Beneath His Skin

Episode 4: The Things We Never Said

Days passed, but Serah kept thinking about that knock on Kael’s door. That voice. The weight of a past Kael had tried to bury. He hadn’t said much about it since. And she didn’t push. Not yet.

She wanted to hold on to what they had for just a little longer.

But life—real life—was waiting.

One morning, she stood outside a glass tower downtown. Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she entered, a folder pressed to her chest. Inside was the deal her father had been pushing for weeks.

Her family’s company—Navarros Group Holdings—was merging with another empire.

The name printed on the top of the contract: Valen Industries.

She sighed. She didn’t care about stocks or mergers. She was just the daughter meant to smile at the press conference.

Or worse.

Play her part in a quiet arrangement.

An arranged marriage.

Serah hadn’t met the man yet. Her father only said, “He comes from a strong line. Discipline. Wealth. Influence. He’ll protect our legacy. That’s what matters.”

But Serah didn’t want legacy.

She wanted love.

She wanted Kael.

And Kael… had no idea.

Kael stood in front of his canvas, brush dripping with red and gold. But his mind wasn’t on the painting. It was on Serah. Always Serah.

The way she laughed when she wasn’t trying to be perfect. The way her body melted into his. The way she looked at him like he wasn’t broken.

He hadn’t told her everything.

Not about the fight club.

Not about the engagement his parents arranged behind his back years ago, with a girl from some powerful business family. A girl he’d never even seen in person. He never cared to. He refused it. Walked away from that world the moment he could.

He thought it was done.

But now the ghosts were circling again.

That evening, Serah stood in front of Kael’s loft, hands shaking. She had planned to tell him everything. About the deal. The arrangement. The pressure. Her fear.

But when Kael opened the door and saw her, he didn’t let her speak. He just pulled her in, held her like the world was slipping away.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” he said against her hair. “Something about you won’t leave me.”

She closed her eyes. “Kael, I need to tell you something.”

He pulled back to look at her. “Me too.”

They sat by the window, moonlight pouring over them like truth. But before Serah could speak, Kael said it first.

“My parents tried to arrange a marriage for me years ago. I said no. I never even met the girl. I thought it was over. But now, with all this pressure from the past… I think they’re pushing it again.”

Serah froze.

Her heart pounded.

Kael continued, not seeing the color drain from her face. “They said it’s with the daughter of some CEO. Big company. Navarro-something.”

Serah dropped the glass in her hand.

It shattered.

Kael jumped. “Are you okay?”

She looked up at him, breathless.

“I’m the daughter of Navarro.”

Silence.

Real. Deep. Heavy.

Kael’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.

“You’re…” He stood slowly. “Wait… you’re her?”

Serah nodded, her voice shaking. “And you’re the man I’m supposed to marry.”

They stared at each other.

Strangers again.

But also… not strangers at all.

Because they had already kissed like forever.

Already touched like they belonged to each other.

And now fate was catching up with them.

Kael laughed softly, rubbing his face with both hands. “We fell in love before we even knew the plan.”

Serah blinked back tears. “Or maybe we fell in love because it was always the plan.”

[To Be Continued in Episode 5:]