# Chapter 2
The pleading look on the man's face did absolutely nothing to stir Glenca's sympathy. Greynard's presence always managed to stir up her emotions. Not because she hated him. Glenca simply didn't want to repeat the same foolish mistake by falling back into the past, whose wounds she hadn't truly forgotten.
"Don't start again. Mr. Dedy, you don't need to fan the flames, either."
Glenca folded her arms over her chest. Her eyes flashed sharply at the two towering men standing near the iron bars.
"Women are always so stubborn." Dedy loosened his collar. "I hope the two of you make this relationship official soon. I'm tired of seeing Caca go in and out of holding cells. Greynard, hurry up and put a ring on this girl's finger so she'll stop being a hero who shows up too late and only hurts herself."
Dedy had known Glenca since she was still wearing a white-and-gray school uniform. The tragic death of Glenca's mother several years ago had become the thread binding their families together. Dedy only wanted this stubborn girl to live safely, not risk her life defending poor clients who couldn't even afford to pay her fees.
"If not me, then who else is going to go through the trouble of taking their side? I'm happy. Seeing those bastards rotting in the place they deserve is more than enough payment."
Glenca lifted her chin. There wasn't a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"But not by breaking someone's jaw in public, Caca. You beat your opponent until he vomited blood. Do you really think that's what a good lawyer does?"
Greynard stepped forward. His shadow covered Glenca's petite body, blocking the corridor lights.
"That bastard started it. He was abusing his own wife. What woman wouldn't boil with rage at something that disgusting? I was just teaching him the basics of how a man is supposed to behave."
Glenca's chest rose and fell unevenly. Her mind returned to what had happened earlier that afternoon in the courthouse waiting room. The punches, the insults, and the sobbing. The martial arts skills she'd worked so hard to learn since childhood had finally come in handy to shut that piece of trash up.
"Enough. Stop this pointless argument. It's getting late, and I have a mountain of incident reports to deal with."
Dedy roughly rubbed his face, cutting off the argument in front of him.
"I was still enjoying my night in this VIP cell, Mr. Dedy."
Glenca shot him a mischievous glance. Her impish smile returned.
"Oh, really? Then come on, get back inside. The padlock's still in my hand."
Dedy had just reached for Glenca's arm when she moved much faster. Nimbly, Glenca leaped backward and hid behind Greynard's broad back. Her hands clutched the edge of the man's expensive jacket.
"I'll let Greynard take my punishment for me."
Glenca stuck her tongue out at Dedy. A second later, she let go and ran down the long hallway, leaving the two men behind.
"I LOVE YOU BOTH!"
Glenca turned around for a moment and raised both hands high, crossing her thumbs and index fingers to form a tiny heart.
Greynard could only massage the bridge of his nose. Dedy slowly shook his head as he watched Glenca's silhouette gradually disappear around the corner.
"Mr. Dedy, I'm truly sorry. She causes trouble and makes a mess here all the time."
Greynard's voice sounded sincere. The guilt was plain on his face.
"Don't worry about it. I know that girl's personality by heart. Caca has an incredibly pure heart. She always means well. Unfortunately, her brain and her muscles don't always work in sync."
Dedy smiled knowingly. He gave Greynard's shoulder a firm pat. "Your job now is to keep a tighter watch on her. The legal world is too brutal for a reckless girl like Caca. Don't let her laughter get swallowed up by problems bigger than this."
"I promise you, sir. I won't take my eyes off her for even a second."
Greynard bowed respectfully before heading after Glenca toward the parking lot.
At the far end, Glenca was leaning against the hood of her beloved red hatchback.
"Get in my car. I'll drive you home."
Greynard stood several steps in front of Glenca. He pointed toward the sleek black luxury car parked nearby.
Glenca shook her head. "Don't go to the trouble. I drove myself. Look at this." With a proud expression, Glenca twirled her car keys in front of Greynard's face. "My negotiation with the bank went smoothly today. They decided not to repossess my car."
A long breath escaped through Greynard's lips. His dark eyes fixed on the bear keychain hanging from the keys.
