02.
1305 Words
It wasn’t like Iona wanted to stay with some random man she barely knew. For all she knew, Xylon could be a criminal—a thief, a drug addict, or worse. Maybe she had just jumped from one hell to another.
But the problem was, she had no choice.
She had cut ties with her friends, even her family—the very people who warned her about Miguel. And for what? Because that asshole told her to. Now, here she was, alone, with nowhere to go and no one to call.
So, as much as the idea of staying with Xylon annoyed her, it was the only option she had.
That’s why she needed a plan.
She spent the entire car ride to the hospital thinking of ways to convince him, but nothing seemed good enough.
Begging? No way. She had enough of that with Miguel.
Acting pitiful? Too predictable. He didn’t seem like the type to fall for that.
Threats? Yeah, no. That would get her kicked out faster.
Then, as they walked into the hospital, a ridiculous but oddly perfect idea hit her.
If logic wouldn’t work on Xylon……maybe chaos would.
After a quick check-up, the doctor confirmed what she already knew—she was perfectly fine.
Xylon smirked, arms crossed. “Well, there you have it. Now, be a good little stray and—”
“Actually…” Iona interrupted, pressing a hand to her temple and faking a dazed look. “I don’t remember anything.”
Xylon turned to her slowly, blinking like she had just spoken in some alien language. “…The f**k did you just say?”
Iona winced for effect. “It’s all blank… I don’t remember where I live, or even who I am…”
Xylon blank look and turned to the doctor. “Hey, Doc, can you check again? I think she hit her head harder than we thought.”
The doctor chuckled. “She’s completely fine. No injuries, no memory loss.”
Xylon scoffed, crossing his arms. “Hear that, Iona? Even science says you’re full of shit.”
She exhaled, dropping the act. “Okay, fine. I was trying my luck.”
Xylon rolled his eyes. “Obviously.”
Iona groaned, running a hand through her hair. She was out of ideas. There was no way this man was going to let her stay—
“I can cook,” she suddenly blurted out.
Xylon shot her a look. “Yeah? And?”
Iona hesitated. Okay, bad angle. The man literally cooked breakfast for her.
Thinking fast, she straightened her back. “I mean—I can cook better than you.”
Xylon raised an eyebrow, amused. “Excuse me?”
Iona gestured at him. “Your breakfast was fine—edible, even—but let’s be real, you made the safest, most basic meal possible. Bacon, eggs, and pancakes? That’s level one survival mode.” She crossed her arms. “I, on the other hand, can cook meals that make life worth living.”
Xylon let out an exaggerated gasp. “Wow. So dramatic. Should I start crying?”
Iona ignored him and continued. “Admit it, you want good food. And you live alone, right? You don’t have a housekeeper, which means you do everything yourself.”
Xylon frowned. “And?”
“And that means I’d be useful,” she said smugly. “I’ll cook. I’ll clean. I’ll make sure you’re not just surviving off caffeine and instant food.”
Xylon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “For the record, I own more bars, restaurants, and food businesses than you can probably imagine. Also, I run a company that develops food products and exports them worldwide.” He shrugged, completely casual, like he was stating the weather. “So, yeah. I think I know a thing or two about food.”
Iona blinked. Okay. That was unexpected.
“…Oh.”
Xylon smirked, leaning back like he was thoroughly enjoying this. “Yeah. Oh. So tell me, chef, do you still think I need your life-changing cooking?”
Iona opened her mouth, then closed it. She had nothing. No comeback, no argument—just pure, humiliating defeat.
Xylon let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. “Well, this was fun. But I’ve got work to do, and you’ve got… I don’t know, the streets to return to?” He gave her a lazy wave. “See ya, stray.”
And just like that, he turned and walked away.
Xylon’s back was all Iona could see as he walked away, completely unbothered.
So this is how stiff you are, huh? she thought, narrowing her eyes. The man had the emotional range of a rock.
Let’s see if you can handle this.
Without hesitation, she sucked in a deep breath and let out the most gut-wrenching wail.
“XYLON, HOW COULD YOU?!”
Xylon froze mid-step.
“WHY ARE YOU ABANDONING ME?!” she cried, clutching her stomach like she was seconds away from collapsing. "AND OUR CHILD?!"
A loud gasp echoed through the hospital lobby.
“He’s leaving his pregnant girlfriend?!”
“What a bastard!”
“Oh my God, look at her! She’s devastated!”
Xylon turned around so slowly it was almost comical. His face was unreadable, but the twitch in his eye gave him away.
Iona’s shoulders shook as she let out another dramatic sob. “I—I can’t believe you’re just walking away from us! From the family we built together!”
Another gasp.
A nurse smacked her coworker’s arm. “Did you hear that? That jerk got her pregnant and now he’s ditching her?!”
“Typical rich asshole,” an old lady muttered. “No responsibility, just out here ruining lives.”
A man near the entrance shook his head. “Shame on you, dude! Shame!”
Xylon exhaled sharply, tilting his head back, his jaw clenched so tight it could probably shatter.
Iona swayed dramatically, pressing a hand to her forehead. “I—I feel faint—”
“That’s it!”
Xylon marched toward her in just two steps, his eyes burning with barely contained anger.
Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward the exit.
“Alright, enough of your bullshit,” he gritted out. “You’re coming with me before I get arrested for something I didn’t even do.”
Iona wiped away her fake tears, biting back a victorious smirk.
Xylon dragged her outside, his grip firm but controlled, his steps brisk like he was desperate to put as much distance as possible between them and the chaos she’d just caused.
As soon as they were outside, he let go of her wrist and turned to face her, arms crossed, his jaw tight. “Are you actually insane, or do you just wake up every morning and choose to piss everyone off?”
Iona tilted her head innocently. “I don’t know, Xy. Maybe I just bring out the best in people.”
Xylon let out a dry laugh, completely unamused. “Oh, definitely. Nothing screams ‘best’ like nearly getting me tackled by security.” He threw his hands up. “What’s next? Gonna scream kidnapping the moment we get in the car?”
Iona gasped dramatically. “Oh my God, that’s a great idea—”
Xylon pointed a finger at her, eyes narrowing. “Try it and I’m leaving your ass right here.”
Iona grinned, stepping toward the car. “Relax, I’d never do that.” She patted the hood playfully of his porsche. “You’re my ride home, after all.”
Muttering curses under his breath, the man unlocked the car. “Get in before I reconsider every decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Checkmate.
- Writer
