“Rose.” “Rose.”

His voice softened considerably, his eyes seeming to soften, too. Jaylene caught his expression and rolled her eyes hard.

Alarieka stood some distance from Kieran, unable to hear the voice on his phone, only seeing his expression soften as if draped in a veil of tenderness.

Kieran lowered his eyelids, listening patiently and tenderly to the voice on the line.

Suddenly, prompted by something unheard, Kieran lifted his head and glanced toward Alarieka.

He murmured, “Yeah, something came up.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be back soon. Go to sleep, okay? It’s really late now.”

“Don’t overthink it. You haven’t been well lately. Just rest. Don’t make me worry, alright?”

This time, Kieran fell silent for a long while.

Alarieka shot Jaylene and Tamika a look, her fingers tightening around the duffel bag.

The bodyguard’s eyes tracked her every move. As she began to turn, his eyes widened abruptly, his face darkening instantly as he lunged to pursue her.

Jaylene reacted perfectly, pulling their grandmother left and right to block his path.

But this time it was futile. Two bodyguards firmly pressed down on her and their grandmother’s shoulders–not roughly, but immobilizing them. Tamika, too, was seized by another guard.

Watching the remaining guards push past their shoulders to grab Alarieka, Jaylene panicked and kicked the nearest bodyguard squarely in the groin.

The guard’s face flushed crimson. He doubled over in agony, clutching himself, his body even twitching slightly.

Jaylene had learned on the streets; she knew exactly where a man was most vulnerable and struck without mercy.

She shook off the guard’s grip and spun around to intercept those chasing Alarieka.

Turning, she saw Alarieka moving swiftly, already stepping through the security checkpoint. The guards were blocked outside by airport security, helplessly watching her slip beyond their reach.

Sweat beaded on the frustrated guard’s forehead, itching to charge in and drag Alarieka out.

Airport staff felt a headache brewing. This man chasing someone looked untouchable, and his four bodyguards didn’t seem like upstanding citizens either.

An airport worker eyed the guard’s grim expression warily, whispering, “Are you… gangsters?”

The guard grunted, “No!”

The worker nodded, retracting his detection wand. He glanced at Alarieka, then the guards, then the man still on the phone, feeling utterly exasperated.

“Still… you can’t enter. Airport rules.”

Alarieka stood inside the security area, duffel bag in hand, locking eyes with Kieran.

Her gaze was sharp, voice cool and decisive: “Mom, Jaylene, Grandma. Come through now.”

Jaylene snorted, brushing off the hand on their grandmother’s shoulder, and wheeled the suitcase toward security.

Tamika followed.

Kieran’s eyes narrowed. He spoke one last phrase into the phone and hung up.

The lead guard immediately seized Tamika’s arm, turning back: “Mr. Argent?”

He wanted to suggest using the others to force Alarieka out.

Tamika gasped softly. Alarieka’s face hardened.

But Kieran shook his head. “Let go. Let them leave.”

Alarieka’s brow twitched.

Jaylene thought Kieran had lost his mind, quickly ushering their grandmother and Tamika through security.

Kieran Argent’s dark eyes were piercingly sharp as they fixed on Alarieka, his voice cool:

“Alaricka Huston, think carefully. Do you really want to leave?”

Alaricka’s brow twitched. She understood exactly what Kieran meant.

This was his final offer to her.

Kieran had his pride and dignity. He wouldn’t repeatedly beg someone insignificant after being rejected multiple times.

There was only one person for whom Kieran would plead time and again, regardless of refusal.

That person was Rose.

Goodbye.

To Kieran, Alarieka Huston meant nothing.

His message was clear: this time, if she refused, he wouldn’t stop her.

Recalling Kieran’s detached expression when he’d silently watched her earlier, Alarieka realized he’d been weighing her worth all along.