14| Worthy-2

My lip twitched in amusement as I watched his pathetic attempt at challenging me. "Nick…" Rose said softly. "Maybe you should-" "Get over yourself," he said, giving me a light shove. I couldn't help but laugh softly as he shoved my shoulder once again. "You can't win every time," he said. "Nick," Rose said sharply. She sounded almost surprised to see him this way. In that case, she didn't know him at all. He continued anyway, taking another step closer, "This time, I win, Kai. She chose me." "Did she?" I asked, throwing his hand off my shoulder as I stepped forward. Rose interrupted softly, "Stop it. People are looking." "This isn't a game, Nick," I said, my voice lower yet just as lethal. "Until I see her walking down the aisle that leads to you, she isn't yours, and I'm free to do anything I'd like so long as she consents. Your little threats don't do it for me, Nick. One day, she will walk down that aisle, but it certainly won't be to you." Looking at the crowd behind him as the music picked up and the crowd cleared the center space, I took Rose's hand in mine. "Dance with me," I said to her. She was clearly confused and shocked as her eyes jumped between Nick and me. "I…" she stuttered for a second. "One dance, Ms. Chen. It won't kill you," I said, dipping down to whisper in her ear. As I pulled back and met her gaze, she nodded hesitantly, "Okay." I turned to face Nick, smugness swirling in my eyes. "Okay," I repeated before stealing her from right under him, leading us to the core of the room. Her eyes drifted from where we had left Nick to mine as I took hold of her waist and pulled her hips into mine. She sighed softly, "That was unnecessary." "It was completely necessary," I countered, "he's too confident in himself. He thinks he already has you. It's arrogance." "That's rich coming from you, isn't it?" She arched a brow at me. I can't say she's wrong. "You were looking for someone," I pointed out. "Hmm?" Her brows furrowed in confusion. "The entire night. From the moment you walked in, your eyes have been searching for someone. You've been running around avoiding somebody, hoping that whoever it is you're looking for can save you from whatever mess you're in. Did you find them?" Her body moved in rhythm with mine as we danced. Every breath she took matched mine, and I'd bet it all on the fact that every beat of her heart met mine. "I did," she mumbled softly. My eyes scanned her face for the billionth time. "Something's different," I stated, "what's wrong?" "Dare I say, you sound concerned, Mr. Warner." "Don't deflect," I told her. "Tell me what's wrong." She chuckled humorlessly in response. "Nothing's wrong. It's my fault, I should have known better. There's no point in lying to you, you're too smart for your own good, so you'll figure it out eventually." Her eyes held mine. "I don't have a choice anymore," she said. "It has to be you. No one else, just you." My gaze narrowed ever so slightly as I attempted to read her. She didn't seem pleased with that decision, it didn't seem like it was hers. Tonight, as stunning as she looked, something about Rose seemed… almost melancholic, as if she were exhausted, as if she were… giving up. "Is that what your father told you?" I questioned. She inhaled shakily. "I can't afford to risk it. I take his threats seriously, and I learned that the hard way, too. So, I'm afraid this falls on your shoulders now, Warner." "He threatened you?" Her breath hitched and I would have missed it if her body wasn't flush with mine. She contemplated it for a minute before deciding to tell me whatever she was sitting on. "In his words, I either marry you or…" My eyes found her father in the crowd with his eyes already on us. "Or what?" I asked, holding his gaze. "Or he'll bury me himself," she whispered. My eyes snapped back to hers instantly as my jaw ticked. How could say that to her, to his own daughter? I'll fucking kill him. "Now," she breathed out, "if this is going to be the death of me, I would rather it be at the hands of someone worthy." She tipped her chin up in my direction. "You find me worthy," I said. "I'm flattered, Ms. Chen." She couldn't resist rolling her eyes at that one. "I'm not joking," Rose added. "You gave up," I stated. "You agreed." "I told you, I don't have a choice." "What is it that you want from me, Rose?" She huffed, "Do you have to make me say it?" "I'm afraid so. Come on, sweetheart, use your words." She ground her teeth. "I want… I…" I watched her in amusement. Giving up her pride, she finally sighed in defeat. "I want you to marry me," she whispered. "Just give me one reason, Mr. Warner. One reason to trust you, one reason to marry you. One reason and…" Never in my entire life had I ever seen the Rose Chen as vulnerable as she looked tonight. Her father had practically kicked her down and forced her onto her knees in front of me. That man left nothing of her self-respect. Rose was the most confident and strongest woman I knew, and yet, tonight, she was nothing in her own eyes. For the first time, my heart almost broke for her. "Surprisingly," I began, "I hate the sight of you kneeling before me in defeat when it comes to this, Ms. Chen." She watched me quizzically as we continued dancing with the crowd, each step memorized in our veins. "Your self-respect is yours," I added. "You don't deserve to have that taken away from you." Surprise swirled in her gaze. "Are you… agreeing?" "You want one reason?" I asked. She nodded slowly in response. I glanced at her father briefly before my eyes found hers again. "You'll have it," I promised. . . . . . Chapter 14