Maria.

"Come on, Maria, no need to look all serious."

Vincent’s voice came out light, almost playful, as if the tension from a moment ago had never existed. Just like that, he brushed everything off, a smile spreading easily across his face as though he hadn’t said anything out of place.

"Everyone seems to know you both are engaged," he continued, shrugging slightly, his tone casual. "So I thought he might think I’m stealing you from him."

I blinked.

Then slowly, I let out a quiet breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The tightness in my chest eased just a little, relief washing over me at his explanation.

But still...Something felt off.

The sudden shift in his demeanor was too quick, too smooth, like he had flipped a switch and expected me to follow along without question.

I studied him for a second longer, trying to make sense of it.

"So..." he added, his smile widening slightly as he tilted his head, his expression softening into something almost childlike. "Can you just accept it?"

He pouted his lips slightly, the gesture oddly playful, almost exaggerated.

I hesitated.

Reluctantly, but eventually, I reached out and collected the box from him, my fingers brushing against his briefly before pulling away.

The moment I did, his face lit up.

He practically jumped in excitement, his reaction so sudden it caught me off guard. His energy felt so different, lighter and unusual.

And then, just as quickly, he seemed to grow self-conscious, lifting his hand to scratch the back of his head awkwardly.

"Can I help you put it on?" he asked, his voice softer now, almost hesitant.

I frowned slightly.

What the hell has gotten into Vincent?

"Vincent, actually..." I started, intending to say something, anything, to slow this down, to question what was happening.

But before I could complete my sentence, he moved swiftly. In one fluid motion, he stepped behind me, close enough that I could feel his presence at my back.

"Come on, Maria," he said gently, his voice right behind me now. "We are friends, remember?"

I stiffened slightly.

"All these things don’t really matter," he continued, his tone calm, almost reassuring. "At least for now."

I didn’t respond, because I wasn’t sure what to say. Something about this, about him, felt strangely familiar.

It reminded me of the first time we met... the way he had acted back then, easy, relaxed, almost too comfortable.

I swallowed lightly, my fingers tightening slightly around the box as I felt him take it from my hands.

Without another word, he opened it, then gently, carefully, he placed the necklace around my neck. His fingers brushed against my skin, soft, lingering.

The contact sent a faint shiver down my spine, my body tensing instinctively at the closeness.

For a brief moment, everything felt still.

"Get your hands off her!" A voice cut through the moment like a blade.

I turned instantly and just as I expected, it was Adrien.

Of course.

At this point, it was almost predictable. Lately, he had this annoying habit of showing up everywhere, at the exact moment he wasn’t needed. It was starting to feel less like coincidence and more like he was deliberately inserting himself into every situation that involved me.

He was beginning to move like a pest.

"Get your hands off my mate!"

His voice rang out sharply as he strode closer, his presence heavy, commanding, leaving no room for anyone to ignore him. His eyes were already locked onto Vincent, burning with a dangerous intensity that made the air around us feel tight.

Before I could even process his words, he stepped closer and his attention shifted to me.

"Baby..." he said, his tone softening just slightly as he looked at me. "Isn’t it wrong for someone else to do this?"

I blinked.

My brows lifted immediately in shock.

Baby?

What exactly was going on today?

First Vincent addressed me as Damsel, Davian acting all possessive and then everything else and now this?

Why did everyone suddenly feel the need to address me with names that made absolutely no sense?

I didn’t even know how to respond.

The words sat somewhere in my throat, stuck, refusing to come out as my mind struggled to catch up with everything happening at once. But Adrien didn’t seem to care about my reaction, not even a little.

He had already turned away from me, his attention shifting back to Vincent, and the change in him was instant, sharp and unsettling.

His expression darkened, his eyes taking on a deep shade of red, burning with anger that was barely contained. It was the kind of anger that didn’t need to be shouted to be felt, it was there, heavy, suffocating.

"It’s you again!" Adrien snapped, his hand lifting as he pointed directly at Vincent, his voice edged with clear recognition and hostility.

There was no hesitation, nor doubt in his tone.

He remembered.

"Didn’t my arrow then, at the eastern vault, teach you a lesson?" he continued, his tone dropping lower, colder, each word sharper than the last. "Listen carefully, rogue..." The word left his mouth with open disdain, like it tasted bitter. "...You better stay away from my woman."

My woman.

The possessiveness in his voice made my stomach twist slightly.

Before Vincent could even react, Adrien moved quickly. His hand shot forward, grabbing Vincent by the front of his shirt, gripping it tightly as he pulled him closer.

The sudden movement was aggressive, forceful enough to make the tension between them spike instantly.

Everything around us seemed to freeze. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Do I make myself clear?" Adrien thundered, his voice louder now, echoing with authority and warning.

His grip tightened, his knuckles whitening slightly as he held Vincent in place, his gaze unrelenting.

The air grew heavy, charged with something that felt like it could explode at any second.

And in that moment, it was clear that Adrein wasn’t giving him a warning, it was a threat.