Chapter 13: Drunk Lila by the River
Lila Hart clutched a full bottle of unknown foreign liquor.
They said it was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but nearly impossible the other way around.
She had grown used to spending money freely. Even after repaying her debts and retrieving her phone, she still had over 3000 left—all gone in a single bottle at the bar.
She cared only about drowning her emotions, with no thought for tomorrow.
Drinking alone in the bar had drawn one creep after another.
In just over an hour, Lila had turned away seven or eight men.
Now another stood before her.
Irritated, she lifted the half-empty bottle, staring at him coldly.
Two words slipped out.
"Buzz off."
Staggering, she left the bar.
The man she'd insulted froze, his lips twitching. He watched her graceful, unsteady back, his eyes turning sharp and dangerous.
He pulled out his phone and made a call.
Lila wandered along the riverbank, drinking as she walked.
The night wind blew, and the unwanted attention faded—though eyes still lingered on her.
Such was the curse of being the campus beauty.
Her mind spun with messy thoughts.
She and Kael had known each other since childhood. Back then, the Voss family had been far wealthier than the Harts.
All the rarest, most interesting toys could be found at Kael's house. She'd admired him deeply—young as he was, he could ride horses, play instruments, and shoot arrows.
When they were little, their parents often teased Kael, telling him he would marry her one day.
He'd agreed, naive and earnest.
After that, Lila had accepted his kindness without guilt.
Her old admiration faded.
She'd come to see him as nothing more than a lovesick puppy, chasing her beauty and charm.
A bitter laugh escaped her.
She'd lived in a dream woven entirely by his devotion, treated like a princess while treating him like a servant.
And now, the "servant" had stopped indulging her fantasy.
Only then did Lila realize:
He had never been a servant.
He had been the one holding power, the one who'd let her live like royalty only because he loved her.
Tears filled her eyes.
Not far away, Eliot Storm was walking with his family partner, Zoe.
He spotted Lila, heartbroken and fragile by the river, and a dark, primal energy stirred within him—a side effect of his Inferno Bloodline, a rare and volatile combat heritage that craved conflict and dominance.
Zoe sensed the shift in his aura and looked up.
"Eliot… your bloodline is acting up again."
Eliot smiled, a touch arrogant, and ruffled her hair.
"Can you blame me? A beautiful woman in distress is hard to ignore."
Zoe blushed slightly. "I know your bloodline requires regular combat to stay stable. If you need to… I can help you channel it."
Eliot gently stroked her head.
Zoe was more than just a partner—she was a Stabilizer, born with a rare aura that could soothe his volatile bloodline. Their families had paired them since childhood for this very purpose.
"We agreed to wait until you're ready," he said softly, though his eyes kept drifting back to Lila.
Zoe nodded, smiling. "Only a few months left. Let's focus on our mission first."
"Right," Eliot said, tearing his gaze away. "The engagement with the Hale family. Time to put an end to that farce."
He smiled, thinking of the look on the Hale family's faces when he rejected their daughter. It would be glorious.
But as he turned to leave, his bloodline flared again—this time, not for Lila, but for the thrill of the hunt, the potential for a worthy fight.
He lied to Zoe.
His bloodline hadn't reacted to her.
It had reacted to the raw, untamed potential he sensed in the heartbroken girl by the river.
Lila sat on a riverside bench, sobbing quietly.
Several men in garish clothes, their hair dyed bright colors, sauntered over with lewd grins.
"Hehe, such a pretty girl. Lucky night!"
"Drinking alone is no fun, miss."
"Why not drink with us? We can do more after…"
They laughed crudely.
The alcohol in Lila's veins jolted, clearing slightly.
The riverbank had fewer drunks, but it had thugs.
"What do you want? I don't know you! Leave me alone!"
The crew-cut leader licked his lips.
"Feisty! I love girls with fire. The wilder, the better."
His friends chimed in, moving to surround her.
Panic flooded Lila.
She had never faced danger like this. Before, Kael had always been there. No matter how much she drank, she'd felt safe.
But Kael was gone now.
"I'm going home!" she cried.
She tried to stand, but her legs gave way. She'd drunk far too much.
The leader laughed wildly.
"See that? She says she's leaving, but she can't even stand! She's waiting for me to help her~"
He reached for her.
Lila shoved him away, biting her lip hard as humiliation burned through her.
The liquor hit hard, and the men closed in, blocking every escape.
"Get out of here! I'll call the police!"
"Go on, then. Let's see you try."
Frantically, Lila pulled out her phone.
Before she could dial, it was snatched away.
The leader waved it tauntingly.
"You really think I'd let you call for help? How stupid are you?"
Lila's heart sank.
Helpless, terrified, she finally understood how much she needed Kael.
Before, she had never worried about safety or money. She'd never had to think at all.
She'd even looked down on him, calling him a spineless simp.
Now, all she wanted was for Kael to appear.
Eliot watched from afar, his bloodline humming with excitement.
He turned to Zoe.
"Someone's in trouble. Let's intervene."
They hurried toward the river.
The thugs grew bolder. Two of them grabbed Lila's arms. Dizzy and weak, she could not fight back.
The leader reached for her—
A sudden, sharp kick slammed into his jaw.
Lila collapsed into her rescuer's arms.
She lifted her blurry, tear-streaked eyes.
She stared, shocked, and whispered his name.
"K… Kael?!"
Kael's expression was cold and calm. He gently set her down on the bench.
Eliot, who had rushed over to play the hero, froze mid-step.
He crossed his arms, watching coldly.
He would see if this man was a true hero… or just a fool, outnumbered six to one.