…sleep now, sing a love song. Dreams never make a sound. Tomorrow belongs to the heart's tormentor…
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Ryuji POV
"I hate you! I hate you down to every pulse running through my veins!"
Beep! Beep!
I opened my eyes slightly as the alarm rang from the clock on the bedside table.
6:25 a.m.
I got out of bed and headed straight to the kitchen.
While turning on the coffee machine, I splashed water onto my face at the sink nearby.
"Good morning. How are you today, Dewi?" I murmured softly, staring at my reflection in the mirror above the sink.
A monologue I had repeated every morning—for seven years.
Dewi
Just thinking of her name made her face surface clearly in my mind.
I could never ignore it. Forgetting her was simply impossible.
"I'm sorry… truly, I'm sorry."
This time, I let myself sink back into the guilt that never stopped haunting me. Dewi's wounded expression. The hatred she showed so clearly toward me.
"And how stupid of me—to run away instead," I laughed bitterly.
Yes. Instead of apologizing, the last thing I did was leave—abandoning Dewi alone in a hollow pain.
Ring!
I clicked my tongue in annoyance when my smartphone rang loudly from the living area.
I walked to the pantry and poured myself a cup of black coffee, no sugar. Taking a slow sip helped me steady myself.
"Jonathan really has no patience," I muttered.
I picked up my phone as the screen lit up again, then deliberately let the call go unanswered.
"Bro, what about my offer? Come on, just this once. I know you've been rejecting jobs this month, but please…"
Hah… Thinking about Jonathan's offer made me uncomfortable. I knew he had teamed up with Hua Yu, trying to drag me into the first photoshoot for her winter collection.
Reluctantly, I typed a quick reply, agreeing to Jonathan's request.
After that, I dialed another number.
Tut!
"Hello, Ryu?"
"Gamma, pick me up now. I have a shoot with Jonathan at his studio at nine," I said flatly.
"Alright." Click.
I ended the call, exhaling deeply before placing my phone on the table. Then I walked toward the large window nearby.
But my gaze stopped at a single framed photograph on the side table.
A photo of Dewi and me—taken back then, in Jianju District.
I chuckled softly, remembering how she had persuaded—no, forced—me to accompany her to the newly opened Jianju amusement park.
Back then, I always fulfilled Dewi's wishes using the money I earned myself as a model.
Seeing her smile, hearing her words of encouragement—it pushed me to work harder, to stand on my own feet, just to make her happy.
"I have a shoot with Jonathan today. It won't take long, I promise. I'll come home soon."
I whispered softly, brushing my fingers over the photo of Dewi standing beside me, smiling brightly while hugging her favorite doll—Winnie the Pooh.
I placed the picture back where it belonged and began getting ready. There were still about fifteen minutes before Gamma arrived.
Ryuji POV END
---
Vegas
A city of glitter that never truly sleeps. Neon lights, glass-clad skyscrapers standing side by side, and streets that never slow down make time here feel far shorter than it should.
Here, the entertainment world and the fashion industry merge—racing side by side to claim superiority. This city doesn't merely sell daytime dreams, but contracts, schedules, camera flashes, and reputation—daily nourishment for those who live within it.
A dark-gold Lamborghini rolled smoothly into the courtyard of a seven-story studio building.
One of the figures stepped out, dressed casually yet carrying an unmistakable aura of luxury. His blue-black hair was slightly tousled by the wind as he exited the car.
He lifted one hand, offering a brief wave to the left—toward a paparazzi camera trained on him. A faint smile curved beneath the sunglasses he wore before he quickly entered the studio building.
His stride was firm and deliberate as he headed toward a private elevator reserved for a select few. That elevator would take him straight to the top floor—where the studio owner awaited.
Ryuji POV
Ding!
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out.
I removed my sunglasses and drew in a long breath. Already feeling tired—despite the shoot not even having started yet. For some reason, I had a strange feeling that something was about to happen.
Knock! Cklek!
The door opened as soon as I knocked lightly. Jonathan's bright expression greeted me immediately.
"Bro, there's one more person partnering with you this time. Don't worry—she's professional. Besides, this pairing was Hua Yu's request. I hope you don't mind."
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Jonathan dropped this on me too suddenly.
Honestly, I disliked working with partners. I had thought Hua Yu's designs this time were exclusively for men—like always. Apparently, that had changed.
Jonathan led me toward two women standing not far ahead. One of them looked familiar.
"Marinka, let me introduce you. This is Ryuji. He'll be your partner for today's shoot."
