The mansion stayed unusually quiet after the call.
Outside, rain continued falling softly across Seoul while guards increased security around every entrance again.
Inside Aryan's office, tension slowly returned.
Lucien's movements near the harbor were not random.
Nothing about him was random.
Aryan stood near the large digital screen reviewing route reports carefully.
Nithya leaned against the desk beside him reading intercepted messages.
After several silent minutes, she finally spoke.
"He's testing boundaries."
Aryan looked toward her.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"He moves quickly."
Nithya's eyes turned colder slightly.
"Lucien always attacks psychologically before starting war."
Interesting.
Aryan studied her carefully.
"You know him well."
Nithya looked at him calmly.
"I survived him."
That answer stayed in the room heavily.
Suddenly Rohan entered again.
"Sir."
Aryan didn't look away from the screen.
"Report."
"We found Lucien's men near eastern alliance remains."
Nithya immediately understood.
"He's trying to absorb their network."
Rohan nodded.
"Yes."
Aryan's jaw tightened slightly.
Lucien wasn't just interested in Nithya.
He wanted power in Asia too.
Dangerous combination.
"Double security around all harbor routes," Aryan ordered coldly.
Rohan nodded immediately.
"And around ma'am?"
Aryan answered without hesitation.
"Triple it."
Nithya sighed softly.
"That's excessive."
Aryan looked toward her.
"No."
Simple answer.
Possessive answer.
Later that evening, Nithya returned briefly to university for an important project presentation.
Of course, security surrounded the entire campus now.
Black cars lined the streets outside while hidden guards monitored rooftops.
Students whispered nervously everywhere.
Ji-Hoon quickly approached her near the hallway.
"You disappeared for days again."
Nithya adjusted her books calmly.
"Busy."
He looked around nervously at the guards.
"Your life is seriously terrifying."
That almost made her smile.
If only he knew.
Inside the classroom, presentations continued normally for a while.
But halfway through the lecture, Nithya sensed something wrong immediately.
Too quiet.
Her instincts sharpened.
Then suddenly—
The classroom door opened.
Everyone turned instantly.
A tall man wearing an expensive black suit entered calmly holding a bouquet of dark red roses.
Lucien Moreau.
The entire room froze.
Even the professor looked confused.
Lucien's cold blue eyes moved directly toward Nithya.
Then he smiled softly.
"Nithya."
Danger.
Immediate danger.
The classroom atmosphere became tense instantly.
Students whispered nervously while hidden guards outside moved rapidly through communication channels.
Nithya slowly stood up.
"What are you doing here?"
Lucien walked closer casually.
"Visiting."
"You don't belong here."
"Neither do armed guards around a university."
Fair point.
But still dangerous.
Ji-Hoon quietly whispered to another student,
"Who even is that guy…?"
Nobody answered.
Because even without understanding mafia power…
Everyone could feel Lucien's dangerous presence.
Lucien stopped directly beside Nithya's desk and placed the roses down gently.
"You disappeared too quickly after our meeting."
Nithya's eyes stayed cold.
"That wasn't accidental."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"You always were cruel with rejection."
Before she could answer—
Another voice entered the room.
"She already rejected you twice."
Silence exploded across the classroom.
Aryan stood near the entrance.
Cold.
Terrifying.
Possessive.
Every student immediately moved away instinctively.
The atmosphere became suffocating.
Even Lucien's smile faded slightly.
Interesting.
Eagle came personally.
Aryan slowly walked toward them while keeping his eyes on Lucien.
"What part of 'she's married' confuses you?"
Lucien answered calmly,
"I came peacefully."
Aryan stopped beside Nithya instantly.
Protective position.
Clear message again.
Mine.
"You entered her university uninvited," Aryan replied coldly.
"You brought flowers."
His eyes darkened dangerously.
"That's not peaceful."
The tension between both men became sharp enough to scare everyone around them.
Nithya finally stepped between them slightly before violence started inside the classroom.
"Enough."
Both immediately looked toward her.
Interesting.
Only Devil could stop Eagle this easily.
Lucien's gaze softened briefly while looking at her.
"You deserve better than living surrounded by war."
Aryan almost laughed coldly.
"She is war."
Silence.
Then Lucien slowly looked toward Aryan again.
And for the first time…
Real hostility appeared openly in his eyes.
"You think protecting her makes you worthy of her?"
Aryan stepped closer instantly.
His voice became ice cold.
"No."
One dangerous second passed.
Then Eagle finished quietly,
"But loving her does."
The entire room became silent.
Even Nithya froze slightly.
Because Aryan had never said it aloud before.
Not directly.
Not this clearly.
And now…
Lucien heard it too.