KNIGHT DID NOT let go of SM's hand, as if he were afraid of losing her if he did. He kept on staring at her. He couldn't believe his eyes that she was really there. Every time their eyes would meet, his soft smile was ready for her.

They sat side by side, their hands intertwined, fingers playfully brushing against one another. He kept on kissing her hand, her wrist, her palm. He couldn't get enough of her.

SM caressed his cheek before sweetly smiling at him. "You look worn out."

"Well, I just woke up from being lashed. It's my first time being conscious for a long time, but I had to fight my way out of the house and fly from Barcelona to Seville." Knight sighed. "Am I not handsome anymore? Do I smell? Do I need to take a bath? Wait—you still love me, right?"

SM laughed at his last question. "As if that would change," she replied. Her face softened. "I'm sorry you went through all that so you could see me. I'm sorry if I wasn't able to do anything to find you."

"And I'm thankful that you didn't," Knight said before brushing a few strands of hair that were covering the side of her forehead. "I'm sorry if I took too long. I know I promised to find you as soon as possible, but I failed. Forgive me."

She shook her head. "There's nothing to forgive, my lord."

Knight chuckled at her endearment. "I miss that... I miss you."

His companions arrived a couple of minutes after, but Knight clung to her so much that SM couldn't greet his friends properly. She just smiled and waved.

"Cloud Beaumont Sebastian from Madrid," Cloud introduced himself, bowing to her uncle Kee. "Count Knight's butler."

Kee raised a brow. "How are you related to the Sebastians in Madrid?"

"Relatives."

Jacques snorted. "The heads of the Sebastian family are his parents," Jacques corrected Cloud.

"You're the successor?" Kee asked.

Cloud shook his head. "I'm the second child."

"Ah, I see."

"I'm Dimitri Argyris." Dimitri was next to introduce. "Portuguese."

"I don't need to ask. I know who you are," Kee said with a smile before turning to his niece. "Dimitri here owns two islands in Portugal, and one of them is his home."

SM looked at Dimitri in astonishment. "I thought you weren't rich because you were irritated at Jacques."

Dimitri instantly got annoyed. "I'm irritated at his attitude, not at his wealth."

"And here I thought we can both relate to each other because we're poor."

Dimitri smiled at her knowingly. "Are you? Poor, I mean?"

SM fell silent when she remembered what her personal lawyer told her.

"I'm North—no surname. I'm not proud of my roots," introduced another man who seemed unwelcoming of further questions about his name. It was the first time SM met him.

"Shun Kim," Shun said, who was sitting next to Knight. "Nice meeting you all."

While all of this was happening, Knight didn't let her go and kept on kissing her hand, face, neck, and shoulder. SM could feel that he really missed her, and she let him. She missed him too, and she would have done something more than kissing if they were alone.

She missed him that much.

Jacques raised his hand to introduce himself. "To everyone who doesn't know me, I'm Marquess Jacques Sotelo"—he gestured his hand to SM—"Milady's butler."

"I'm Keegan Mejia." Kee smiled enthusiastically. "I'm Sweet Monday's uncle."

"The duke?" There was admiration in Dimitri's voice. "You're Duke Keegan Mejia? Fuck! You won the Nobel Peace Prize. You have helped a lot of people and lots of kids through thousands of charities. You're brilliant!"

That stunned SM and made her smile. Her uncle Kee was really a brilliant and good person.

Kee scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Now, now, don't make me blush, kiddo. Yes, I'm a duke, but call me Uncle Kee. I prefer that than the title—" He paused when he started to get irritated when Knight repeatedly kissed SM on her neck. "Can you stop kissing my niece in front of me?! I already gave you my blessing, but don't you fucking do that in front of me. She's my beloved niece!"

Knight didn't want to, but he did anyway. "But I miss her," he whispered in defeat.

Kee just shook his head before staring at Shun's laptop. "So, you're their tech guy. I like what you did when you tapped into Sweet Monday's phone. That was a clean line. I'm impressed." He offered his hand to Shun. "My code is R-3-4-P-3-R."

