Arno stepped into the night air. Her stardust-blue gown rippled behind her, but the shimmer felt too heavy now - like carrying the echo of a moment she didn't know how to feel about. Was I too harsh just now? She asked herself.
Unbeknownst to her, a sleek obsidian-black Maybach stood across the street, its tinted windows dark, gloomy, ghost-like and silent.
Hummmm...a low mechanical purr, and the back window rolled down smoothly.
Inside, a woman sat like a midnight secret.
Dark red lips, icy brown eyes, and hair so black it seemed woven from shadow. Her gaze tracked Arno's every step with cold precision, the corner of her mouth tilting up slightly.
"…So it's her," she murmured. Interesting!
"Yes," came the male voice from the passenger seat. Crispy and businesslike. "Dr. Arno Theryn Solace. Twenty-six. Unmarried. Adopted daughter of the Solace family. Surgical prodigy. Recent breakup with Auren Ruxin.
The woman slow blink. "And what about Lucien Malric Moreaux?"
"He is high over heels for her," the man replied flatly. "She's the reason he declined the billion dollar Board's invitation last week. She's the reason he was seen smiling again. The files suggest emotional volatility. Attachment forming." No men can resist a beauty. You've to snatch your chance. Or who knows may be he is just attracted to her for her beauty. In other word she is na match for him.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Fascinating."
Arno disappeared around the corner. The cab door opened and shut with a muted click.
The Maybach window hummed shut secretly.
"Follow her, discreetly. No interference yet," the woman ordered. "I want to know who she really is."
"No need, the male voice spoke. There you will get all the times to know her. You'll start working in the same hospital with her in two days.
Meanwhile…
Arno reached her apartment, a little breathless. The whole ride had been quiet. The driver was respectful. And the city lights blurred past too fast, and her own reflection in the window had stared back, with an unreadable expression.
Now, inside her sanctuary, she kicked off her heels, padded barefoot to the sofa, and curled up like a question mark.
The silence welcomed her back like a childhood lullaby. Her eyes were tired, but her mind refused to rest.
Lucien Moreaux, the elusive billionaire, the man who seemed carved from steel and sunlight—just asked me to be his girlfriend…!
She touched her chest. Her heartbeat wasn't racing. It was fluttering. Confused and conflicted.
This wasn't supposed to happen, she thought. Our worlds are too different from each other. He knew. He knew what Auren did to me, what I was going through. So why- how he could propose to me now?
She bit her bottom lip.
Was it because he liked her? Or was it the thrill? The challenge? The possibility of being the savior to a woman just broken?
No, she thought. He didn't feel like that. He wasn't pushy. He… he looked nervous.
Like he was genuinely afraid of losing her. She closed her eyes, pulling the sofa blanket over her shoulders.
Maybe he was just… too sincere too soon. But sincerity doesn't erase pain. And timing doesn't care about good intentions.
"Is it really that hard to find just one good friend?" she whispered, her voice brittle. And then the pain came crawling back, slow, heavy, relentless.
"Did I do something so awful in a past life, God? Is that why I'm being punished with pain like this?" Losing her parents so young hadn't been enough, apparently. The world still found new ways to hurt her.
Her eyes welled up before she could stop it. A sob broke from her throat, sharp and aching. "Why?" she asked, voice cracking— As if anyone was listening. As if she even expected an answer.
She needs time. To breathe. It's okay Arno. Let's not focus on men anymore. From today on, all I'll care about is my career and the wellbeing of my life. Yes, that's it, she muttered.
To know that she wasn't just being cast into another fairytale that ends in betrayal.
---
Elsewhere…
I sat alone at the top-floor restaurant. The wind outside whispered through the glass dome, stars blinking faintly, mocking him with their indifferent beauty.
Pokolo did a celebratory dance with her tiny feet, flaming aura, and all. But I couldn't hear it anymore.
I touched the sunflower she left behind. Or rather, the one she didn't take.
Her rejection wasn't cruel. It was protective. Still, the words burned and so does his heart.
["I thought you were different, Lucien…"]
Maybe I wasn't. Or maybe I was. Maybe I'd just been too hopeful for own good. Even though I knew what was coming, still, It hurt me more than I imagined!
Either way, tonight had changed something, In me. And maybe… in her, In our story. Why was I even expecting a fairytale ending? Was it because I came from a different universe and feel lonely in my new life? Or was it because I wanted her in my new life?
Either way, I can't undo the fact I hurt her deeply. I didn't want to scare you. I'm sorry Arno, I murmured. May be it's better to let her go...a sigh escaped my lips. Anyway, the life I'm living now is too dangerous for her.
Ahm... Mr. Moreaux, Ms. Solace had been escorted to her apartment safely. Shan interrupted.
Good. Tell assigned shadow guard to protect her at any cost. I think without my acknowledged I've involved her in my danger den. I ordered Shan looking at the distance city sky. Any news about the last incident? I asked.
Under investigation, President.
Good. Let's go back.
---
In a secure office across the city—
The mysterious woman stood before a glowing screen, Arno's profile photo hovering beside Lucien's masked picture.
She sent a lot of her people to find his full picture but no one was able to get any without the eyes mask.
She sipped her wine. "Let's see how far you're willing to go for love, Mr. Moreaux."
Her nails tapped against the crystal glass rhythmically. A quiet smile touched the woman's lips.
The game had just begun. And I, Cordelia Ruxin is determine to win at any cost. Though I didn't lost any games till now. Hahahaha...she let out a mysterious laugh. Arno, are you ready?
---