Yvienna sat inside her father's office, her mother beside her, as her father, the CEO of their family's hotel, smiled warmly at her.
"How are you, my daughter?" he asked.
"I'm fine now, Dad. My fever's gone." She returned his smile, watching as he turned his gaze toward her mother. Without a word, he embraced Yvienna before pulling his wife into a hug as well.
"Are you two hungry? It's already past lunchtime," he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Yeah, you silly!" her mother teased, playfully smacking his arm. "So you mean to say you wouldn't eat if we weren't here?"
Yvienna giggled, but deep down, she wished for a future like her parents—a love that was unwavering, without betrayal, and full of happiness.
"I'll just use the restroom. Wait for me here," she excused herself.
Her parents nodded with affectionate smiles as she stepped out into the hallway. As she walked, the hotel employees she passed recognized her, bowing slightly in respect. She responded with a polite smile—until someone suddenly bumped into her.
"Sorry," a woman apologized, looking up at her.
Yvienna, taller than the woman, studied her face. There was something familiar about her eyes, though she couldn't quite place it.
"Oh, it's alright. Are you okay?" Yvienna asked.
But the woman didn't respond. Instead, she hurried away, leaving Yvienna with a strange, unsettled feeling. She shook it off and continued to the restroom. After using the facilities, she washed her hands and tapped on her phone.
To Kyle: Are you home safe?
She sent the message before stepping out of the restroom, only to spot the same woman again. This time, she stood in front of her father's portrait on the wall, staring at it intently.
Maybe she idolizes him for his brilliance in turning this hotel into a luxurious empire, Yvienna thought. But as soon as the woman sensed her presence, she bolted.
"What? Is she too shy to face the daughter of her idol?" she murmured, puzzled.
When she returned to her father's office, he was on the phone. The moment he noticed her, he ended the call.
"Dad, you're famous, huh?" she teased.
"What do you mean?" he chuckled.
"I saw a woman earlier, about my age, staring at your portrait. When she saw me, she ran off, probably out of embarrassment."
Her father's expression shifted, eyes widening slightly. "What do you mean? Was she an employee?"
Yvienna frowned, recalling the woman's casual attire. "No, she wasn't."
Her father's jaw tightened. "Only employees are allowed on this floor."
"We should check the security footage," her mother suggested, now looking concerned.
Yvienna didn't fully understand why they were reacting this way, but a sense of unease crept into her. Why would a non-employee be on an exclusive floor? How did she even get there?
"I already asked my secretary to look into it," her father said firmly, before softening his expression as he looked at his wife. "For now, let's eat, Honey, you and Yvienna must be starving,"
"Ew, honey," Yvienna cringed as her mother affectionately linked arms with her father. They all laughed before heading to the hotel's restaurant.
As they browsed the menu, curiosity struck Yvienna. "Mom, Dad, how did you two meet?" she asked innocently.
Both of her parents coughed, glancing at each other as if she had just unearthed a secret.
"What?" she pressed.
Her father let out an awkward laugh. "Well… we didn't exactly start on good terms."
"It was actually quite dangerous," her mother added cryptically.
"Dangerous?" Yvienna frowned.
"Someday, you'll find out," her mother said with a teasing smile.
Before Yvienna could probe further, her mother stood up. "I'll just go to the restroom."
"Why are you taking your bag?" her father asked, raising a brow.
"I need to fix my makeup." She winked playfully, making Yvienna groan in mock disgust. As her mother walked past, something slipped from her bag and fell to the floor.
"Mom, your wallet!" Yvienna called out, but her mother didn't hear her. Picking it up, she noticed a few pictures peeking out. Curiosity got the best of her, and she carefully opened it.
Inside, she found a baby picture of herself. "I was so cute," she murmured with a smile.
Then, a few more photos fell to the floor. One caught her attention immediately—her mother and Tiffany's mother dressed in black leather outfits, sitting on motorcycles. They looked like drag racers. Another picture showed her parents in their younger years. Yvienna realized she strongly resembled her mother back then.
But it was the last photo that made her heart race. Her mother, Tiffany's mother… and a woman who looked eerily like a female version of Kyle.
"What are you looking at?"
Yvienna jumped, snapping the wallet shut as her mother's voice startled her.
"Mom, who is this?" she asked, pointing at the mystery woman.
Her mother glanced at the picture and shrugged. "Oh, that was our friend back in our drag racing days. I don't know where she is now."
Yvienna studied her mother's face, searching for anything hidden beneath her casual tone. But her mother simply took the wallet back and returned the photos to their rightful place.
"Do you want shrimp, my daughter?" her father asked, breaking the moment.
She nodded as he happily placed a shrimp on her plate. But her mind was elsewhere.
Who was that woman? And why did she look so familiar?