Extra's Rise: I Stole All The Women In The Hero's Party-Chapter 26: Hero For The Night

This would usually be the point where he'd be surprised that her peaks were touching him.

But right now, he couldn't even find the heart to pay mind to it.

Most of his time in this world had been spent fighting, training, or teasing his companions — but this was different.

The way she clung to him, fingers grasping at his clothes, the way her body shook with silent sobs... it reminded him of something fragile.

Something that had been moments away from breaking.

And now, she was here, crying into his chest.

Slowly, hesitantly, he raised a hand and rested it on the back of her head, fingers threading through her soft hair.

"It's okay," he murmured, his voice quieter than he expected. "You're safe now."

Her sobs only grew stronger.

"They wouldn't listen," she choked out. "I kept telling them — I kept telling them — that I wasn't a prostitute, but they wouldn't believe me. They just kept laughing. Kept touching me. I — "

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She shuddered violently, her fingers tightening around his shirt.

Zayn's jaw clenched.

He had already beaten the bastards to a pulp, but hearing her say that — he wished he had hit them harder.

"Those guys," he said after a moment, his tone low and edged with something dangerous, "they won't be bothering you again."

She pulled away slightly, just enough to look up at him.

Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but despite that, he had to admit — she was pretty.

No, not just pretty.

She had this delicate beauty to her, like a porcelain doll that had been dropped one too many times yet still held itself together.

A small, shaky laugh escaped her lips. "You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"

Zayn smirked. "I don't do comforting lies."

She blinked, then laughed again — this time, it sounded more real.

She wiped at her eyes, sniffling. "Thank you."

Zayn shrugged. "Don't mention it."

"No," she insisted, looking at him seriously. "I mean it. If you hadn't shown up..."

She trailed off, her expression darkening for a second before she shook her head. "I don't even want to think about what could've happened."

Zayn studied her for a moment before exhaling. "What's your name?"

She hesitated. "...Evelyn."

He nodded. "Evelyn, huh? Well, Evelyn, you should probably head back before someone else tries something stupid."

She bit her lip, her gaze flickering to the unconscious men on the ground. "...I don't feel safe walking alone."

Zayn sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, where do you live?"

Her fingers twisted into the fabric of her dress. "House Rose."

His eyebrows raised slightly. "House Rose? Fancy."

Evelyn must've seen the look on his face because she quickly clarified, "I don't work as a courtesan — I just help run the establishment at night. Bookkeeping, managing schedules, things like that."

Zayn nodded. "Got it."

She shifted on her feet, looking embarrassed. "Most people assume otherwise..."

Zayn smirked. "Most people are idiots."

That got another soft laugh out of her.

He stood up, offering a hand. "C'mon. I'll walk you there."

She hesitated only for a second before taking it.

The streets were quieter now, with only a few stragglers wandering around.

The neon lights of the red-light district still glowed vibrantly, casting colorful reflections on the cobblestone paths, but the lively energy from earlier had died down.

Zayn walked beside Evelyn, hands in his pockets, while she clung to her arms as if trying to make herself smaller.

"...So," he said after a moment, "what made you want to work in the red-light district?"

She let out a breath. "It wasn't really a choice. House Rose took me in when I had nowhere else to go. They gave me a place to stay, food, protection... In exchange, I help out where I can."

Zayn frowned. "No family?"

She shook her head. "Not anymore."

He didn't push further.

They walked in silence for a while before she suddenly spoke.

"...You're different."

Zayn raised an eyebrow. "That so?"

She nodded. "Most men who come here don't really care about the women. They just see us as entertainment. You..."

She paused, then smiled softly. "You actually helped me. You didn't have to."

Zayn exhaled. "Yeah, well. Can't just let bastards like that do whatever they want."

Evelyn's smile lingered. "Still... thank you."

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of House Rose.

The building was grand, decorated with elegant roses carved into the wooden doors.

A few guards stood outside, eyeing Zayn warily as he approached with Evelyn.

She turned to him. "I'll be safe from here."

Zayn nodded. "Good."

Evelyn hesitated, then, before he could react, she leaned in and pressed a quick, fleeting kiss to his cheek.

His brain stalled.

"...What was that for?" he asked, blinking.

She smiled, stepping back toward the entrance. "For being my hero tonight."