The morning light crept softly through the pale curtains of Nessa's bedroom, brushing her tangled curls and the faint smell of perfume mixed with alcohol.
She groaned, rolling over and pulling a pillow over her face.
"Oh, God… never again," she muttered.
Her head throbbed like a drum. Every sound was too loud, even the birds outside dared to chirp like they were mocking her, flashes of last night slipped through the fog in her mind
the pounding music, the dancing lights, and him, Louis Ray. The man with the voice that carried confidence like a melody, the kind of man who didn't need to try to be noticed,she remembered laughing at his teasing smirk, tracing his lips love with her fingertips and telling him how curious she was to know how his lips taste, remembering the way her heart had skipped when she grabbed him by his collar and leaned closer, whispering something she couldn't even recall now just that it made her blush like an idiot.
Her fingers brushed her lips absentmindedly, and she froze.
"God, what's wrong with me?" she whispered, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. "He's a businessman, not a fantasy!"
She covered her face with both hands, groaning at herself, her voice muffled in her pillow.
"Great, Nessa Gray, heiress, fighter, and apparently now a lovesick fool."
Still, she couldn't stop the smile that pulled at her lips. Because beneath the headache and confusion, she felt it — that fluttering in her chest that hadn't gone away since last night.
How was she ever going to face him again?.
Riah woke to the pale gold glow of morning spilling across her window. She slept for a short time after she had that dream,she couldn't stop thinking why he showed up in her dream why he talked to her like as if they've known each other for a long time all the questions without answer only drove her to the edge till she slept off. Now her eyes blinked open slowly, a soft groan escaping her lips as she rolled to her side.
She'd dreamt again.
Of him.
But this time different, this time rather more intense.
The same blue eyes, the same voice that wrapped around her name like velvet.
The dream had felt too real, too close. When she woke, her heart was still racing like she'd been running toward something… or someone.
"Riri, come on," she muttered to herself, rubbing her eyes. "What's wrong with you? You don't even know that guy too well, and you're already… dreaming?"
She frowned, then groaned into her pillow. "You're hopeless."
For a moment, she sat up in bed, daydreaming without meaning to — remembering the touch of his hand lifting her chin, the way his gaze burned like it could see through her.
The thought made her heart flutter and her stomach twist all at once.
She shook her head, laughing softly. "Get a grip, Riah. I'm sure his not even thinking of me at all so why I'm I sooo fixated, it's like I can't even control my thoughts.GOD i want to meet him again, I want to see him again,I want to know whyyyyy".
Her laughter turned to panic as she looked at the time.
"Oh no! I'm late!"
She jumped out of bed, showered, threw on her nurse's uniform, kissed her mother's forehead, and ran out the door, still smiling to herself at the memory of his face.
The hospital halls of Lucid General buzzed with the sounds of morning laughter, chatter, the rhythmic squeak of wheels on the tiled floor.
Riah walked in, her warm smile lighting up the pediatric ward like the morning sun.
"Miss Sunny!" a group of children called, running to her with open arms.
She knelt to hug them all, their laughter chasing away every trace of the bittersweet dream that still lingered in her chest.
Today was a special day the day several of the children would finally go home or to their new families.
Riah's eyes softened when she saw Marcus, sitting on the bed with his small backpack beside him. The little boy grinned up at her, his sleepy eyes bright with excitement.
"Miss Sunny," he said, his voice trembling between joy and sadness, "I'm going home today."
Riah knelt down to meet his gaze, her chest tightening.
"I know, sweetheart. You've been so brave."
Marcus blinked back tears. "Will you come visit me?"
Her heart melted. She brushed a stray curl from his forehead and smiled softly.
"Of course I will. I promise."
When his new parents arrived, Marcus turned one last time to wave at her.
"I'll miss you, Miss Sunny!" he called.
Riah's eyes shimmered as she waved back, her heart aching and soaring all at once.
"Goodbye, my little sunshine."
She stood there a moment after he left, the ward suddenly feeling quieter, emptier. But beneath the sadness was pride — because he was getting better. Because she'd kept her promise to help them heal, even if it broke her own heart each time.
That night, the city lights of Lucid shimmered against the sky like scattered diamonds.