She nodded and extended her hand. I took it, introducing myself in return.
"Ryuji. I hope we'll work well together."
I deliberately tightened my grip slightly around her small hand.
She flinched subtly when our eyes met. I gave her a thin smile.
What a coincidence—meeting Topan's lover here. Or perhaps I should say… his ex?
I suppressed a crooked smile, imagining how my little brother's love story would end. Don't ask how I knew about my family back there—even about Topan's arranged marriage to Dewi, I knew it all.
Thinking of that again made heat surge through my chest. Still, I held myself back, waiting for the right moment.
'Just wait. What is mine will return to me—whole.'
Ryuji POV END
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1:00 PM
The photoshoot went smoothly. Both Ryuji and Marinka worked professionally, displaying solid teamwork.
When lunchtime arrived, Jonathan and his wife, Hua Yu, invited them to dine at their private residence located on the top floor of the studio building—the seventh floor.
With his red eyes—quietly tracking Marinka's every movement—Ryuji finally found his chance when the woman excused herself to the restroom.
Tap… tap…
"I thought Topan would keep you from leaving his side."
Not a question—a statement.
Marinka flinched slightly when she saw Ryuji's reflection in the mirror. He was leaning casually against the doorframe.
"It's none of your business what our relationship is like. Besides—"
Her words were cut off by Ryuji's flat, icy voice.
"Hurry back. Otherwise, Topan might truly turn away from you."
The cynical tone instantly made Marinka's blood boil. She turned sharply, glaring at the man before her.
"Topan isn't like what you think! He's very loyal to me! His marriage was nothing but an arrangement. And just wait—once I return to Florentia, he'll leave that wife of his immediately. Tch!"
Drap… drap!
Marinka stormed out of the restroom, her steps sharp with anger, her chest burning from Ryuji's pointed words.
The red-eyed man—though not as vividly red as Topan's—only curved his lips into a crooked smile, watching the young woman leave.
"My Dewi is not an ordinary woman," he murmured softly, exhaling.
"Bet with me—my stiff little brother will fall for her charm. But…" His tone sharpened at the end.
"She is still mine."
●●●
Entering the final days of December toward the turn of the year did not only sweep the city of Vegas into euphoria. December, instead, became a crucial moment for designers—each competing to showcase their finest work, setting fashion standards that would shift with every coming season.
And this winter, the direction of that rivalry was unmistakably clear.
Massive billboards scattered across strategic points of Vegas now predominantly featured a pair of top-tier models: Ryuji Sagara and Marinka Valerie, under the theme "Winter Couple"—a concept that had rapidly captivated public attention.
Especially the male model—Ryuji—who was widely known for rarely partnering with any female model. The man with the warm, charming smile was likened to a red rose: beautiful to admire, yet sharp enough to wound if one drew too close. Mysterious—that was the word that defined him best.
From noon until nightfall, music and celebrations grew louder as New Year's Eve approached. Yet that very euphoria stood in stark contrast to the atmosphere inside a certain twenty-five-story building located at the very heart of the city.
La In Vegas
This residential building bore no striking signboard and was closed to the public. Access was limited to a single route, with layered security checks from the drop-off area to a private elevator. There were no wandering tourists, no ordinary reception desk—only permanent staff who recognized each resident personally.
La In Vegas felt less like a residence and more like a private territory—secure, isolated, and nearly impossible to access without the owner's direct authorization.
On the twenty-second floor, within one of its suite rooms, Ryuji had lived for approximately seven years.
To reach the unit, one had to use a special elevator that stopped directly in front of the suite door. The interior was vast and silent, surrounded by thick bulletproof glass overlooking the heart of Vegas from above. Luxurious yet cold—dark marble, custom-made furniture, and dim lighting controlled automatically.
---
It was already past midnight when the man finished his third bottle of brandy and placed it down heavily on the nightstand beside the large window. One hand clutched a photograph tightly. His gaze remained flat, fixed on the crowd far below. Fireworks bloomed beautifully in the sky, yet not even once did they draw a smile from him.
Beep!Cklek!
Even as someone unlocked and entered his suite, Ryuji did not move—didn't turn, didn't react.
"It's been seven years. How long are you planning to live like this? You know, staying silent won't solve anything, Ryu."
The man let out a long sigh when no response came.
He walked closer and placed a package on the table.
"There are sleeping pills inside, like usual. Don't overdo the dosage. I don't want to be responsible if you overdose again like last time. Oh—and I brought Mom's cooking. You should come home once in a while. She misses you," he rambled, already starting to clean up the scattered trash around the room.
