Chapter 139: "So That We Can Remain Close"

Jordan completely faltered beneath that touch.

He had been the one who promised to do whatever it took to keep her safe, yet here she was — the one saving him instead, comforting him despite everything.

Ignoring the pain raking through his body and the countless razor-sharp edges pressing into his skin, he leaned into her hands as though he had been longing for that gentle touch all along.

"Ariana," he called softly, breathless and strained. "You’re here... thank God. You’re safe."

Aren cupped his face a little more firmly, trying to soothe him.

"Yes, Jordan. I’m safe." Her voice trembled with guilt. "I’m so sorry. I couldn’t get to you sooner... I’ve... I’ve made you suffer so much..."

"Hey, hey..." Jordan murmured, trying to calm her instead. "What are you talking about? You came to save me. Look at me. I’m still fine. I’m still in one piece."

His reassurance did little to ease the crushing weight in Aren’s chest. Her fingers trembled as they drifted over the twisted wire mesh imprisoning him.

"...Who did this to you?"

A breathless chuckle escaped Jordan.

"Probably Nazario and his brilliant brain. Apparently, he decided metal could somehow be turned into a carpet, and I was better off rolled up in the middle of it. Quite one hell of an experience."

Then his expression turned serious.

"Where’s Oscar? Haven’t you run into Oscar?"

Aren stiffened instantly.

She stared at him, eyes wide.

"You... you knew?"

Jordan let out another weary laugh.

"Yeah... I kinda figured out your little plan with Oscar."

"B-but how?" Aren asked, startled. "H-how much do you know?"

"Well..." He dragged out the word thoughtfully. "Pretty much everything. Nazario. Natalia. The ammo. The sniper. Those guys who were supposed to corner me in this round too."

Aren blinked rapidly, completely caught off guard by how thoroughly he had seen through her. Guilt flooded her face, and she lowered her head almost immediately.

"I-I’m very sorry! It’s just... I didn’t want you getting hurt, so I planned for Oscar and a few others to come help you. I’m really sorry for breaking the competition rules. Please don’t report me. Please don’t punish Oscar!"

Jordan couldn’t help laughing despite the pain wracking his body.

Reporting anyone had never even crossed his mind. Besides... whatever she was apologizing for wasn’t even what troubled him most.

"Hey, Ariana. It’s alright," he reassured gently. "I know you only meant well when you came up with that plan. I’m not going to report anyone."

His expression grew more serious.

"But... you really haven’t met Oscar?"

"No." Aren shook her head, concern returning at once. "If you haven’t met him either... I’m afraid something very bad may have happened."

Jordan grew thoughtful for a moment.

"It could be Natalia’s doing... or Nazario’s. Or both."

He looked back at her, his expression hardening.

"Whoever it was, can you keep this to yourself after we get out of here?"

Aren couldn’t quite hide her confusion.

"Why?"

"I don’t want my father doing something that’ll alarm them and give them time to erase all evidence of their dirty work."

Aren nodded sharply.

"I get it. Then I won’t try to search for Oscar."

Then her attention returned entirely to the steel mesh still wrapped around him.

"Jordan, please stay perfectly still. Don’t move. I’ll get you out."

Before Jordan could protest, she had already begun searching for the twisted wire ends securing the roll.

"No, wait, Ariana!" he called, alarmed. "Be careful. Those edges are razor sharp."

"I’ll be very careful," she replied without looking up. "Don’t worry, Jordan. I’ve done this before."

The words slipped out without thinking. She was too focused on the task, and far more concerned with easing his worry.

Jordan certainly hadn’t missed the slip.

His brows shot up.

’You’ve done this... before?’

The thought barely had time to register before surprise deepened across his face.

Instead of trying to rip the mesh apart, Aren patiently untwisted each bent wire just enough to release the tension holding the steel together.

Whenever a jagged edge threatened to scrape across his clothing, she caught it delicately between two fingers, folding the barb outward before easing it safely past him.

Only after creating enough room did she press the curled edge flat against the concrete with the heel of her boot.

