His Little Bird

chapter 2, His Little Bird

Alex Moreno stood in front of the massive glass window of his penthouse. A burning cigar rested between his fingers, its smoke making the darkness in his eyes look even more mysterious. Behind him, Marcus hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"Boss, can I ask you something?"

Alex took a long drag from his cigar before replying calmly.

"You don't need to be so formal, Marcus. Just say what's on your mind."

Marcus gathered his courage and spoke.

"Boss, women from the most powerful families are crazy about you. You've never even looked twice at any of them. Yet for a simple middle-class girl, you've turned the entire city upside down for the past month. I just can't understand what is so special about Aria Lewis that she has made you this restless."

For a few moments, Alex remained silent.

A memory from a month ago suddenly appeared before his eyes.

After hearing Marcus's question, Alex stood quietly for a while before finally speaking.

"I don't have the answer to that question either, Marcus."

He looked out at the city lights.

"That day, I had a huge argument with my father. I was furious. So I grabbed my car and left the mansion alone. I didn't know where I was going. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to drive wherever my eyes took me."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"But I had no idea that my eyes would stop on one ordinary girl."

He continued,

"Aria was probably returning home from college that day. Heavy rain had started, and she was standing beneath a tree for shelter. Meanwhile, I wasn't in my right mind. I was so angry that I felt like my veins were about to burst. I poured all that anger into the speed of my car."

His eyes darkened.

"My car sped past her, splashing the rainwater collected on the road all over her."

Marcus listened carefully.

Alex's voice became quieter.

"She immediately shouted at me."

His lips slowly curved upward.

"'i***t! Can't you drive properly?'"

Alex laughed softly.

"The moment those words reached my ears, my anger doubled. I slammed on the brakes and grabbed my gun."

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

"I had already decided that whoever dared to speak to me like that was going to die."

For a moment, silence filled the room.

"But when I stepped out of the car..."

Alex stopped speaking.

A strange look entered his eyes.

"I saw her."

The memory was still crystal clear.

Her angry face.

Her rain-soaked hair.

The water droplets sliding down her cheeks.

Her trembling lips.

Her beautiful eyes.

Alex took another drag from his cigar.

"Even today, I can't forget how she looked standing in that rain."

His voice became softer.

"It wasn't just me who froze that day. Time itself seemed to stop."

He shook his head.

"How could one girl look so innocent? So pure? So beautiful?"

Alex looked at Marcus.

"I returned home without saying a single word to her. But after that day, I searched for her everywhere."

His jaw tightened.

"I had my men search every corner of the city. But everyone failed."

"There was no clue about her. Nothing."

Then his eyes darkened with obsession.

"But after one entire month, I suddenly saw her again at the university while attending a business meeting."

His voice became firm.

"And the moment I saw her, I made a decision."

Marcus already knew what was coming.

Alex slowly smiled.

"I wanted her."

The room felt colder.

"No matter what it takes."

His eyes became dangerous.

"Aria belongs to me."

He crushed the cigar into the crystal ashtray.

"And anyone who stands between us..."

His voice dropped to a deadly whisper.

"I'll destroy their life."

Ethan finally stopped the car in front of Aria's house.

Throughout the entire drive, Aria had remained silent, staring out of the window. She hadn't spoken a single word. Ethan kept glancing at her while driving. He could tell that she was still shaken by everything that had happened earlier. That was why he had given her space instead of forcing a conversation.

But Aria seemed so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't even realized they had already arrived.

"Aria," Ethan called gently. "We're here."

His voice pulled her back to reality.

Seeing how tense she looked, Ethan reached for her hand and held it firmly.

"Why are you worrying so much?" he asked softly. "No matter how powerful Alex is, he will never separate us."

Suddenly, Aria looked at him.

"Ethan... I just remembered something."

"What is it?"

"I've seen Alex before."

Ethan frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Aria took a deep breath.

