As soon as Ira thought she was about to feel the pain from whatever had fallen, she instantly fell into warm arms, a cool and refreshing scent surrounding her, shielding her.

"Bang"

A loud crash echoed, and the crowd quickly scrambled toward the scene.

"IRA!!" - P'Sushi rushed over in panic, waving away the thick cloud of dust, while Prigkhing and Ying quickly followed.

As the dust cleared, everyone saw Ira being held securely by someone else. Tawan, seeing that the person in her arms was unharmed, let out a soft sigh of relief and looked at her.

"Are you okay?"

"I... I'm fine..." - Ira's eyes brimmed with tears as she suddenly hugged Tawan, making the latter freeze in place.

"This..."

"I was so scared!" - Ira interrupted before Tawan could speak. She was terrified. At that moment, she thought she was going to be crushed under the falling wooden crate.

"It's okay now! I'm here. You'll be fine!" - Tawan gently stroked Ira's back to comfort her. Seeing Ira crying out of fear made Tawan's heart feel as if someone was squeezing it. When she saw the crate falling, an unprecedented dread filled her soul.

"Tawan, are you hurt?" - It was only then that Ira remembered the person who had taken the impact of the falling crate was Tawan. She quickly released her and anxiously checked her over. After confirming that Tawan was perfectly unharmed, Ira let out a relieved sigh.

Tawan allowed Ira to inspect her without saying a word while her gaze fixed on the spot above where the crate had fallen. Her eyes sharpened with scrutiny, just in time when her eyes locked with Ying's. Ying was also staring at her and then at the high position above where Tawan and Ira were, as if they both shared the same thought.

"This was no accident!"

Tawan trusted her sharp vision. Just before the crate fell, she had clearly seen a shadow in that area. However, whoever it was had slipped away just as quickly. Her instincts told her this was the work of professionals. Lost in thought, Tawan pulled out her phone, sent a message to Pey, then quickly sent another message to someone else.

"Complete the preparations immediately!"

***

Due to the incident, no one was in the mood to continue working, so they decided to pause the shoot. Ira, feeling exhausted and still shaken, asked Tawan to take her home.

"Go upstairs and wait for me!" - Ira said to Tawan, who showed no intention of getting out of the car.

"Why?"

"Wash your shirt!" - Ira pointed to the collar of Tawan's shirt, where a faint lipstick stain was still visible.

"No need! I'll do it myself!" - Tawan coldly refused.

"This is a client request!"

"..."

"Come on!"

"Fine!"

Standing in the elevator beside Tawan, Ira glanced at her. The perfect sideline exuding Tawan's beauty of resilience and power.. Tawan carried an aura that was both intimidating and reassuring, making anyone standing near her feel a peculiar sense of safety. Ira's eyes fell to Tawan's hand resting loosely by her side. At a nick of time, she wanted to reach out, to feel the warmth and roughness she had experienced during that rainy night. But she refrained — this was not the time, yet.

"Take off your shirt!" - As soon as Ira entered the apartment, she ordered Tawan, then headed straight into another room.

"No need!" - Tawan walked to the sofa and sat down. She had only come up because Ira insisted, not to have Ira wash her shirt.

"Take it off!" - Ira returned with a first aid kit, her sharp gaze commanding like a queen.

"What are you doing?" - Tawan looked at the first aid kit in Ira's hand, then at Ira herself, who swiftly approached her and tried to pull her shirt off.

"Will you take it off yourself, or should I do it for you?" - Ira admitted she couldn't overpower Tawan; the woman was absurdly strong, like a bear.

- ...

"This is a request. Take off your outer shirt!" - Ira's tone turned cold, her queenly aura flaring.

Tawan didn't know why or how, but she found herself obeying Ira without question. Normally, she could easily decline a client's request if it was unreasonable. Yet, standing there with Ira looking down at her, her gaze so intense, Tawan felt unable to refuse. Slowly, she removed her outer shirt. Ira quickly snatched it away and tossed it aside. Sitting to Tawan's right, her brows furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with pain.

"And you said you were fine, like this?"

As Ira lifted Tawan's right arm, the forearm revealed, bruised and discolored with deep purples and greens spreading across the skin in alarming patches. Beneath the surface, faint traces of broken capillaries created a mottled pattern. Ira's voice was thick with sorrow and distress.

"Does it hurt?" - Ira carefully began treating Tawan's injuries. She realized that Tawan had been avoiding using her right hand since earlier, even driving mostly one-handed and only occasionally using the injured arm when absolutely necessary. Ira was sure Tawan was hurt.

"It's nothing. I'm used to it!" - Tawan's voice softened. This was the first time in a long while that someone had noticed her injury, and even longer since anyone had tended to her wounds with such care.

"Let's go to the hospital. I think you should get an X-ray just to be sure!"

"No! I don't like hospitals. This is fine. This injury will heal quickly."

"No way! It's so swollen. What if it would hurt the bone?"