High above it all, Lucian Fox stood by the vast glass wall of one of his penthouses not his cold mansion, not the home he built centuries ago, but the one he came to when his thoughts refused to silence.
He hadn't stopped thinking about her.
Days had passed since the club, yet her face haunted him that same warmth, that same innocence wrapped in quiet strength.
And that scent lavender and chocolate it still lingered in his mind like a curse and a comfort at once.
He closed his eyes, whispering her name under his breath like a prayer.
"Riah…"
It felt dangerous, how her name softened his chest, how it pulled at something buried deep something human he thought had died long ago.
He could hear her laughter sometimes, faint and unreal, like a memory that didn't belong to him. And then, just as he exhaled, he swore he heard her voice soft, fragile, calling his name back.
He opened his eyes sharply, the city's lights reflecting in the deep blue of his gaze.
He pressed a hand against the glass and murmured,
"Why can't I get you out of my head?"
And somewhere across the glowing city, Riah stood by her window too staring into the same night,her phone in hand after searching on any possible information about lucian fox.
As she has made her mind to know this man to chase this man till she get answers
Two souls.
One pull.
Weeks drifted by like pages turning in a half-written story.
The chaos of that night had long faded, but its memory remained in quiet smiles, secret thoughts, and the unspoken pull that bound their hearts in ways they didn't yet understand.
Riah had tried to distract herself. Between hospital shifts, caring for her mother, and helping the children, she found herself drawn to a new, quiet obsession Lucian Fox.
At first, she told herself it was curiosity.
But curiosity didn't explain the way her chest fluttered whenever she saw his name appear on a news headline.
She searched discreetly, carefully through articles and profiles.
The more she read, the more he became a mystery she couldn't untangle.
Lucian Fox the most influential figure in Lucid and across the neighboring continents. A reclusive empire builder who vanished for years only to reappear recently, investing in new sectors, rebuilding cities, touching everything he wanted and owning it.
He was everywhere yet nowhere.
No public interviews. No appearances unless necessary.
But his name opened doors, and his presence commanded silence.
Every image she found of him at gala nights or private meetings —was beside famous faces: models, actresses, powerful women with flawless smiles.
And each one made her heart twist a little more.
She'd stare at the screen and whisper to herself,
"What am I even thinking? He's… unreachable."
But even then, her heart refused to listen.
Her days grew brighter again when Marcus started calling.
Every evening, her phone would buzz with his tiny voice on the other end.
"Miss Sunny! Guess what? I can ride my new bike without falling now!"
She'd laugh, warmth filling her heart. "That's amazing, Marcus! I'm so proud of you."
Sometimes his parents joined the call, gratitude in their voices.
One night, his mother hesitated before speaking.
"Riah, you've done so much for him. He still can't sleep well without you. We were wondering if… you'd consider being his personal nurse for a while? Just until he fully recovers."
Riah paused, touched by the offer. She looked at the smiling photo of Marcus on her desk and felt her heart soften.
"I'd be honored," she said softly. "He's family now."
Across town, Nessa had her own storm to handle.
Her parents had become relentless — dinners filled with suitors, endless talks about marriage alliances, family legacies, and company futures.
"Nessa," her father had said sternly one night, "you can't keep running from responsibility. If you don't want an arranged marriage, then prove your worth. Join the company and show us you can lead."
Nessa leaned back in her chair, eyes sharp with determination.
"Fine," she said. "I'll do it. But on one condition — no more matchmaking. I'll prove I can handle the company on my own."
Her father's gaze softened slightly. "Then it's a deal."
A week later, she walked into the sleek boardroom of Gray Enterprises, dressed in confidence and black silk. Her hair was perfectly pinned, her heels clicking against marble floors as she entered the meeting.
And there he was.
Louis Ray.
Her heartbeat stumbled. He looked effortlessly composed in his tailored suit, his sharp jawline and those piercing eyes catching her off guard.
The same man she had flirted with so shamelessly now seated at the table as one of the company's strategic partners.
Of course, she thought. Fate just loves to humiliate me.
Throughout the meeting, she tried to focus on charts, projections, numbers anything but the way Louis' gaze occasionally drifted toward her.
