The Royal Contract

She had always compared herself to a red rose. She saw herself as beautiful. Her career had been vibrant. And almost everything about her life seemed perfect.

But despite that, just like the lovely flower, her life also had many thorns. No matter how exquisite the rose was, it still had hidden imperfections.

The people around her, her fans and her enemies, only saw the smile on her face and the facade she showed to the world.

But they never saw the pain every time a thorn tore into her skin and made her bleed. They had never bothered to look deeper underneath the delicate petals to know how fragile she was.

"I..."

"Do..."

The two spoke simultaneously when the silence became deafening, and the air inside the car became suffocating.

But they had to stop to give way to the other. Both were unsure of what to expect or what to say. Both feared to utter the wrong words.

"You go first." Like a true gentleman, Adam offered. He glanced her way but quickly shifted his sight to the brightly lit road ahead.

She stared straight ahead as she thought of what she had to say. But she felt like the words died inside her head as she forgot what she was about to say.

"No. I think you should go first." Suggesting that he should say what he had in mind while she examined her thoughts.

First of all, she had acted on a quick impulse without thinking her actions through. All she could remember when she rushed outside her room and ran across the street was to find the other portion of her heart.

She guessed she was tired of denying how she felt about him. She had to admit that she could not live anymore without him.

"Ok." He nodded as he mildly slowed the car in moderate ongoing traffic. "I want to explain that I am not one of your stalkers. I only came to check if you are alright."

Of course, Serena did not think of him as a stalker as she smiled at his confession. It sounded like one. Anyway, she was not expecting that.

Instead, she hoped he would have declared his undying love for her and promised to love her to the moon and back. But she guessed she could not rush these things. She had to be patient.

"No worries. I will never think of you in that way." Besides, she knew he never had time to be a fanatic. "Is that all?" She asked, hoping that was not the sum of their conversation.

"I also came to update you about Ken." Suddenly, her ears were alert upon hearing the boy's name. She had meant to look for him, but things were still complicated in her chaotic life.

She thought after the incident with Adam, he would not pursue the case. Therefore, she never bothered to ask him about it.

She intended to pursue his adoption if he would accept it. However, she had not come around looking for a new lawyer and proceeding with the paperwork.

"You are in contact with him? That is great. Where is he?" She asked, glad to hear that Adam had pursued her request. Or at least had checked on the young boy.

She hoped Ken was in good hands and off the street. The alley where he lived was not a place for a kid like him.

She still could not understand why. But she always had a soft spot for the wise-ass rascal. No matter the difference in their social upbringing, she always looked at the boy as someone who deserved a chance for a good life.

"Ken is doing great. He is now working with me." He told her, which made her smile. "And most importantly, he is back in school."

The last part made her gasp in excitement. She guessed that was the best part of her night, hearing that the boy was not just doing fine but was on the right track. Chapter Discover:

And that was all thanks to this man.

"Thank you for doing this for Ken." She extended her hand and unconsciously touched his biceps. Her apprehension earlier had vanished, replaced with gladness that Ken would have a chance to change his life.

"I..." He was about to respond.

"Can I see him?" But she interrupted him, cutting him off again.

"Sure. We can drop at Ken's place before we..." But he stopped before ending his sentence. "Truthfully, I have no idea where I am taking you."

She thought he was taking her to his place, remembering the street they had just passed by. But when they turned into an unfamiliar corner, she was lost. She knew this was not the way to his home.

"Take me to Ken, then let's go from there." She also had no idea. She had no plans.

But she knew she did not want to go home yet. She did not want to leave this man just yet. But the real question was, did she want to leave him again?

"Ok. I can do that." He agreed with her, showing his charming smile that she had loved to look at.

He turned again in another corner until they traveled on something she had seen before. She guessed this was the place where Ken was staying.

He parked the car in a decent building, pointing to Ken's place. She believed it was nothing fancy like the hotel where she stayed, but it looked safe and clean.

At least it was not the same as the alley the boy used to call home. It was not the white picket fence she dreamt for him, but for now, it would do.

"Do you think he is home?" She asked, remembering that the boy could stay on the street all night.

She could not help but feel apprehensive, suddenly wondering if Ken would ever accept her offer. Although this was a humongous upgrade from his previous life, she still wished to give him a much better life.

And she truly wanted him to be part of her family. She wanted him to have her as a mother, and she supposed she wanted Adam as the father.

But, of course, that was her dream. The reality would depend on the decisions of the other people involved. And that seemed more complicated than she had anticipated.

"I think he is home," Adam assured him as he escorted her to the narrow hallway. It was not the best or the cleanest place she had been, but she believed it was still the best in this part of the city.

"How did you convince him to do this?" She still could not believe that Adam had managed what she failed to do.

"I believe you made it easier for me to get through to him." He guided her up the stairs, climbing one level at a time.

He said that his flat was on the third floor. But, of course, a building like this did not offer elevator services.

Luckily, he was only on the third as she gasped for air on her next step. She deduced that she was getting out of shape. She seriously needed to increase her cardio exercises if she would keep up.

"Are you ok? It is just one more flight and then at the end of the hallway." She could hear the amusement in his voice, but he tried hard not to show it on his face.

"No, I am good." Serena slightly panted as she tried to catch her breath and stopped on the landing. It did not help that she was barefoot.

"No, you are not." Adam declared, but instead of waiting for her counter, he turned to her and abruptly lifted her in his arms without any warning.

And just like she weighed nothing but a feather, he carried her effortlessly into another set of stairs. What would have taken her two minutes had turned into seconds with him.

She could only assume he had continued his passion for mixed martial arts, judging from the feel of his muscles underneath her touch.

"You know you did not have to carry me." She told him. But, of course, he disagreed with her.

"I should have carried you from the car and never listened to you." He replied with a gentle smile.

She protested when he first suggested carrying her to Ken's apartment. In her defense, she was not helpless or disabled, just missing a pair of shoes.

"Fine." She finally agreed, realizing her foot hurt from the hard cement floor. She guessed she was not used to walking barefoot on the street.

"This is it." Adam stopped at the door on the other end, just as he said earlier. Then, he gently knocked, not wanting to alarm the room's occupants.

"Wait! Whoever you are?" The boy's young voice boomed from the other side. But another face answered the door.

Still, she recognized the man, surprised to see he lived in the small space with the boy. But then again, she remembered how the man protected the boy. And how Ken did the same.

She guessed that was what she liked about Ken in the first place. Despite his small size, he already had a big heart.

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