"You're Reaper?" Shun asked, obviously shocked, before accepting Kee's hand. "Mine is H-3-L-L-10-N."

"Hellion." Uncle Kee smiled. "Nice security you got there." He pointed at Shun's laptop using his mouth. "I took a peek earlier."

"Your cybersecurity is formidable. I only got in to tap the call because you let me in."

"Yeah, I was watching you navigate my security with popcorn in my hand. That was nice."

Shun chuckled and then looked at Kee earnestly. "Thank you for not destroying my laptop."

"Oh, you can tell who I am by just navigating a small fraction of my security system?"

"Yes, you're a red hat."

"So are you."

"Not as good as you."

Uncle Kee cupped his face like a girl. "Don't make me fucking blush, Shun. I'm shy."

Everybody laughed at Kee's reaction. He was really like a kid in a grown man's body, but SM knew that he was also a wise and smart man.

But then Kee got serious and turned to Knight. "Introduction over. You two need to leave. Now. Before Mufasa gets home." He looked at Shun. "I will assist you in leaving the country undetected—"

"No," Knight firmly replied. All eyes turned to him.

"What do you mean no?" Kee frowned. "If you want to be happy together, you have to leave—"

"No," Knight repeated and intently looked at her. "We won't be happy that way. My Sweet Monday won't be happy that way." Then he turned to her uncle once again. "I'm happy for your assistance, I'm relieved that you're on our side, but I don't want to disrespect Sweet Monday's family by eloping with her. This may be a bad decision on my part, and this plan may blow on my face, but I'm willing to face Sweet Monday's father. I'm not gonna run away. I'm gonna prove to him that I'm worthy of his daughter."

A tear fell from SM's eyes as she listened to what Knight said. Her love for him grew stronger because of his great respect for her father.

Kee relaxed his wrinkled forehead and laughed, shaking his head. "You're just like that motherfucker. Oh well, if that's your decision. Though you can't go to Mufasa's house right now. I know him. He's close-minded when angry. So..." Uncle Kee grinned. "Let's go to my house instead and play baccarat."

"Who's the banker?" North asked immediately.

Kee grinned at North. "Oh... Someone's excited."

North pressed his lips together.

"Where's your house, Uncle?" SM asked.

"Just around here somewhere," Kee answered cryptically.

"Let's go there then." She casually glanced at Knight. She could feel that he was wrapped in bandages under his shirt as soon as she caressed his back. "You need to rest."

Knight nodded before burying his face in her neck, which she responded by brushing her fingers through his hair. She turned to her uncle. "But we won't fit in the car."

"Leave that to me," Jacques said before dialing a number. "I need the cars now."

Moments later, ten Jaguar XJ Sentinels rolled into the parking lot. She knew this model because it was popular among dignitaries and world leaders.

North looked at Jacques in awe. "You owned ten of those motherfuckers?"

Dimitri answered on his behalf. "His wealth will blow your mind, North. Better not ask."

Jacques spoke with sarcasm. "I miss you too, Dimitri." Then he looked at Cloud. "Your back is bleeding."

Cloud smiled reassuringly. "I'm okay, Lord Jacques."

Jacques tsked before grabbing Cloud by the wrist and pulling him toward one of the cars. "Take him to Lord Keegan's home and call a doctor for his wound," Jacques told the driver. "If something bad happens to him, I'll rip you apart."

"But—" Cloud couldn't refuse because Jacques didn't let him step out of the car.

"You're about to pass out," Jacques reminded him, his face serious. "Your lord irritates the hell out of me, but leave him to me and rest."

Cloud looked at Knight, his eyes asking for permission. Knight waved his hand. "Go. Rest."

It was only then that Cloud nodded. "Thank you," he told Jacques. They talked about something else before the car left.

"I never took the marquess to be a worrywart," Kee observed.

"He's a nice guy," SM defended.

Kee laughed, as if she said something funny. "He's the spoiled brat of the Sotelos, mi sobrina. He's promiscuous. A rake. He doesn't take orders, he gives them. So, when we learned that you accepted him as your butler, we were worried because he was not a butler material."

Somehow, it irritated her. "Don't easily judge him, Uncle. You don't know him, and you don't know what a person is going through behind closed doors."

