The office was colder than usual that morning, or maybe it was just her.
Allison sat quietly at her desk, blinking away the heavy fog that had settled behind her eyes. Her tea once soothing now tasted strangely metallic, and a soft, uneasy warmth kept pooling low in her stomach, she thought she needed a bathroom break or it was that time of the month but that wasn't the case. She touched her abdomen briefly.
Odd. There was no discomfort or pain. Just heat.
Her screen swam a little, but she shook her head and focused. Today was too important to let a little dizziness throw her off.
Across from her, Aaron Li leaned slightly over her shoulder. "You okay? You look pale."
She straightened immediately. "I'm fine."
Aaron hesitated, gaze flicking to the subtle tremble in her fingers. "Maybe step out for some air later."
She nodded, avoiding his eyes but not before noticing the look of worry there. It wasn't unwanted and it didn't go unnoticed by her.
From the breakroom doorway, a trio of her female coworkers whispered behind manicured hands. They spoke loudly to her hearing.
"She really thinks just because she works closely with the boss, she's special now?"
"I heard she was given the role of the female lead of the new movie the production team is working on. Some people sleep their way up."
"No way Lucian would ever fall for a girl like that."
The words weren't even hushed. Allison pretended not to hear, even as her stomach twisted. Not from hurt she had outgrown that but from something she couldn't name. Maybe nausea. Or maybe she was just tired.
Maybe it was both.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and went back to her work. But as her fingers hovered over the keyboard, a soft voice echoed inside her head— not her own.
'Don't mind what they say Allison '
---
The world had changed in just a few hours.
Now she stood inside a cathedral-like ballroom, dressed in deep green silk that rippled like forest shadows. A silver mask curved across her face, delicate and sharp. Like the woman she was slowly becoming.
Allison glanced around. The room glittered with chandeliers and mystery. Velvet curtains, swirling gowns, a thousand masks, and laughter that never quite reached their eyes.
She felt both seen and invisible. And maybe that was the point of it all.
"Stunning," someone whispered behind her.
She turned to find Lin Fan, his mask a fox's grin. "Didn't recognize you for a second."
"That's the idea, isn't it?" She rolled her eyes. She was okay with talking to Lin Fan. It was Li Anya who had painted him black.
He smirked. "Still… some things are hard to hide."
Before she could ask, the room hushed. A single note rang from the grand piano. Heads turned. Someone was descending the staircase.
Allison's heart stopped as she looked at this mesmerisng man.
He was in a black velvet suit lined with silver embroidery, walking as if the world itself made way for him. He didn't stop until he stood in front of her.
Her hands went cold.
"What are you—"
He raised one finger to her lips.
"I told you," he said quietly, "I would wait. But only if I could choose the moment you belong to me."
The lights dimmed. A single spotlight found them.
Then he sank to one knee.
The crowd gasped and so did she. Somewhere behind her, a woman cursed in disbelief.
Lucian pulled a diamond ring from his coat, no box, no theatrics. Just the kind of raw certainty that didn't need to be wrapped in velvet box.
"Han Allison," he said, his voice low but clear. "There are thousands here but I only see you. I need the world to know what I already do—"
He took her hand and pressed the ring into her finger.
"You're mine. If you'll have me."
She should have said something right away but the warmth in her chest surged down through her spine and gathered in her belly. Her throat closed up. Her fingers curled around the ring like they were made for it.
And before she could overthink it "Yes," she whispered.
The room exploded in applause. Cameras flashed, champagne flutes clinked. The same coworkers who laughed earlier now stared with wide, silent eyes.
Lucian rose, kissed her knuckles, then leaned close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck.
"You're shaking" he murmured.
"I don't know why, maybe it's the cold" she confessed. Lucian narrowed his eyes, the temperature was completely normal.
But maybe… just maybe…
Something inside him already knew.
The dining table at the Lu Villa was a mess of celebration. Beatrice was laughing with a wine glass tilted halfway to the ceiling, Tianlei wore a party hat that Lucian had given him and Allison—she felt oddly full despite barely eating.
"You didn't touch your rice" Beatrice said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"I wasn't hungry," Allison mumbled, sipping grape juice instead.
"You're pale, you know," Beatrice teased. "When you get pregnant, you better name her after me."
Allison choked. "What?"
"I'm just saying" Beatrice raised her hands. "You've got that… strange behaviour going on for some while now."
Allison rolled her eyes " like mother, like son."
Lucian raised a brow from the sofa. "She's right. You are pale."
" I'm pale because I haven't had enough rest" Allison muttered.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Alexa swept in like a breeze of glitter and sass, dressed in starlight. "You said yes, I knew you would."
Behind her, Yevana entered quietly, tall, elegant as always and watching Allison with unreadable eyes. She smiiled and gave her a nod.
Allison smiled back until she caught Yevana's gaze drop to the untouched wine again.
"You're not drinking?" Yevana asked softly.
"I just didn't feel like it," Allison said quickly, shrugging. "Grape juice is safer around Tianlei."
Yevana didn't press, but her eyes narrowed slightly as if she saw something Allison didn't.
Tianlei tugged on her sleeve. "GrannyYevana, do you know carrots can turn into princesses?"
Yevana laughed. "Can they?"
"Yup! I'm going to name my sister that. Carrot"
"Oh dear" Beatrice groaned. "Still on the carrot thing?"
Alexa winked. "He's preparing for baby names."
Allison held her head in her hands.
Yevana pointed her chopsticks. "You're next, Alexa," she declared. "I want my second grandchild soon"
Allison coughed again, nearly spitting juice across the table.
Alexa rolled her eyes. "Ugh, don't pass your symptoms onto me."
Lucian, casually leaning back with an arm around Allison's chair, murmured, "She won't need to. She's already sharing enough."
Allison glared. "What is that supposed to mean?"
He just smiled.
Yevana watched them both, her eyes narrowing faintly again a flicker of something stirring behind her eyes.