His tall and strong presence was like a protective shield, giving her an overwhelming sense of safety. He set her inside the car.
It was then that Khloe realized just how tired she was, her body feeling completely drained and limp.
This was her first real encounter with the Evans family, and the way she felt now made her feel a bit let down by herself.
Khloe felt a flicker of irritation but then noticed Henrik holding her hand, causing her to glance up in surprise. As Henrik got into the car, he took her hand without thinking and began to massage her palm.
As a medical student, Khloe immediately knew he was trying to calm her.
His fingers curled around her palm, his thumb moving in a steady rhythm against the base of her thumb. The warmth of his touch felt personal, almost intimate. Khloe felt her cheeks heat up but quickly composed herself, attempting to pull her hand away.
“Stay still.” Henrik’s low, compelling voice filled the air, and he tightened his hold on her hand without pausing.
His intense gaze met hers. “I don’t want to see you letting anyone else control your feelings. The only person you should focus on is me.”
Henrik’s words made Khloe chuckle, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Henrik, did you forget? We’re only pretending.”
A sharp, dangerous look appeared on Henrik’s finely chiseled face as his eyes locked onto Khloe. He stopped for a moment, then leaned in closer.
His breath, warm and laced with the fresh scent of mint, touched her skin.
“What’s wrong? Do you think I’m being too controlling? Having second thoughts?” Henrik murmured, his voice soft but filled with a quiet intensity.
A shiver ran down Khloe’s back as her instincts picked up on the danger in the air.
She had probably let her guard slip, becoming too comfortable.
How could she forget that the man in front of her was the king of the underworld? Every movement he made radiated a chilling authority, the unmistakable presence of a leader.
As their eyes met, Khloe felt an odd flutter in her chest but kept her composure, answering him without delay. “Not at all. I told you, as long as you help me, I’ll give everything I have in return.”
Henrik’s gaze softened for a moment, hiding the dangerous look beneath. He ruffled her hair casually. Khloe let out a quiet sigh of relief. Surprisingly, Henrik was not hard to appease.
Henrik noticed her expression, and a brief smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
She thought she could treat their fake engagement as if it were just a simple deal. Unfortunately, she didn’t know that once she entered his domain, there was no way out. Just then, Khloe’s eyes caught the screen inside the car, showing the chaos unfolding at the Evans family estate. The footage showed the chaos that followed her departure-guests rushing out, Sloane collapsed on the floor, and other scenes of disorder.
Khloe fell silent, her thoughts swirling as a mix of emotions flickered in her eyes.
Henrik let out a soft chuckle. “Khloe, your performance was impressive. You understood Karl’s character perfectly.”
Khloe glanced at him with a calm expression. “It was just using borrowed power to scare people. It’s nothing compared to your way of taking control of the Evans family’s surveillance so quickly.”
To pull that off, Henrik must have had some highly skilled hackers at his disposal.
Henrik didn’t confirm nor deny it. “Creating this level of chaos within the Evans family isn’t something anyone could pull off.”
Khloe turned her head slightly and spoke firmly. “This is only the beginning.”
“In that case, I’m even more eager to see what comes next.” Henrik smiled slightly. “Since you invited me to see the show, I feel I should reward you. Let me take you somewhere special.”
He signaled to the driver to start the car.
As the Rolls-Royce moved forward, eight other cars silently followed, creating a tight protective circle around Henrik’s vehicle.
Khloe noticed the detail, understanding that Henrik’s outings were always surrounded by such heavy security. The chaos they’d witnessed when they first met was clearly staged.
But with his noble status and immense power, who could possibly stand in his way?
These thoughts briefly flickered through Khloe’s mind before she shook them off.
It wasn’t something she needed to think about.
The car raced forward, and soon, Henrik took Khloe to a place that left her in awe.
Before her was a sight straight out of a fantasy, like something pulled from the pages of a fairy tale.
A giant glass dome enveloped the entire space, and sunlight poured through, casting golden beams that resembled stained glass in a cathedral.
A crystal-clear lake surrounded the venue, its waters shimmering with a rich blue, resembling a giant sapphire. Countless water lilies floated on the surface, their pink, white, and purple petals blending together, releasing a fragrance that was almost like a work of art.
“Where are we?” Khloe asked, unable to hide her surprise. Henrik took her hand, a rare touch of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. “This was built under my mother’s guidance. Come with me.”
He guided Khloe down a white stone path, leading her to an area with a cooking station full of fresh ingredients. Nearby, a table was set, beautifully adorned with bouquets and candles.
Henrik motioned for Khloe to take a seat.
As she wondered what was going on, Henrik walked to the cooking station, slipping off his suit jacket to reveal a fitted shirt that highlighted his well-defined muscles, making it hard for her to look away.
Khloe was stunned.
Was Henrik actually planning to cook for her?
Henrik quickly caught on to the surprise in Khloe’s expression. While slipping on an apron, he reassured her, “Relax. I guarantee my cooking won’t land you in the ER.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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