"I'm sorry," Kee immediately apologized to her then to Jacques, who was behind them and was able to hear their conversation.

"Thank you, milady," Jacques replied, slightly bowing.

Knight kissed her neck and whispered, "I'm jealous."

She playfully pinched his ear. "He took care of me while you're gone, so be nice, baby, okay?"

Knight grunted, "I want to be alone with you already."

"I know," she whispered while assisting him to stand up. "Let's go, so you can rest too."

Knight followed her until they got inside the car. It was Jacques who opened and closed the backseat door for them, making SM smile.

"Is he okay?" Jacques asked when he settled into the passenger seat. He was referring to Knight, who was lying on the backseat. His head rested on SM's lap, one hand intertwined with SM's, his eyes closed.

"He's okay. He's a survivor, after all," SM replied, brushing his hair with her free hand. "He's just being sweet since we haven't seen each other for a long time."

A smile formed on Knight's lips, making her smile as well. She was right, then.

Her eyes traced his back as she gently touched his neck, where she could also see bruises. "You should've told them I wasn't important so they didn't do this to you."

Knight tightened his grip on her hand while keeping his eyes closed. "You knew?"

"I saw. Uncle Kee showed me the video. You should've denied me. I will understand if you did. It's for your safety and—"

"Maybe you'll understand and forgive me, but not myself. I won't forgive myself if I do." He kissed her hand. "I love you, Sweet Monday, and I won't ever deny that. Loving you was the best thing that happened to me, baby, so no, I'm not gonna deny you."

Her eyes welled up. "But you're in pain now."

"Pain is always part of love, mi reina." He opened his eyes and looked at her tenderly. "If it's not painful, then it's not love. And I will accept any pain thrown at me as long as that will make you stay with me."

"Knight..."

"I can and will endure hardship for you, mi reina. Same as I can accept anything you'll do. Lie to me, betray me—hell, even kill me, and I won't mind. As long as you're happy, Sweet Monday."

She shook her head defiantly. "I won't do that. I love you too much for me to do that."

"It's embarrassing to say this at my age... But you're actually my first love, Sweet Monday, and I intend for you to be my last."

SM froze. Her heart hammered inside her chest, as if it were about to leap out of her ribcage. She had gathered the strength to look down at him.

"D-d-don't surprise me l-like that..."

Knight caressed her cheek. "I know I'm not your first love, and I'm jealous, but I'll make sure to love you even more.."

Her lips thinned. "You can't."

Knight froze. Pain stained across his handsome face. "I-I'll work h-hard..."

"You can't." She brushed his lips with her fingertips. "My first love is annoying most of the time, so secretive, and I know he hid a lot of things from me. But I never complained because I love him so much."

Knight's jaw clenched, and SM couldn't help but laugh. She pinched his cheeks. "Why are you angry? Are you jealous?"

"Who won't be?!" he hissed angrily.

"Why are you jealous of Dad?"

Knight froze in his place. "Dad... y-your dad?"

SM nodded as she smiled. "Yeah, my dad. They say that a daughter's first love is her father, and he's mine. You can't love me more than Dad did. You're different."

Knight glared at her. "Damn it, SM! Don't scare me like that! What I meant was romantically!"

"Oh." She laughed. She knew, but she wanted to see his reaction. "There's no sense finding out who my first romantic love is because he doesn't exist."

"He doesn't exist?" He blinked. "Meaning... no one?"

She nodded, restraining a smile. "Well, I had a boyfriend before, but I can't really call him my first love. I never felt this way about him—like I sleep because we're apart—and I never lived at his place."

Knight fell silent, and then let out a smile he had been holding back. "So, I'm your first love?"

She shrugged to tease Knight more. "I don't know... Maybe?"

Knight frowned. "Sweet Monday, may I remind you that my back still hurts, so please don't add salt to my wounded heart. Ouch, SM, it hurts."

SM showered him with kisses on the cheeks. "Take some rest. I'm just joking. I actually can't tell if you're my first love or not, but what I feel for you, I'm very sure this is true love, so stop fussing over it and rest."

