149: Thank You

149: Thank You
RUE

Months ago,

I shifted uneasily in my seat, glancing at my wristwatch. I'd spent an hour getting ready, thinking I'd finally have a normal date like normal people.

Instead, I ended up sitting alone at a restaurant with garlic bread and way too many sympathetic stares from strangers.

By the time the clock hit ten, I was done pretending he was just "running late." He wasn't coming.

I was about to delete his number and pretend he'd never existed when my phone buzzed.

For a second, I thought it was Oliver. It wasn't.

Adrian: Ruin, what disaster are you brewing tonight?

I stared at the screen. Adrian. The last person I expected, but somehow the exact person I needed.

Rue: Table for one. Boyfriend's a no-show. Go ahead, laugh.

He didn't. Instead, the typing bubble blinked.

Adrian: That's cruel. Where are you?

Rue: Some overpriced place with good garlic bread, I guess.

Adrian: Then eat the bread. Screw the man.

I smirked, pulling the plate towards me.

Rue: Easy for you to say. You're not the one getting pitiful stares from couples on date night.

Adrian: Let them stare. They're jealous. You're the most dangerous person in that room, and they know it.

I laughed. Out loud. The waiter gave me a weird look.

Rue: You're ridiculous.

Adrian: Come on. Trouble, remember? That's my job description.

He was always like that. Strangely warm.

Rue: Well, Trouble, my night is officially ruined. Literally.

Adrian: Then let me ruin it better. When you leave, I'll stay on call until you're home. No questions. Just company.

And he did. The whole cab ride home, Adrian kept texting me nonsense—dumb jokes, little check-ins, and lines that made me roll my eyes and grin at the same time. By the time I crawled into bed, I'd almost forgotten Oliver even existed.

That was the first time I realized something about Adrian:

He wasn't ruining my night.

He was fixing me.

....

PRESENT DAY,

I opened the door to the dining room and froze. Adrian was standing there, looking more nervous than I'd ever seen him. His hands fidgeted with his sleeves, and I could already tell tonight was going to be... interesting.

"Rue," he whispered, and I smiled at him. "Hi."

"Hi," I said back, taking his hand for just a second before letting go.

Dinner was set. My mum had clearly spent hours on this, everything neat and perfect. My dad sat at the head of the table, his usual serious expression in place.

"Adrian," my mum said, her voice soft and welcoming, "come sit. Don't mind the nerves."

He smiled weakly and sat down beside me.

As soon as he touched his glass of wine, his hand slipped. The glass tipped over and spilled red across the white tablecloth. I froze. He froze. But Mum was already moving to help.

"Oh! Don't worry," she said, patting his hand. "It happens to everyone."

Adrian's cheeks went red, and I nearly burst into laughter. "I... I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"You're fine," I whispered, squeezing his hand under the table.

Dad's eyes were sharp. He didn't smile. "Adrian," he said, his voice calm but cold. "We've met before. You know I ask questions. Tonight, you're in my house. I need straight answers."

Adrian stiffened. I could feel the tension radiating off him.

"Of course, sir," he said carefully.

Dad leaned forward. "How exactly did you nullify the kill order against my daughter?"

Adrian hesitated. I could see his fingers tighten on the glass. "I... I handled it," he said.

Dad's eyes narrowed. "Handled it? Come on, I need details."

Adrian took a deep breath. "I... got rid of the assassin organization entirely. Every last one of them."

The room went silent. My mum froze mid-hand gesture. My dad blinked slowly, trying to process what he’d just heard. Even I stared at him, wide-eyed.

"You what?" my dad finally said.

"I destroyed the whole organization. It's gone," Adrian said, his green eye meeting mine. "I did it for her. For Rue."

Mum's hand flew to her mouth. "Every single one?"

"Yes," he said firmly.

My dad leaned back in his chair, still staring at him, as if weighing whether to explode or not. "You... you actually did it?"

Adrian nodded. "Yes. It's done. She's safe."