"I...}

"I don't want you to lose an arm!" - Ira's voice broke as tears spilled down her face. Seeing Tawan's arm, swollen and bruised to the point where she couldn't even move it, filled Ira with unbearable heartache. Fear surged within her, and she couldn't hold back her sobs.

"Don't cry!" - Tawan used her uninjured hand to wipe Ira's tears, a faint smile tugging at her lips. - "This happens to me a lot. My body's tougher than most people's. A few days of rest and I'll be fine. I won't lose an arm, I promise!"

"How can you still smile about this!?" - Ira pouted, clearly upset. - "Listen to me, we're going to the hospital to check it out... no, wait, forget that. Give me a moment!"

Tawan hadn't even had a chance to respond when Ira stood up and disappeared into her room. A moment later, she returned, holding a coat.

"Let's go!" - Ira motioned for Tawan to follow.

"Go where?" - Tawan asked, confused.

"To get your arm checked!" - Ira walked over, grabbed Tawan's blazer, and helped her put it back on. Then, she jingled a set of car keys in her hand. - "We'll take my car!"

Tawan froze for a moment, letting Ira take charge without protest. By the time she registered the situation, she was seated inside Ira's car—a luxurious Lamborghini. Tawan frowned slightly as she glanced around at the sleek interior. Then her gaze shifted to Ira's sideline as she drove, her expression betraying a flicker of inexplicable intrigue. She remained silent, letting Ira take the lead. Deep down, Tawan couldn't help but wonder: behind the sweet appearance of this young idol, what kind of person truly lay hidden?

***

"It's nothing serious, just soft tissue damage with a slight hairline fracture. It's minor, so as long as you rest, avoid strenuous activity, and don't bump the injury, you'll recover quickly!" - Nene spoke gently to the two people in front of her. - "Besides, your physique is excellent, so the healing process will be faster."

"Thank you, P'Nene! Can you show me how to take care of the injury?" - Ira asked, looking at Tawan, who was currently having her wound properly treated by Nene's assistant.

"You?" - Nene looked at Ira as if she had just heard something shocking. - "You want to attend someone else's injury?"

"P'Nene!" - Ira's face turned serious, and her tone grew stern, effectively silencing Nene.

"Alright, alright, I'll show you. It's mainly about cleaning the surface, applying stabilizing bandages with pain relief and anti-swelling properties. But make sure she avoids heavy tasks—it'll speed up recovery!" - Nene gestured for her assistant to step aside and began demonstrating the process for Ira. The younger woman watched intently, carefully memorizing every step. She nodded with understanding, signaling she had grasped the instructions.

"I've got it! Does she need to take any medication?"

"I don't take medication!" - Tawan interjected firmly.

Tawan finally spoke. From the moment she entered this clinic, she realized it was a private facility—no signage, no indicators that a doctor worked here. Moreover, Nene's face seemed vaguely familiar, though Tawan couldn't quite place her. What stood out most was the state-of-the-art equipment scattered throughout the space. A glance at the medicine cabinet revealed expensive medications, some of which even major hospitals didn't stock. The clinic was staffed only by Nene and her assistant, and while Ira's arrival didn't surprise them, the fact that Ira had brought Tawan along clearly did.

"Are you afraid of medicine?"

"No, I just don't like it."

"Do you have stomach issues?" - Nene asked.

"I do, but not severely." - Tawan answered honestly.

"Joint and bone medication can be harsh on the stomach." - Nene turned her gaze to Ira.

"Then forget it, no medicine!" - Ira's firm conclusion left Tawan speechless. Since when did someone else start deciding her life for her?

After discussing a few care instructions with Nene, Ira finally took Tawan home. The latter remained silent, mentally noting everything she had observed at the clinic. A flicker of calculation arose in her mind as she pieced things together.

"Move in with me" - Ira looked at Tawan, who was sitting silently.

"No need!"

"You're injured!"

"I can take care of myself!"

Seeing Tawan's stubbornness, Ira didn't push further. She understood that the freedom she had taken today was only because Tawan had indulged her. If she kept pressing and upset Tawan, there was a real chance Tawan might cancel their contract. And what Ira wanted most was Tawan. So, she knew exactly when to stop.

As Ira's car pulled into her house, she noticed a luxury car already parked outside. A young woman in a sharp black suit and neatly tied tie was standing by, waiting.

"Boss, I'm here to pick you up!"

Pey bowed respectfully. The moment she received Tawan's message, she had rushed over at full speed. Watching Tawan step out of the Lamborghini, Pey almost wanted to rub her eyes. The boss she knew, who could fight and never lose, was now bandaged up because of a falling wooden crate? Was this a joke?

"Let's go!" - Tawan noticed Pey's curious gaze but didn't bother explaining. Instead, she gave Ira a quick glance before walking toward Pey and speaking calmly.

"Wait!" - Ira stepped forward, stopping her.

