The bright ray of light crept into the quiet room through the balcony, casting soft golden beams across the floor.
A calm morning breeze swept past the flowing curtains, brushing gently against his skin.
Caleb's eyes slowly fluttered open.
Last night had been a long night—one of realization, frustration, and complicated truths. Today was the day he had planned to kickstart everything. A new chapter. A bold step forward. But deep down, he knew things were not going to be as easy as he had initially hoped.
"I have to find a way to get closer to her. She's definitely not the type to give me an advantage so easily," he thought, frowning slightly as the ceiling blurred into his view.
That thought had plagued his mind for quite some time now. The system's mission was simple on paper—but in reality, seducing an ice-cold killer who probably saw pleasure as a weakness was an uphill battle. Worse, she was always on edge, constantly looking over her shoulder. He had no idea how many assassins or threats she had dodged in the past few years. But if even she was rattled, then whoever was after her now wasn't ordinary.
Time wasn't on his side.
He was in a race—not just to survive or seduce Naya, but to catch up with his siblings and earn a place in the competition. That meant he needed to win Naya over. Fast.
He had barely seven days. Seven days before she was either dead or thrown into the True Dream for three whole days. The system didn't cut him any slack either—it gave him only three days to seduce her.
Three days.
How in the world was he supposed to achieve that with someone like Naya?
Caleb let out a sigh and ran both hands through his tousled hair. The weight of the mission sat heavily on his shoulders.
"Such a hassle... Tsk."
Ring.
His head turned instinctively. His phone buzzed on the nightstand, screen lit up with an unknown caller ID.
"Who would it be?" he muttered under his breath.
For a moment, he stared at the number, uncertain. Then he exhaled, picked up the phone, and pressed it to his ear.
"Hello, who—"
"Caleb. I need you to meet me at Greg's Hotel. Right now," a voice cut in sharply. Cold. Commanding. Final.
There was no room for argument.
Before he could even reply, the call ended.
Caleb blinked, stunned. That voice—it was her. Naya. No doubt. He couldn't mistake it, not after last night.
Despite the steel in her tone—something he'd come to accept as her default—he could detect something else.
She was... anxious. Tense.
'What happened?' he wondered, his thumb lingering on the call log.
There wasn't time to hesitate. He threw on some clothes, grabbed his keys, and stepped out of the mini-mansion without looking back.
Herald, as always, was already awake. The old man was humming as he tidied the entryway.
"Herald, hand me the keys. Take care of the house. I'll be back soon," Caleb said briskly as he approached.
Herald looked up, eyes narrowing with concern. "Sir Caleb? Are you sure you don't want me to drive?"
He had never seen the young man take the wheel himself. And it worried him.
"Don't worry about me," Caleb replied, offering a faint smile as he took the keys.
He made his way to the garage, opened the door, and slid into the driver's seat. The moment the key turned, the engine roared to life.
No time to waste.
Tires screeched softly as he pulled out, Herald watching from the steps, a faint frown etched on his face.
"He's really becoming more independent... Could it be he's planning to join his siblings?" the old man murmured, eyes following the car as it disappeared.
The streets blurred past in a blend of muted colors and speed. Caleb kept his eyes focused, the hotel address pinned to the car's navigation.
It didn't take long before he reached the destination. But what he saw left a strange feeling in his gut.
This place... wasn't what he expected.
It wasn't a lavish, high-end hotel with mirrored walls, marble staircases, and crystal chandeliers. Instead, it was modest. Quiet. Hidden.
Polished marble floors greeted him as he stepped in. The walls were thick concrete, cool to the touch. The air conditioning hummed softly, blending with the subtle breeze from the open ventilation.
Artistic paintings adorned the walls, giving the place a sense of identity—unique, refined, but understated.
Not too extravagant, not too shabby. Just... in-between.
"Welcome, sir," a receptionist greeted with a warm, practiced smile.
Caleb returned the smile politely as he walked in. But his mind raced.
'She didn't tell me where to meet.'
Realizing the oversight, he doubled back to the front desk.
Another receptionist sat there, this one younger, with sharp eyes and a smile that looked a little too trained.
"Good day, sir. What can we help you with?" she asked sweetly.
Caleb hesitated.
He glanced around, unsure if he should mention Naya's name. She was a known figure—probably not someone who would want attention.
That should've been the entire reason of her coming to such a hotel in the first place.
The silence stretched. Her polite smile began to fade.
'What's this guy's deal?' she thought, trying to keep her expression in check. 'Does he expect me to stand here smiling all day?'
Her patience wore thin.
Caleb had rushed out in casual wear—no suit, no flashy jewelry—and she hadn't seen him park his Lamborghini outside.
To her, he looked like just another lost wanderer. Maybe one with false confidence.
She was about to open her mouth to cut him down when Caleb finally spoke.
"Sorry, I'm looking for Miss Naya Lucy."
The smile on her face shattered.
In its place? Contempt.
Her eyes narrowed, lips curling.
She looked at him, disdain and disgust clear in her gaze.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
The air grew heavier in an instant.
And Caleb realized—this day was going to be far more complicated than he imagined.
------+
A/N
[Hey everyone!
I noticed there hasn't been much feedback since my last chapter update, but I'm still here and moving forward!
I just wanted to drop the official Discord server link — feel free to join, hang out, share thoughts, or just vibe with other readers:
https://discord.gg/nk72mufxpw
Hope to see you there!]
---