Saved by the heartless billionaire king

Some time before the storm

Aaron’s POV

I reached home in no time. As expected, my mom was waiting for me outside. I greeted her with a light kiss, just as she had demanded, before heading straight to her room. My mind was preoccupied with one thing: I couldn’t wait to see the color of her eyes again, and maybe, just maybe, hear the sound of her smile.

I was feeling something I couldn’t explain as I made my way to her room. On my way, I ran into Amelia, my second mom. She confirmed exactly what I had been thinking and asked me to meet her soon for a long conversation. She knew Ana wasn’t my girlfriend, that I had lied to my mom so she’d accept Ana into the house and take care of her. I had no other choice. I couldn’t bring her to my apartment; that would have been too risky.

As I entered Ana’s room, I found her still asleep. I hoped it was a peaceful rest. A smile crept onto my face without me even realizing it. Have you ever smiled without knowing it? I went and sat beside her bed. She looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to wake her. After a moment, I stood up to leave, but just as I was about to go, something unexpected happened.

A soft hand—so warm, so delicate—wrapped around mine. I was afraid I might hurt it if I acted too hastily. But then, it retreated just as quickly as it had touched me, leaving me unable to savor the moment. I turned, looking at her, and saw that she was shifting her gaze to the bed. She mumbled something under her breath, as if she wanted to say something. I waited, giving her the time to compose herself.

Finally, in a very soft, timid voice, she spoke. “You… you’re probably the one who saved me from the accident I was involved in. Thank you so much for everything. If there’s anything I can do to repay you, please let me know. But… can you tell me what happened? The last thing I remember was being at the bus stop, coming here.”

I paused for a moment before responding. “I’m Aaron, and… you don’t know me yet. First, I owe you an apology. I told my mom you were my girlfriend, and that wasn’t exactly the truth. But I had to say that. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have allowed you to stay in the house. So, if you plan on staying here for a while, we’ll have to pretend we’re a couple. I hope that won’t be too difficult for you.”

I watched her closely, curiosity bubbling inside me. To my relief, she agreed. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. It was all a lie, of course. My mom wouldn’t have let her stay if she knew Ana had nowhere to go. But still, I couldn’t help feeling a strange sense of relief and happiness when she said she was alright with the arrangement.

I then showed her the pendant I had found that night, the one I picked up from the floor. She said it wasn’t hers, but I insisted she keep it. There was something strange about that pendant. I felt it could help keep her soul anchored to her body at night, solving the issue she was facing.

We spent some time together, talking about random things. She laughed at my jokes, and it felt like a natural connection was forming between us. When dinner was ready, we went downstairs together, acting like a couple, sitting at the table with my mom. She watched us intently, her gaze barely leaving us. It was clear she was happy seeing us so comfortable with each other.

I couldn’t help but smile every time Ana laughed heartily at my mom’s jokes or when she would talk about my childhood. It was a strange, but comforting, experience to see them bonding. Ana was one of the rare people who could adapt to any environment, and she was doing it so effortlessly.

As the meal came to an end, my mom asked something that caught us both off guard. She turned to Ana and said, “So, how did you and Aaron meet?”

Ana answered first, saying, “I met him in my hometown.”

I quickly chimed in, “We met through my group’s local branch there.”

My mom looked at us, confused. Ana clarified, “It was through a branch of his group in my hometown.” I had one of my group’s branches there, so it was just a coincidence that we had crossed paths.

Mom, always curious, asked, “So Ana, what’s your dream? What are you doing in life?”

I watched Ana closely, waiting for her response. She took a deep breath and said, “I want to become an actress. I took a three-year course in modern acting back in my hometown. It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember, and I came here to make it happen. Hollywood is where actors go—where dreams either come true, or they shatter.”

Mom was intrigued. “Wow, that sounds amazing! I know many people who could help you. Aaron, too.” She looked at me, and I felt my stomach twist.

I quickly responded, “I’m sure Ana doesn’t need my help. She’s talented enough to make it on her own. People will love her.”

Ana’s face lit up. “Thank you for trusting me. But, honestly, I wouldn’t be happy with myself if I received help. I want to accomplish everything by myself. Only then will I be truly proud of myself.”

Her words left us silent, the sincerity in her voice striking me. After dinner, I took her on a tour around the house, showing her the beautiful garden. Even though it was nighttime, she gasped in awe at the scenery.

We sat on one of the white benches in the garden, enjoying the quiet. Then, Ana spoke again, her voice void of emotion.

“There’s something a woman told me. She said I should always trust you, that my enemy is near, and that I’m destined to rule. I don’t really understand what she meant. Can you tell me?”

I thought for a moment before responding. “My little mom always says strange things. Don’t worry too much about it. She probably reads too many drama books. But if you want, I can tell you something she told me once… She said that one day, the magic of the world would be in my hands. And that I’d need proper courage and someone by my side to embrace it. She even said I had to find that person soon, or my rival would kill her.”

We both paused for a moment, and then laughter bubbled up from both of us, breaking the tension. It felt good to laugh together, to share this lighthearted moment.

Later, I escorted her back to her room, and then went to mine. To my surprise, Amelia was sitting on my bed, waiting for me. I knew instantly that something big was coming. Every time she did this, something major was about to happen—or some truth was about to be revealed.

She stood up as I walked in. “Your father has been attacked,” she said, her tone grave. “He needs you.