"Thank you, Gamma."
The firm words startled Gamma. He looked up at Ryuji, who had turned around—his eyes far darker than usual.
"No need for the pills this time. I'll sleep normally. Just leave Mom's food on the table. I'll eat it later."
Gamma fell silent.
For seven years since Ryuji moved to Vegas, the nightmares had never truly stopped.
Gamma knew his friend's past all too well—he had witnessed firsthand how Ryuji's world collapsed after hurting the person he loved the most.
With a heavy breath, Gamma walked into the kitchen and threw the trash into a designated bag. He was aware that Ryuji followed him.
"You should go home. Besides, Marinka has already caused enough 'chaos' back there," Gamma said flatly as he turned around.
"I know."
Ryuji took a glass of cold water from the refrigerator and drank it in one go.
"That woman is too careless. Besides, I knew from the start that my brother never truly liked her—his life revolves solely around business and the company," he said coldly.
Gamma continued listening, until the next sentence made his expression shift dramatically.
"Arrange my flight for January fourteenth. I'll be returning to greet my family again—"
Ryuji paused as he pressed a brief kiss to the photograph in his hand.
"—and bring Dewi back to me."
His voice sharpened before he turned and walked toward the bedroom.
Gamma let out a long sigh. One thought crossed his mind: a major confrontation was inevitable.
"I hope you come to your senses soon, Ryuji," he whispered, before finally leaving the suite.
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12:15 PM
Ryuji POV
I stride confidently into the Sagara Group building, heading straight for the reception desk. Turns out, after seven years away, a lot has changed.
A young woman—Rani, according to the name tag—stands up and greets me with a polite smile. She must be new. The receptionist used to be Melissa.
"Is there anything I can help you with, sir?"
I let out a small scoff and remove my sunglasses. Her eyes widen instantly, her cheeks flushing—so she doesn't recognize me yet? Or does she?
"R-Ryuji? Y-you're that famous model, right?!"
Figures. My face is still recognizable, even though since moving to Vegas, I haven't taken a single job in Florentia.
"Ryuji Sagara," I say flatly. "Give me access to the main elevator. I need to see my brother, Topan. Now."
Rani looks stunned. She quickly does as told, though her fingers tremble as they tap against the keyboard.
"I-It's done, s-sir. Y-you can go straight up. I-I'll c-call the President Director—"
I raise a hand, cutting her off.
"No need. I'll go up myself," I reply coldly, then walk away from the desk.
One of the security officers who recognizes me immediately bows. Several employees passing by do the same. I acknowledge none of them.
The main elevator carries me straight to the eleventh floor.
Ding!
Wait—Is that Arya over there? And…
"Mr. Ryuji?"
I give Topan's assistant a flat look as our eyes meet.
"Is Topan inside?" I ask coldly as we pass each other.
Arya nods once and lowers his head respectfully.
There's another person there too—a woman with glasses, bowing slightly in my direction.
"Are you here to see Mr. Topan? I can inform—"
"Do I need permission to see my own brother?" I snap.
Neither of them answers. I scoff and continue walking toward Topan's office.
Without warning, I shove the door open.
"Hey, little brother. I'm home—and guess what—ouch, hey, man, what the hell are you doing?!"
Damn it.
What the hell was Topan doing with Marinka? My eyes don't lie—they were kissing just moments before Topan shoved her away roughly, sending her to the floor.
I click my tongue sharply, then curl my lips into a crooked smile as Topan storms toward me.
"What the hell are you doing here?!"
Just as I'm about to fire back, Topan's expression suddenly changes. His eyes widen, staring past me.
What did he see?
"D-Dewi!"
Dewi?
My Dewi is here?Since when? How did I not notice her presence?
I'm too slow. Topan is already chasing after her. I try to stop him.
"Dude, I'm here to take back what was supposed to be mine,"
But Topan ignores me completely and runs out, chasing the hurried footsteps behind me.
I should've realized earlier that Dewi was here—and taken her away immediately.
I click my tongue in irritation, mask my expression with indifference once more, then walk toward Marinka, who's still sitting on the floor.
She looks up at me, her face soaked in tears, glaring with fury.
"WHAT? ARE YOU LAUGHING, HUH?! I—"
"It's over," I cut her off coldly. "And you've lost. Admit it."
I don't care if my words wound her further. I turn and walk away.
I need to see Dewi. As soon as possible.
Ryuji POV END
TO BE CONTINUED...