Daryl absentmindedly looked at his ceiling.

  "This is insane…" he helplessly whispered.

  It was already one in the morning and here he was still awake, thinking about what Kenzie had said. It was an absurd proposal from Kenzie that was making him lose his sleep.

  "Why is she so brazen?!" he scoffed as he annoyingly sat and leaned his back on the headrest of his bed.

  The scene before he left Kenzie replayed in his head.

  [Marry me, Daryl. If you want to save me from your stepbrother then you have to marry me or at least get engaged to me for a span of time. That is the only way your brother will stop pursuing me. I don't know if you noticed it yourself but I think I managed to capture Harry's interest with my beauty alone.

  So the best way to avoid him is for us to get together. Don't worry because I promise I won't be clingy if it doesn't work out. Just give us an opportunity to see how we click and if you really cannot love me back then I will give up on this pursuit and let you go. I won't ever bother you again.]

  Daryl unconsciously chuckled recalling Kenzie praising herself. But it was possible since Kenzie was indeed a beauty to behold. He deliberately shook his head, realizing where his thoughts were going.

  'Does this mean that he already likes Kenzie?' he pondered. He admitted that he was attracted to her but liking and loving someone were two different things.

  He heaved a long sigh and analyzed his own self. It really bugged him when he heard that Kenzie's dad was in talks to have an arranged marriage with Harry. But on the other hand, he, of all people, should not meddle with those kinds of affairs.

  "Ah this is so frustrating!" he groaned as he grabbed his head with two hands.

  His mobile phone beeped so he grabbed it with a frown, wondering who could send him a message at this hour.

  [Hey…… I'm texting you because I couldn't sleep. Are you sleeping already? If not then you should go and sleep. I'm not in a hurry to hear your answer so you don't have to feel too pressured about it. Since I'm not your responsibility there's no need to think too much about me.

  By the way, your brother called me and told me that he wants to take me out on a date as soon as possible. He said that he also wants to pick me up from work. I think he will soon start to court me at this rate. I'm not sure why you are against him but I believe you have your reasons. Maybe if I get to know Harry then I might also know the reason why you don't like him. Anyway, see you tomorrow. Good night!! ;)]

  "What the heck is she saying? Don't feel pressured and yet here she is reporting every detail to me?" Daryl complained.

  Reading Kenzie's text message made him feel even more pressured. Harry definitely ignored his warning just as he expected. He made a mistake by telling that bastard that Kenzie was his woman because knowing Harry's personality, he would do everything to take Kenzie away from him.

  Harry was very good in that aspect… Snatching everything away from him and making it look like he was incapable. Harry enjoyed doing these kinds of things and would later pretend to be generous and would offer to return everything, making him look more absurd, pitiful, and unworthy.

  "Damn it!" Daryl cursed as he recalled how Harry has tricked him multiple times ever since that bastard stepped foot in their house. He didn't just play his tricks at home but at his school as well which resulted in him ultimately transferring to a different school.

  But he was grateful that he did transfer because this way he met many nice people with who he became close like Luo, Liam, and Jorge. They were his schoolmates and clubmates as well in the chess club. Liam and Luo were their seniors.

  He could not help but smile recalling the good old days with them, Luo in particular. She was two years older than him and he truly adored and admired Luo since his college days which continued when he further decided to take up law.

  It was just unfortunate that it ended up being an unrequited love…


  This made him realize how hard it must have been for Kenzie if she did indeed love him as well.

  "Nah, she's too young to know about love," he murmured, still believing that what Kenzie felt towards him was only infatuation.

  He helplessly lay back on the bed after a serious deliberation and finally making a decision.

  Meanwhile, at Kenzie's apartment, she was lying on her bed wide awake still unable to sleep. She looked at her mobile phone and felt disappointed when she did not receive any reply from Daryl.

  "Boss, why are you still awake?" Kenzie heard Kimmy ask. Kimmy insisted on sleeping on her sofa saying that it was easier to monitor and assist her because of her condition. She said that it was better that way as it would be easy to get her anything she would need.

  "I can't sleep. And I told you to just call me Kenzie when we are alone. Go back to sleep Kimmy, don't mind me," Kenzie answered.

  Among her lady bodyguards, she got along with Kimmy as soon as the latter started working for her. Maybe it was because Kimmy was also young compared to other bodyguards. Kimmy was only 23 which was just two years older than her.

  "Do you want me to get you a warm glass of milk, Kenzie?" Kimmy asked with a smile. She liked Kenzie because Kenzie was treating her more like a friend than her lady bodyguard.

  "Nope, no need. I will sleep soon," Kenzie answered with a sigh but soon got up and asked, "Do you think Daryl likes me?"

  Kimmy also rose up to sit and looked at her. She had a teasing smile as she answered, "I believe so. You see, I have high EQ so I can tell from the way he looks at you that he definitely likes you."

  "I knew it! So I was not just imagining things! Why do you think he is holding back Kimmy? I don't understand him at all! Why can't he just simply accept me like a normal person?! Do you think he thinks that I'm not good enough for him?" Kenzie whined with pouty lips.

  Kimmy chuckled and said, "Well, that's just how it is. Men will always say that we women are complicated but they won't look at themselves in the mirror to see just how complicated they could be as well…


  Maybe he has his own reasons for not surrendering yet Kenzie. Maybe he's fighting his own battles trying to overcome his inner demons. You see, like is very different from love. Maybe he wants a deeper relationship before surrendering? Oh how I wish I could help you? at this but as you know I'm also inexperienced with matters concerning the heart."