The gift box felt light in his hand, yet it carried a strange weight, a weight that pressed against his chest like an emotion he couldn't name. His fingers tightened around it unconsciously, those same hands that had, only an hour ago, been busy doing something no one would ever imagine Kai Arden doing on the night of his own anniversary.
Because when everyone had been laughing, chatting, and clinking glasses, when Alina had sat quietly among them, a little out of place, her smile polite but not reaching her eyes, Kai had noticed. Of course, he had. He always noticed her, even in a crowded room. The moment she had fidgeted with her fingers and glanced around awkwardly, he'd read her unease like an open book.
And in that instant, the world-famous actor, the untouchable Kai Arden, the man whose very presence commanded awe, had quietly disappeared from the celebration that was meant for him. No one knew where he went. Not Evelyn, not his employees, not even the Ryan who followed him like shadows. He had gone straight to the kitchen.
The air there was thick with the smell of sauces and sizzling meat, the rhythm of clattering pans, and the startled gasps of chefs who froze mid-motion as he walked in. Kai Arden, in his crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, eyes sharp with focus. The head chef blinked as if seeing an illusion.
"Sir, please...what are you doing here? We'll prepare whatever you wish. You shouldn't.."
But Kai wasn't listening. He brushed past them, his movements calm yet deliberate, taking off his watch and placing it neatly on the counter. His fingers, those same hands that held awards, that fans longed to shake, were now rinsing vegetables under running water. He rolled his sleeves higher, droplets trailing down his arms, and began chopping with a precision that left even the seasoned chef speechless.
The kitchen fell silent. Every eye followed him as he moved elegantly, assured, yet grounded in a way no one had ever seen before. His aura filled the space, not the cold, dazzling brilliance of a star, but the quiet warmth of someone who cared. Every slice of the knife, every pinch of spice, was done with a strange tenderness as if he was crafting not just a dish, but a memory.
"Sir, if something's wrong with the food...we'll fix it," the sous-chef stammered. "We can call another—"
Kai shook his head slightly, his tone calm but firm. "No. It's not about the food being wrong," he said, eyes still on the pan. "It's about who it's for."
There was something almost reverent in the way he cooked, his movements precise, graceful. The kitchen lights caught the faint sheen of sweat on his temple as he stirred, tasted, and adjusted. The aroma filled the room, rich and warm, and even the chefs couldn't help but exchange stunned glances.
Because the man before them, the heartthrob of millions, the face on every billboard, looked nothing like a star now. He looked… Softened. Grounded. And yet more commanding than ever.
He plated the dishes himself, carefully arranging each one, his expression unreadable but his eyes carrying a softness no camera had ever captured. The top chef, still in awe, whispered to the person beside him, "He cooks like he's done this all his life."
And when Kai finally wiped his hands, taking one last look at the plates before him, there was a quiet satisfaction in his gaze, not pride, not vanity, but peace.
He didn't say a word when he left the kitchen; he only gave a small nod to the chefs still standing frozen in admiration. The waiters lined up behind him, balancing the dishes he had made, their steps careful, reverent.
And as he walked back toward the table, his sleeves still rolled up, his cuffs unbuttoned, his expression unreadable, there was something magnetic about him.
The aura of Kai Arden wasn't just in his fame or his charm. It was his ability to make a grand restaurant go silent, to turn the most ordinary act into something extraordinary.
Because that night, Kai Arden didn't just cook food. He cooked comfort. He cooked care.
And he cooked the unspoken truth of his heart, one that even Alina hadn't yet realized.
When Kai finally returned to his office, the world outside had gone quiet. The city lights shimmered against the glass walls, and the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner. He sank into his chair, still wearing the same black shirt from the evening, his sleeves slightly creased, his mind wandering back to her sudden disappearance.
His gaze fell on the small gift box lying on the desk, the one Evelyn had handed him on Alina's behalf. For a long moment, he simply looked at it. Then, slowly, he reached out and opened the lid.
Inside lay a simple mirror elegant, round, and gleaming mirror in the soft light. It wasn't extravagant like the expensive gifts that had flooded in from sponsors, fans, and luxury brands. No, this one was personal. Quietly meaningful.
Kai picked it up, his reflection flickering to life on the smooth surface. For some reason, he almost smiled. "A mirror?" he murmured under his breath, his tone half curious, half tender.
But then, he noticed something else, a folded piece of paper resting beneath it. A letter. The faint scent that lingered on it was unmistakably her perfume. Soft, graceful, and calming. He could almost picture her writing it, lost in thought, her hair falling over her shoulder, the ink soaking into the paper as her wrist brushed against it.
He unfolded it carefully. The handwriting was delicate, yet strong, much like her. And as his eyes began to trace the words, the world seemed to still around him.
Kai Arden,
It was a strange situation, wasn't it? The way we first met. Everything between us began with misunderstandings one after another until I could almost convince myself that I disliked you. Maybe I even do.
But life has a way of revealing truths at the right time, doesn't it? And somewhere along the line, the universe must have decided it was time for me to truly see you. Not the "Kai Arden" the world admires, but the man behind the name.
Today, when I observed you and I finally understood something I should have known long ago, that Kai Arden isn't just a name. He's a story. A heartbeat that makes others believe in what they do. A presence that turns ordinary moments into something extraordinary.
Everyone gifted you something magnificent tonight: luxury watches, designer suits, expensive wines… things that glitter and fade. But I didn't want to give you something you could own. I wanted to give you something that reminds you of who you are.
So I thought about it for days. What could suit someone like Kai Arden, the man who has everything? And then it came to me. The only thing that could ever match you... Is you. That's why I chose this mirror.
Because every time you look into it, I want you to see not the celebrity the world adores, not the perfection they expect, but the person you truly are. The one who feels deeply, who inspires silently, who makes people smile without even knowing it.
You don't need gold or diamonds to define your worth, Mr. Arden. You already shine brighter than all of it. So here it is, my gift to you. A mirror.
Because today, I gave Kai Arden… to Kai Arden.
— Alina Carter
By the time he reached the end of the letter, Kai was completely still. His thumb brushed the edge of the page, tracing her name softly as if afraid it might disappear. He exhaled, long and slow, his chest heavy yet warm.
How effortlessly she had said everything… he thought. The words she wrote were words he had carried for so long but could never voice, spilled from her heart so simply, so beautifully.
Each sentence felt like she had reached inside him and pulled out the emotions he'd buried deep. The words he'd never found, she'd written as if she'd always known them.
How could she do that? How could she understand him so well when he barely understood himself? Her letter wasn't just ink on paper; it was her emotions, laid bare. And as he read it, every line felt like it was breathing life into the parts of him he thought were long gone.
He realised that she was the only person who had seen him. Truly saw him. Not the name. Not the fame. Not the man the world cheered for. And in that moment, holding her letter close, he knew no one else ever could understand him just the way she did.
The mirror on his desk caught the reflection of his face, and for the first time in a long while, Kai Arden wasn't looking at the star the world saw. He was looking at the man she saw. And that… felt like the most precious gift he had ever received.
The company building stood in silence, tall, glass, and gleaming under the faint glow of the streetlights. Inside, the echo of Kai's footsteps was the only sound left. Everyone had gone home hours ago. The laughter, the chatter, and the clinking of glasses from the celebration dinner are all gone.
Ryan had insisted on staying back, but Kai had forced him to leave. Now, standing in the stillness of his office, Kai's gaze lingered on the letter again lying on his desk. The only thing she left for him. The one that had turned his world quiet after reading it
Without a second thought, he grabbed his keys and left his steps quick, his pulse uneven.
He didn't know what he was doing; the only thing he knew was that he had to see her.