CHAPTER 28: Calm after the storm
1274 Words
For the first time in days, peace finally returned.
The media frenzy surrounding the Sil Tower gradually died down after Colonel Ross officially accepted all charges tied to the trafficking operation and military leak. News channels eventually moved on to newer scandals, and though whispers still surrounded Marcus Orlando’s name occasionally, the public had largely accepted the official conclusion.
The Sil Tower survived.
Stronger than before.
Even the company atmosphere changed entirely.
Employees no longer walked around nervously. Investors returned confidently, and international partnerships flooded in faster than Christian could organize.
Everything was stabilizing.
Far away, inside a luxurious royal residence overlooking the sea, Augustus silently watched the international news replay for what felt like the tenth time.
The prince of Somalia had initially expected the Sil Tower to collapse completely under the scandal.
After all, the accusations had been catastrophic.
Underaged trafficking.
Illegal military cooperation.
Pornographic operations.
Financial corruption.
No corporation should have survived such a blow.
Yet not only did the Sil Tower survive—
It emerged even more terrifying than before.
Augustus leaned back slowly, still stunned by how quickly the situation reversed.
The escaped executive was arrested.
Colonel Ross became the official culprit.
The Sil Tower was publicly declared innocent.
And somehow Marcus Orlando walked away untouched despite the suspicion surrounding him.
It was almost unbelievable.
But what truly shocked Augustus the most was Lionel himself.
The man never once defended himself publicly.
Never appeared before reporters.
Never explained anything.
Yet the entire situation still bent in his favor eventually.
A faint smile appeared on Augustus’ face.
“Interesting…”
Now he finally understood why powerful families across several countries remained cautious whenever the Sil Tower was mentioned.
Lionel Sil was not simply dangerous.
He was terrifyingly patient.
Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Susan was slowly beginning to heal.
The incident at the previously had affected her more deeply than anyone initially realized. Ever since Lucy planned the attempted assault against, Susan had struggled with fear she tried desperately to hide.
Loud noises startled her.
Unexpected touches made her tense instantly.
Sometimes she woke up from nightmares trembling uncontrollably.
Though she smiled often around others, Lionel noticed every single detail.
He noticed how she unconsciously checked locked doors twice before sleeping.
How she avoided crowded places.
How her cheerful laughter occasionally disappeared whenever certain memories resurfaced.
And because of that, Lionel became even more protective.
Tonight, however, things felt different.
The mansion was unusually quiet.
Rain tapped softly against the windows while warm golden light filled the living room.
Susan sat curled against the couch reading through one of her school books absentmindedly while Lionel worked nearby.
Or at least—
Pretended to work.
His attention had drifted toward her several times already.
Susan looked healthier now.
Happier.
The fear in her eyes had lessened greatly over the past few weeks.
Perhaps it was because she finally felt safe again.
Safe enough to breathe.
Safe enough to sleep peacefully.
Safe enough to slowly become herself again.
Lionel closed the document before him quietly.
“You’ve been staring at the same page for ten minutes.”
Susan blinked before looking up guiltily.
“I’m thinking.”
Lionel raised an eyebrow slightly.
“That explains the blank expression.”
Susan immediately glared at him.
“I do not have a blank expression.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
Lionel’s lips curved faintly.
Susan froze slightly at the sight.
Even now, she still found it unfair how effortlessly attractive he looked doing absolutely nothing.
The soft lighting only made him look even more dangerous.
And unfortunately for her—
She had become increasingly aware of him lately.
Very aware.
Lionel noticed her staring immediately.
“What?”
Susan quickly looked away.
“Nothing.”
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
Her ears turned red instantly.
Embarrassing.
Completely embarrassing.
Trying to distract herself, Susan stood from the couch.
“I’ll make tea.”
But the moment she walked past him, Lionel suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist gently.
Susan stopped.
Her heartbeat skipped unexpectedly.
Lionel slowly looked up at her while still holding her hand.
“Stay.”
His voice was low.
Calm.
Yet somehow incredibly dangerous.
Susan swallowed lightly.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Neither of them moved for several seconds.
Then Lionel slowly pulled her closer.
Susan stumbled slightly before ending up directly in front of him.
Her breathing became uneven immediately.
Lionel’s gaze remained fixed on her face quietly, studying every tiny reaction.
“You’re nervous,” he murmured.
Susan tried to act brave.
“I’m not.”
“You’re trembling.”
“…Maybe a little.”
That faint honesty made something in Lionel’s expression soften.
Carefully, he reached up and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
Susan’s breath caught.
There was something overwhelming about Lionel whenever he looked at her like this.
As though she was the only thing capable of holding his attention completely.
Slowly, his hand moved to her waist.
Susan instinctively held onto his shoulders for balance.
The distance between them disappeared little by little.
And before she could overthink anything—
Lionel kissed her.
Softly.
Patiently.
Nothing forceful.
Nothing rushed.
Just warmth.
Susan froze briefly before slowly kissing him back.
The moment she did, something in Lionel’s restraint nearly snapped.
His grip around her waist tightened slightly as he deepened the kiss carefully, pulling her even closer against him.
Susan could hear her own heartbeat loudly now.
Everything around them seemed to blur away completely.
The rain.
The lights.
The silence.
All of it disappeared beneath the intensity growing between them.
Lionel rested his forehead lightly against hers afterward, his breathing noticeably uneven for once.
Susan stared at him breathlessly.
Then quietly—
“Lionel…”
The way she said his name almost destroyed whatever control he had left.
His fingers brushed gently against her cheek before trailing lower slowly.
Susan shivered visibly beneath his touch.
Lionel’s eyes darkened instantly.
For a brief moment, the atmosphere became dangerously heated again.
Then suddenly—
He stopped.
Completely.
Susan blinked in confusion as Lionel closed his eyes briefly like he was fighting something internally.
A few seconds later, he slowly stepped back.
The sudden distance left Susan stunned.
“What happened?” she asked softly.
Lionel looked at her silently for a moment before exhaling quietly.
“You’re still seventeen.”
Susan froze immediately.
Right.
Her eighteenth birthday was this weekend.
Lionel ran a hand through his hair slowly, looking unusually frustrated.
“You have no idea how difficult you make this.”
Despite the heated atmosphere moments ago, Susan suddenly laughed softly.
Lionel narrowed his eyes slightly.
“You think this is funny?”
“A little.”
His expression turned dangerous again immediately.
Susan wisely stepped backward.
“I should probably go upstairs.”
Lionel stared at her calmly.
“Probably.”
Yet neither of them moved immediately.
The tension still lingered heavily between them.
Susan’s face slowly turned red again under his gaze before she hurried toward the staircase.
Halfway up, Lionel’s voice suddenly stopped her.
“Susan.”
She turned around.
Lionel watched her quietly for a second before speaking calmly.
“Happy early birthday.”
Something warm spread through Susan’s chest instantly.
A soft smile appeared on her face.
“Thank you.”
Lionel remained downstairs long after she disappeared from sight.
The living room became quiet once more except for the sound of rain outside.
But despite the calm expression on his face, his thoughts were far from peaceful.
Because for the first time in a very long while—
Lionel was genuinely looking forward to the weekend.
- Writer
