Chapter １８

He cried with her.Our arrival startled them.

"What are you planning, you wicked rogues?"

Daina whispered as she approached the iron door, "We'll save you."

"Try to open this door, Daina,"

I mumbled as I turned to observe the escape of the dungeon.

But if we delayed for too long and other rogue s came to check, we would have difficulty leaving this place.

"That shouldn't be a problem for me." Daina magically produced a set of keys.

"Before entering the dungeon, I knocked out one of the guards and found these attached to his uniform.I don't know if one of these keys will open this door, though.We have to try."

"You never fail to surprise me." I nodded in approval and admiration.

Daina crouched down in front of the iron door and triedwith all of the keys she had.

Meanwhile, I kept an eye out for any rogue s so that, if anything went wrong, we would be able to make a quick retreat. After a short while, the iron door opened with a click.

"It worked!

" Daina snapped her fingers in delight.

"Thank you for saving us. Truly, thank you so much."

"Mr.Stephan Buther , it's you!" Bond quickly bowed upon recognizing me.

"Thank you for coming to rescue us personally,Mr.Stephan Buther."

"Let's not waste any more time.We should leave now."

I gestured for him to stop being so formal with me and to stand.

Daina reached out to help Bond up.

But before she could guide the couple out of the cell, Bond trembled and his eyes became dull.

He took out a pistol from his belt, and I yelled, "Daina, look out!"

However, Bond was standing close to Daina it was too late.For some reason, Bond betrayed me.He point his gun at Daina's head.

Neither Daina nor I expect this to happen.

Daina wisely stood still.

With a pistolpoint at the back of her head, she knew better than to act rashly.

In the next second, a few well-dressed rogue s entered the dungeon with their followers.They laughed hysterically.

"Nice to meet you,Mr.Stephan Buther.I'm Yeven, the elder of the rogue pack."

The rogue who came in first introduced himself as he looked at me.

"Surprised how we knew that you were coming? Actually, Alpha Bond and Luna Julia have been under our control all this time.You fell into our trap,Mr.Stephan Buther.If you want this girl to live, you will come with us."

I was furious.Now I understood.The rogue s had been aware of our presence all along because their target wasn't Bond.It was me.

They used Bond so that they could get a hold of Daina and, in turn, make me yield.

If I went with them, I couldn't imagine what they would do.

But if I didn't go with them, what would happen to Daina? "Mr.Stephan Buther , you'd better think twice.

If you don't listen to us, Bond will simply pull the trigger.

And you will have no choice but to watch her die before your very eyes."

"No!" I shook my head and my hands curled into fists.

"Don't hurt her!"

As I looked at Daina, my heart sank.

I couldn't leave her alone because I loved her from the bottom of my heart.I couldn't allow her to get hurt.I was determined to protect her, even if it meant risAlpha my life.

"Mr.Stephan Buther, you should go." Although Daina was being held hostage, there was no fear in her eyes.

"You should leave.Please don't go with them." Her gaze looked pleadingly at me.

But how could I leave her behind?

"I'll go with you. Just let her go. If you dare to hurt her in the slightest, all therogue s of the Billton Clan will die with her! "

I yelled at Yeven.

"Come,Mr.Stephan Buther."

Yeven signaled for me to follow him.

I couldn't help but glance at Daina.

Her gaze was filled with despair.

I nodded at her, hoping to put her at ease.

coffeers threatened to fall from Daina's eyes.

Yeven led me to a cell, and then he locked me and Daina inside.

Daina's POV: Stephan Buther shocked me once again.

At the moment, I hate myself for being powerless and a burden to the prince.

But at the same time, I was also deeply touched that he was willing to put himself in danger for my sake.

Therogue s locked us up in the same cell.

Such a noble prince was willing to become a prisoner for my sake.

"Mr.Stephan Buther , why did you stay?

" I demanded after the rogue s left us.

"You should have gone ahead without any hesitation.I'm the reason why we got caught.They're not going to let you go so easily."

"I couldn't leave you behind.I refuse to." Stephan Buther looked me in the eye.

"Either we leave together, or we stay together."

"But I'm not worth it," I sobbed.

I had mixed feelings about this situation we were in.I threw myself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

I buried my head in his chest and allowed my coffeers to fall.

"Mr.Stephan Buther , please promise me that you will be okay."

Stephan Buther seemed stunned for a moment, but he eventually hugged me back.

"For your sake and my own, I promise.I'll be fine.Don't cry, Daina.You're stronger than this."

Even though his words were clearly meant to comfort me, they just made me sadder.

After everything we had been through together, I could no longer ignore this man before me.

I want to spend the rest of our days together through the good and the bad.I was even willing to give up my life for him.

"It's my first time seeing you cry like this."

Stephan Buther cupped my face in his hands and gently wiped away my coffeers.

His gaze told me that he felt sorry for me, so I hugged him once more.

I never want to let him go.

Suddenly, he bent over and kissed me.

His soft lips moved across my face, kissing away every drop of coffeer from my cheeks.His action was so gentle that my heart trembled and my body gradually softened against his. My coffeers dried up.

After a moment's hesitation, he kissed me on the lips.I froze but didn't push him away.Inscoffeed, I kissed him back.I allowed his tongue to enter my mouth.

At the same time, I nibbled on his lips and gasped for breath, unable to control my moans.

Stephan Buther's eyes blazed with desire.