"It happened about a month ago. I was returning home after an architecture exhibition. I was waiting at a bus stop when a heavy storm suddenly started."

She paused before continuing.

"I was standing under a tree trying to protect my bag from the rain when a luxury black car sped past me and splashed dirty water all over me."

A faint smile appeared on her face despite the situation.

"I got angry and shouted, 'Can't you drive properly?'"

Ethan listened carefully.

"The car suddenly stopped. I was terrified. Then Alex stepped out holding a gun."

Ethan's expression immediately darkened.

"A gun?"

Aria nodded.

"At first, it looked like he was furious and ready to shoot me. But the moment he saw me, he just... stopped."

She shook her head.

"He stared at me for a few seconds, then went back to his car and drove away."

The memory still felt strange even now.

"I thought it was weird at the time, but I didn't think much about it. And now, after an entire month, he suddenly appears again. I don't understand what's happening."

For a few moments, Ethan remained silent.

Then he exhaled slowly.

"You may not understand it, Aria..."

His eyes hardened.

"But I think I do."

He squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry. I'll handle everything."

Then he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead.

Instantly, Aria wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

For a brief moment, both of them felt safe.

Neither of them realized that someone was secretly watching from a distance.

A photograph of their embrace was quickly taken and sent directly to Alex Moreno.

The moment Alex saw the picture, something dark ignited inside him.

His fist clenched.

His jaw tightened.

The veins in his forehead became visible.

"You have a lot of courage, Ethan Carter," he muttered coldly.

His eyes remained fixed on the image.

"You dare touch my Little Bird?"

A dangerous smile appeared on his lips.

"She's mine."

His voice turned deadly.

"Now watch carefully while I take her away from you."

He leaned back in his chair.

"And if I can't do it the easy way..."

His eyes darkened.

"Then I'll do it the hard way."

---

After Ethan dropped Aria off, she stood outside her house for a few moments.

A storm of emotions was raging inside her.

Before opening the front door, she quickly wiped away her tears and forced a smile onto her face.

She didn't want her parents to notice anything.

As soon as she stepped inside, she saw her father, David Lewis, sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Her mother, Clara Lewis, was coming out of the kitchen.

"Aria? You're home?" Clara asked warmly. "Why are you so late today?"

She immediately walked over and placed a hand on her daughter's forehead.

"You look exhausted. Are you feeling sick?"

Aria forced a smile.

"No, Mom. We had a lot of assignments today. I'm just tired."

David lowered his newspaper and looked at his daughter over his glasses.

He knew Aria better than anyone.

Even the smallest change in her voice never escaped his notice.

"Come here, sweetheart."

Aria walked over and sat beside him.

David gently stroked her hair.

"My princess looks far too tired today. Are you stressing yourself too much?"

For a moment, Aria wanted to tell him everything.

She wanted to tell him about Alex.

About her fear.

About the shadow slowly creeping over their peaceful lives.

But she couldn't.

"I'm fine, Dad," she said softly. "I just need some rest."

"Rest later," Clara called from the dining table. "First wash your face. I made your favorite pasta and hot soup."

A little later, Aria joined them at the table.

Clara immediately noticed that her daughter was simply moving the food around her plate instead of eating.

Without saying anything, she sat beside her.

"Open your mouth," Clara said affectionately. "Today your mother is going to feed you."

Aria wanted to protest, but the love in her mother's eyes made her give up.

Like a little girl again, she accepted the bite of food.

Across the table, David watched the scene with a smile.

Aria was their only child.

Their entire world.

Even a single tear in her eyes felt unbearable to them.

With every bite her mother fed her, Aria felt her eyes growing wetter.

"What's wrong?" Clara asked worriedly. "Didn't the food turn out well?"

Aria quickly composed herself.

"No, Mom. It's delicious."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"It's just... it's been a long time since I ate from your hands."

For a brief moment, surrounded by her parents' love, Aria almost forgot that danger had already entered her life.