Chapter 2: The unexpected connection

Celyn's eyes lingered on the black-clad men's retreating figures until they vanished from sight. She let out a sigh of relief, ensuring the door was securely locked with the keys. Her gaze shifted back to the room where the mysterious man hid, and she called out, "Hey, you can come out now. They're gone."

Lucian Olivares emerged from the room, his piercing gaze locking onto Celyn's. An awkward silence followed, punctuated only by the sound of Celyn's breathing. As she watched him approach, a shiver ran down her spine, reminding her of the night her brother went missing. The memory still haunted her, fueling her desire to protect others.

Celyn's eyes narrowed, her eyebrows twitching in confusion. "How did you get yourself into this mess?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Lucian's expression remained calm, his intense gaze sweeping over Celyn before taking deliberate steps closer to her. "Thank you," he muttered, his voice low and even.

Celyn's thoughts drifted to the mysterious men, her eyes narrowing slightly. She couldn't let them find Lucian; it would put her own life in danger too. She had worked hard to start anew in Mexico City, and she wouldn't let this stranger ruin everything. A hint of annoyance slid into her voice. "Dull, really dull"

Lucian's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes narrowing at Celyn's whispered insult. Her expression quickly turned serious, concern etched on her face. "Do you know who they are?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Lucian's gaze delved into Celyn's eyes, as if searching for something within her. He tilted his head slowly, his voice firm yet gentle. "I don't know them. But I owe you one. If you ever need help or anything, don't hesitate to come to me."

Celyn's lips twitched, her thoughts mocking Lucian's offer. What could he possibly offer her? But she had to admit, the stranger was intriguing. A fake smile spread across her face. "I'm a saint, helping criminals like you hide is my pleasure!"

Lucian's eyes widened, taken aback by her words. He coughed, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. He was mesmerized by the girl's confidence and audacity "Lucian Olivares, my name," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.

Celyn glared at his hand, her thoughts still mocking him. She chuckled, her hand finally meeting Lucian's in a firm handshake. "Celyn da Silver Santos, you can call me Celyn," she said, her smile bright.

Lucian's eyebrows rose slightly, feeling a hint of familiarity in her name. His tone low, he asked, "Silver Santos?"

Celyn nodded, her eyes sparkling with delight as she stared at Lucian. _He's a prince charming, certainly my dream man. How can someone be this beautiful?_

The room fell silent once again, with both Celyn and Lucian lost in their thoughts. Lucian was skilled at hiding his emotions, but when he caught Celyn staring at him, his heart skipped a beat. He was known for being cold towards people, his abilities to hide emotions making him distant from others, including his family and friends.But as he looked at celyn, he felt a faint glimmer of connection, a spark of humanity that he thought he had extinguished long ago

Lucian cleared his throat, his gaze still fixed on Celyn. "Hgm hgm!" Celyn snapped out of her reverie, her gaze drifting away from Lucian, feeling embarrassed for being caught staring at a stranger.

Calculative Celyn quickly restrained herself. "I think it's late. If you leave now, you might put yours and my life at risk. Those men are probably still outside."

Lucian raised his brow, amused by Celyn's attitude and thinking. Behind this girl was a fearless, confident, sharp minded Celyn da Silver Santos. He gave a quick nod. "You saved my life. I won't drag you in this mess, I'll protect you, I promise"

Celyn was taken aback by his words, a strange feeling overwhelming her heart. Lucian's words washed over her, a mix of emotions swirled up in her chest,she hadn't felt truly safe in years, and the promise of protection from a stranger made her feel both comforting and unsettling, a sensation she hadn't experienced in a long time.

Celyn sighed inwardly, her eyes darting around the room "Thanks, but I don't think they'll come for me. This is just my first day in Mexico City. It'll be hard for them to find you through me!" She chuckled before sitting down on the couch.

Lucian's gaze followed her, a small frown appearing on his face. "You live here all alone?, What about your family?"

Celyn comfortably sat on the couch, finding his question ridiculous. She leaned back and chuckled slightly. "What family? Of course I'll live here alone, otherwise?" Her face squinting. Lucian clicked his tongue while sitting down "What brings you to Mexico City? What's your reason for settling in a dangerous place?"

