KRUZ MANSION
"Mom, Mom, please listen!" Lucy pleaded, running after Mrs. Kruz.
"Mom!" she called again, grabbing her mother's hand just before she could descend the staircase. "Hear me out, please."
"What do you have to say, Lucy? That you and your bodyguard have been sleeping in the same room for two days? Seriously?" Mrs. Kruz snapped.
"He was injured and—"
"So what, Lucy?" Mrs. Kruz cut her off sharply. "Flame will be fired from this house and you will never—"
"Mom, please! Can't I get what I want for once in my life?" Lucy yelled, her voice cracking. "I've never lived like kids my age, never had friends because of Dad and Wacko!"—Warren's nickname, obviously. "No school, no parks, no parties, no boyfriend… all because you were scared I'd be targeted. But Flame knows us. He knows me. Let me keep him."
"Lucy, darling, you can't just keep a man without a reason."
"I love Flame, Mom… please," Lucy whispered.
"And what if he doesn't feel the same? You can't force love, sweetheart," Mrs. Kruz sighed, wiping her tears.
"I'll make him love me. But if he doesn't… then he can leave. Just don't send him away. Not yet," Lucy murmured.
"Fine. I can't stop you anyway," Mrs. Kruz finally gave in with a small smile.
"Thanks, Mommy!" Lucy beamed, hugging her mother tightly.
Meanwhile, behind a nearby door stood a giddily smiling Flame.
"She loves me," he mumbled, breaking into a small dance. The Lucy Kruz… in love with him? It was a miracle.
And just beneath the stairs stood a heartbroken Venom.
"If she loves him that much… I clearly don't stand a chance," she whispered, her eyes welling with tears. "He's never even looked at me properly… and he's sleeping in her room."
"Why not me?" she murmured, walking slowly out of the mansion.
---
BROWN MANSION
"Yes, Mother-in-law, they've arrived at the hotel," Mrs. Karina said into the phone.
"That's good. Hopefully their love blossoms soon," Granny Suzy smiled.
"It would be wonderful, but I'm scared of how Sky might react. It's like playing with an emotional time bomb. Why did Raymond have to fall for Alice, of all people?" Mrs. Karina groaned.
"It's normal for her to hate us. But I don't think she hates Raymond," Mr. Josh added, just stepping out of his study.
"Have you seen the way she looks at him?" Granny Suzy and Mrs. Karina yelled in unison, startling him.
"I just hope all goes well," Granny Suzy muttered.
---
AMUSEMENT PARK
"Where did you hear that?" Warren asked, nearly choking.
"From some guys. They were talking about a dik and a blowjob. I understand a blowjob is like blowing someone as a job, but I don't know what a dik is," Skylar explained innocently.
"Just… forget about it, doll."
"No, I wanna know."
"What about a piggyback?" Warren teased, trying to divert her.
"But I wanna knooow," Skylar whined, pouting adorably.
'Fuck those guys. Stupid bastards,' Warren thought, glaring into the distance.
"Fine. I'll tell you soon."
"On Thursday?" Skylar asked sweetly.
"But that's just two days away," Warren muttered.
"Plenty of time," she replied, nodding proudly.
"Okay, mio amore," he smiled, watching her nose scrunch up in the cutest way. "Now come on—we've still got a date to complete."
---
LUXURY RESORT – OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY
The exclusive couples-only resort was meant for peace, luxury, and… drama.
"Why just one room, huh? And why a couples resort?" Alice demanded.
"We are a couple, Alice."
"No, we're not! I'll never love you!" she yelled, backing up as Raymond stepped forward, pinning her softly between the wall and his body.
"Why can't you love me?" he asked gently.
"Because I don't want to! Why can't you just let me go?!"
"I love you, Alice."
"Fuck your love! Fuck you!" she screamed, shoving him back before slamming herself into the washroom.
"Fuck!" Raymond cursed, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
---
THE SCORPION BASE
"You're useless. You were born to destroy Lucifer, yet he still breathes peacefully!" Don Lucas barked, fury in his voice. "Most of our men died during your last stupid plan, and he's happily married! You're a waste of my sperm—I should've killed you the day I killed your mother!"
"I have a better plan this time, Don," Razor muttered through clenched teeth.
"It better work," Don Lucas growled.
---
WS VILLA
"I can't believe she asked me that," Warren sighed, flopping on his bed mid-FaceTime with Raymond. "I didn't even know what to say. And now I've got two days to explain… that."
"Told you she was innocent," Raymond replied, smirking.
"Yeah, my amore is sweet and clueless. But she's still a teenager."
"A teenager who's never socialized. Honestly, Skylar's mentally like a six-year-old—no sex talk, no social media… nothing."
"Wow," Warren sighed again.
"Yeah. You've got work to do, lover boy."
"Enough about my girl. How's it going with your firecracker?"
"I don't know. She's hiding something. And I've got two days to find out what."
"Good luck, bro. Take it slow."
---
SKYLAR'S ROOM
Skylar sat upright in bed, hugging the little brown bear Warren had won for her. Sleep just wasn't coming.
She had fun today. She was tired. But still… no sleep.
With a huff, she jumped out of bed, slipped on her flip-flops, and tiptoed toward Warren's room.
---
WARREN'S ROOM
"Mr. B…" Skylar whispered, peeking into the room.
Warren looked up and smiled, his heart melting at the sight. He gestured for her to come in.
She walked slowly to him, standing just in front of where he sat on the bed.
"Do you need something, baby?" he asked softly.
She nodded.
"What is it?"
"Can I sleep here with you?" she pouted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course. Come here." Warren pulled her into his arms.
They cuddled up close, warm and safe.
"Thank you for taking care of me… and putting up with me," Skylar said suddenly.
"It's my duty, mio amore. But really… thank you for choosing to stay with me," Warren whispered back.
Skylar giggled, burying her face in his chest as he smiled into the quiet night.