Chapter 12 Chapter 12
Chapter 12 Chapter 12
Dylan’s POV
The rest of the morning moved slowly. I tried to keep my calm, but inside, I was restless. I wanted to win them over, not because of their power or their wealth, but because they mattered to Sandra.
After breakfast, Daniel suggested we step outside for some air. The brothers led the way, and I followed, Sandra staying behind to handle something with a call.
The garden outside was wide, filled with roses and tall trees. The air smelled clean, but I could feel the heaviness of the moment.
Daniel stopped by a stone bench. He turned to me, his arms crossed. “You say you want Sandra. Do you know what it means to be close to her?”
I nodded. “I know she is not like anyone else. I know she carries a big name, a big family, and more wealth than most men can dream of. But I don’t care about those things. I care about her.”
Michael stepped closer. “What if she loses it all one day? Will you still stay?”
“Yes,” I answered quickly, without thinking twice. “Even if she has nothing, I will stay. I am not here for money or fame. I am here for her heart.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Many men say that. But when they see real pressure, they run.”
I met his gaze. “Then test me. Put me under pressure. I will not run.”
The three of them looked at me, silent for a long time. I could almost hear their thoughts moving.
Finally, Daniel spoke again. “You are bold. I give you that. But boldness is not enough. Loyalty, strength, and sacrifice—that is what we value. Can you give all three to Sandra?”
I swallowed, then nodded. “Yes. I can. And I will.”
\---
We walked further into the garden. The brothers kept throwing questions at me, one after another, like soldiers in training.
Michael asked, “What about your own family? Where do you come from?”
“I come from a simple family,” I said honestly. “We didn’t have much, but we had love. My parents worked hard to put food on the table. They taught me respect, honesty, and never to give up.”
Victor asked, “What is the biggest thing you would sacrifice for her?”
“Everything,” I said. “If it means her happiness, I would give up my comfort, my pride, even my life.”
Daniel asked, “And if her family ever stood against you?”
That question hit me hard. I looked at him carefully before answering. “If her family stood against me, I would not fight them. I would prove to them through my actions that I am worthy. I would not drag Sandra into conflict. I would win your respect.”
Daniel’s lips pressed together. I could not tell if he was pleased or just thoughtful.
\---
By the time we returned inside, I was exhausted, though I tried not to show it. The brothers had grilled me like I was on trial. Maybe I was.
Sandra looked at me when I walked in. Her eyes searched my face, and when she saw the tension in my shoulders, she walked over.
“What happened?” she whispered.
I smiled weakly. “Your brothers happened.”
Her lips curved into a soft smile. “And?”
“They are hard,” I admitted. “But I don’t blame them. They love you. They only want to protect you.”
Sandra’s eyes softened, and she touched my cheek gently. “That’s why I wanted you to be patient. They have lived protecting me since we lost our mother. You are new to them, Dylan. But in time, they will see.”
I leaned into her touch for a moment, then kissed her forehead. “I hope so. Because I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” she whispered. “Not as long as you stay true.”
\---
Later that evening, dinner was quieter than breakfast. The brothers talked among themselves, mostly about business matters I barely understood. Words like “funds,” “shares,” and “expansions” floated across the table.
That was when it struck me again—Sandra was not just a girl. She was an heiress to billions. Her family moved money like mountains. They spoke in numbers bigger than anything I had ever touched.
And yet, Sandra ate calmly, laughed softly at Michael’s dry jokes, and teased Daniel like he wasn’t the head of an empire. She was grounded. Real.
I watched her, amazed. She could have been proud, untouchable, distant. But she wasn’t. She was still Sandra, the woman I loved.
When she noticed me staring, she raised an eyebrow. “What?”
I shook my head with a smile. “Nothing. Just wondering how you make all this look so easy.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “It’s not easy. You just haven’t seen the hard parts yet.”
Her brothers chuckled lightly at that, but I could feel their eyes on me again, still watching, still weighing.
\---
After dinner, I stepped out to the balcony alone. The night sky was full of stars, but my thoughts were heavy.
I whispered to myself, “She’s not common. She’s an heiress to a multiple-billion fund. And I… I’m just Dylan.”
For a moment, doubt tried to creep in. Was I enough for her? Could I stand beside her in this world of wealth and power?
Then I remembered her smile, her hand in mine, her voice telling me I wouldn’t lose her as long as I stayed true.
That was all I needed.
I straightened my shoulders and whispered again, stronger this time, “I will not fail her. No matter what it takes.”
\---
The door behind me opened. I turned to see Daniel step onto the balcony.
He stood beside me silently for a while, both of us looking at the stars. Finally, he spoke.
“You know,” he said, his voice low, “when our mother died, Sandra became the light of this family. We swore no man would ever hurt her. That’s why we are hard on you.”
I nodded. “I understand. I would be the same if I had a sister like her.”
Daniel turned his head and looked at me, his eyes still sharp but less cold. “Prove yourself, Dylan. That’s all we ask. Not with words, but with actions.”
I met his gaze. “I will. I promise.”
For the first time, his lips curved into a small smile. Not big, not warm, but real. Then he patted my shoulder once before walking back inside.
I stayed on the balcony a little
longer, feeling the weight in my chest ease.
Maybe, just maybe, I was starting to earn a place in Sandra’s world.