When They Beg, I Rise!

Orion couldn't face her without feeling the urge to bolt.

He was unable to give any response, scared even. His throat felt stuck, and it took him a while before he could mutter, "You're too young, you wouldn't understand."

"Orion, are you afraid of me getting close? Worried I might fall for you?"Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

She had almost believed he harbored some affection for her, but was taken aback and saddened to hear he was seeing someone else.

Orion's gaze was profound, "Don't throw around the words 'fall for' carelessly. You're still young, it's not good for you to hit the bars."

Listening his lecture, Lemira realized he had deftly changed the subject. Her curiosity was piqued, "Orion, there's something I've always wondered: why are you always so nice to me?"

Orion couldn't answer; he couldn't even meet her gaze. He was afraid that looking into her eyes would give him away.

Looking up, Lemira asked defiantly yet cautiously, "You've always been so nice to me, don't you like me even a little bit?"

"If you don't like me, why be so kind?" She thought, "So, Orion, do you like me as well?"

In that moment, Lemira felt she had mustered all her courage, able to voice her feelings only in the dim light.

She felt almost insane.

Orion, holding her, was directly confronted with her straightforward question. Her openness made his initial intentions seem shallow.

He was close to her more out of guilt than affection. He dared not tell her the real reason. He didn't even have the courage to entertain the thought!

Seeing the look in Lemira's eyes softened Orion's heart in an indescribable way, yet he could only say against his will, "Lemira, helping you was just convenient, couldn't stand seeing your brothers' favoritism." Lemira's eyes instantly reddened.

His words were calm, even somewhat tender. But he firmly rejected her.

In that moment, Lemira felt utterly

go

ated. She hastily let go a

her head, "I-It

joke, I need the restroom set

Lemira hurried away from the crowd, a picture of disarray.

Orion followed closely, his gaze turning somber, as if years of weariness were hidden beneath. Only when Lemira entered the restroom did he stop, asking

swnovel

someone for a cigarette in agitation.

His slender fingers held the cigarette, white smoke veiling his suppressed gaze.

Thaddeus approached with two glasses of wine, handing one over, "How's the night treating you?"

Orion downed his wine in one gulp, "She cried."

"Tsk, I told you earlier, keep your distance, don't be too nice to her."

"And aren't you the same with her?" Orion took a drag, his brows furrowed.

Thaddeus raised an eyebrow, "That's different. Who wouldn't be pissed seeing Sweet Lemon treated like that by the Langstons?" Orion lowered his eyes, "Exactly, some things are beyond our control."

"That's the truth."

Thaddeus gave him a meaningful look, recalling the last time Orion was this troubled, resorting to cigarettes - it was right before their company went public, facing

betrayal from within, their future

hanging by a thread.