Chapter 23

'What is funny in this tense situation?'

Kyle wondered if she is a madman. He got goosebumps but he ignored it. He then looked at his side, worrying that in a fit of rage, his brother might hit this woman. 'Please stop laughing...'

A few seconds passed before Dani got hold of herself. "Sorry, haha. Your speculations are interesting."

"And you said that you don't care which one of them is correct, right? But what if I told you that they're both wrong?"

"My identity is not being concealed and it's not fake either. My identity, it is all of what you've found out."

The two stood still at her pouring words. Kyle sensed that her last words had a faint feeling of anger in them. While Knoxx's mind is racing in confusion.

He already has many questions. If her identity is concealed, then what are they trying to hide? Or if it is a fake identity that is recently created, then why need a disguise? He also didn't let go of the possibility that it might be for her protection. But protect from whom? If his brother got caught in danger...

He would not be able to accept it. They lost their mother and felt the hopelessness of not being able to do anything. They have money but they couldn't even afford her justice. Their father fought for a harsher punishment, for a long sentence, but it didn't matter because their opponent had more money, more powerful. So he could only rely on digging people's dirt.

She is shrouded in mystery. He doesn't care about her secrets, but she can't drag his brother down. He used everything in his authority, used every connection he had, but he still couldn't find anything. The one backing her was more powerful than he could imagine.

"Do you think I'll believe that?!" Knoxx snapped, feeling his patience wearing thin.

'

"Then why are you still asking? If you won't believe what I say?"' Dani wanted to say that but held herself back. She remembered that she must be patient with him. She answered sincerely instead.

"It's true. I'm not lying,"

"It's just that... I was just a no one before."

Her last sentence made the two more confused. Kyle felt his head hurting from thinking too much. 'No one...'He couldn't help but lash out at her.

"Damnit! Can't you stop being mysterious?!"

'Aren't we just going in circles?' Knoxx realized their situation. "Then it can't be helped. Get away from him."

"I don't want to. I would not leave him alone."

"No, that's wrong. Get away from them!" It's Kyle who yelled this time but she didn't even flinch.

"I told you it was not possible."

"Why?"

"Even if I leave them alone, they wouldn't let me." Shaking her head with an expression of regret on her face, they were stumped by her ridiculousness.

"Didn't you already know that? Isn't that why you're here? You're looking for a reason that will make them have no choice but to leave me. Or you will make me leave on my own accord instead. But in this case, since you can't find anything, you can only resort to the last option." Dani saw their expressions and concluded her guesses. She can't help but add jeering words at her opponents.

"But it won't do either. I'm sorry to tell you that I've tried it so many many times, but we still ended up like this."

The two seemed to be frozen by her words. They were only able to lift their heads when they've heard her again in a more firm and resolute voice.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen to them. If there's someone who wouldn't want them to be in danger because of me, that should be me, right?"

Dani looked at them before turning her back. She didn't forget to give her last words. "Heed my words. And you don't have to worry about anything."

'And about those ferocious dogs, I will handle them myself.'

•••

When Dani comes back from the restroom, only Jun, Kenneth, and Eugene are present on their table. She noticed Belle dancing with someone in the crowd.

"You took your time," Eugene commented.

"Hmm."

"Are you okay?" Jun suddenly asked, which surprised her. She tried to make her look appear normal as they watched her appearance.

"I'm just tired."

"I see."

When she took her seat, Eugene suddenly blurted out, "Do you want to ditch the party?"

"No, of course not." She can't believe how he can exactly spot her mood.

"It is Dave's party," Dani reminded him. 'What will happen to Dave when they leave first?'

"It's not a problem. We can ditch together with him."

"Wow, it's a good idea!" Jun exclaimed.

"Well, I'm also starting to get bored," Kenneth said.

Seeing the two agreeing with him, Eugene smiled gleefully before asking again, "Didn't you know? With my name and authority, they can't say no to me,"

"They have to give me a face."

His black hair, defined brows, and pitch-black eyes were even more grim-looking under the lights. His black attire couldn't hold back his effortless arrogance. Dani wanted to laugh.

'First of all, to think that Eugene has the guts to do it... I'm really a bad influence?' But she felt sorry she has to break their excitement. "Don't you think it doesn't make sense? It's his house."

'To ditch his own house? Dani is amused at their thinking.'

"And you... you're so arrogant when you're just a child." Dani shook his head disapprovingly to Eugene.

"May I remind you that I'm older than you?"

"Still a child." Dani answered and accepted Kenneth's hand, asking for a dance.

When she came back to their table, she saw Eugene in the same way as when she left. He seemed in low-spirits... and when he looked at her, there was a faint irritation in his eyes. Dani found his act amusing.

"You're not going to ask me for a dance?" She asked that while her eyes were busy searching for the familiar dark blue hair in the crowd.

'Maybe he's with his brothers...'

"Why would I?"

She heard Eugene's sarcastic voice when someone covered her eyes. As soon as her sight tinged with darkness, a cheerful girl's voice echoed around her ears.

"Dani, guess who I am?!"

"The clue is I'm Dani's favorite person in the world…"

Her voice passed in her ears like a spring breeze. And then Dani heard Eugene talking with a sneer afterward.

"She won't guess who you are then."

"Will you just shut up?" Belle blurted out brutally. The soft voice earlier is gone. Dani fought back her smile.

"Belle." As soon as she said that, Belle's beautifully grinning face came into view.

"Dani, I had such a hard time." she said, hanging on her sleeve. Seeing her appearance, she thought she was like a child who was complaining to her mother. Dani had no choice but to appease Belle with a slight smile on her face.