My Safe Person

Day Three after the Funeral

Elias's POV

Three days.

That was how long I had been living inside the Armstrong mansion.

Three days since the world ended for one girl...

...and somehow pulled me into its ruins.

Aaira hadn't let go of me once.

Not for a single moment.

She slept curled against my side, her tiny fingers gripping my shirt as though if she let go, I would disappear the way her parents had.

Every time she stirred...

Every time her breathing became uneven...

I held her a little tighter without even realizing it.

I hadn't slept properly.

I hadn't gone home.

I hadn't cared.

Even food had become meaningless.

Every time I tried to make Aaira eat, she only stared at the plate with empty eyes, as if she no longer understood what hunger was.

If she refused to eat...

I refused too.

Simple.

The mansion felt unbearably heavy.

Not because it was quiet.

Because grief itself had weight.

That afternoon, sunlight slipped through the curtains as I gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Beck..."

"You should freshen up."

She immediately shook her head and wrapped her arms around me tighter.

"No."

"I stay."

"You've been wearing the same clothes for two days."

"You'll feel better after changing."

She hesitated.

Her eyes drifted toward the bedroom door.

"What if someone comes?"

"What if I cry?"

I smiled softly.

"I'll be sitting right outside the bathroom."

"I'm not going anywhere."

She searched my face carefully, as though trying to decide if promises could still be trusted.

Finally...

She nodded.

"Okaaay..."

"But fast."

I laid fresh clothes on the bed.

Soft fabrics.

Light colors.

Nothing that might overwhelm her.

When she came back dressed, she somehow looked even smaller than before.

She stared at me for a long moment.

"You look tired."

I blinked.

"I'm fine."

She frowned.

"You didn't shower."

"Your hair looks sad."

For the first time in three days...

I almost laughed.

"I can't."

"I don't have clothes here."

"And I can't leave you alone."

She disappeared into her room.

A minute later she returned carrying something almost as big as herself.

A shark-print T-shirt.

Loose gray sweatpants.

She held them toward me proudly.

"You wear this."

"It's friendly."

I couldn't help smiling.

"I don't think it'll fit."

"You go."

"Ten minutes."

She raised one finger very seriously.

"I stay with Milli and Irin."

"I wait."

"No crying."

A pause.

"...Maybe little crying."

I sighed.

"Ten minutes."

"Don't move."

She saluted.

Just like she always did.

Something inside me whispered that I shouldn't leave.

I ignored it.

That was my mistake.

Aaira's POV

The house was still full of people.

But somehow...

It had never felt emptier.

Mama's perfume was gone.

Papa's footsteps were gone.

Only voices remained.

Too loud.

Too sharp.

I hugged my rabbit against my chest while sitting on the sofa.

Milli stayed beside me.

Irin sat quietly on the floor.

But nothing felt safe.

My head was noisy.

People kept saying words I didn't understand.

Responsibility.

Inheritance.

Future.

I didn't want the future.

I wanted yesterday.

Watch Prince was upstairs.

I counted quietly.

One...

Two...

Three...

The doorbell rang.

I jumped.

Milli opened the door.

More people.

Too many.

One man walked toward me.

Nop.

Mama's relative.

He smiled.

But his eyes didn't.

"You've grown."

His hand touched mine.

I pulled away immediately.

"I don't like touch."

He laughed.

"You don't have to be scared."

"I'm family."

His fingers reached for my arm again.

My chest became tight.

"Don't..."

I whispered.

Across the room stood another woman.

Heidi.

Papa's relative.

She looked at me the way people looked at expensive jewelry inside shop windows.

"We need to decide where she'll live."

Nop smiled.

"She'll stay with me."

"I'll take care of her."

He stepped closer again.

I looked around.

Watch Prince wasn't here.

"She doesn't like being touched," Milli said nervously.

Nop glared at her.

"You're only a maid."

"Stay out of this."

Something inside me cracked.

"Watch Prince!"

I cried.

Heidi laughed coldly.

"Oh, stop pretending."

She looked at Nop.

"You don't care about her."

"You're obsessed with possessing her."

Nop's smile disappeared.

"And you?"

"You only want her inheritance."

Heidi didn't even deny it.

"Of course."

"My family wants her married into our side."

"Then everything stays with us."

My head hurt.

Marriage?

Money?

Why were they talking about me?

"I don't want to go..."

I whispered.

Nobody listened.

Nop reached toward me again.

"I'll take very good care of you."

The moment his fingers brushed my wrist...

I screamed.

Elias's POV

I heard her scream before I finished drying my hair.

Every muscle in my body froze.

Then I ran.

Barefoot.

The towel slipped from my hand.

By the time I reached the living room...

I saw her.

Aaira.

Cornered.

Crying.

Shaking.

Hands reaching toward her.

Too many voices.

Too much noise.

Then I saw his hand on her.

Something inside me snapped.

"STEP AWAY FROM HER."

The entire room fell silent.

Aaira ran straight into my arms.

She buried her face against my chest.

"Watch Prince..."

"They touch..."

"They loud..."

I wrapped both arms around her immediately.

One hand covered the back of her head.

"It's okay."

"I'm here."

Then I looked at them.

My voice became ice.

"If either of you touches her again..."

"I will personally make sure you never come near another vulnerable person for the rest of your lives."

Nop scoffed.

"She needs family."

"She needs protection."

"From people like you."

Heidi folded her arms.

"And who are you exactly?"

"I'm the person her father trusted."

I pulled Aaira closer as she trembled.

"She stays with me."

Heidi laughed.

"You're not blood."

"No."

"I'm something far more dangerous."

She frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means the law."

I unlocked my phone.

"I've already filed for emergency guardianship."

"Educational supervision."

"Psychological protection."

Heidi's expression changed.

"You can't—"

"I already did."

"Three days ago."

Nop's face darkened.

"You think a piece of paper will stop me?"

"It won't."

"I'll take Aaira away from you."

"I'll make her hate you."

I stared back without blinking.

"You can try."

Heidi smirked.

"See you in court."

"And bring your little pet."

Neither of them noticed how my expression changed.

Pet?

Wrong word.

Very wrong.

"You have ten seconds."

"Leave."

For the first time...

Both of them hesitated.

Then they walked away.

The front door slammed shut.

Silence returned.

Later that evening...

Aaira sat quietly on her bed.

Still hugging her knees.

I knelt in front of her.

"They won't come back."

She searched my face.

"You came fast."

"I always will."

She hesitated.

"Even if I cry?"

I gently wiped away another tear.

"Especially then."

A tiny smile appeared.

The first one since the funeral.

She leaned forward until her forehead rested against my shoulder.

Within minutes...

She was asleep.

For the first time...

Without crying herself unconscious.

I held her carefully.

Then looked toward the dark hallway.

Boardrooms never frightened me.

Courtrooms never frightened me.

Threats never frightened me.

But today...

I finally understood.

They weren't coming for her money.

They were coming for her.

And they would have to go through me first.

Because the world hadn't only taken Aaira's parents.

It had placed her life in my hands.

And before I let anyone hurt her again...

I would burn every last bridge standing between them and her.