Every time their eyes met, her throat tightened and her pen trembled slightly against the page.
Her cheeks burned as if she was experiencing a romantic scene in a movie.
Each time she sneak a peak like a teenager whose got a crush on a boy in her class,she'd smile at his perfection and she couldn't help it or contain it anymore this man was too much for her.
When the meeting ended,she wrap up with the people she wanted to talk to.
she took a deep breath and walked toward his office , pretending confidence she didn't quite feel.
Mr. Ray," she began, offering a polite smile. "I just wanted to thank you and apologise for the other night. I'm … I'm sorry if I said anything embarrassing."that made you feel uneasy or uncomfortable I'm really sorry I was wasted and I even got into a fight with some guys because I couldn't control myself, I'm deeply sorry if there's anyhow I could make it up to you, please let me know.
He looked at her with that same half-smirk that made her feel nervous but trying to keep her cool,calm,collected self.
"Embarrassing?" he said, stepping closer. "You mean when you told me you wondered how my lips would taste?"
Her breath caught. "You— you remember that?"
"How could I forget?" he said smoothly, his voice dipping lower. "You've been in my head ever since."
Her cheeks flamed red. "I— I wasn't myself that night."
He chuckled, leaning closer until she could feel his breath against her skin. "You sure about that?"
"You know if you wanted my lips so bad you should have just said so or perhaps kissed me".
He teased her making her pale smooth skin turn red like a ripe tomato
She froze trapped between wanting to move away, wanting to look away and wanting him closer.
She look deep in his eyes almost getting lost
In it.
The air between them thickened, charged with something that made her pulse race.
Louis' gaze flicked to her lips, and for a heartbeat, everything stilled.
Her lips parted slightly, breath trembling.
"You can kiss me if you want I'm pretty sure they taste just as good as they look"
He leaned in just enough for her to feel the warmth of him.
Teasingly "tempting I could devour those cherry blossoms lips of yours but...."
With his hands caressing her lips
Thepully that made her chest ache. His scent,his touch was intoxicating, rich and dangerous.
He moved his hand around her waist the other on her lips as he stared into those deep drowning eyes of hers.
Every muscle in his body screamed to close the distance, to taste what had been haunting him.
His inner voices screaming violently at him
"take her"
"devour her"
"mark her"
" you want her don't you"
But then the voices in his head became something else inside him something darker, older,dangerous stirred too strongly.
The scent she omit do fresh so enticing he couldn't wrap his head around it, her pale smooth skin, thought her bare body on his cross his mind images flashes of her under him.
The way her lips parted as if welcoming him to suck and devour her mouth, the sound of her racing heart begging to be calmed, the scent of her blood filled his senses, too sweet, too alive. His control slipped for a moment, and his hand gripped her skin tightly making her let out a seductive moan,
As his breathing hitched.
He blinked, breathing hard, fighting the hunger rising beneath his skin.
Not here. Not her.
As if begging his urge, his inner demon to spare her, with visible effort, he straightened, stepping back abruptly but not fully collected his head spinning, his eyes moist,his hugging fangs threatening to come out.
His inner demon pleading for just a taste of her, the warmth in his eyes dimmed to cold composure.
The sound of her moan released his caged beasts and now fidgeting so hard to control them, he looked at her and see her pleading face as if begging to take her, if only she knew what she was doing to him.
You should go," he said quietly, his voice rough with restraint as he let go of her .
Nessa blinked, confusion and hurt flashing across her face.
She took a step back, her chest tightening.
"Right," she whispered, turning toward the door.
When she left, Louis sank into his chair, closing his eyes and exhaling shakily.
Her scent still clung to the air sweet, human, maddening.
He'd almost lost control.
Almost let the beast inside him win.
And as the door clicked shut, both of them were left with the same thought
Why does it hurt so much to want something you can't have?.
Nessa made it through the last hour of work her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, her heart a restless drum she couldn't silence.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him.
Louis Ray with that maddening calm and the way his voice wrapped around her like velvet.
She replayed the moment in his office again and again the near kiss, the heat of his breath, the storm in his eyes. He'd looked like a man torn in two, a man at war with himself.
And yet he'd stopped.
