Night covered Seoul in cold rain as black cars moved toward the luxury hotel where Lucien Moreau waited.
Inside the lead vehicle, tension filled the silence.
Aryan sat beside Nithya calmly, but the coldness in his eyes said enough.
Rohan sat in front while updating security details.
"Lucien brought twenty armed men," he reported.
Aryan's expression remained unreadable.
"Too many for a meeting."
Nithya looked out the window quietly.
"He likes showing power."
Aryan glanced toward her.
"And?"
Nithya's lips curved faintly.
"So do you."
Fair.
Again.
The hotel's top floor had been completely cleared.
Private security surrounded every entrance while hidden snipers watched from nearby buildings.
The moment Aryan and Nithya stepped out of the elevator together, the atmosphere changed instantly.
Lucien Moreau stood near the large glass windows holding a wine glass casually.
Tall.
Sharp features.
Cold blue eyes.
Dangerous elegance.
But the moment he saw Nithya…
A smile appeared immediately.
"Nithya."
Aryan's expression darkened instantly hearing her name spoken so comfortably.
Lucien slowly walked closer.
"You look even more beautiful than before."
Nithya stayed calm.
"You still talk too much."
Lucien laughed softly.
Interesting.
No fear.
Most people froze near Eagle.
This man didn't.
Then Lucien's eyes finally moved toward Aryan.
The atmosphere instantly became heavier.
"Eagle," Lucien greeted calmly.
"Lucien."
Neither offered handshakes.
Neither smiled.
Predators recognizing another predator.
Lucien calmly sat down first.
"Please."
Aryan remained standing for a second longer intentionally before sitting beside Nithya.
Not across from her.
Beside her.
Clear message.
Mine.
Lucien noticed immediately.
His smile faded slightly.
Interesting.
"So," Lucien began casually, "the rumors were true."
Aryan's voice stayed cold.
"Which rumors?"
"That Devil finally belongs to someone."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Nithya's eyes turned colder instantly.
But Aryan spoke first.
"She belongs beside me."
Lucien slowly leaned back.
Possessiveness.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
For several minutes, business discussions filled the room.
European routes.
Weapons.
Financial territories.
But beneath every sentence, tension remained sharp.
Because this wasn't just business.
This was competition.
Not over power.
Over Nithya.
Finally Lucien looked directly at her again.
"You disappeared without answering my last offer."
Aryan's jaw tightened slightly.
Nithya remained calm.
"I already rejected it."
"You rejected marriage," Lucien corrected softly.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Not me."
Aryan's patience was slowly disappearing now.
Rohan noticed immediately.
Very dangerous.
Lucien continued calmly,
"You could've ruled Europe beside me."
Nithya leaned back.
"I already rule enough."
"Not like this."
His eyes briefly moved toward Aryan.
"Eagle is emotional where you're concerned."
Wrong thing to say.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Aryan slowly stood up.
Every guard in the room became alert immediately.
Lucien smiled faintly.
"There he is."
Nithya stood up too before things became worse.
"Aryan."
But Eagle's eyes remained locked on Lucien.
Cold.
Deadly.
"You came to Seoul for business," Aryan said quietly.
"Or to disrespect my wife?"
Lucien stood slowly as well.
No fear.
Only confidence.
"I came because Devil deserves someone equal."
Silence.
Then suddenly Aryan laughed softly.
Cold laugh.
Dangerous laugh.
"You still don't understand something."
Lucien's smile faded slightly.
"And what's that?"
Aryan stepped closer.
Close enough for tension to become almost violent.
"Devil chose me."
The room became silent again.
Because that statement carried power.
Truth.
Victory.
And Lucien understood it too.
Nithya watched both men carefully.
Two kings.
Both dangerous.
Both powerful.
But only one truly understood her.
Aryan never tried changing Devil.
He stood beside her darkness naturally.
That difference mattered.
A lot.
Lucien finally looked toward Nithya quietly.
"So this is really what you want?"
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Nithya walked calmly toward Aryan and stood beside him.
Close.
Certain.
Her answer came softly but clearly.
"Yes."
Lucien stared at them silently for several seconds.
Then slowly…
He smiled again.
But this time, the smile looked colder.
"Interesting."
Dangerous word.
Very dangerous.
The meeting ended shortly after that.
No partnership.
No alliance.
Only tension.
As Aryan and Nithya walked back toward the elevator, Lucien's voice stopped them one last time.
"Eagle."
Aryan turned slightly.
Lucien's blue eyes became ice cold.
"If you ever fail to protect her…"
His gaze shifted briefly toward Nithya.
"…I'll take her away myself."
Silence.
Then suddenly the temperature in the room felt deadly.
Aryan slowly looked back at Lucien.
And for the first time that night…
Eagle's killing intent became visible.