Hidden Blade

Chapter 17:The Quiet Before the Storm

When they stepped into Rex’s modest apartment, a small envelope sat conspicuously atop the shoe rack. Its contents, a single black card, bore the name "Viktor Moretti" in striking crimson letters. Beneath it, ten shadowy silhouettes were etched, faint but unmistakably sinister.

Sophia glanced at the card briefly, her brows furrowing in mild curiosity, but she quickly dismissed it. Probably some childish nonsense, she thought. As if on cue, her stomach let out a loud growl, breaking the tension. Embarrassed, she placed a hand over her belly, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.

Without saying a word, Rex strode into the kitchen. Sophia slipped off her heels, donning a pair of mismatched slippers she found by the door. As she wandered into the living room, her gaze drifted to the kitchen. Rex moved with a surprising fluidity, chopping and stirring like he’d done it a thousand times. For a brief moment, she entertained the thought: Maybe having a househusband wouldn’t be the worst thing.

But reality was quick to interject.

Their worlds were too far apart, the divide between them too vast to bridge.

Dinner was served without ceremony—simple dishes, presented neatly. Yet as Sophia took her first bite, her carefully cultivated poise melted away. The flavors were unexpectedly rich, warm, and comforting. Before she realized it, she was eating with an uncharacteristic fervor.

Rex leaned back, watching her with a smirk.

“How does it taste?”

Sophia swallowed the last shrimp ball, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“Not bad,” she admitted, her tone begrudging. “You can keep doing this.”

The faintest trace of amusement flickered in Rex’s eyes as he began clearing the table.

The Morning of the Registry

Sophia woke up in an empty apartment. The morning light filtered through the curtains, but Rex was nowhere to be seen. Panic bubbled up for an instant. Did he bail?

Her worries were interrupted by the creak of the front door. Rex walked in, his clothes damp with sweat, heavy sandbags strapped to his arms and legs. He moved as if the weight didn’t bother him at all.

“Breakfast is ready,” he said nonchalantly, unlacing the sandbags and dropping them onto the floor with a dull thud.

Sophia blinked. “You know today’s the day we’re getting married, right?”

Her tone was sharp but laced with curiosity. “I bought you a suit yesterday." Go put it on.”

A grin tugged at the corner of Rex’s lips. “Yes, ma’am.”

When he emerged from the bedroom, Sophia’s breath hitched. The transformation was startling. Gone was the disheveled cab driver—standing before her was a man who could easily command the attention of an entire room. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and easy confidence.

But Rex wasn’t the only one dressed to impress. Sophia had taken her own preparation seriously. Her crisp white blouse tucked into a flowing skirt that hugged her figure just right. She radiated elegance, her soft curls framing a face that seemed almost ethereal. For a moment, Rex couldn’t help but stare.

“You clean up well,” he said with a low whistle, his grin playful.

“You’re not too bad yourself,” Sophia replied coolly, though the faintest smile betrayed her.

The Road Ahead

As Sophia guided the car back toward the city, Rex broke the silence. “Pull over,” he said, pointing to a spot by the curb.

Sophia shot him a questioning glance. “What for? Deliveries?”

Rex leaned back in his seat, his signature smirk firmly in place. “Nah, thought I’d show off this suit to a cute barista. Can’t let all this effort go to waste.”

The car screeched to a halt, Sophia slamming on the brakes with more force than necessary. Her head whipped around, her glare sharp enough to cut steel. “Get. Out.”

Rex chuckled, unruffled by her fury. “Relax, princess. It was a joke.”

“Out!” Her voice carried the kind of finality that left no room for argument.

Rex raised his hands in mock surrender, stepping out of the car with exaggerated nonchalance.

“You’re feisty today,” he called out, still grinning as he shut the door behind him.

Sophia sat motionless for a moment, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. She wasn’t sure what irritated her more—his carefree attitude or the fact that, just for a second, she’d almost found his ridiculous joke amusing.

The Call That Changed Everything

As they drove toward the registry office, Sophia’s phone buzzed violently on the console. She hesitated for a moment before picking it up. The name on the screen made her stomach knot: Charles Bennett.

Her grandfather’s voice was icy, sharp as a blade,

“Sophia. You must attend an emergency family meeting immediately. No delays. Bring that… man if you must.”

The line went dead before she could reply. Her hands trembled as she placed the phone back down.

Rex noticed her unease and raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s my family,” she said quietly.

"They’ve called an emergency meeting. They know about us.”

Rex leaned back in his seat, his casual demeanor unwavering.

“Then let’s go. It’s time I met your family anyway.”

Sophia’s heart sank, but she nodded. There was no escaping this. The car turned away from the registry office and headed toward the imposing Bennett estate.