Her chest ached at the thought. Why did he stop?
He wanted her she'd seen it, felt it, the same way she felt her own knees weaken when his gaze lingered too long.
She tossed her bag on the couch, changed into her jogging set, and tied her hair up.
"I need to breathe," she muttered to herself.
The evening breeze met her with soft resistance as she jogged through the quiet neighborhood. But no amount of running could free her from the tightness in her chest.
Every thought looped back to him.
How he'd looked at her like she was something rare and then turned away like she was dangerous.
She slowed down, gripping her knees, her heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the run.
"Why is this driving me insane?" she whispered to the night.
"He pushes forward… then pulls back. What does he want from me?"
She wasn't the type to fall not easily, not carelessly. Love had never been something she trusted.
But Louis was different. He made her forget every wall she'd built.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
At that same hour, in his high-rise office overlooking the glowing city, Louis Ray poured himself a drink he didn't intend to finish.
The amber liquid caught the light as he swirled it, his reflection staring back from the glass sharp, composed, but his eyes betrayed the chaos underneath.
He'd almost kissed her.
Almost.
And it took everything in him not to.
Her scent still lingered in his senses sweet, warm, inviting. Her pulse, her soft breath… everything about her called to him.
He cursed under his breath, loosening his tie.
"What are you doing to me, Nessa Gray?" he murmured.
He couldn't afford weakness. Not when the truth of what he was what he'd hidden for centuries could destroy her if he let it slip.
And yet, the beast inside him wouldn't rest.
He needed a distraction. A voice of reason.
He grabbed his jacket and headed out, leaving the office lights dimming behind him.
Inside a secluded estate on the northern edge of Lucid, the night wind whispered through the glass walls.
Lucian Fox stood by the window, a silhouette against the city's glittering lights, when Louis entered the room.
"You're late," Lucian said without turning. His voice was calm, but something heavy lingered beneath it.
Louis poured himself another drink, slumping into a seat. "You'd think time matters to men like us."
Lucian turned then, a faint smirk ghosting his lips. But Louis caught the subtle exhaustion in his friend's eyes.
"You haven't been sleeping," Louis noted.
Lucian's gaze drifted back toward the city. "I keep dreaming of her."
Louis raised a brow. "Her?"
Lucian exhaled, his jaw tightening. "The woman in the yellow dress. Riah."
Louis chuckled, taking a slow sip. "Dreaming, huh? The great Lucian Fox dreaming about a woman. That's new."
Lucian ignored the teasing, his voice low and distant. "I can't explain it. She's everywhere her scent, her voice, even her laugh. I close my eyes, and she's there."
Louis smirked. "Sounds like someone's in love."
Lucian shot him a look, sharp but not angry. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Oh, come on," Louis said, grinning. "You, of all people, falling for a human? That's poetic."
Lucian's expression darkened slightly. "It's not love. It's… something else. Something I don't understand."
He pressed a hand to his temple, as if trying to still the storm inside him. "It's maddening, Louis. I feel drawn to her — like I've known her before. Like… she's part of something I've forgotten."
Louis leaned back, studying him. "Maybe that's exactly what it is. Maybe she's meant to remind you of something you've lost."
Lucian gave a quiet, humorless laugh. "Or maybe she's meant to destroy me."
Louis lifted his glass with a lazy smirk. "Either way, I'd say you're in deep, my friend."
Lucian didn't respond — just turned back toward the city, eyes glowing faintly under the soft light.
Meanwhile, Riah's world had grown smaller but softer.
Most of her days were now spent in Marcus's new home, caring for him under the warm glow of sunlight through glass windows.
Her gentle voice filled the halls, reading stories, making him laugh, ensuring he took his medicine and slept peacefully.
"Miss Sunny," he said one afternoon, blinking sleepily. "Do you think dreams come true?"
She smiled, brushing his hair back. "Sometimes, they do."
He smiled back. "Then I hope you get your dream too."
She froze for a moment, that same unfamiliar flutter in her chest.
That night, as she returned home, she found herself staring out her window — the same window where she'd once whispered his name.
"Lucian…"
She exhaled, heart steady but curious. She didn't know what it was about him that drew her in so deeply, but she'd made up her mind.