The steel groaned beneath the repeated pressure until it lay almost level with the floor, allowing the loosened section to slide harmlessly away.

Jordan watched every movement in stunned silence.

There was something quietly unsettling about the ease with which she handled something so dangerous, as though a man wrapped inside razor-edged steel was far from the worst thing she had ever encountered.

’How on earth has she ever done this before?’

He quietly tucked the question away.

Aren remained so absorbed in her work that she never noticed his lingering gaze.

Only after the final section slipped free from around him did the intense concentration melt from her face.

"Ah! Finally!"

With one last heave, she flung the heavy sheet of twisted steel several feet away before turning back to Jordan with a radiant smile.

As he slowly pushed himself upright, she immediately extended a hand to help him stand.

Jordan accepted her hand.

He didn’t pull himself up.

Instead, he reached up to catch her wrist and gave it a gentle tug.

"Ah—"

Before she could react, her entire body pitched forward into his arms.

Both of his arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her so close that her cheek crashed against his chest.

"Thank you, Ariana," he murmured, burying his face gently against the crown of her hair. "Thank you... for coming for me. For helping me."

Her body relaxed almost instantly.

Slowly, she raised one hand and patted his back with quiet reassurance.

"...It’s not a problem at all. I know you would’ve done the same for me."

Then, suddenly remembering she wasn’t supposed to be this close, she stiffened again.

"Um... Jordan... I... I shouldn’t be doing this."

She tried to pull away, but Jordan’s embrace didn’t loosen.

It tightened ever so slightly instead, and he lowered his head until his forehead rested against her shoulder.

"Don’t pull yourself away from me," he murmured. "Just... please. Don’t."

Aren suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

"Jordan... I..."

"Ariana," he interrupted gently before she could continue, "I know you’ve been distancing yourself because of Sofia. I know you’re only trying to be kind. But trust me when I tell you this..."

His arms tightened around her once more.

"I don’t care what my family thinks of you. I don’t mind finding a way to make things work between both sides."

His voice trembled.

"Just... please don’t keep pushing me away. It... it hurts. More than I can ever put into words."

Aren faltered completely.

Everything about him in that moment felt painfully vulnerable.

Painfully honest.

Not knowing what the right answer was, she slowly wrapped her arms around him in return and gently patted his shoulders.

"Jordan, please don’t get hurt. I... I still don’t know what the right thing to do is... but... I’ll try to figure it out too... so that..."

Her voice softened.

"...so that we can remain close."

Every word lit something warm inside Jordan’s chest, like candles flickering to life in a dark room.

Hope surged through him so powerfully that, for one reckless instant, he nearly cupped her chin and lowered his lips to hers, desperate to show her what those softly spoken words meant to him.

Suppressing the impulse demanded tremendous restraint.

Squeezing her tightly one last time, he released her with a gentle nudge, then guided her back onto her feet beside him.

"Come on. Let’s get moving. We’ve still got this round to finish."

Aren smiled, relieved to hear him sounding like himself again.

"Have you had any luck finding a coin?"

Jordan shook his head, already wanting to punch something just thinking about it.

"God, yeah, I did." He pointed toward the ceiling. "It was hanging up there, but my goddamn brother and his men stole it from me."

Aren immediately frowned. She had heard every word on her way there.

"I’m so sorry about that..."

Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew the brass coin and held it out toward him.

"Here, Jordan. Please take this."

Jordan stared at the coin before looking back at her.

"You found one?"

Aren shook her head.

"I didn’t. Lady Rosalia found it... but she gave it to me. It’s a long story."

Jordan blinked in genuine surprise.

’...Rosalia?’

’Rosalia gave her a coin?’

As far as he knew, out of all five siblings, Rosalia and Sofia were the two who had always been the closest. The thought of Rosalia willingly handing a coin to the person Sofia despised most was the last thing he would ever have expected.

Shaking his head, Jordan placed his hand over Aren’s, gently folding her fingers back around the coin.

"No need, Ariana. Keep it. If Rosalia gave it to you, then it’s yours."

He glanced toward the exit of the chain-link maze, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Besides... I think I have a clue where the last coin in this maze might be."