"So your car payments have been overdue for months? Why do you always insist on making your own life harder? You have me. I have enough money to buy this car factory if I wanted to. Paying your installments won't make me go broke, Caca."
Glenca snorted. Her index finger rose right in front of Greynard's chest.
"Stop lecturing me and telling me how to live my life. You're making my ears burn, Grey. And more importantly, my stomach is growling and demanding dinner."
Glenca suddenly leaned toward him. Her face was now barely a few inches from Greynard's jaw. Her eyes widened as she stared straight into the dark irises of the man before her.
Greynard's breathing stopped instantly. His body went rigid. The scent of vanilla mixed with sweat, an intoxicating drug assaulting his senses. Those beautiful eyes always knew how to imprison his sanity. And then there were those half-parted pink lips, as if challenging the limits of his rapidly thinning patience.
Greynard swallowed. His reckless mind began weaving a naughty scenario. One more inch, and he could feel that softness.
"But the main problem is..." Glenca's voice shattered the wild fantasy in Greynard's head. "My wallet is empty. Is there a generous gentleman here willing to buy dinner for this starving woman?"
Glenca pulled her face away. She put on a pleading expression that only made her look adorable.
"You really are the world's greatest mood killer." Greynard roughly tousled Glenca's already messy hair. He chuckled when he saw the frustration on her face.
"Let's have dinner at my house. I need to check on Baby Kenzo right away."
Glenca's laughter stopped. Her eyes narrowed as she stared sharply at Greynard.
"Wait a second." Glenca leaned toward him again. Her stare had turned intimidating. "Don't tell me you just landed from Germany and haven't gone home at all?"
Greynard nodded casually, without a trace of guilt.
"You really are insane! Did you leave your brain on the plane? You flew for over a dozen hours across a continent, and instead of going home to rest, you came straight to the police station? Are you trying to die young from exhaustion?"
Glenca's scolding poured out without pause. She planted her hands on her hips. Her anger was unmistakable.
Greynard only smiled faintly. This ear-splitting lecture was the most beautiful music he always longed for. Glenca's concern was proof that she hadn't completely cast him out of her heart.
Greynard's index finger landed directly on Glenca's lips, which were still moving nonstop.
"Shh. Save your energy and your voice for dinner. Come on, let's go now. If you faint from hunger here, I'll be the one stuck handling your death certificate. Ambulance rentals are very expensive at night."
"Damn you! Are you cursing me to death by starvation?" Glenca clicked her tongue irritably. "Just you wait. If I really die tonight, you'll be the first person I haunt."
"Go ahead. My bedroom door is always wide open for a beautiful ghost like you. I'd gladly let you haunt me for the rest of my life."
Greynard threw his head back and laughed. He gently pinched Glenca's pert nose. A second later, his long fingers slid down and intertwined with Glenca's cold ones. His grip was firm, leaving Glenca no room to pull away. He slowly led her toward the driver's door.
"What are you doing? Why do we have to hold hands?" Glenca put up a token struggle. Her eyes widened as she stared at their joined hands.
"The ground is slippery. I don't want to pay your hospital bills if you fall."
Greynard winked. His mischievous expression was incredibly annoying.
"Nice excuse. Just admit you're looking for an opening."
"A good opening is one you take full advantage of."
Glenca snorted, but strangely, she didn't pull her hand away from that warm connection. A sense of security spread from Greynard's palm into the depths of her chest.
Greynard opened the driver's door. He raised his hand to shield the top of the doorway so Glenca wouldn't hit her head.
"Drive easy. I'll escort you from behind." Greynard's voice softened. His eyes radiated protectiveness.
"Okay."
Their gazes met. It lasted only a few seconds, but that was enough to make Glenca's heart flutter violently. She quickly looked away and pretended to busy herself with her seat belt.
"Go on, get back to your car." Glenca's voice sounded slightly hoarse. She was reluctant to look at Greynard again.
"I'll escort you from behind. Remember that."
Greynard held back a smile as he watched Glenca's flushed face. He slowly closed the door. Through the window, Greynard could still see Glenca breathing a sigh of relief.
I will make sure your heart falls into my hands again, Caca. That's my promise, Greynard said silently to himself.