If fate wouldn't bring him to her again she'd find her own way to him.
No matter how impossible it
The restaurant glowed like a jewel in the heart of Lucid City — warm gold lights spilling across marble floors, quiet music threading between the soft hum of laughter and wine glasses. Everything smelled of roses, spice, and secrets.
Riah hadn't planned to see him again.
She was there for a simple donor meeting, nothing fancy. She even promised herself she'd leave early. But fate had other plans.
Because the moment she stepped in, her eyes caught him —
Lucian.
Sitting alone near the window, one hand resting on a crystal glass, dark hair slightly tousled, his black suit fitting him like sin itself. There was an effortless danger about him — the kind that made people stare, but never dare approach.
Her heart skipped. You've got to be kidding me.
The waiter's voice barely reached her. "Miss, this way please."
She tried to focus on anything else — the ceiling, her shoes, even the wine list. But her gaze kept drifting back to him. Every now and then, he'd glance her way just enough to make her forget how to breathe.
Her meeting ended. She didn't eat. Didn't even remember half the conversation. Because all she could think of was him.
And when it was over, she gathered her courage or what was left of it and walked toward his table.
Her heels clicked softly, her pulse louder than the music. She whispered to herself,
I feel pathetic. Acting like a girl meeting her crush for the first time. I'm not in love… I'm just curious, that's all.
She stopped beside him and smiled, her dimples betraying her nerves.
"Hi. Remember me? Riah from the club. The girl you helped… or saved, I guess."
Lucian looked up slowly, eyes deep as the ocean. His lips curved slightly not a smile, but close enough to make her knees weak.
"How could I forget?" he said smoothly. "You have a way of… standing out."
Her heart skipped again.
"Well, that's—uh—nice to know. I thought maybe you wouldn't remember me. You meet a lot of people, and I'm not exactly—"
He interrupted softly, voice low and teasing. "Not exactly what?"
She blinked, caught off guard. "Famous," she muttered.
"Fame doesn't make people memorable," he replied. "You do that all on your own."
Her cheeks flushed instantly. She tried to laugh it off, fiddling with the strap of her purse. "You really shouldn't say things like that to a girl in public."
He leaned back, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Why? Are you afraid people might think I'm flirting with you?"
The way he said it smooth, lazy, dangerous made her forget her next breath.
"I—no—I just…" She trailed off, completely flustered.
Lucian's smirk deepened, clearly enjoying every second of her nervous rambling. "Relax, Riah. I don't bite…" His voice dropped a note lower. "Unless you ask me to."
Her mouth fell open. "W–what?"
He chuckled quietly, the sound dark and melodic. "You're too easy to tease."
"Then stop teasing me."
"Why?" he murmured, eyes locking on hers. "You look beautiful when you blush."
Her breath hitched. The room felt suddenly smaller, the air heavier. Her pulse thundered against her throat as he rose to his feet, standing close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off him.
She looked up, trying to regain composure. "You really enjoy making people uncomfortable, don't you?"
He tilted his head slightly. "Only when they look at me the way you do."
Her heart fluttered violently. "And how exactly do I look at you?"
His gaze dropped to her lips for a split second before returning to her eyes.
"Like you're trying to decide whether to run… or let me catch you."
Riah froze. Her lips parted, words lost. He was too close too intense. Her heart and body weren't listening to her mind anymore.
Lucian, however, was fighting his own battle. The sweet omitting from her sweet and soft filled his head. His control trembled. His inner demons stirred, wanting to claim what he shouldn't.
He leaned in, his breath grazing her ear. "You shouldn't stand this close to me, Riah. I'm not good for your heart."
Her voice came out barely a whisper. "You already have it racing."
That was almost enough to make him lose it. He closed his eyes, fists clenching at his side. For a moment, he looked like he was in pain battling something she couldn't see.
It was as if he fought the urge to bite her.
He pulled back abruptly. His expression was unreadable again, the teasing gone.
"I'm meeting some guest I better hurry up so I think I should go," he said quietly.
Her stomach twisted. "Did I… say something wrong?"
"No." He looked away, jaw tight. "That's the problem."