Knight pouted at her.

"You want a hug, right?" When Knight nodded, she said, "Then rest."

"I want a kiss too."

"Then rest."

"Baby, that's not fair—"

"Rest," she warned, "or no hugs and kisses for you."

Knight glared at her before closing his eyes, while SM just shook her head at his stubbornness. She knew his back hurt so much. He shouldn't move too much, and he had to rest.

But she knew Knight. He was too stubborn. So, she needed to say something to trick him.

She leaned in closer to his ear and whispered, "Get well soon. Once you're okay, I'm gonna blow you, and we're gonna make love the whole day and the whole night, and you can do anything you want with me. Deal?"

With his eyes closed, Knight gulped. "Deal."

SM smiled inwardly. "Good boy... Now rest."

She gasped when Knight kissed her hand. This time, he kept his lips there, and SM let him be.

During the whole drive, she was just caressing his hair. SM felt relieved. She could fully breathe now. The heavy burden in her heart when they got separated disappeared.

It was odd—she felt empty without him, but seeing him made her feel whole again. It was as if Knight already took over half of her. Half of her mind, body, heart, and soul. That without him, she was incomplete.

KNIGHT WINCED at the pain in his back, as if he were back to being whipped in the basement of their palace. Knight wanted to scream in so much pain, but he held it in.

In his mind, he could see Orlando beating him.

Lash after lash. Pain after pain. He was numb until he felt a light touch on his cheek. Then a soft voice like a lullaby followed, making him feel okay, chasing the numbness and pain away.

"Wake up, my lord," said the soft voice. "Come back to me."

The voice was fading, so he forced himself to wake up. His eyelids felt heavy.

Knight was immediately blinded by brightness before his eyes focused on the woman hovering over his face with tears in her eyes.

"Thank God! You were having a nightmare." She buried her face in his chest. "You scared me..."

My Sweet Monday.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and then pulled her toward him. "I'm okay... don't worry."

"I don't know why I'm still hurting even though you're already here," she cried. "Just thinking about the video, that something like that happened to you every day, I feel like I couldn't breathe. I'm hurting for you. I'm angry. I'm so, so angry."

"I'm okay—"

"You're not." She looked at him with anger in her eyes. "You're not okay, Knight. No! I saw your back! I saw your wounds, and you're not okay. So, please stop acting tough. This is me, Knight. Didn't I tell you that you could be weak with me?"

He nodded as his tears fell. "It hurts... My back hurts. My heart hurts too."

"I know, baby. I know." She kept on wiping the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I won't ever leave again, even if you tell me so. I promise not to leave you, even if it's dangerous. We're gonna face danger together."

Knight smiled with unshed tears in his eyes. "I like that."

"Te amo," she said with a smile before kissing his cheek, then his lips, and then his forehead before wrapping her arms around his neck. "From now on, I won't let you get punished again. I will think of a way, I will make a way so you won't hurt again. I take such good care of you, and they just hurt the man I love like this? I will fight to death, Knight. I won't allow anyone to hurt you again."

"Sweet Monday..."

The fierceness in her eyes, the braveness in their depths... She was determined. SM smiled sweetly at him. "So, please, fight for yourself, Knight."

He nodded before kissing her forehead. "I will. From now on, baby, I will fight for us."

He was worried for his friends and siblings, but SM was right. How could he protect the people he cherished if he couldn't even protect himself?

It was time to completely go against his father. No holding back. No fear. He didn't want to be an obedient dog anymore.

It was time to fight back.

They both stopped talking when someone knocked on the door of their room in Kee's house. "Who is it?" she asked.

"It's the president of Team Swight." It was Kee.

SM released Knight from her embrace, wiped their cheeks, and smoothed out her wrinkled clothes before opening the door for her uncle Kee.

"Come on in, Uncle Kee," SM said with a calm voice. There was no trace that she had been crying.

Knight smiled. That's my baby.

Kee peeked through the door and winced. "Sorry to disturb you two, but... Mufasa is here."

The two silently looked at each other.

Knight took a deep breath before intertwining his hand with Sweet Monday.

It was time to face the King of the Jungle.