"What?"

"You're injured. You don't have to come tomorrow!"

"I'll send someone to replace me!"

"No need!"

- ....

"If it's not you, then no one else is acceptable!" - Ira smiled, meeting Tawan's gaze directly as she declared.

"I'll come pick you up for work tomorrow!"

"No..."

Tawan's domineering gaze silenced Ira, preventing her from uttering another "no need." Instead, Ira nodded in understanding. She knew Tawan was far from fragile, but seeing the other woman injured because of her still tugged painfully at Ira's heart.

"P'Tawan..."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you!"

"Alright. I'm fine. Go upstairs now."

Ira nodded again, waving goodbye to Tawan before turning to leave. After a few steps, she glanced back. Tawan still stood there, steady, watching her. Ira smiled brightly, her heart filled with joy as she skipped out of Tawan's sight.

Once Ira was gone, Tawan finally stepped into the car.

"Boss! Your arm?"

"It's fine, just a minor injury". - Tawan raised her right arm, inspecting it. She was used to having her personal doctor take care of her injuries, but being genuinely cared for was surprisingly pleasant.

"The items you requested will be ready by tomorrow morning."

"Good. Send someone to retrieve the car from Ira's place, then check over my car. I'll drive it tomorrow."

"What?"

"Is it strange for me to drive my own car?" - Tawan raised an eyebrow.

"No, not at all. I'll have it checked immediately!"

"Install a tracking chip in Ira's car."

"Understood."

After giving her instructions, Tawan's phone chimed with a new email notification. Reaching for the iPad in front of her, she opened the email and began reading. Gradually, her expression darkened. A trace of suspicion mixed with surprise and ended with a glimmer of concern in her eyes.

Tawan gazed at the sky, which was slowly being swallowed by the night. In her chest, a vague and inexplicable unease began to stir.

[5:45 AM]

Tawan arrived in front of Ira's house. She thought about texting but decided against it, knowing Ira would likely insist on her coming up. Without hesitation, she got out of the car, entered the elevator, and pressed the button for the ninth floor. As she stepped out of the elevator, she paused for a moment, her instincts alerting her to something suspicious. The atmosphere felt off.

Tawan glanced at the camera in the hallway, noticing that the infrared light wasn't active. The emergency exit door was tightly shut, and with her sharp eyes, she caught the faint reflection of two figures inside. Flexing her injured arm slightly, she felt a dull ache and quickly assessed her own condition. Calm and composed, she walked to Ira's door and rang the bell.

One ring. Then another. And another. Tawan pressed the bell repeatedly without pause until the door finally swung open.

"What's with all the noise this early in the morning?" - A disheveled man, looking half-asleep, appeared at the door.

"Oh, sorry. I'm an acquaintance of Pey. Is she here?"

"There's no one named Pey here! You're disturbing people this early!"

"Really? She gave me this address, though."

"I said no! Go away, stop bothering me!"

"My apologies."

Tawan bowed slightly and pretended to turn away. She noticed the man looking inside as he prepared to shut the door. The moment he dropped his guard, Tawan spun around and delivered a powerful kick to the door. The man was caught off guard, falling backward into the apartment. Tawan quickly stepped inside and shut the door behind her. The two men stationed near the emergency exit dashed out, but the door was already closed, leaving them too late to react.

"What the hell is this?" - The man who had fallen cursed as he scrambled to his feet.

"Sorry, I must've made a mistake. I was looking for Ira, not Pey". - Tawan smirked.

"You bitch!" - He roared and lunged at her.

Tawan faced him calmly. Though her injured arm throbbed, it didn't hinder her much. If her right hand couldn't do the job, her left could manage just fine. Within minutes, the man was sprawled on the floor, unconscious.

Two more men rushed out from inside, knives in hand, charging toward Tawan. Her sharp eyes followed their movements as she deftly dodged their attacks. After more than ten minutes of intense combat, she managed to knock both of them out.

Without wasting any moment, Tawan hurried to the inner room and pushed open the door. Inside lied Ira who was tied up and gagged, her hands and feet bound. Her eyes still held a flicker of defiance, but the moment she saw Tawan, that defiance gave way to overwhelming relief. Tears streamed down her face as though she had just found her lifeline.

"Don't cry! I'm here now!" - Tawan rushed to untie Ira and remove the gag from her mouth.

sobbing "Tawan... you're here... I was so scared!" - Ira threw herself into Tawan's arms, tearing uncontrollably.

"It's okay. It's okay. You're safe now. I'm here, and no one can hurt you!" - Tawan held Ira close, gently stroking her back to comfort her; meanwhile, her heart churned with fear and guilt for what Ira had endured.

- Hic... - Ira's sobs subsided as she felt Tawan's soothing presence. Letting go of Tawan, she opened her mouth to thank her savior but froze, her expression shifting to one of sheer terror.

"TAWAN!! WATCH OUT!!"

END CHAP 4