Victoria walked him to the door again.
This time neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
When he finally did, his voice was low.
"He's right to be cautious." Dennis said.
"I know." She replied silently
"I won't let you become a leverage."
She searched his face.
"I'm not fragile," she said.
"I know," he replied. "That's what worries me more."
He chuckled "In a good way tho, I know you aren't weak but I can't help but worry about you"
Victoria sighed not knowing what to say ..."It's getting late,you should get going.... call me when you're home"
He took her hands into his, staring into her eyes.
"I love you, Victoria, and it drives me crazy," he chuckled. "I won't lose you. I'll protect you from the women from my past and the people that want my position. I'll protect you from them all."
He approached her and embraced her in a warm hug.
"I'll get going." He kissed her forehead. "Goodnight."
With that, he entered his car and drove away, his car disappearing into the darkness of the night.
Victoria stood there, still in a daze. Her fingers lightly brushed the spot on her forehead where he had kissed her, as if trying to hold onto the moment. She knew he loved her, but hearing it from his mouth... she didn't know how to feel. She stood there, lost in her thoughts, when her brother called out to her.
"Why are you still out there? He's gone already. Come in before you catch a cold."
With slow steps, she went inside, Dennis' words still playing on repeat in her head.
On getting inside, she met the questioning gaze of her father. Her mother, not knowing much about the previous discussion, just stared at her daughter, worried about her safety.
"Sit," her father said.
She walked inside, sitting down on the couch closest to her father.
"How well do you know him?" her father asked.
"On a surface level or a deeper level?" her brother intercepted. "Because, from what I know, she barely knows him."
"Owen!" Victoria scolded in a low voice.
"What? I didn't lie! How long have you guys known each other? You just got out of a major heartbreak, and you want to step into another relationship! I'll do what a sensible brother will always do to protect his younger sister!" Owen said, his temper rising.
"Enough!"
They both stared at their father.
"You both, enough of all this. Owen, let her be. I know you care, but you can't always influence her decisions."
But dad she….
"Enough Owen she's old enough to decide for herself"
"Fine." Owen let out a frustrated breath. "I'll head to my room."
Without waiting for another word, he turned and walked upstairs.
Silence settled over the living room.
Victoria's mother shifted closer to her daughter, gently squeezing her hand.
"I only want you to be happy," she said softly. "Just… don't rush into anything."
Victoria managed a faint smile.
"I'm trying not to, Mom."
Her father leaned back against the sofa, his expression calmer now.
"I don't dislike the young man," he admitted. "In fact, he seems respectful."
Victoria looked up, surprised.
"But respectful men can still have complicated lives," he continued. "And from everything I've heard tonight, his life is anything but simple."
She lowered her gaze.
"I know."
"If you choose to be with him," her father said firmly, "make sure you're doing it because you truly know the man behind the wealth, the influence, and whatever enemies seem to be following him."
Victoria nodded.
"I will."
Her father gave a small nod in return.
"That's all I wanted to hear."
She stood after a few moments, excused herself, and quietly made her way upstairs.
Once inside her room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it.
Dennis' words echoed through her mind.
"I love you Victoria..."
She closed her eyes.
For so long, she had convinced herself never to trust another man with her heart. She had carefully built walls after the pain of her last relationship.
Yet Dennis wasn't trying to tear those walls down.
He was patiently waiting for her to open the gate herself.
A soft vibration pulled her from her thoughts.
Her phone lit up.
Dennis: just got home, like you ordered.
A smile she didn't realize she was holding spread across her face.
She quickly typed back.
Victoria: Good. Get some rest.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Dennis: I will, Good night beautiful.
Her cheeks warmed.
After staring at the message for a few seconds, she locked her phone and whispered to herself,
"What are you doing to me, Dennis?"
_ _
"Sir, I've gotten everything we could find on Sofia."
Mavel placed a thick file on Dennis's desk.
Dennis set aside the document he had been reading and reached for it.
"Took you long"
"We've been keeping tabs on her since she returned, sir. We simply dug deeper."
Dennis said nothing , flipped open the file.
The first few pages contained updates on Sofia's recent activities, her movements, financial records, business dealings, and several photographs.
The deeper he read, the colder his expression became.
"So…" he muttered. "She really hasn't changed."
Mavel remained silent.
Dennis closed the file halfway.
"She's still seeing him?"
"Yes, sir."
A bitter smile tugged at Dennis's lips, he leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the desk.
"Has she made any attempt to harm Victoria since?"
"No, sir."
Dennis was quiet for a moment, remembering his conversation with Victoria before asking the question that truly mattered.
"Is Victoria safe?"
"Yes, sir. We've been keeping a discreet watch, just as you instructed after they met. There hasn't been anything suspicious."
Dennis nodded, though the tension in his shoulders remained.
"Good."
Mavel hesitated.
"There is one thing, sir."
Dennis looked up.
"Our people intercepted a conversation yesterday."
"What about?"
"Sofia wasn't asking about you."
Dennis frowned.
"She was asking questions about your relationship with Miss Victoria."
The room grew still.
"What exactly did she ask?"
"Whether Miss Victoria is important enough to become your weakness."
Dennis's eyes darkened.
"I warned Sofia long ago not to mistake kindness for weakness."
He stood, buttoning his suit jacket.
"Increase security around Victoria."
"Sir, she's already being monitored."
"I know."
His voice turned firm.
"Double it."
Mavel nodded.
"Consider it done."
Dennis glanced once more at Sofia's photograph before shutting the file.
"If Sofia wants revenge, she can come after me."
His jaw clenched.
"But if she even thinks of dragging Victoria into this…"
His voice dropped to a dangerous calm.
"I'll end it before it begins."