Lina ignored the mischievous Kaden. She lifted her chopsticks and began to eat the food in peace. She nearly let out a moan at how delicious and fresh the fish tasted. She wasn't able to eat this yesterday, but could savor it all for herself today.

  "What was your favorite fish from yesterday's selection?" Kaden asked in a mellow voice. He leaned against the table and watched her consume what he bought for her.

  Lina paused mid-chew. She raised her head.

  Kaden stared at her expectantly. When she didn't say anything, his lips turned into a thin line. He hummed, waiting for a response.

  "I didn't eat yesterday's food…" Lina trailed off, swallowing her mouthful.

  "Did your mother have something to do with it?" Kaden seethed, his eyes turning ballistic.

  "Yes," Lina admitted.

  "Should I kill her?"

  Lina stared at him blankly, obviously not amused.

  "Fine, how about torture?" Kaden offered. "Starvation with the food right in front of her, but she'd never get to eat it."

  "She's my mother," Lina insisted.

  "She treats you like you're some evil step-daughter," Kaden slowly said, his voice rising with anger.

  "I won't sit still with this," Kaden added.

  His fingers tightened into fists.

  "There will be consequences to treating you like such," Kaden insisted.

  Kaden was already thinking of what he could do to Evelyn. A woman as weak as Evelyn was easy to destroy. He already had the perfect plan of having her publicly humiliated at a popular socialite restaurant by having her reservation canceled.

  "I'll make sure it won't affect you," Kaden said.

  Kaden knew she couldn't do anything to Evelyn. At the end of the day, Evelyn was still Lina's mother. It was why he'd never tell her of the plan.

  A long silence ensued. Lina continued eating, but more carefully this time. Kaden's gaze flickered from her chopstick to her hand and then her mouth. He watched her eat like a mother bird feeding her chick.

  "Everett ambushed me at my grandparents' house today," Lina informed him, whilst nonchalantly eating the sushi.

  "I should've known, that man is more desperate than a freshly graduated college student looking for a job," Kaden scoffed.

  Lina's lips twitched at his words.

  "I can make his death—"

  "I had it handled," Lina laughed. "I'm joining the Heir Race of Yang Enterprise."

  Kaden raised a slow brow. "That's interesting news."

  Lina nodded. "If I don't want to be controlled, I must gain power."

  Kaden was surprised, but had a good feeling her conservative grandmother had something to do with it.

  "If you ever need help, let me know. I'll come running to you," Kaden promised.

  Lina smiled at his words, but said nothing. She didn't need his help, but it was reassuring to hear that.

  Kaden squinted when she ate the ice cream mochi, letting the sweetness melt on her tongue. He had the urge to taste it from her mouth.

  "Will you tell me why you don't eat?" Kaden finally asked, his voice leveled.

  Lina was touched by his patience. She expected him to get angry again. The doctors had already warned her, but she couldn't do it in her mother's house. She lowered her gaze to the plate.

  "I got bullied in boarding school," Lina whispered.

  Kaden's gaze softened. So the entire graduating class wanted to die. That was fine. He'd wait for their school reunion and kill them off all at once. Or perhaps, he should have them kidnapped.

  "Lina the Piggie, they'd call me," Lina admitted. "Every time I ate in the cafeteria, they'd oink and snort."

  Kaden's face darkened. He gripped the edge of the table for support, or else he was going to leave this room. Screw killing them all at once. He was thinking of doing it individually with a personalized method of torture. The plan was already going to be in motion once she left.

  "So I just stopped eating," Lina muttered, not wanting to talk about the most traumatizing part, like the rotting food found beneath her pillow, or moldy food tucked under her bed, stinking it out for weeks. Someone once told her the room smelled like a pig's pen.

  "And at home?" Kaden patiently asked.

  Lina shakily glanced at his hand, painfully tightening on the table. His honey-tanned skin was turning white as paper. He was furious. She could feel the temperature dipping and the fire in his eyes.

  Lina hesitatingly slipped her palm over his knuckles. There were still cuts and small scars on them. He froze when their skin came into contact. She traced his knuckles, rough like sandpaper, with veins protruding.

  "At home, my mother always wants me to lose weight, she said it's for my own good. That, once I gain, it's extremely difficult to lose. Her heart was in the right place, but her mind was not," Lina mumbled.

  Lina was startled when he grabbed her fingers. Then, her heart skipped. He laced their fingers together, bringing her hand to his mouth. Her stomach fluttered when he kissed her knuckles.

