"Livia… look at him!" Tiana hissed, grabbing her friend's sleeve.
Livia blinked, still shaken from the vivid dream that had haunted her hours before. Her chest ached faintly, and her fingers twitched nervously as she clutched her bag strap. "What… who?" she murmured, distracted.
"That tall man, near the fountain!" Tiana whispered urgently, pointing toward the street. "He's… he's staring this way. You have to see him!"
Livia's gaze drifted, but her mind was tangled in the remnants of the dream. The pain, the fleeting warmth, the confusion it clung to her chest like a shadow. "I… I don't see him," she murmured. "I've just been… lost in thought. That dream again. It felt… too real this time."
Tiana furrowed her brow, concern mixing with amusement. "Lost in thought? Livia, you're trembling! Seriously… that guy over there is incredible. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair, sharp jaw… and those eyes like they can see right into you. Dangerous, yes… but wow, he's stunning."
Livia managed a small smile, though her chest still felt heavy. "Tiana… stop. I can't focus."
Seeing her friend's distress, Tiana softened, nudging her gently. "Hey… breathe. Look at me. You're not going to float away into your dream world. Come on, Livia if dreams were real life, I'd already be chasing you around trying to wake you up," she teased, smirking.
Livia chuckled faintly, the first real smile since waking. "Thanks… you're ridiculous."
Meanwhile, across the city, Kael Marus moved with deliberate precision. Every step, every glance, every moment was calculated. His real target was the Marus family the people who had taken everything he felt was rightfully his. But Livia Konate, the girl walking just ahead, was part of the plan. Her presence mattered, and he needed to observe her carefully before anything unfolded.
Kael's dark eyes scanned her from a distance. She moved with effortless grace, her expression distant, fingers lightly brushing her bag strap. To the casual observer, she seemed ordinary but Kael noted every detail with sharp precision. He didn't reveal interest; his gaze was mostly cold, analytical. Yet, for a fraction of a second, he acknowledged a faint trace of something almost like… liking, buried beneath the layers of focus and calculation.
Beside him, his assistant, Darian, a sharp and loyal man, quietly reported updates. "She's the girl," Darian murmured, watching from the side. "The Konate daughter. Everything aligns with the information you requested. Confirmed."
Kael nodded slowly, expression unreadable. "Good," he replied, voice low and controlled. "Everything is in motion. Watch her carefully, but do not interfere yet."
Back on the street, Tiana's fascination grew. "Seriously, Liv… look at him. He's like the perfect mix of dangerous and handsome. The kind of man you don't forget even if you try. And that stare he could just tear someone apart… and you'd probably thank him for it."
Livia laughed weakly, still caught in the ghost of her dream. "Tiana, I really don't care about anyone right now. I've got… other things on my mind."
Tiana reached out and nudged her gently again. "Well, at least I can confirm he's real. Not a figment of your nightmare. And hey, if he tries to mess with you, I promise I'll trip him over his own feet," she joked, earning a genuine laugh from Livia. The tension eased slightly, replaced by warmth and a small spark of humor.
Kael continued to observe from afar. His eyes followed Livia as she moved, noting her poise, the subtle tension in her posture, and the delicate way she interacted with her friend. He did not approach not yet. Observation first, assessment second. Every motion, every flicker of expression would be filed away in his mind.
Livia exhaled softly, pressing a hand to her chest. "That dream… it felt so real, Tiana. Like it was trying to tell me something. I don't know why it affects me so much."
Tiana smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Maybe it's just your brain being dramatic. Or maybe… you're secretly the heroine of someone's story. Either way, try not to faint in public. That would be embarrassing."
Kael allowed his gaze to linger a moment longer before stepping back into the crowd, blending seamlessly with the city's rhythm. His PA, Darian, tracked every movement, ensuring the plan stayed on course. This girl Livia was only a part of the puzzle, but every observation mattered.
For now, Livia remained unaware, lost in thought and the echo of her dream. But Kael Marus had arrived, calculating, precise, and ready. And soon, the threads of his plan would begin to tighten around Lavida and the people who had wronged him.
Yet for reasons he didn't allow himself to name, his mind lingered softly on her. Not in a way that distracted from the task at hand, but enough that he remembered the curve of her smile, the delicate grace in her movements, and the quiet strength in her eyes.