Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle

Outside, the last daylight had gone gray against the windows.

Arianne didn’t rush. She crossed to the couch and sat, one leg over the other. Her breathing was even. Too even.

Franz was already there, one hand resting along the back of the couch. His posture said relaxed. His eyes said otherwise. He was watching the hallway.

Footsteps came. Light, uneven. Lily appeared first, half-running, half-skipping, her hair coming loose. She slowed when she saw them both already seated. Her pace faltered. She looked at the dark TV, then at Arianne, then at Franz. She didn’t ask. She just climbed onto the couch, tucking one leg under herself, pressing close to Arianne’s side.

Leo followed slower. He stopped at the edge of the rug. His tablet hung at his side, his fingers curled tighter around it than usual. His eyes moved between Arianne and Franz. Not asking yet. Just bracing.

Arianne let the silence sit. Long enough for Lily to stop fidgeting. Long enough for Leo’s shoulders to go tight.

"Come here," she said.

Lily was already there. Leo moved like he was walking through water. He sat at the edge of the couch, tablet on his lap, body angled away slightly.

Franz shifted to give them space. His arm stayed behind Arianne. Not touching. Close enough that she could feel the warmth. She didn’t lean into it. She didn’t pull away.

"We need to talk about next week," Arianne said.

Lily straightened. Leo didn’t.

Arianne’s gaze went to him first. "I’ll be leaving for a few days."

Leo’s fingers tightened on the tablet. The edge bent under his grip. He didn’t look up. His jaw moved—a small clench, then release. He typed. Slower than usual. His fingers paused once, then again. He turned the screen toward her without lifting his head.

How many days?

Arianne leaned forward to read it. Her hand stayed flat on her knee. The pressure increased. "A few. Not long."

Leo didn’t respond. His shoulders stayed tight. His chin lowered. He was holding his breath. She could see it in the way his chest didn’t move.

Lily moved closer to him, her shoulder pressing into his arm. "She comes back," Lily said, softer now. "She always comes back."

Leo’s jaw moved. Not a nod. Not agreement. Just movement.

His fingers moved again.

You said that before.

The words sat there. Not accusing. But not letting go either.

Arianne’s throat moved. She swallowed once. Her hand left her knee and pressed flat against the couch cushion—steadying herself. "I did."

She didn’t add anything. Didn’t explain. Didn’t soften it.

Leo’s fingers hovered over the screen. Then dropped. The tablet lowered against his lap. His grip loosened just enough to show the tension rather than hide it. His eyes were wet. Not crying. Just wet. He blinked hard.

Franz leaned forward. His forearms rested against his knees. He brought himself closer to Leo’s level without crowding him. "She comes back," Franz said. "And I’ll be here."

Leo glanced at him. Quick. Then back down. His breathing was shallow—small hitches every few seconds.

Franz didn’t push. He just stayed there.

The silence stretched. Leo’s tablet screen dimmed, then lit again. He typed faster. More certain.

I won’t make trouble.

He turned the tablet toward Franz.

Franz looked at it. Then at him. "You don’t have to promise that. You’re not trouble."

Leo shook his head once. Small. Firm.

I will help.

Franz exhaled. The tension at the edge of his expression eased. "Then help. Stay with me. We’ll manage it."

Leo gave a small nod. Not big. But enough. He didn’t look up when he nodded. His eyes stayed on the tablet screen, still lit with the words he’d typed. I will help.

Arianne watched him. Her hand, still flat on the cushion, curled into a loose fist. Then relaxed. She didn’t speak.

Lily leaned forward suddenly, her energy snapping in a different direction.

"I’ll practice piano," she said quickly. "Every day. Even the boring parts. I won’t skip anything."

Arianne’s gaze moved to her. "You don’t skip them now."

Lily hesitated. Her hands twisted in her lap. "...sometimes I do."

Franz let out a breath that almost turned into a laugh. He stopped it before it finished. Arianne’s mouth didn’t move.

"Then don’t," she said.

Lily nodded immediately. Her posture straightened. "I won’t. I’ll do all of it. Even the long ones."

Arianne watched them both for a moment. Not what they said. How they held themselves after saying it. Leo’s shoulders hadn’t fully relaxed. Lily was speaking faster than usual. They understood. They just didn’t like it.

Arianne let the silence sit for another beat. Then she leaned back.

"My birthday is in three weeks."

Lily blinked. "Wait—really?"

