The morning light crept through the curtains, soft and warm against Rina's face. She blinked slowly, still holding the note close like it was the only thing keeping her together. For a moment, the silence felt peaceful. No noise, no confusion, no fear. Just her heartbeat and the faint smell of coffee that still lingered in the air from last night.
She sat up, letting the blanket slide off her shoulders. The apartment felt bigger without him there, but somehow his presence still lingered. His jacket on the chair, his mug by the sink, and his handwriting on that small piece of paper You're stronger than you think.
Her lips curved a little. Maybe Alex was right. Maybe she really was stronger than she ever gave herself credit for.
After a quick shower, she got dressed and grabbed her bag. The city was already alive when she stepped outside cars honking, people rushing, the smell of roasted corn and fresh bread mixing in the air. She loved mornings like this, when everything seemed possible and nothing hurt too much yet.
By the time she reached work, she had almost convinced herself she was fine. She smiled at the receptionist, greeted a few coworkers, and took her place at her desk. But the second she saw his name flash across her phone Alex her heart skipped.
Hey. You left your notebook here. Want me to bring it?
She read the message twice before replying, No, it's okay. I'll come by later.
He replied almost instantly. Cool. I'll be around.
That was Alex. Short, easy, never too much. But somehow, it was exactly what she needed.
The day went on slowly. Between meetings, calls, and coffee breaks, her mind kept drifting back to him. The way he had looked at her last night not like she was broken, but like he saw something worth saving. That was new for her.
Around lunch, she finally stepped out for some air. The café downstairs was half full, quiet enough for her to think. She ordered a latte and stared out the window while waiting.
"Didn't expect to see you here again so soon," a voice said behind her.
She turned, and there he was. Alex. Casual, jeans, simple white tee, that same calm smile that made her stomach twist a little.
"I could say the same," she said softly.
He took the seat opposite her without asking. "I was just passing by. Thought maybe you'd be here."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're either really good at guessing or slightly stalking."
He laughed quietly. "Guess I'm both."
Something in his tone made her relax. It wasn't awkward like she feared it would be. It was just… easy.
"You look better," he said, leaning back.
"I feel better," she admitted, surprising herself with how true it sounded. "I actually slept."
"That's progress."
"Yeah," she smiled. "Thanks to someone who left notes and blankets."
He shrugged like it was nothing, but his eyes softened. "Couldn't just leave you like that."
Silence settled for a moment, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Just quiet understanding between two people who'd both seen enough nights like the one before.
After a while, he leaned forward. "So, what's next for you? You got plans after work?"
"Laundry, maybe. Or I'll just crash early. It's been a week."
He nodded, pretending to think. "Or maybe you could come by later. Pick up your notebook. Maybe stay for dinner. Nothing fancy."
Rina hesitated. It sounded simple, but nothing with Alex ever felt that simple anymore. "I don't know if that's a good idea."
"It doesn't have to mean anything," he said softly. "Just dinner. Two tired people eating food and pretending life's not that complicated."
She let out a small laugh. "You make it sound easy."
"It can be," he said, his eyes holding hers. "If we let it."
She didn't answer right away. The thought of being around him again both scared and comforted her. He'd seen her at her weakest, and yet he never looked away. Maybe that was what made her trust him.
"Alright," she finally said. "Dinner."
"Seven?"
"Seven," she nodded.
When he stood to leave, he placed his hand briefly on her shoulder light, but steady enough to send a rush through her chest. Then he walked out, leaving her sitting there, pretending her heart wasn't racing.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. She tried to focus on work, but her mind was somewhere else entirely. By the time the clock hit six, she was already halfway to his apartment.
She stood at his door for a few seconds before knocking. It opened almost immediately.
"Hey," he said, smiling that same easy smile.
"Hey," she replied, suddenly aware of how nervous she was.
He stepped aside to let her in. The place looked the same neat, simple, a little too quiet. A pot simmered on the stove. Something smelled like garlic and herbs.
"You cook now?" she teased.
"I try," he said. "No promises though."
She chuckled and dropped her bag on the couch. "I'll risk it."
While he stirred the food, she wandered around, touching little things that reminded her of how much time they used to spend here. The plant by the window. The half-burned candle. The photo frame turned face down on the shelf she noticed that but didn't ask.
Dinner was simple, like he promised — pasta, a bottle of cheap wine, and a quiet comfort that filled the space between them.
After eating, they sat by the window. City lights shimmered in the distance.
"It's weird," she said softly. "Being here again."
"I know," he said. "But maybe weird isn't always bad."
She looked at him then. Really looked. And for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel like she was running from herself.
Maybe she was exactly where she needed to be.
He handed her another note before she left that night. No words this time, just a small drawing two hands, holding on.
She smiled, knowing she'd read it over and over again later, just to feel something that wasn't fear.
Rina came home late that night, the city lights still fresh in her eyes. She slipped out of her shoes and walked quietly into the living room. Luis was sitting on the couch, his laptop open, papers spread everywhere. He looked up when he heard her steps.
