Across the road from the brightly lit coffee shop, a sleek black sedan sat parked under the shadow of a tree.

Its windows, tinted to near opacity, made it impossible to see the figures inside from the outside. Inside, the air was thick with tension, the faint hum of the idling engine the only sound cutting through the silence.

Lucien LaRue sat in the back seat, his presence commanding despite the confined space. His yellow-blond hair fell just above his shoulders in a meticulously styled wave, framing sharp, angular features.

His blue eyes looked bright in the car’s dim light, showing a cool, calculated nature. He wore a neat navy suit that gave him a sense of danger, and his slim fingers tapped steadily on the leather armrest.

“Which one is Ethan Cole?” Lucien asked, his voice smooth but sharp enough to make even the boldest men hesitate.

The large man with a shaved head sat in the driver's seat and cleared his throat. “Those two are dressed casually, sir. It makes it harder to tell, but...”

Another subordinate, next to him and thinner with glasses, added, "From their way of talking and gestures, the one in the plain shirt is likely Ethan Cole. The other one doesn’t seem like him."

Lucien’s gaze drifted toward the coffee shop, narrowing slightly as he surveyed the figures inside. Ethan, sitting with Jordan, David, and Jessica, leaned back in his chair, his expression easygoing.

He laughed at something Jordan said, the kind of laughter that suggested he wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

"Good observation, Mike," Lucien said to the glasses man. "And you, Taison. Learn more to use your head."

"I'm sorry, sir," Taison nodded repeatedly while Mike had this smug expression on his face.

“And the woman?” Lucien asked, his tone quieter but no less demanding.

Mike hesitated, adjusting his glasses. “Jessica Moore. Property agent. She brokered the Nova Tech headquarters deal for Luca Moretti.”

Lucien’s fingers stopped tapping. A faint smirk touched his lips, and Mike’s hesitation did not go unnoticed.

Lucien’s reputation preceded him—one of the heirs to the LaRue Family, one of the Five Great Families in the state of Arkansa, part of the country of Arland.

The LaRue Family controlled Novan City, dominating finance, media, and technology in their territory. Lucien’s charm, particularly with women, was as infamous as his ruthless ambition.

“Interesting,” Lucien murmured, his eyes lingering on Jessica.

Mike cleared his throat, attempting to steer the conversation back to business. “Jessica’s involvement seems professional, sir. She’s resourceful but unlikely to pose any threat.”

Lucien chuckled softly, his gaze still fixed on the coffee shop. “Unlikely threats often become the most intriguing.”

Taison glanced in the rearview mirror. “What about Ethan Cole, sir? He’s making waves in your city.”

Lucien leaned back into his seat, his smirk deepening. “Let him. The higher he climbs, the farther he’ll fall when I decide to act. For now, we observe. Learn everything about him and his team.”

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And keep tabs on Jessica. There’s more to her than meets the eye.”

The two subordinates exchanged a look but nodded. “Understood, sir,” they said in unison.

Lucien’s smirk grew as he watched the group through the coffee shop window. Ethan laughed again, oblivious to the eyes studying him.

“Novan City belongs to the LaRue Family,” Lucien said, almost to himself. “And Ethan Cole is playing in my territory. Let’s see how long he lasts.”

He tapped the armrest sharply to signal Taison to drive. The car moved into the shadows, leaving no trace. Inside the coffee shop, Ethan felt that uneasy sensation again.

'Again?' he thought, recalling the heightened sense like that spider superhero he had read about in a comic.

Jordan, noticing Ethan’s furrowed brow, leaned in. “Hey, you okay?” he asked, his voice cutting through the quiet moment.

Ethan blinked and quickly smiled, shaking off the thoughts that had lingered. “Yeah, all good,” he replied, his tone light. “I was just thinking about the app. We still have a lot to refine.”

David smirked, catching on to Ethan’s subtle shift. “Don’t think too hard, or you’ll go bald before I do.”

The others laughed, and even Ethan smiled. “I'll take that advice, David,” he said, grinning.

They spent another half an hour talking and joking, enjoying their meeting. Other than Jessica, all of them were going to work closely with each other. So, the fun atmosphere was really helpful.

Soon, they decided that it was time to go home. David had a car. Jessica came with a cab, and Jordan was accidentally nearby. So, Ethan offered to drive Jessica and Jordan, well, not him really driving.

