Luna sat in the back of her black limousine, the city lights flashing by as the car smoothly navigated through the evening traffic. The conversation with Kiad replayed in her mind like a loop she couldn't break. His words had been perfectly polite, his manner gentle and considerate, yet there was something that left her unsettled, something she couldn't quite define. Why did it feel like he was keeping a distance, even as he spoke kindly to her?
She stared out the window, lost in thought. Was this really the right thing to do? The engagement had been arranged for her, a decision made by her family without much input from her. She had always known this day would come, but now that it was here, she couldn't help but feel a creeping doubt. Kiad was everything he was supposed to be—handsome, well-mannered, a man of power and prestige. And yet, despite all that, there was a coldness in his eyes that lingered in her memory, a detachment that made her feel like a piece of a much larger puzzle rather than a person he truly wanted to get to know.
As the limousine turned into the driveway of Ross Tower, the imposing headquarters of her family's empire, Luna's thoughts shifted. Since returning home after her studies, she had become acutely aware of the way people in her world operated. She had learned that behind the polished smiles and polite words, there often lay a careful calculation. Perhaps Kiad was no different. Perhaps she was simply learning, painfully, that in the world she belonged to, people could be charming and distant all at once.
The limousine came to a stop, and Luna took a deep breath before stepping out, her heels clicking softly against the marble driveway. The Ross Tower loomed above her, a symbol of her family's legacy and power. The building was a marvel of modern architecture, its glass exterior reflecting the city lights, towering over the surrounding structures like a beacon of wealth and influence. Inside, the lobby was equally impressive, with high ceilings adorned with chandeliers that sparkled like a sea of diamonds. The floor was made of pristine white marble, and the walls were lined with sleek, modern art pieces that spoke of both taste and affluence.
But as Luna walked through the grand entrance and into the lobby, something felt off. The usual hum of quiet efficiency was replaced by a strange tension. She hadn't taken more than a few steps inside when a sudden crash echoed through the hall, the unmistakable sound of dishes shattering against the floor. Luna froze, her heart skipping a beat as she turned toward the source of the noise.
In the center of the hall, a scene was unfolding that seemed entirely out of place in the carefully controlled environment of Ross Tower. Several staff members stood frozen, their faces pale, as a woman's voice rang out, sharp and grating against Luna's ears. It was a voice she recognized all too well—Vivienne, her father's second wife and the woman who had made Luna's life a quiet misery since she had returned home.
"You incompetent fool!" Vivienne's voice cut through the air, shrill and unforgiving. She stood near a table that had been set up for an evening event, the remnants of shattered dishes scattered at her feet. A young server stood before her, his face stricken with fear and embarrassment as he tried to stammer out an apology.
"I—I'm so sorry, Mrs. Ross," the young man stuttered, his hands trembling as he tried to gather the broken pieces. "It was an accident, I didn't mean—"
"Enough!" Vivienne snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. "You've ruined everything! Do you have any idea how important this event is?"
Luna felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she watched the scene unfold. She had always found it difficult to stand up to Vivienne, who wielded her position in the Ross family with a sharp cruelty. The woman had a way of making everyone around her feel small, insignificant, and Luna had not been immune to her harsh treatment.
But something in Luna stirred as she saw the young server, his face flushed with humiliation, and the cold satisfaction in Vivienne's eyes. She couldn't just stand by and watch. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Luna stepped forward, her voice firm despite the nerves fluttering in her chest.
"Vivienne," she called out, her tone measured but clear. The older woman turned sharply, her eyes narrowing as she saw Luna approaching. "That's enough. It was an accident, and there's no need to make a scene."
Vivienne's lips curled into a thin, disdainful smile. "Luna, darling," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "I'm merely ensuring that our staff understands the importance of their duties. Surely you can appreciate that."
Luna held her ground, refusing to be intimidated. "I understand that mistakes happen, and treating people with respect doesn't cost anything. Let him clean up and we can all move on."
There was a moment of tense silence as Vivienne stared at Luna, her eyes flashing with something between irritation and surprise. But before she could respond, Luna turned to the young server, offering him a kind smile.
"It's alright," she said gently. "Just clean it up, and don't worry about it. Everyone makes mistakes."
The young man nodded quickly, his relief evident as he bent down to pick up the broken pieces. Vivienne said nothing, but Luna could feel her icy gaze on her as she turned away, heading toward the elevator. As she walked, Luna couldn't help but feel a small sense of victory. Maybe, It was because she was heiress now. It wasn't much, but for the first time in a long time, she had found her voice.
Yet as the elevator doors closed behind her, she couldn't shake the unsettling thought that perhaps her entire world was more like Vivienne's tantrum than she had ever wanted to admit—carefully constructed on the surface, but beneath it, full of sharp edges and broken pieces that no one was willing to acknowledge.
Luna lay in her bed, the soft sheets cocooning her as she tried to put the events of the day out of her mind. She had always been good at compartmentalizing, at pushing away the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her, but tonight it was harder than usual. The conversation with Kiad had left her unsettled, his polite yet distant demeanor, and the strange coldness in his eyes, all lingering like a shadow in her mind. And then there had been the incident at Ross Tower, Vivienne's shrill voice still echoing in her ears, reminding her of the harsh realities.
But Luna was determined not to dwell on it. She knew that overthinking would do her no good. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, and she needed to be ready, composed, and patient. Her family had always taught her that patience was a virtue, especially in their world, where power and influence were everything. So she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let the darkness of sleep slowly envelop her, pushing away her doubts and fears, at least for the night.
Elsewhere, in a luxurious penthouse across the city, Kiad Rylan stood by the large floor-to-ceiling windows of his living room, staring out at the glittering skyline. The view was breathtaking, the city alive with lights and movement, but Kiad's mind was elsewhere. He was replaying the conversation he had with Luna earlier in the day. There was something about her, something that tugged at a part of him he wasn't ready to acknowledge. She was beautiful, poised, and shy in a way that made him want to be honest with her , yet he had kept his distance, maintaining the façade that had become second nature to him.
As he stood there, lost in thought, the sound of soft footsteps behind him pulled him back to the present. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was; her presence was as familiar to him as his own heartbeat.