"You're late," he said, closing his laptop halfway.
"Yeah, I had to stop by Alex's to pick something up," she said, placing her bag on the chair.
Luis nodded slowly. "I see. Something important?"
"My notebook," she said.
He gave a short laugh. "You could've told me you'd be out that long. I ordered food for two."
"Sorry," she said softly, sitting beside him. "I didn't think it'd take that long."
For a moment, silence filled the space between them. The TV flickered with low light, showing a random movie neither of them was watching.
"You okay?" he asked, his tone softer now.
She nodded. "Just tired."
Luis leaned back, looking at her. "You've been off lately. I can feel it. Work? Family? Or something else?"
"Maybe everything," she said, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It's just been a long week."
He studied her for a while, then sighed. "I know I'm not Alex, but you can talk to me too, you know."
That caught her off guard. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing," he said quickly. "Just that… sometimes you act like I'm only here for the serious stuff. But I'm here for the quiet parts too."
Rina looked down at her hands. "It's not like that, Luis."
"Then what is it like?" he asked gently.
She hesitated, unsure of how to explain something she barely understood herself. "You're the one who keeps everything steady. When everything else feels like chaos, you just… stay."
Luis smiled faintly. "That's what I do best."
They both laughed quietly, and some of the tension eased.
He stood up and went to the kitchen. "You hungry? There's still some rice and stew left."
"Sure," she said.
He reheated the food while she leaned against the counter, watching him move around. He wasn't graceful like Alex, but there was something safe about the way he handled small things the way he stirred, the way he tasted the sauce, the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention.
"You've been working too much," he said. "You need to take a break before you burn out."
"I'll be fine," she said.
"That's what you always say."
He served her a plate and slid it toward her. "Eat."
She took a bite, and her face softened. "Still good."
He smiled. "Of course. I made it."
For a while, they ate in silence, the sound of spoons and distant cars filling the space.
After dinner, she helped him clean up. They worked side by side, their movements syncing without effort. When the dishes were done, she leaned against the counter again.
"Do you ever think we're just pretending everything's fine?" she asked quietly.
Luis turned, resting his hands on the edge of the sink. "All the time. But pretending helps until it's real."
She looked at him, surprised by how honest that sounded. "And when it doesn't become real?"
"Then we keep pretending until it does," he said, smiling a little.
That made her laugh softly. "You're ridiculous."
"But it made you laugh," he said.
They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. It wasn't romantic, but it was something — a quiet understanding that words couldn't reach.
Later, when she was about to head upstairs, he called out, "Rina."
She turned. "Yeah?"
"Whatever it is you're running from, you don't have to do it alone."
She nodded slowly. "I know."
He smiled. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Luis."
In her room, she sat on the bed, letting the stillness wrap around her. She pulled out the little note Alex had given her earlier and stared at it the drawing of two hands holding on.
For the first time, she didn't know which one she was. The one reaching out, or the one refusing to let go.
She folded it neatly and kept it inside her drawer. Then she lay down, staring at the ceiling, wondering how everything could feel both safe and uncertain at the same time.
Outside, the city buzzed quietly, and the world went on like nothing had changed. But inside her, something was shifting something small, quiet, but real.
And deep down, she knew tomorrow would bring something she wasn't ready for.
The next morning, sunlight slipped through the curtains, lighting up the quiet house. Rina stretched lazily in bed before slipping into her silky nightgown, the one Luis couldn't seem to ignore. She tied her hair up loosely, then walked downstairs, her bare feet soft on the marble floor. A diamond leg chain glimmered around her right leg, catching the morning light, and when she bent slightly, her diamond waist chain came into view — delicate and dangerous at the same time.
Luis was already in the kitchen, sipping coffee. His eyes lifted the moment he saw her, and for a second, he forgot how to breathe. Her skin glowed in the morning light, the soft fabric clinging perfectly to her body.
"Morning," she said, walking past him to grab a strawberry from the counter.
Luis blinked, clearing his throat. "Morning."
She bit into the fruit slowly, the sweet juice painting her lips. Luis tried to look away but failed miserably. His thoughts scattered; her presence filled every corner of the room.
"You're staring," she said without looking at him.
He quickly looked down. "I wasn't."
"You were," she replied simply, her tone teasing but calm.
He chuckled quietly. "Maybe a little."
She smiled faintly and held up another strawberry. "Want one?"
He hesitated, then nodded. She stepped closer, her eyes steady on his, and leaned forward to put the fruit in his mouth. Their faces were close, close enough that he could feel her breath — warm, soft, intoxicating.
He swallowed the fruit but didn't move away. Something in the air shifted, heavy and quiet.
"Luis," she said softly, uncertain now.
And then he kissed her.
It was deep, slow, and unexpected, like something he'd been fighting for too long. His hand found her cheek, drawing her closer, tasting strawberries and something he didn't understand.
