When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.

Saint Francis de Sales

Haven Pierce's POV

We were back at the mansion after they discharged me from the hospital. I still couldn't believe that I lost some of my memories of the past after the kidnapping incident and I knew Santi and Nico way before.

Since I recall everything now, I also remember having a huge crush on the eighteen-year-old Santi when I was still in my early teenage years. Looking back, I felt mortified remembering how I used my Dad's influence to spend time with him. How embarrassing! I hope that he doesn't remember that because I couldn't look him in the eye anymore if that happens.

Due to his injury to his shoulder, the doctor advised him to wear a sling for a while so that his gunshot wounds would heal nicely which the man grumbled disapprovingly saying that he didn't want to wear an arm sling for that long. But in the end, I managed to convince him to follow the doctor's advice since it was for his own good.

Now it was already midnight and I kept on turning and tossing to my bed unable to sleep. I want to get some sleep since our day has been rough. It was no use however I tried to close my eyes and force myself to get some sleep my mind was still wide awake. I could also feel that I was rather hungry because I only ate a little over dinner.

With the continuous rumbling of my stomach, I decided to find something to eat in the kitchen since I was not yet sleepy. I slid off the bed wore my slippers still on my cute printed pajamas and went out of my room. I walked down the silent staircase I think everybody had already gone to bed so I didn't need to worry about bumping into someone late that night.

I went to the dark state-of-the-art kitchen and flicked the light on. The room was now illuminated with a soft glow of lights. I searched on the party trying to look for instant noodles that I could cook easily. Nope. The pantry was well stocked with everything except instant noodles. I also open the cupboards in the kitchen and there's nothing. Don't they eat instant noodles here?

I gave up searching for the item that I usually eat when I review for exams and I don't have time to cook a proper meal. I think people around here aren't a fan of instant noodles. I'd just better buy some at the nearest convenience store.

I went back to my room to get a cardigan, my wallet, and my phone. I think I would just ask the guard on duty to let me call a taxi or something. When I reached the garden I saw Vito walking around.

"Signorina Haven," he approached with a slight smile on his stoic face. "What are you doing here late so night?"

I smiled back at him. So he was the night duty today? "I'm craving instant noodles right now and since I am not sleepy yet so I was thinking of going to the nearest convenience store and buying some instant noodles. I can't find anything in the pantry."

He was looking at me as if I was about to create trouble for him again. He started to shake his head. "I don't think that's a good idea, Signorina."

"But I want some," I gave him a sad face. I am craving that unhealthy food that helped me through my sleep-deprived college days. "Maybe if you can drive me to the nearest convenience store here that would be easier for me to navigate my way back."

He shook his head firmly, giving me an apologetic look. "I don't think Don will leave me off the hook easily this time if he learns that I take you somewhere late at night without his permission."

I understand his hesitation because of me, he nearly lost his job and I don't want to repeat my mistake in the past. I smiled at him sadly. "I get it. I'll just go back to bed."

"Wait, Signorina..." Vito called after me when I was about to enter the mansion again. I turned around to look at him. "Perhaps, if I could just buy the items that you like. You'll just have to wait for me here."

I beamed at him with undisguised happiness on my face. "Really? You will do that?"

He nodded, giving me a shy look. I didn't know that one of Santi's fearful bodyguards had this soft side. "Si. If you will just tell me the name and brand you want I'll look for it but you just have to wait for me here. You cannot come with me or the Don will kill me this time."

I nodded in agreement like an obedient child as I told him the name of the instant noodles I used to eat and I even showed him the picture I got on the internet of what it looked like.

"You eat junk food like that?" He asked indecorously while looking at my smartphone for the photo reference.

"Yes. When I don't have time to cook a proper meal. It saves a lot of time just throw some water and add the seasoning, wait for a few minutes, and then voila, all done."

He shook his head in disgust. Instead of feeling irritated, I was rather amused at the expression I saw on his face. I also couldn't miss the way he muttered under his breath. "Americans."

I gave him some cash and watched him approach his fellow night guard probably informing him about his plan to buy me some instant noodles. The man nodded and Vito used the service car parked at the far end of the garage and drove away into the mansion. I sat on the marble stairs on the porch of the mansion and waited for Vito to arrive with my noodles.

I checked my social media while waiting. I added a five-second video clip to my Instagram stories about the softly illuminated garden and the full moon with a sparkling filter plus a caption of late-night thoughts.

Instantly, my followers back in the States reacted to my story even Noah jokingly commented, 'Go to sleep, Pierce' which made me smile.

I didn't know how many minutes had passed when Vito finally came back from his trip. "Thank you so much, Vito!" Taking the bag from his hand. "I owe you one. Do you want some? I'll cook for you."

He shook his head. "No. Thank you."

I smiled at him one last night before I went inside to cook my instant ramen. I didn't waste my time opening one pack of instant ramen once I arrived in the kitchen. I smiled in irony as I put some tap water in a saucepan. Here I was, cooking in the state-of-the-art kitchen and cooking some instant noodles. I fired up the stove and let the water simmer before adding the noodles.

"So this is what you are up to, huh?"

I shrieked when I heard a voice whispered near my ear. I immediately stepped away as my heart nearly stopped beating. "Santi!" I groaned, trying to recover from my shock. "You scared the hell out of me! What are you doing here?"

"I am supposed to be asking you that. What are you doing here cooking something..." he looked at his wristwatch before looking back at me. "...at midnight?"

"I'm hungry that's why I decided to cook instant ramen. Do you want some?"