Jordan was impressed because now Ethan had a chauffeur. "You really look like a boss now, Ethan. Tell me, what's your secret?"

Ethan chuckled and said, "I just happen to be at the right place at the right moment."

"That sounds complicated for me to understand," replied Jordan with a laugh.

The car ride was smooth. Jordan sat beside Mark, Ethan's chauffeur and personal bodyguard, while Ethan and Jessica occupied the back seats.

Jordan yawned, leaning against the window. “I don’t know how you guys stay so energized. I’m ready to collapse.”

Jessica chuckled softly. “Maybe you just need better sleep, Jordan.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Ethan glanced at them in the rearview mirror, his smile faint. “We’ll drop you off soon. Get some rest—you’ve earned it.”

First, they dropped Jessica at her apartment, where she gave them a quick wave before disappearing inside. Ethan waited until Jessica was safely inside before signaling to Mark to continue.

Then, they dropped Jordan.

"See you later, Ethan!" said Jordan.

The car moved smoothly through the quiet streets. The streetlights lit up the dashboard with changing patterns. Ethan sat in the back, watching the scenery go by and looking at Mark, who drove steadily.

“How long have you been a bodyguard, Mark?” Ethan asked, breaking the silence.

Mark glanced briefly at him through the rearview mirror. His rugged face, framed by a few streaks of gray in his short-cropped hair, remained calm and composed.

“About five years now, boss,” he replied, his voice deep and steady. “Came naturally after I left the army.”

Ethan leaned forward slightly, intrigued. “The army. That’s impressive. Why’d you leave? Oh. Before that, just call me by my name."

For a moment, Mark didn’t answer. He tightened his grip on the wheel and focused on the road. Finally, he spoke in a quieter voice. “I didn’t leave because I wanted to. I... I lost everything.”

The weight of those words filled the air, heavy and unspoken. Ethan hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Lost everything?” he asked softly, his curiosity tinged with caution.

Mark sighed, the sound carrying years of pain. “My family,” he said after a pause. “My wife, Mamori, and our daughter, Suzuna. They were everything to me.”

Ethan’s chest tightened. “What happened?”

Mark tightened his grip on the wheel, making his knuckles turn white.“Mamori was driving Suzuna to school one morning. A drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into them head-on. They... didn’t make it.”

The words hit hard, and for a moment, the car was filled with a heavy silence. Ethan didn’t know what to say. He could only listen.

“I was deployed at the time,” Mark continued, his voice heavy with grief. “I wasn’t there. Got the news halfway across the world. By the time I came home, the funeral had already happened. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

"But, after a few investigations, it was not a normal accident. It was planned,' Mark added.

"Planned? Do you have an enemy, Mark?" Ethan asked.

"Of course. Being part of the army meant that you'll be deployed by the government to go against people that you should not have crossed your path with," Mark explained.

"The government used us as the pawns. When those people wanted revenge, we... the army will bear the consequences," Mark continued.

Ethan swallowed hard, his usual easy confidence faltering. “Mark… I’m so sorry. That’s… I can’t even imagine.”

Mark nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the road ahead. “After that, nothing mattered anymore. The army, my career—it all felt empty. So, I left. Tried to piece together some kind of life, but it’s hard when you’ve got nothing left to hold on to.”

Ethan’s voice was quiet, almost hesitant. “And being a bodyguard? How did that happen?”

Mark exhaled deeply, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. “Protecting people… it gave me a purpose again. Something to do with the skills I’d built over the years. Felt like maybe, in some small way, I could make up for not being there for them.”

Ethan leaned back, his thoughts swirling. He had always seen Mark as someone steady, reliable—strong in every sense of the word. But now he saw the depth of that strength, born from unimaginable loss.

“Mark,” Ethan said carefully, “you may not realize it, but you inspire me. You’ve faced a lot, yet you still help others and make a difference.”

Mark smiled faintly. For the first time, his eyes softened. “Thanks, Ethan. But you know what really makes the difference? People like you. People who respect the ones around them. That’s rare in my line of work.”

Ethan was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll do my best to keep earning that respect.”

Mark glanced at him in the mirror, a trace of warmth in his expression. “I think you’re doing well... Ethan.”

As the car arrived at Ethan’s house, the tension in the air faded away, leaving a moment of quiet understanding. Ethan got out and paused to look back at Mark.

“Thanks for sharing that with me,” Ethan said sincerely. “And for everything you do.”