But her body stiffened halfway through. The taste turned bitter. Her mind flashed with Alex's smile, his touch, his kindness. Then another image — Luis in her past life, his betrayal, the pain that broke her.
She pushed him back suddenly, breathing fast.
Luis froze, regret flashing through his eyes. "Rina, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
Before he could finish, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"What is going on here?"
Bianca stood by the door, her robe barely tied, eyes wide and full of fury.
"Bianca, she's my wife. Do I need to explain anything to you? I only explain to her, not you," Luis said, his tone firm.
Bianca's mouth fell open. "Your wife? You were kissing her like that right in front of me?"
Rina folded her arms, calm but cold. "You walked in uninvited. This is my home, remember?"
Bianca's eyes burned with jealousy. "You think I don't see what you're doing? You're trying to take him away—"
"Take him away?" Rina interrupted with a small, cruel smile. "He was never yours to begin with."
Luis stepped between them, his voice low. "Bianca, enough. You're crossing a line."
Bianca looked at him like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're defending her now?"
"I'm reminding you of your place," he said, his tone cold. "Go to your room. We'll talk later."
Bianca's eyes filled with tears, but Rina saw through it — the fake innocence, the manipulation she'd once fallen for.
Rina turned away, her voice soft but cutting. "Don't cry, Bianca. It doesn't suit you."
Bianca stormed off, slamming the door behind her.
The silence that followed was thick, almost heavy. Rina leaned on the counter, her fingers tracing the edge. Luis exhaled deeply and looked at her.
"You didn't have to be so harsh," he said quietly.
"Neither did you," she replied. "But I guess we're both learning."
He moved closer, his steps slow. "You hate me, don't you?"
Rina replyed you know
Then she walked out to her room upset
Rina stood by the mirror, fixing the final touch of her soft blue gown. It hugged her in all the right places, simple yet dangerously elegant. The slit ran high enough to draw attention but not scandal. Her heels matched perfectly, the kind that announced power with every click.
She tied her hair into a sleek ponytail, one that swung gracefully when she moved, and applied a final stroke of black lipstick. The reflection that stared back wasn't the same woman from before — it was someone reborn, unbothered, untouchable.
Luis had already left earlier for a meeting. The house was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. She grabbed her bag and walked out, her perfume trailing behind her like a silent reminder she existed.
The driver opened the door, and as she stepped out into the bright morning sun, she didn't notice the group of reporters hidden by the cars across the street.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The sound of cameras followed her every move as she walked toward her car. Her back glistened under the sun, the curve of her neck, the elegant posture, the blue gown swaying around her legs like a whisper of temptation.
By the time she reached her company, the image had already spread.
At first, it was one post on social media — Who is the woman in the blue dress? — then hundreds more followed.
#BlueDressMystery started trending within an hour.
The photo was perfect. Her face wasn't visible, just her back — graceful, confident, powerful. The world was curious. Reporters speculated she was a celebrity, a hidden heiress, maybe even the rumored owner of R Empire.
At the company, Rina walked into the elevator, calm and collected. The staff bowed politely as she passed. Her presence commanded silence without words.
Inside her office, her assistant rushed in breathlessly. "Miss Rina, you're all over the internet. Everyone's talking about you."
Rina raised her brow slightly, taking the tablet from her assistant. The picture filled the screen — her back in that blue gown, the one she had chosen without a second thought. The angle was perfect. Her diamond leg chain peeked from the slit. Her hair glowed under the sunlight.
Her lips curved. "They didn't even see my face," she said quietly.
The assistant laughed nervously. "It's causing a storm. Reporters are at the gate asking for interviews. Everyone wants to know who the mystery woman is."
Rina placed the tablet down. "Let them wonder."
Luis was sitting in his office across the city when his phone buzzed nonstop. At first, he ignored it, but when his assistant called, sounding half-panicked, he frowned and opened the message.
The image appeared on his screen.
His eyes widened. The gown. The curve of her shoulders. The ponytail.
He leaned back slowly in his chair, a strange feeling twisting in his chest. He knew that walk. He knew that figure.
"Rina," he muttered under his breath.
Bianca, sitting opposite him, noticed the change in his face. "What is it?"
"Nothing," he said quickly, locking his phone. But his mind wasn't quiet.
By evening, the entire city was talking about the mysterious woman. Investors were even joking that she must be the hidden force behind R Empire's rise. Fashion brands wanted her to model for them. Gossip sites claimed she was the reason Luis had been distracted at work.
Rina returned home that night to see her image playing on TV screens. She walked past without stopping, pouring herself a glass of red wine.
The news anchor's voice echoed softly. The woman in the blue dress — who is she really?
Rina took a slow sip, her eyes calm.
No one needed to know.
Not yet.
She smiled faintly to herself, the glass reflecting her blue gown under the warm light.
Everything was falling into place — beautifully, quietly, just as she planned.