He gave me a disgusted look. "I'm a Sicilian and you're offering me instant noodles? Do you know how unhealthy that processed food is?"

I shook my head in amusement. I didn't know that I would get the same reaction from him and Vito. I forgot how Italians love their freshly made noodles on pasta. I shrugged indecently as I continued to boil the water.

"Is that what Vito buys for you?"

My head snapped in his direction. Was he once again spying on me from somewhere? "How did you know that?"

"I saw you talking to him from the balcony of my room while I was out drinking."

I threw a disapproving look at him while I sniffed alcohol coming from his breath. "Aren't you on medication? Why the hell are you drinking booze tonight? What are thinking!?"

"Stop acting like a nagging hen." He reminded me with a groan. "My shoulder and head hurt. I can't sleep."

I glared at him audaciously as I put the instant noodles in the boiling saucepan. "Maybe if you did not drink and take your medicine your shoulder will not hurt so badly now. That's plain stupidity, do you know that?"

He chuckled softly. "Are you reprimanding me for my actions? Did you forget who the boss here is and who is the house guest around here?"

I snorted, not even sparing him a glance. I was busy adding the rest of the seasoning to the saucepan and stirring everything using a fork. "How can I forget when you showed off your James Bond moves while they were ambushing us earlier?" I searched for a large bowl in the kitchen drawer to transfer my spicy ramen. I was slightly annoyed that he just stood there blocking me from searching in the drawer where he stood. "Do you mind?"

He cocked a brow in my direction before stepping aside. I finally found what I was looking for and I transferred my hot instant ramen to the large bowl and started to eat using the fork I used earlier to stir the noodles.

"What?" I asked curiously when I noticed that he was looking at me with disgust on his face. I have an idea of what he was thinking and I decide to annoy him even more. I offered him a forkful of noodles. "Do you want some?"

"You do know that highly processed foods are unhealthy, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "So you keep on saying. Hey, don't knock it off till you try."

I thought that he would ignore my jesting when my mouth parted slightly. He led my wrist that was holding the fork into his mouth and took a bite of the instant noodles he detested. I watched in fascination as the array of emotions crossed his face.

"What do you think?" I asked after a moment.

He gave me an appalled look while coughing a few times. "It's too salty and too spicy. It feels like it's burning my mouth."

I shook my head. What did I expect from him? His palate was too sophisticated for us mere mortals. He was used to eating only the finest quality of indigents and he couldn't understand the struggle of a budget student. "I guess our taste buds are worlds apart."

I let out a shrill sound when I was suddenly lifted off the ground. And I found myself sitting on the countertops. In a swift movement, he managed to haul me to the countertops using his uninjured hand. "What the hell?! You scared the shit of out me!"

He positioned himself between my legs as he was now standing too close to me. "So our taste buds are worlds apart, aren't they?

"Isn't that obvious?"

His eyes gleamed under the soft lights. I was aware of how uneven my heart rate was at this moment. "Did you recall the past now?"

I glared at him brazenly. "Why are you having a hard time believing it? Yes, I do remember that I've known you since I was twelve years old."

His mouth slowly flashed a wolfish smile. I don't think I like that crooked smile on his face right now. He's becoming more handsome than he already was. "Do you remember having an infatuation with me when you were just twelve?"

"No. I don't." I denied it immediately, as I felt my cheeks start to get warm. There's no way in hell that I would admit that I remember having a crush on him so big that I followed him like a stalker when I was barely a teen.

"Ah, that's a pity, then." He said remorsefully but his face tells me otherwise. If I would describe the expression on his face right now it was pure amusement about my denial. I think he was even aware that I was lying.

"Get off me. You are making me uncomfortable, Santi," I stated because I don't trust the way my heart behaves badly.

My breath was caught in my throat when he tucked some loose strands of my hair at the back of my ear. "Have I told you how much you've grown into a beautiful woman, Haven? I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you again in the parking lot of your university. The skinny little girl who wore braces became a stunning woman."

I reminded myself not to believe his words because my silly heart was starting to get swayed. "You're drunk."

"I'm very much sober, sweetheart."

"My ramen is getting cold," I said all of a sudden since I didn't think I liked where our conversation was heading

"That instant food or me?"

I was taken aback by his words. I could feel the butterflies start to flutter their wings on my belly again. Don't tempt me, Santi. I have a weak resolve. I might give in to your flirtation. "Why are you promiscuous tonight?"

"Am I?"

"You know that you are..." I answered a little breathlessly because his face was only inches away from mine.

"Haven?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm in pain," he said, giving me a playful smirk.

It was hard to think of anything when he was this close to me. My poor brain was barely functioning. "W-What do you want me to do? Just go to bed and sleep."

He rested his head on the crook of my neck. "This is a nice place to rest."

I would not be surprised if he could hear my loud heartbeat. "W-What do you think you're doing?" I was to push him when I remembered that his other shoulder was injured.

For what it seems like an eternity he finally lifted his head and stared at me with blazing eyes. I knew that I should push him away before I lost my sanity altogether. I watched as he started to dip his head and was ready to claim my lips. I looked away but he gently lifted my chin using his injured hand and forced me to meet his gaze. "I want to kiss you, will you let me?"

My mind was saying 'no' but my heart said otherwise. I knew part of me thought this was a bad idea but a huge part of me was craving it more than the food I decided to cook at midnight.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked in a dangerously low voice that made me shiver down my spine.

"Yes..."

As soon as I uttered my answer he claimed my mouth in a passionate kiss that made my knees feel weak. To hell with the consequence of this recklessness, for now, I would gladly surrender to the temptation he was offering me.