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?.
Meanwhile Riah woke up to the sound of nessa's tantrum,she stared at her ceiling,she had dreamt of Lucian, Riah couldn't stop thinking why he showed up in her dream, why he talked to her like he had known her for a very long time, the way his eyes looked at her, the way his hands caress her skin, they way he called her name like he was meant for her, Riah could help but blush, "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 to my new 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 cause she'd kept her promise to help them heal, even if it broke her own heart each time.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, Riah stood on the rooftop in the hospital staring into the night,her phone in hand after searching on any possible information about lucian fox. she wanted to know this man and know why she was so drawn to him ,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.
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, he had buried himself with research trying to find peace anywhere, he was 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, pressed a hand against the glass and murmured, "Why can't I get you out of my head?"
Two souls,One pull.
Weeks drifted by like pages turning in a half-written story, 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.
You're late," Lucian said without turning. His
voice was calm, but something heavy lingered beneath it. Louis poured himself a 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.
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.