Lucian sat behind his desk at Veyron Enterprise, his pen motionless over a stack of reports he hadn't touched in ten minutes. The faint hum of the city filtered through the tall glass walls — car horns, distant chatter, the soft rhythm of business as usual.
But his mind wasn't here.
He glanced again at the phone on his desk. The message he'd sent earlier — Having a meeting at 11 a.m. — was still there, unread for hours before suddenly turning blue.
She had seen it.
Lucian leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly, his expression unreadable. The soft light of morning brushed across his suit, tracing the sharp lines of his collar and sleeves.
So, she finally unblocked me.
It was a small thing, but after months of silence and avoidance, it felt like the first crack in a wall that had long divided them. She hadn't replied, yet the fact that the message was read meant something. For a man like him, who noticed the smallest shifts in tone and timing, that small change carried weight.
He set the pen down and turned his chair toward the window. From the thirty-seventh floor, the city looked peaceful, unaware of the quiet storm in his mind.
Did she change? Or is this just a coincidence?
Lucian's jaw flexed lightly as he exhaled. He didn't expect much — experience had taught him to keep his hopes measured. But a part of him, the quiet part that remembered her laughter before everything fell apart, stirred anyway.
He ran a hand through his hair, composed again. The meeting with investors was in thirty minutes, yet his attention remained elsewhere. The phone screen dimmed, but he didn't look away until the light faded completely.
---
At home, Aveline stood by the living room window, the soft curtains swaying with the afternoon breeze. The city stretched in the distance — calm, distant, unreachable.
The note-covered table before her was now tidy. Her plans from earlier — handwritten lists, neatly folded pages — rested beside her laptop. She had spent the whole afternoon fine-tuning them, crossing out unnecessary ideas and adding small, realistic ones.
Now, the silence in the house felt too large.
Aveline's eyes drifted toward the clock. Nearly evening. Lucian would usually be home by now, or at least send a message to say he'd be late. She picked up her phone, checked again — nothing new.
Her chest tightened faintly.
She placed the phone down and forced a small smile. "Maybe he's busy," she whispered to herself. "He did say he had a meeting."
The kitchen smelled of warm spices and roasted vegetables. She had cooked earlier — simple dishes, carefully made — and set the table for two. Every plate, every piece of cutlery had been placed with care.
Yet as the hours passed, the food began to cool.
Aveline sat on the couch, her hands folded over her lap, the soft glow of the lamp wrapping the room in a quiet haze. Her eyelids felt heavy, her head leaned back against the cushion, and before she realized it, she slipped into sleep.
---
A faint metallic clatter. The smell of antiseptic. Cold light seared through her closed eyes.
She was back there — restrained, voices around her blending into a blur.
"She's unstable."
"Increase the dosage."
Aveline gasped awake.
Her chest rose and fell quickly, sweat clinging to her palms. The living room was dark now, the only light coming from the clock on the wall — 10:47 p.m.
For a moment, she sat still, breathing quietly, waiting for the rush of panic to fade. Then her gaze shifted toward the dining table. The food was still there, untouched, now completely cold.
He hadn't come home.
She reached for her phone again. Still no message — only the old one from the morning. The faint ache that followed wasn't anger anymore. It was… disappointment.
Maybe he thinks I haven't changed, she thought softly. Because I didn't reply.
Her lips curved into a small, self-deprecating smile. "He must think I'm still ignoring him."
For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if she should call. But that felt too forward, too sudden. Instead, she rose, quietly clearing the table, and went back into the kitchen.
The motions calmed her — washing dishes, reheating the pan, cutting vegetables again. The soft sizzle of oil filled the silence, grounding her thoughts.
When the new meal was ready, she packed it into a small lunchbox, careful not to spill anything.
She tied her hair loosely and checked her reflection in the mirror near the hallway. Her face looked a little pale from exhaustion, her eyes soft but determined.
She whispered to her reflection, "If I can't say it with words, I'll show it with actions."
She changed into a soft beige coat, brushed her hair loose, and checked her reflection in the hallway mirror. Not too formal. Not too casual. Just… right.
Stepping outside, she called softly, "Can you get the car ready, please?"
The guard nodded wordlessly. Within minutes, the sleek black vehicle glided through the quiet streets.
Aveline sat in the backseat, her hands wrapped around the warm container in her lap. The city lights drifted by — storefronts closing, lamps flickering, reflections dancing on glass. The world outside moved, but she was caught in stillness, every thought looping back to him.
Would he be surprised? Would he think she was being foolish? Or… would he see the sincerity in this small gesture?
Her heart thudded softly against her ribs, each beat echoing with a mix of fear and anticipation.
This is just the beginning, she told herself.
As the car turned onto the avenue, the towering shape of Veyron Enterprise came into view. Its windows shimmered like a thousand stars against the night sky. The sight pulled a quiet smile from her lips — a mixture of awe and nostalgia.
When the car rolled to a stop, Aveline exhaled slowly, her hand tightening around the handle of the food container. The world outside looked immense — polished glass, golden light spilling across marble steps, the faint sound of distant conversation drifting from the lobby.
She straightened her shoulders, gathering every bit of courage she'd built over the day. Her pulse quickened, but her gaze held steady.
The driver opened her door.
Aveline stepped out, the cool night air brushing her face.
She looked up once — at the building that housed both the man she loved and the distance she intended to bridge.
Tonight, she thought, it begins.
And with that quiet thought, she walked toward the entrance of Veyron Enterprise — her heart steady, her resolve unshaken.