"And now, what will you do since you know they betrayed you?" Kenny whispered right in my ear, his warm breath touching my skin.

I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. "If he comes looking for me," I said in a flat voice, "just say you don't know where I am." Without looking back, I entered the room and locked the door.

The phone in my grasp vibrated incessantly. Dozens of missed calls and messages from Nicholas filled the screen. "Judith, I can explain!"

"It's not what you think!"

"Call me back!". With a firm movement, I finally blocked his number. Silence fell, but it felt more torturous than the ringing phone itself.

Morning came like an iron boot. My head was heavy, eyes swollen, and my whole body felt shattered into pieces. A soft knock was heard from behind the door.

"Judith." Kenny's voice.

"I don't want to be disturbed!"

"Get up. Don't wallow in your sorrow."

"I can't be bothered!" I grumbled, pulling the blanket over my head.

"At least have breakfast first. There's chicken soup."

"I'm not hungry!"

"In that case," he said, his voice suddenly fading, "I'll finish this chicken and mushroom soup myself."

Creak! The door swung open roughly. "Don't!" I shouted. Kenny stood across the hallway with a faint smile, holding a bowl that was still steaming. "That's... my favorite."

Finally, we sat facing each other at the dining table. I took a spoonful of soup; the savory broth immediately warmed my body, chilled from last night. "How did you know this was my favorite? Even Nicholas—"

"Never remembered?" Kenny finished my sentence. His eyes were sharp.

"Nicholas was always busy."

"From now on," Kenny put down his spoon, "I will remember. I will make it for you, as long as you want."

"Did..." I asked softly, "...no one come last night?" A part of me still hoped Nicholas would come, kneel, and beg for forgiveness.

"No one," Kenny answered firmly. "I slept on the sofa. Guarding the door. No one tried to look for you."

Then I looked at him. "Actually, why are you here, Kenny? In my house, at the crack of dawn? What do you really want from me?"

Before he could answer, the front door burst open with a loud noise. Hurried footsteps approached.

"JUDITH!"

Nicholas stood at the kitchen doorway, his face pale, breathless. His wild eyes darted between me and Kenny, then to the bowl of soup in my hand. His expression shifted from panic to something darker.

Kenny didn't flinch. Calmly, he scooped a spoonful of warm broth, lifting it towards me. "Continue, Judith," he whispered. "Your soup will get cold."

My eyes were almost unblinking, fixed on the spoon Kenny offered. There was a message in that simple gesture—a challenge, a choice. In the doorway, Nicholas stood frozen, his ragged breath the only sound breaking the kitchen's silence.

"You... How dare you," Nicholas hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. "I was out looking for you all night, nearly going insane with worry, and it turns out you're here... with him?" His wounded gaze shifted to me, implying a new betrayal.

Kenny remained unmoved. With an almost irritating calmness, he pushed the spoon slightly closer to my lips. "She needs someone who is truly there for her, Nicholas," Kenny said without turning, as if Nicholas's presence was nothing more than a minor disturbance. "Not someone who only shows up when it's too late."

"I can explain everything, Judith!" Nicholas stepped closer, his face pleading. "I... We... It wasn't what you think!"

With my heart pounding, I looked at Kenny. In his blue eyes, I saw a challenging calm, and a blind faith that I would choose him. Then I looked at Nicholas, his face marred by regret and panic.

Then, slowly, I opened my mouth and accepted the spoonful from Kenny.

The savory taste of the soup suddenly felt like a small victory. Not for Kenny, but for myself.

"You don't need to explain anything, Nicholas," I said, my voice far calmer than I imagined. "I saw your explanation with my own eyes. And now," I continued, turning to Kenny whose lips curved into a faint smile, "I'm having breakfast. Get out."

Nicholas's face turned ashen. He looked at me, then at Kenny who looked so comfortable in my house, at the crack of dawn, as if he were the master here. Rage, shame, and burning jealousy finally exploded.

"So this is the reason?" he yelled, his voice rising. "You're getting close to him? Or... or were you cheating on me with him, Judith?!"

Kenny finally turned, his faint smile widening. "She already answered you, Nicholas. You're disturbing our breakfast."

"Judith, remember, if you call off our wedding, you will bear the compensation for my shares in your father's company!"

