Every time she walked into the café, it was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds and illuminating my entire world. She was truly a sight to behold, with her delicate freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and her captivating emerald eyes shining brightly.

Despite my efforts to keep things strictly platonic, Kristopher's teasing was too much for me. He knew I couldn't resist women with captivating features and enjoyed teasing me about it. I tried to hide my feelings for her, but Kristopher always seemed to know what buttons to push.

Whenever Scarlett's name came up, I felt uneasy and stuck in a tough spot. We had an undeniable connection that had reached a point where neither of us could deny it. Her actions showed she felt the same pull towards me. However, something held me back, like an invisible boundary keeping us apart.

Asking other women out was never an issue for me, but it became a daunting task when it came to Scarlett. My words always seemed to desert me whenever she was around, and I couldn't figure out why. Was it the fear of her rejecting me? Or was it the concern that pursuing something more with her would jeopardize our friendship?

My heart would race and my palms would sweat whenever I was in her presence. As our time together continued, Kristopher would constantly remind me that I needed to make a decision between Scarlett and potentially losing her forever.

Her necklace was adorned with a ring that always caught my attention, making it hard for me to focus on anything else. It was a part of her, always present, and I had never seen her without it. The enigma surrounding its purpose only intensified my curiosity. Kristopher, known for his relentless inquisitiveness, once questioned her about it but received a vague answer in return.

Despite her attempts to play it cool, I couldn't help but notice the faint pink hue that spread across her cheeks when Kristopher brought it up. Her distant gaze also hinted at a hidden narrative she was hesitant to share. The enigma surrounding the ring only grew stronger, and I had a nagging suspicion that there was something more significant going on, something she was trying to keep hidden.

To gain a better understanding of her daily routine, I asked Kristopher to keep an eye on her. What he uncovered was disturbing. It appeared that no matter where she went, a gray Ferrari was always trailing behind her. While it could be a mere coincidence that multiple people in the vicinity owned such a vehicle, I immediately recognized the license plate number as one that I had personally helped the driver obtain.

I struggled to believe that Scarlett could be associated with him, and I was beginning to question Kristopher's abilities, even though he had a reputation as the best stalker around.

My gut feeling was telling me that things weren't quite right, especially considering how unlikely it seemed for Scarlett to be in a relationship with someone like Blaze.

The doubts I had about Kristopher's possible error disappeared the moment I saw Blaze, his hand tightly holding onto her as if she were his possession.

As soon as I saw him, my entire body flinched involuntarily. I couldn't understand why she would willingly be with someone who exuded such negative energy. A feeling of envy washed over me as I watched him pull her closer to his side. A small voice inside me reminded me that if she truly belonged to him, I could never confess my true feelings for her.

I couldn't help but overhear Blaze impatiently questioning her about her slow pace, and I couldn't hold back a frown at the derogatory nickname he used. It was one of the reasons why I wished he was actually dead. The way he spoke to women made my stomach churn. It wasn't just his choice of words, but the condescending tone in which he said them that unsettled me.

In some ways, I felt sorry for her. Blaze was not known for treating women with kindness and sensitivity. Though I can't claim to be a perfect gentleman either, at least I've never pursued someone else's partner. Despite the turmoil inside me, I put on a calm facade and acted like any regular customer walking into my coffee shop. But that didn't mean I wasn't prepared to step in if necessary.

Scarlett's brow knit in confusion as she tried to make sense of the strange name he had called her. She looked at me, hoping for an explanation, but I was just as confused by his behavior and words. We were both puzzled by his actions now.

Without giving her a chance to ask questions, Blaze's patience ran out and he grabbed her arm tightly, pulling her towards him. He then leaned in to kiss her on the forehead, all while keeping an eye on me. I was well aware of his manipulative ways, and this was just another attempt to provoke and mock me. I knew better than to respond in this situation; the last thing I needed was to cause a scene and draw more attention from the already watchful police. So, I simply observed him without engaging.

Kristopher and I exchanged a look, both of us thinking the same thing. He glanced at his watch, confirming that there was no way Scarlett could have made it here with Blaze. Her lunch break should have ended by now, and I knew her schedule precisely. It seemed highly improbable that she would change it, especially since she doesn't take time off.

Not even once.

An unsettling thought snuck into my mind, causing my stomach to twist with unease as I began to doubt the validity of Blaze's actions.

I tried to make sense of the chaotic scene in front of me, my mind racing with a multitude of thoughts and questions. My gaze then fell upon her hands, which were shaking uncontrollably as she gripped onto the wooden counter. Every fiber of my being urged me to intervene, but I took a deep breath and forced myself to concentrate on my tasks instead. The last thing I wanted was to draw any unnecessary attention to myself at this moment.

As I tried to concentrate on my work, they slowly moved towards the door. Despite my efforts, Kristopher's unwavering stare made it challenging to stay focused.

His eyes widened in shock as his hands automatically began to clean a few plates.

He shook his head in disbelief. "You're just going to let her go with him, without a fight? You're being a coward, Cain."

It felt like he had hit me with his words, but deep down I knew they were true. Every instinct in my body told me to protect her, but I didn't listen. I watched as Scarlett went away with him, fully aware that if anything terrible happened to her, it would be on my conscience as well.

A bitter laugh escaped from within me as I heard his words, fully aware of Blaze's tendencies. It was hard to believe that he had truly changed over the years. In fact, it seemed like he had only become more extreme in his behavior.

My mind was solely focused on them until Kristopher abruptly brought me back to reality.

"What?", I turned to face him and asked.

"She left her wallet and phone on the counter. It would be best if you retrieved them.", Kristopher reiterated.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what my next move should be. But I couldn't just let her walk away without her belongings. With a quick decision, I grabbed them from the counter and hurried out the door, determined to catch up with her.

I looked out into the parking lot and saw her standing next to Blaze and his car, looking scared. My disgust for him intensified as I watched him reach his hands into her shirt, showing no consideration for consent. It only reinforced my belief that he was taking advantage of her purely for his own gratification, cementing my aversion towards men like him.

As I approached them, I could hear her desperate pleas for him to stop. Tears streamed down her face, and my blood began to boil with anger. However, I resisted the urge to confront him right away. He had always been a shady character, but I never expected him to sink this low.

I kept a wary eye on Blaze's every action, anticipating any potential danger. I was well aware of his ability to manipulate fire and use it against me at any given moment. He had already attempted to harm me once before, but I was fortunate enough to escape unscathed. "Scarlett," I spoke cautiously, keeping my defenses up.

To my surprise, he remained motionless. It was as though he was aware of being watched, making me wonder if he was also being monitored. However, that seemed unlikely since I was the only one paying for his foolishness.

She quickly fixed her clothes and wiped away her tears as he removed his hands from under her shirt. A wicked smile crept across his face, but he remained silent.

She was trying her best to keep her emotions in check, but it was evident that tears were about to fall again. I didn't want to prolong her pain any further, so I gave her back her belongings and asked the inevitable question, already knowing the answer.

"Is everything all right?", I asked.

She glanced quickly at Blaze's piercing glare as he got into his car and drove off. Once he was out of sight, she turned to me, grabbed her belongings, and departed without saying a word.

She didn't respond or show any appreciation, but I could empathize with her. As she jaywalked without a care for oncoming cars, I couldn't help but feel a strong desire to shield her from harm.

Even from myself.