Arianne nodded. "Yes."

Leo looked up this time.

"And we’re going somewhere," Arianne added.

Lily’s entire posture shifted. Her body leaned forward. "Where? Like... far?"

"Far enough."

"Not just here?"

"Not just here."

Lily turned to Leo so fast she nearly knocked his tablet sideways. "We’re going on a trip. A real one."

Leo stared at her. Then down at the tablet. Then back at Arianne. His fingers moved quickly.

Where?

Arianne glanced at Franz before answering. "Somewhere with snow. Before it melts."

Lily gasped. "Snow? Like mountains? Like the ones in pictures?"

"Yes."

"And we can touch it?"

"Yes."

"And throw it?"

Arianne paused. Her mouth curved. Just a little. "...within reason."

Lily nodded quickly. "Yes. Reasonable throwing. We can play with snow!"

Franz’s shoulder moved against the couch as he adjusted. His gaze moved between them. Arianne didn’t look at him. But she felt his attention. A small warmth at the back of her neck.

"And if the weather holds," Arianne added, "we might see the northern lights."

Lily’s hands flew to her mouth. Her entire body bounced where she sat. "The sky lights? The green ones? And purple? And moving?"

"Yes."

Leo’s tablet lit again.

Can we stay up late?

Franz leaned forward. His tone changed. Softer. "If we go, we stay up as long as it takes."

Leo’s shoulders dropped. Not completely. But enough.

Lily was already moving again, her thoughts spilling. "We need boots. And coats. And maybe two coats. And hot chocolate. Do we bring it or get it there? And—"

"Lily."

She stopped. "...yes?"

Arianne’s gaze held steady. "We haven’t left yet."

Lily nodded immediately. "Right. But we will."

Franz leaned closer to Arianne. His shoulder pressed into hers. His voice lowered so only she could hear. "I can make time. Just tell me when."

Arianne turned her head toward him. His face was close. She could see the stubble on his jaw. Her breath caught. She didn’t let it show. "I’ll confirm before I leave."

Franz nodded. "I’ll arrange everything else."

He didn’t move away. His arm was still behind her on the couch. His fingers brushed the back of her neck—just a touch, just there for a second. Her skin warmed. She didn’t pull back. She didn’t lean in. She stayed exactly where she was.

Franz moved his attention back to the twins. "If we’re doing this, I’ll need help."

Lily sat up straighter. "With what?"

"Planning. What we bring. What we don’t forget."

Lily’s eyes widened. "We’re in charge?"

"Part of it."

She nodded quickly. "Yes. We can do that. We’re good at that."

Leo typed again.

I check everything.

Franz looked at him. "Then you check everything."

Leo nodded. A small, real nod. His shoulders dropped another inch.

The room changed. Not completely. But enough. The weight lifted—not gone, just shifted.

Arianne leaned back into the couch. Her shoulder brushed against Franz’s arm. He didn’t move away. Neither did she.

"Thank you," Franz said quietly. His breath moved her hair.

Arianne didn’t look at him. "For what?"

Franz’s gaze stayed on the twins. Lily was already making plans out loud, most of them impossible. Leo was correcting her through the tablet, slower, more precise. "I wouldn’t have thought of that. Not like that."

Arianne followed his line of sight. "They just need something to hold onto."

Franz nodded. "They have it now."

Arianne didn’t answer. Her gaze stayed on them. Lily was gesturing with both hands, describing a snow fort that defied physics. Leo was typing corrections she could see him deleting before sending. Softer than his first instinct.

Franz’s hand moved. Not to the couch. To her waist. He pulled her gently—just a few inches—until her side pressed against his. His arm wrapped around her. Solid. Warm. She could feel his heartbeat through his shirt. Steady.

She didn’t pull away. She didn’t lean into him either. She just let herself be there. Her hand rested on his forearm. Not gripping. Just resting. Her pulse was loud in her ears. She didn’t know if he could feel it.

"This is good," Franz said. Not a question. Just a fact.

Arianne’s throat moved again. She didn’t answer. She watched the twins.

Lily didn’t notice. Leo did. He glanced at them—a quick look, then back to his tablet. His mouth curved. Just a little.

Arianne saw it. Her chest tightened. She didn’t let it show.

She stayed where she was. Franz’s arm didn’t move. The twins kept planning. The room was warm.

This was the thing. Not the plans. Not the destination.

This.