved your husband too much that I found it strange that you wanted to run away and hide from him. Nevertheless, you can ignore my question. I'm just being a nosy person."

Xie dryly laughed.

"Yeah. I don't expect someone with a frosty look like you to be bothered with my private life. Can you promise me that he will never know my whereabouts? I need assurance. I can ask someone else. But, I don't think they could uphold this promise. Their decision might sway the moment their hearts wavered. If you, Mr. Killian, will not let your client down. Right?"

Isaac lifted his cup and slowly sipped his hot tea. The rim of the cup barely touched his lips as he enjoyed the steaming, hot tea.

"I would say, depending on the situation. Your husband had quite a reputation out there. It was not easy to hide from him. The premise, however, is if he indeed seeks you out. If he not?"

Xie snorted.

"It's better if he not. It is only a precaution on my part. I only wanted a quiet life, with a less troubling issue and pesky pest." He sourly replied. That slag husband might not have the intent to seek him out, but could you say the same thing about the protagonist? She might not think rationally and actively courting trouble for him.

Isaac chuckled. He was amused by Xie's reply. He poured the tea into another empty cup and put it in front of Xie. His eyes filled with tenderness and the man seemingly urged him to take a sip.

"The tea is delicious, Your Highness. Have a taste yourself. I guaranteed there is no poison in them."

Xie pursed his lips. Who is afraid of getting poisoned? Who dares to poison him out of the blue? He just didn't want to pour the tea himself. Since you had helped me pour out the tea and readily served me, I will reluctantly pick up the cup and simply have a taste of that fragrance tea prepped by you.

"Hmph. Thank you. Also, don't call me Your Highness. It's made the situation awkward. Just call me by my name."

Isaac's scarlet eyes, which seemed fierce at the beginning of their meeting, inexplicably softened.

"Fine. Then, you can also address me by my name."

"Sure. I will politely call you Mr. Isaac."

Isaac's lips tugged into a slight smile. This smile had a warm feeling in it, unlike his previous one.

So, he can smile nicely. If he put this up, even Xie could be charmed by him.

"If you really want me to promise you regarding your whereabouts confidentiality, I guess, why not? I swear that I will never reveal your whereabouts to anyone. Not even to the Emperor himself if he asks me. Is this okay? Can you trust me now?"

Xie was stunned at the sudden exclamation. He uncomfortably scratched his nape.

"There's no need to get that far. If the Emperor ask you..." He mumbled out the rest of his sentence.

However, Xie's tense shoulders visibly sagged in relief. He had successfully secured his future home.

Could someone give him a round of applause, please? One task is done. Congratulation to himself.

To be continued.