Mum exhaled and placed a hand on his arm. "You're brave, Adrian. Thank you."

Dad's jaw tightened. He still looked serious but less hostile. "You're lucky she trusts you. That trust isn't given lightly."

"I know, sir," Adrian said. "I'd never do anything to harm her. Ever."

I reached over and squeezed his hand under the table. "See?" I whispered. "You survived dinner. And my dad didn't drill you too badly... yet."

Adrian gave me a small, nervous smile. "I'll survive... maybe."

Mum poured him another glass of wine and settled beside him. "Eat. Relax. You're part of the family now."

I watched him slowly relax, just a little, as he picked at his food. For the first time tonight, I allowed myself to breathe.

We were halfway through the meal when my boyfriend suddenly set down his fork.

For a moment, I worried that he didn’t like the food.

But then, he straightened his back and looked at my dad. My stomach tightened. I had a feeling something big was coming.

"Sir," Adrian said, his voice a little too loud for the calm dining room. "I... I'm going to marry Rue."

I choked on my water, my eyes going wide. Mum gasped and grabbed my hand. Dad froze, his fork halfway to his mouth.

"Excuse me?" My dad said, his voice calm, but there was ice underneath.

"I mean it," Adrian said, his green eye locked on mine. "I love her. I want to marry her. I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. That includes asking for her hand. Now, if that's... allowed."

Mum's hands flew to her cheeks. "Oh my God! Adrian! You... you love her!" She leaned across the table and gave him a quick squeeze on the arm.

I buried my face in my hands, mortified. "Adrian! Stop!" I whispered, but I couldn't hide my smile.

Dad's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're serious?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

"Yes, sir," Adrian said firmly. "I am. She's mine. And I intend to keep her safe. Every day, every way I can."

There was a pause. A long, tense pause where I thought my heart might explode. Then... my dad leaned back and sighed.

"Alright," he said finally. "You want to marry her? Then you better be prepared for more than just love. You're joining this family. That includes responsibility, danger, and the occasional disaster."

Adrian nodded quickly. "I'm ready. I'll do whatever it takes."

Mum smiled so wide it was almost scary. "Finally! Someone brave enough for our Rue. Someone willing to actually fight for her!"

I peeked at Adrian. His nerves hadn't gone away, but there was a small, confident spark in his eye now. He was seriously brave.

I leaned closer under the table and whispered, "You really just said that out loud, huh?"

He gave me a tiny smile. "Had to. It's the truth."

And just like that, my heart swelled. Dangerous, broody Adrian, my Adrian, had declared he was mine forever...

So I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I love you too.”

He stiffened, slowly turning to look at me. His Adam's apple bobbed, his green eye turning glassy.

“Adrian?” I said, alarmed.

His hands were shaking so badly, he had to lower them to his lap.

“Do you…mean it?” He croaked, and I nodded.

Suddenly, he shot to his feet, muttering an apology under his breath before storming out of the dining room.

Lucia’s wide-eyed gaze met mine. Then she arched a brow. Dad blinked, a confused look on his face.

“I’ll be back,” I winced, hurrying after Adrian. I found him by the stairs with his head hanging low.

Biting my lower lip, I brought a hand to his back, rubbing gently.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He wiped his face with his hand, and my chest tightened.

“Adrian…”

He turned to look at me, a tear trailing down his cheek.

“I…didn’t think you would say it back, Rue. I was okay with it. I just needed to have you, to be with you. I’m not lovable…”

I pressed a finger to his lips, interrupting him.

“Guess who comforted me when I got stood up for a date. Guess who messaged me all night after I recovered from my bone marrow surgery. Even when he had an important meeting to attend the next morning. Guess who made me laugh so much I forgot we were only texting.”

He swallowed hard.

“It was you, Trouble. You.”

He blinked rapidly, cupping my face.

“How could I not fall for you?” I croaked, lowering my hand.

He leaned in to kiss my forehead gently.

“Thank you, Rue Anastasia Cross,” his voice trembled. “For loving me.”