  His lips were soft and warm, like sunshine on her skin.

  "Death to them all," Kaden whispered, his mouth spreading into a sadistic smile. "This I promise you."

  Lina didn't know if she was touched or terrified by his words. She tugged his belt loop, pulling him closer. Kaden let out a small groan at her action, grabbing her hand.

  "You don't tug at a man's belt unless you want his pants to come down," Kaden warned her, squeezing her tiny fingers in his large palm. When redness blotted her cheeks, his smile softened.

  "Don't kill them, my grandfather has already ruined half of them," Lina muttered.

  When her grandfather found out about the boarding school bullying, he rained hell upon every single student. Not a single family was spared. Some went bankrupt, lost everything, or had to flee the country.

  Her father had been drowning in guilt. He was the one who sent her to boarding school, believing it was the best in the world. It was. But the students weren't. He was still riddled with remorse. It was why his relationship with Lina was strained. The two couldn't blame each other, but also couldn't forgive and forget.

  "Ruined is not enough," Kaden said. "Death is better."

  Lina shook her head. "Life is precious."

  Kaden let out a small sigh. He grabbed her chin and raised her head. He stared into her eyes, like that of a baby deer. Large and innocent, he found heaven in her eyes.

  "This part about you hasn't changed at all," Kaden pointed out.

  Lina lightly laughed, but her voice cracked. Because she knew, it was this tender heart that hated violence. She could not stand war. He waged it. They were a star-crossed pairing.

  "It's a shame I love this part about you the most and least," Kaden muttered, his thumb brushing on the tender skin of her chin. She smiled at his words.

  Kaden swore his heart stopped right then and there. She rarely smiled, but when she did, she lit up a room. She raised her gaze to him as if mesmerized by something.

  "It's a shame that I love your violence as well," Lina admitted. "But violence in the way you vehemently protect those that you love."

  Kaden froze. It was the first time she had ever admitted to loving any part about him. He felt a strange warmth in his chest like he wanted to pull her to her feet and swing her around. The guilt that consumed his conscience was beginning to hurt less.

  Kaden knew right then and there, he was falling for her. All over again. He supposed he never stopped falling in love with her. Ever.

  "Then show me you love it," Kaden said, pulling her to her feet. He caressed her against his body, wrapping his arm around her lower back.

  Lina peered up at him and rested her hand upon his chest. She glanced from his heated eyes to his soft mouth. She nervously licked her lips. His gaze flickered to the action. She could feel her skin hum with his warmth. His thumb stroked her lower back, encouraging her.

  "I don't know how to," Lina stated.

  Despite that, she went on her tippy-toes, her hand sliding to his nape. Kaden let out a small laugh at her contradicting actions. He lowered his head, brushing his nose against hers.

  Lina trembled in his arms, their foreheads resting against each other. She tenderly touched his face, feeling her heart begin to skip. Thump. Thump. She could hear the blood rushing in her ears.

  "Whatever you want to do," Kaden whispered, allowing her to take the lead. "Whatever makes you comfortable."

  Lina couldn't possibly like him even more, but she did. She closed her eyes and pressed her mouth against his. He smiled. She swooned.

  Lina hesitatingly opened her lips a bit, and he immediately helped her. Kaden cupped her cheek, deepening the kiss. It started slow and passionate, filled with adoration. Then, it grew more heated, like their bodies that pressed desperately against each other.

  Kaden kissed her like a starved man. Lina kissed him back like he was her lifeline. He licked her bottom lips, and she shakily granted him access. He thrust his tongue inside, exploring her mouth.

  Lina quietly moaned into the kiss, her knees growing weak. She felt pulsing in between her thighs. Heat pooled in her lower stomach, her skin craving his touch.

  "Fuck," Kaden grunted, pulling back to let her breathe. Only a gulp of air, and he was back at it again.

  Kissing her was the most intoxicating thing he had ever done. Forget cigarettes. Forget alcohol. There was never a drug as addictive as her. And she didn't even know it.

  Soon, Lina felt airy, like they were the only two people in this world. She grew dizzy, her knees giving out, but he caught her. His arm was strong.

  Kaden pulled away again and she nearly passed out from the kiss. Lina rested her head against his chest and he leaned his head back, hiding a smile.

  "So much for having everything but your lips," Kaden teased, his other hand stroking the back of her head. Her hair was soft and silky. He ran through it many times, enjoying the way it felt on his rough skin.

  "Oh shut it," Lina mumbled, hiding her stained cheeks from him. So much for that……