And then he left leaving her standing there, breathless and confused. The scent of him lingered sharp, addictive, impossible to forget.
As she watched him walk away, her chest ached with a mix of frustration and longing.
Why do you keep pushing me away, Lucian?
And why does it hurt this much when you do?
He didn't plan to see her again not like this but fate clearly had other intentions. She stood at the entrance, scanning the tables, her white-blonde hair catching the soft light, making her glow against the marble and velvet. She was breathtaking, unintentionally so. She wasn't trying to draw attention, but she did, effortlessly and now she has push him into imagining and feeling things he won't normally feel or do .
The drive home felt longer than usual. The city lights blurred outside the cab window, but Riah barely saw any of it. Her mind replayed every moment in that restaurant his voice, the teasing glint in his eyes, the way her name rolled off his tongue.
She hated how her heart skipped every time she thought about it.
By the time she reached home, the air felt colder than usual. She dropped her purse on the table and slipped off her heels, her legs tremblingnot from exhaustion, but from the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
Her mother had already gone to bed. The apartment was silent except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Riah stood by her window, the same spot where she'd sat weeks ago, thinking about the mysterious man who had saved her at the club.
Only now, he wasn't mysterious anymore.
He was Lucian Fox the man who teased her until her soul caught fire, then left her standing there with her heart in shambles.
She let out a soft, broken laugh.
"Pathetic," she whispered to herself. "You said you weren't going to fall for him, remember?"
But how could she not?
Every detail of him felt carved into her memory the curve of his smile, the warmth in his eyes when he looked at her, the way he said her name like a secret he wasn't supposed to tell.
She threw herself on the couch, hugging a pillow to her chest, eyes stinging with tears she didn't want to shed.
"Why do I even care?" she murmured into the silence. "He's rich, cold, untouchable… He probably doesn't even think about me."
Yet she couldn't shake the image of him the look in his eyes when he leaned close enough for her to feel his breath. The unspoken tension between them burned more than anything she'd ever felt before.
She closed her eyes, trying to fight the ache in her chest. But it was useless. Her heart was already his prisoner, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
As sleep slowly crept in, her thoughts .
The following week came in a blur of work, unanswered questions, and the haunting replay of that night in Riah's mind. But there was no escaping what came next — the Gray Corporation Ball, a grand event organized by Nessa's father to celebrate the company's success.
Riah had no interest in attending, but Nessa wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Come on, Riri, you've been working nonstop and moping about Mr. Blue Eyes,"
Nessa teased as she pouted, practically dragging her by the arm.
"Besides, you can't let me go alone. Who knows, maybe you'll finally get him to stop haunting your dreams."
Riah rolled her eyes, but deep down she knew Nessa was right. Maybe a night of glamour and distraction was exactly what she needed.
Earlier that evening, Louis Ray stood before his mirror, staring at the small gift box in his hand. Inside lay a red, off-shoulder silk gown a gown meant for Nessa.
He couldn't explain why he bought it. Maybe guilt. Maybe desire. Maybe both.
He didn't like how their last conversation ended, the words left hanging, and the way her flushed cheeks haunted him.
So, he sent it to her with a simple note:
"For the woman who refuses to leave my thoughts.
When Nessa opened it, her heart did a somersault.
It was bold, elegant, sinful — everything Louis Ray was.
She blushed, grinning.
"Oh, he's so full of himself… and I hate that it works," she muttered, twirling in front of Riah.
Riah's own gown, a gift from Nessa, was a silver masterpiece — silky, sleek, hugging her petite curves like it was made for her. It exposed her bare back to her waistline and shimmered under every flicker of light. Her messy bun framed her delicate features, leaving loose strands that danced against her cheek.
Nessa, on the other hand, was fire in red her pale skin glowing, her hair in a high puff with two loose curls framing her face. Together, they looked like sin and purity walking side by side.
The ballroom glimmered with chandeliers and laughter. Powerful men and women filled the space, glasses of champagne glinting under golden light. But all eyes turned when the two women walked in.
Even Louis Ray, mid-conversation with a board member, lost his words.
His gaze trailed Nessa the way the dress molded to her, the confidence in her step.
He had seen hundreds of beautiful women, but none made his pulse race like this.