Mark gave a small nod. “Good night, Ethan. Get some rest. Tomorrow’s another day.”

Ethan got out of the car. Mark nodded politely at him before driving off to the park.

Mark's story stayed in his mind. It reminded him of resilience and the quiet struggles that people face. He knew this was a lesson he would always remember.

Ethan saw his parents outside in the garden as he walked to the front door. His father, Aaron, looked up with a welcoming smile.

“You’re home late,” Aaron said, his tone light but warm.

Ethan shrugged, sitting down beside them. “Yeah, but it was good we met tonight. Jessica mentioned she’s heading back to her hometown tomorrow, so it was nice to wrap things up before she left.”

Elise, sitting next to Aaron, raised an eyebrow. “You will drive her there, right?” she asked casually, but her tone showed she already expected an answer.

Ethan blinked, caught off guard. “Uh… drive her? I hadn’t really thought about—”

Aaron cut him off with a chuckle. “You better, son. She’s probably exhausted with all the work you’ve piled on her lately.”

Ethan opened his mouth to reply, but Elise spoke first. “Ethan, I don’t want you to say no,” she said firmly but kindly. “Jessica has done a lot for you and Nova Tech. You should make sure she gets there safely.”

Ethan smiled and scratched his head. “I don’t have a car, Mom.”

Elise waved a hand dismissively. “That’s not a problem. You can go with Mark. He’s already driving you everywhere anyway.”

Aaron chuckled again, shaking his head. “You have no excuses left.”

Ethan leaned back on the bench and sighed. “Okay, okay. I’ll drive her there—or, well, Mark will.”

“Good,” Elise said with a satisfied smile. “Make sure you take care of it, Ethan. She deserves it.”

Ethan nodded, smiling softly as he looked at his parents. Their concern for others, even those they didn’t know well, always humbled him.

“Don’t stay out too late,” Ethan said as he stood to head inside.

“We won’t,” Aaron replied with a grin, and Elise simply gave him a knowing smile.

As Ethan entered the house, Elise leaned back on the bench and smiled, watching the door he had just gone through.

Aaron, sitting next to her, saw the amused look on her face.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked playfully.

Elise smiled and lightly tapped her fingers on the armrest. “I was just thinking… I need to set Ethan up with Jessica.”

Aaron raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a chuckle. “Set him up? Since when did you become a matchmaker?”

“Well,” Elise said playfully, “I think Jessica is the best match for him. She’s smart, works hard, and seems sensible.”

Aaron laughed and shook his head. “What if it doesn’t work?”

Elise waved her hand as if to dismiss the thought. “Then, at least, he’d have some experience with women. I’m worried about him, you know.”

“Worried?” Aaron asked, his grin widening. “You make it sound so serious.”

Elise leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I mean, look at him! He’s always studying and now working all the time. Has he ever had a relationship? He’s not bad-looking, but if he doesn’t gain some experience now, he’ll end up like… like—”

Aaron cut her off with a laugh. “Like what? Some bachelor hermit holed up in a tech empire?”

“Exactly!” Elise said, laughing along. “I want to help him. I don’t want him to be clueless about love forever.”

Aaron leaned back, his laughter softening into a warm smile. “You’re starting to sound like one of those mothers from those family dramas. You know, the kind who arranges marriages for their sons.”

Elise placed a hand on her chest in mock offense. “Do I look like one of those mothers? Do I?”

Aaron studied her for a moment, his teasing grin never fading. “Well, you do have that elegant look about you… But no, not quite. You’re much kinder.”

Elise chuckled, shaking her head. “Alright, alright. Maybe I am being dramatic. But still, I just want what’s best for him.”

Aaron reached over, placing a comforting hand over hers. “Let’s just let Ethan choose his own path. He’s a good kid. He will find his way. We just need to pray for him and be there when he needs us.”

Elise nodded, her teasing tone softening into something more thoughtful. “You’re right. But you know me—I can’t help but meddle just a little.”

Aaron laughed again, his voice warm and full of affection. “This is a little? If this is just a little, I can’t imagine what ‘a lot’ would be.”

Elise and Aaron laughed together, filling the quiet night with their sound. Elise felt reassured by Aaron’s calm wisdom, even as she teased him.

They held hands and sat in the peaceful garden, watching the stars above. Their hearts were filled with hope for their son's future.