Chapter 25

Taria fell asleep on the way back home, leaving Tian amazed by how strong she was to face her past and rising up smiling in a short time, on the other hand, he was worried about her, thinking of a way to ease her pain that she held with her since she was a child. He took his phone, and called Ve.

"Your eyes were there, weren't they?" Tian said

"They were, but this time they were keeping an eye on that little child, not you", Ve said

"I need your help, it's for Taria", Tian said calmly, then Ve ended the call.

Tian carried Taria to her bed, then he held her hand close to his heart, with one thought in his mind "I will save you, no matter what", after that, he went to Ve's office.

"I have to catch a man, right now", Tian said after he entered the room where Ve and Kai were.

"Kai told me that she got crazy after witnessing a man, they are already targeting that man. I suppose it didn't work, looking at your face", Ve said

"It's not the time to be discussing that", Tian said calmly

"The little brother got a girlfriend before his older brother, what a shame", Kai said jokingly, but both Tian and Ve gave him a cold sharp look that forced him to close his mouth, and after three hours of waiting, Kai's phone rang to announce that the man was successfully caught. The three of them went out, wearing their cold faces and ready to do what they are perfect at, torture.

On the next morning, Taria woke up, with her hair messy and her makeup all over her face. Her wounds were treated, and her dress was taken off and replaced with a comfy pajama. She went to the bathroom and had a warm shower that eased the pain left from yesterday, then she sat on her bed, waiting for Tian to come.

Someone knocked on the door, making Taria's heart ready to beat faster, but before the race inside her body started, Olivia entered and ended her excitement.

"Good morning, my lady, would you like me to bring breakfast?", Olivia said

"Good morning, Olivia. Can I have some tea for now?" Taria said as she didn't want to eat breakfast alone, then Olivia nodded and went out.

Taria drank her tea, then she ate biscuits and tarts waiting for Tian to come and have breakfast with her, yet he didn't come.

"Where is he?" Taria thought, but she already asked Olivia and she told her that he is out, and that she would tell her right after he get back, so there was nothing for her to do other than waiting

Not long after that, her phone rang, and seeing Tian's name on its screen filled her heart with happiness.

"Where are you?" Taria said

"Some people would come bring you soon, please come with them without hesitation", Tian said, and his deep voice sent chills over her spin.

Two men came and took Taria, while she didn't hesitate to follow them as long as they would take her to Tian. They reached a place that looked like a huge storage, then the men asked Taria to enter. She took a deep breath as the men were opening the door for her, and after she took her first step inside, Tian ran towards her and held her hands.

"Do you trust me?" Tian asked while looking deeply into Taria's eyes, and she nodded her head, scared of what was coming, but not lying. Tian moved behind her, then he nodded his head for the men to uncover the face of a man who was tied into a chair. Everyone in the room other than Tian and Taria went out, while Taria was shaking as the man tied was "that" friend of her father, the man who raped her, the man who was on the table behind them yesterday.

She couldn't control her heart beats nor her breath, and her body moved backwards unconsciously, taking small shaking steps. She stopped once she hit a warm body she was used to, but before she could turn around to see his black eyes, he was already holding her hands and stretching them forward while pressing a pistol between her hand and his own.

"You just need to press the trigger. Clear your mind, breathe deeply, and press it, Taria", Tian said after pointing the pistol at the man. She could see his black sharp eyes looking at the man, and she could feel his warm body surrounding hers. She heard his breath, and felt them on her ear and neck, making her fear fade away. Taria felt bravery spreading on her body from head to toe, then she lowered her arms as when as his. She looked at his eyes while he was still so close to her, then she said "he is not worth it, Tian".

When Tian saw her smile, his sharp eyes that were full of coldness became warmer than the sunlight, and he patted her head softly. He thought about how she was able to surprise him every time with her excessive courage even though she is a crying baby most of the time, and he finally realized that the girl he used to wipe her tears can be stronger and braver than him.

"Oh come on, your boyfriend would kill me anyway. How are you? Taria. I see you got bigger now, but your soft skin is still the same, isn't it?" The man tied to a chair said, shaking Taria's soul again, then suddenly, the man broke free and ran towards her with the same eyes as when she was twelve.

Taria buried her face in Tian's chest, holding his shirt hard, then, bang. She could hear Tian's voice calling her name, and she felt his warm body carrying her outside, but she couldn't open her eyes, nor could she let go of his shirt. She kept listening to his heartbeats until she fell asleep.

Tian carried Taria to the car, then he drove home while she was on his lap, unwilling to let go of his shirt that got stained with blood. He laid her in bed, and laid beside her, seeing her face sleeping peacefully, and feeling her breaths on his neck, then he kissed her forehead softly, and slept hugging her.