Celyn's gaze dropped,her shoulders sagging, she let out a slow breath, her tone low

"I'm done with the old me, I'm here to start anew, to find a job that doesn't suffocate me and... To find the one person who can make me feel whole again" her eyes sparkled with determination as she said

" My husband "

Lucian's eyes narrowed, his face conveyed with a mix of confusion and and concern, " Your husband? You're married?"

Celyn watched his reaction, finding it funny. She burst into laughter. "Of course! Otherwise? I'm here to find him! I heard he's rich and handsome. It won't be a bad idea if I marry him." She blurted out, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Lucian's expression remained unchanged, shaking his head slowly. "you're chasing a ghost, you don't even know if this man exists or if he's worth the search"

His voice, with a hint of warning, as if he knew the dangers of a blind pursuit

Celyn smirked. "What's wrong with that? Besides, I let a stranger in my house who almost put my life in danger." She emphasized the word "danger."

Lucian was quiet for a while, his eyes shut, his face screaming exhaustion. He breathed in and out quickly. Celyn quietly watched him, thinking _He must be tired, after all those men made him run_

Celyn rose from the couch, her footsteps echoing through the silent room as she made way to the bedroom.The scent of fresh paint and new furniture floated in the air. She pushed open the door, revealing a room that was unfamiliar yet comforting.

Celyn's eyes settled on the bedsheets placed on the bed, nostalgia striking her heart, she remembered her mother's laughter, the way she used to tickle her with soft-feathered blankets. The memory was bitter yet sweet.

Celyn grabbed one of the bedsheets on the bed, a pink bedsheet with piggies printed on it. She thought the bedsheet was cute, definitely too cute to give to a criminal.

She grabbed the blue one instead. "Yes, this one!" She said to herself before making her way to the living room, Celyn stared at the man, hesitant whether she was doing the right thing or not. finally making up her mind, She threw the sheet next to Lucian. "It's pretty cold in here. This will keep you warm."

Lucian glanced at the blue sheet and then averted his gaze to Celyn, giving a light nod. His eyes closed, and his chest rose and fell with slow, deep breaths.

Celyn stared at him for a while before retreating to her room. In the room, Celyn lay on the bed, her mind couldn't keep away from the man out there, who was he? And those men? Who were they? Why were they hunting for him?

Celyn was overwhelmed with curiosity, She couldn't shake the feeling that Lucian was hiding something, that there was more to his story than he was letting on. As she lay in bed, her mind racing with questions, she heard a creaking sound coming from the living room. Her heart skipped a bit as she wondered if Lucian was still awake, or if something more sinister was happening in the shadows

Lucian's gaze lingered on the bedroom door, with thoughts racing In his mind, He thought about the mysterious men, the danger that still waited outside, and the intriguing woman who had taken him in. He let out a sigh, he reached for the sheet, wrapping it around his shoulders.

_It's pretty cold in here, this will keep you warm_ The words rang in his head. Giving off a feeling of comfort

Lucian's expression suddenly turned icy, his eyes darkening gradually at the thought of those mysterious men. He happened to remember something, his hand reaching out to fish out his mobile phone in his pocket. His eyes narrowed slightly as he saw the bunch of missed calls from his mother and his personal assistant Zack.

Lucian went through his call log, pressing a call at Zack's contact. Beep beep, the call was answered, and a loud voice came through. "Boss? Where are you? I've been looking for you for an hour now."

Lucian sighed, his tone low. "I'm safe. Just come and pick me up early tomorrow."

A moment of silence, the man on the other side happened to let out a sigh. "Where are you hiding now?"

Lucian glanced around the apartment, chuckling lightly. "In an apartment. I'll text you the address later!"

With this, Lucian hung up, leaning back to the couch, his eyes shut, but his mind was flooded with a bunch of questions. The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with unspoken questions and unresolved tensions. Lucian's breathing was the only sound, He knew he couldn't stay hidden forever, that the mysterious men would return, and next time, they might not be so easy to evade. As he lay on the couch, his eyes fixed on the darkness outside, he wondered if he had made a grave mistake by involving Celyn in his web of secrets