Garden
The night air was cool and calm, a soft breeze fluttering through the decorated garden. The golden string lights above cast a soft glow over Liana and Jack, who stood side by side, still basking in the quiet after their kiss.
Jack looked at her, playful curiosity lighting his eyes.
"So... what's your last name, Liana?"
Liana turned slightly, smirking. "I could ask you the same, Jack. What's yours?"
He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Oh, so we're playing that game now? Scared to say our last names, huh?"
"Maybe," she replied, her tone light but guarded. "Some names come with too much history."
He nodded slowly. "Fair enough."
There was a beat of silence before Jack raised a brow. "So, when will you be inviting me over to your place?"
Liana laughed and started walking toward the hall. "You wish."
Jack watched her go, smiling faintly. There was something about her. Something deeper. Something... hidden.
He had no idea how true that was.
---
*Inside the Gala Hall…*
The ballroom buzzed with chatter and laughter. Elegant music played from the live orchestra, and the clinking of champagne glasses echoed like a celebration of wealth and power.
Tristan stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand. His presence silenced the room instantly. Clad in a tailored black tuxedo, his sharp jawline and steely gaze demanded attention.
He cleared his throat.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," he began, voice deep and steady. "Tonight isn't just about Velvet Corporation's success. It's about the people who've made that success possible. In a world driven by competition, we often forget to celebrate loyalty, hard work, and resilience. So tonight, I ask you to toast not just to our achievements—but to the quiet warriors behind the scenes. To family. To partnership. And to a future we build—together."
Applause thundered through the room. Glasses raised. Smiles were exchanged.
From her seat at a VIP table, Liana lifted her glass proudly, smiling softly at her brother on stage.
But as she lowered it, something shifted.
Her smile faltered. Her breath caught.
A sudden flush of red rushed to her face.
She began to cough—lightly at first, then violently.
Her eyes widened in panic as she clutched her chest, her glass slipping from her hand and shattering on the floor.
Guests turned, murmuring.
"Liana?" someone whispered.
She staggered back, choking, her hand trembling as she reached for support. No words came—only ragged gasps as if her throat was closing.
Jack had just re-entered from the garden when he spotted her.
"Liana!" he yelled, shoving past guests.
People stepped back as he reached her, catching her just before she collapsed.
"Give her some space. "
"Someone call an ambulance! Now!"
He gently lowered her to the floor, brushing her hair from her face. "Liana, stay with me. Hey, breathe, okay? Look at me!"
The sound of hurried footsteps cut through the tension.
Tristan.
The moment he saw her, his entire expression changed—from composed CEO to frantic brother. He stormed forward and yanked her from Jack's grip.
"Who the hell are you?" Jack demanded.
But Tristan didn't answer. His eyes were on Liana—glassy, terrified, angry.
"MOVE," Tristan ordered with deadly calm, voice shaking.
Jack froze, confused. *Why is he acting like this?*
*Does he know her?*
Tristan scooped her into his arms effortlessly. "Get my car! NOW!" he barked to his security. "And find out what the hell was in that glass!"
Saphina watched everything unfold, stunned. Her eyes flicked between Liana and Tristan, her heart sinking. *What happened to my girl? Why… why does he look so broken? , what's going on*
Tears fell from her face
Jack stood, fists clenched, watching Tristan vanish through the exit with Liana in his arms.
A voice buzzed in his earpiece. "Sir, do we proceed?"
Jack's eyes burned. His chest tightened.
"…Abort the mission," he said coldly.
"Yes, sir."
As the room slowly returned to chaos and confusion, Saphina stood still, her heart racing—not just from the shock but from something else.
*What happened to Liana, and why does Tristan care too much for her? And why does it hurt so much?*
At the hospital
The white walls of the hospital corridor felt colder than usual. Tristan paced the floor like a man losing his grip, his thoughts in chaos. His fists were clenched, his heartbeat deafening in his ears. He had watched Liana collapse in the middle of a room full of people—his sister, gasping for breath—and he had been powerless.
When the door finally creaked open, Tristan rushed forward. The doctor stepped out, adjusting his coat and removing his surgical gloves.
"Doctor?" Tristan asked, almost breathless. "How is she? What happened to her?"
"She's stable now," the doctor replied calmly. "But she suffered a severe allergic reaction."
"An allergy?" Tristan echoed, frowning. "That's not possible. I personally ensured nothing on the menu contained anything that could harm her. She doesn't eat anything without my approval."
The doctor tilted his head slightly. "Then someone might have tampered with her drink."
The words struck like a hammer. Tristan's jaw tightened, and the storm behind his eyes darkened.
Just then, the doors flew open again as his father, Mr. Moretti, and his cousin Adrian entered in a rush.
"Where is she?" Adrian asked.
"What happened?" Mr. Moretti demanded.
Tristan didn't answer. His throat tightened, rage and helplessness threatening to explode. Without a word, he turned and stormed out of the ward, leaving them behind.
***
Back at Velvet Corporation, the night's glitter had faded into shadows and tension. Saphina remained behind after the chaos, making sure everything else was handled. Her eyes darted to the entrance when Tristan walked in, his face unreadable.
"Tristan!" she called softly, walking toward him. "How's Liana? Is she—"
He walked right past her, ignoring her entirely. The air around him was thick with fury.
The head of security arrived moments later with a tablet in hand. "We've got the security footage, sir."
Tristan snatched it from him, quickly scrolling through the recordings. His eyes scanned each second until something caught his attention.
"Who are these men? They don't work for us."
He paused the footage again. Jack appeared on-screen, entering the hall.
"Who the hell is this?" he asked coldly.
Saphina stepped forward hesitantly. "I… I invited him. His name is Jack. He's a friend."
Tristan turned slowly, eyes burning. "A *friend*?" His voice rose. "Since when did your *friends* become guests at *my* business events?"
Tears welled up in Saphina's eyes. "Tristan, I didn't mean any harm. I just thought—"
"No. You didn't think," he snapped. "This wasn't a casual birthday dinner, Saphina. This was a business gala—where liana nearly died because of someone *you* invited."
Her lips trembled. "Why are you blaming jack ? He didn't put anything in her drink. I didn't know this would happen."
"You shouldn't have brought him!" he shouted. "Because of your poor judgment, Liana —"
"Why are you this angry?" Saphina asked suddenly, voice cracking. "Why does it hurt you this much?"
Tristan's jaw clenched. "Because she's my f***ing sister!"
Saphina stepped back as if he had struck her.
"I—what?"
"She's my sister," Tristan repeated, softer but no less intense. "And someone tried to kill her under my roof."
The weight of his words crashed over her like a wave. Saphina's tears finally spilled. *Liana is his sister?*
Tristan then asked "how did he even know her"
she whispered. "Jack and I… we didn't even know who she was at first. We met her at a coffee shop. She was being harassed by some jerk, and we stepped in. That's how we met her."
Tristan didn't respond. His face was unreadable now, locked behind walls she couldn't climb.
He turned back to the security team. "I want a list of every unfamiliar face that walked in. Every name. Every employee not on the records. Get it now."
"Yes, sir," the guards said and quickly left.
Saphina took a shaky breath. "Tristan, I'm sorry. I never wanted this to happen. I didn't know—"
He didn't even glance her way. He simply walked out.
And just like that, she was alone again.
Her tears slipped silently down her cheeks as she stood in the grand lobby, where just hours ago music had played, and people had laughed.
Now there was only silence. And heartbreak.
*"No one ever stays,"* she whispered to herself, staring at the cold marble floor.
*"No one ever really cares."*
But in her heart, something cracked deeper.
And maybe this time, it wouldn't heal so easily.
---