"Get out?" Nicholas let out a bitter laugh, his gaze shifting from wounded to full of threat. "You think it's that easy, Judith? You think we just call off the engagement and it's all over?"

He stepped closer, ignoring Kenny who now sat more upright, alert.

"Your father trusted me to manage thirty percent of his company's shares. Shares that were supposed to be the guarantee for our future," he hissed, emphasizing the last word. "If our wedding is called off, what do you think will happen to that trust? To your father's already shaky company?"

I fell silent, the blood freezing in my veins. I never really understood the family business, but I knew Father trusted Nicholas deeply. "What... do you mean?"

"What I mean," he snapped, now unable to hide his true nature, "is that if you call off this wedding, I will withdraw my support. And without my support, believe me, your father's company will collapse within months. Do you want to be the cause of your own family's ruin?"

"You bastard!" I screamed, standing up so fast the chair almost fell over. The anger initially directed at his betrayal now mixed with panic. "You took advantage of my father? You're threatening me?"

"It's not a threat, Darling," he sneered coldly. "It's a consequence. Or perhaps... it's revenge because you were cheating first with my crazy uncle here?" His hateful gaze turned to Kenny, who remained motionless.

"DON'T YOU DARE ACCUSE ME! You and Gaby are the traitors! I saw you with my own eyes!"

"And I see you now! Alone at the crack of dawn with another man, acting like husband and wife!" he shouted back.

Our argument filled the room. I screamed, he yelled. My tears of frustration burst forth, feeling trapped. I didn't care about the shares, but I couldn't bear to see my father destroyed.

Just as Nicholas moved closer to me with an intimidating gesture, pointing his finger almost touching my face, a calm yet deadly voice was finally heard.

"Enough."

Kenny stood up slowly. He wasn't in a hurry, but the aura he emitted suddenly made the room feel cramped. He walked towards Nicholas.

"You touch her," Kenny said in a flat voice more frightening than any shout, "and I will break your fingers one by one."

He then turned to me, his blue eyes hinting at something more than just protection.

"And about those shares, Judith," Kenny said, while staring at Nicholas with a gaze that could freeze hell, "don't worry. Let me handle my 'nephew' here."

Nicholas laughed, but it was an empty, forced laugh. His gaze didn't leave Kenny, who now stood between us like a living shield.

"You think you can handle me, Uncle?" he taunted, emphasizing the word 'uncle' with sarcasm. "You, who aren't even acknowledged by our extended family? Judith's father would trust a hundred words from me over one word from you."

Kenny didn't take the bait. He just narrowed his eyes, a cold, faint smile gracing his lips. "We'll see, 'Nephew'. But remember this well, every threat you throw at her today," he said, pointing towards me who was still trembling, "I will repay you in full, with compounded interest."

"So this is your plan, huh, Judith?" Nicholas redirected his wave of anger back to me, his face red. "Found a new protector? This obsessed uncle? You think he loves you? He just wants to win this game against me! You're just a pawn to him!"

"I'm not like you, Nicholas! I'm not as despicable as you!" I yelled, my voice hoarse from tears and anger.

"No? Then look at yourself now! Standing by his side, letting him speak for you! You've become his doll!"

Kenny took one step forward, approaching Nicholas until they were only a foot apart. The difference in their height was evident, as was the aura of dominance Kenny radiated.

"This conversation is over," Kenny said with finality. "Get out of her house. Now."

Nicholas stared at the two of us with fiery eyes, his breath ragged. He was outnumbered and outmaneuvered. The shame of being caught, blind jealousy, and frustration over his failed plan all boiled within him.

"Fine," he hissed, gathering the remnants of his pride. He took a step back, towards the door. His hateful gaze was fixed on me.

"This isn't over, Judith," he threatened, pointing his finger at me. "You and your 'uncle' will regret this. Your father will hear everything from my side. And you," he glared at Kenny, "will go back to being the pathetic stranger you've always been."

With that, he turned around and strode away, leaving the door wide open. The sound of his heavy footsteps on the wooden floor slowly faded, replaced by a tense and heavy silence.

I stood limply, leaning against the table to support my trembling body. Nicholas's final threat still echoed in my ears. I looked at Kenny, who now stood calmly, gazing at the empty door with an unreadable expression.

He wasn't in a rush to comfort me. He just said in a calm and confident voice, "Let him try."

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