Heartlock “Millions are watching…but only one heart is real.

The first thing Selena Vale noticed about the studio was the cold.

Not the air-conditioning blasting from hidden vents above the massive soundstage, but the kind of cold that settled deep inside your chest when you realized your life was about to change forever.

Bright lights flashed across the polished black floor while cameras rolled between nervous contestants. Producers rushed around wearing headsets, shouting instructions like they were preparing for battle instead of a dating show.

Above the stage, giant silver letters glowed:

THE SOULMATE EXPERIMENT

ONE HEART. ONE MATCH. NO ESCAPE.

Selena swallowed hard.

What am I doing here?

“Selena!”

She turned as Ivy Monroe hurried toward her in gold heels, looking both excited and terrified.

“Oh my God,” Ivy whispered dramatically, “this place is insane.”

Selena laughed nervously. “You’re only realizing that now?”

“Girl, there are literally more cameras than humans.”

Despite the joke, Selena’s stomach twisted tighter.

Everything felt too glamorous.

Too unreal.

Three months ago, her life had made sense.

Law school.

Internship.

Coffee.

Sleep deprivation.

Repeat.

Then Hope died.

The memory hit her chest instantly.

One phone call.

One drunk driver.

One horrible moment that destroyed everything.

After losing her best friend, Selena stopped recognizing herself. She buried herself in work, ignored everyone around her, and slowly forgot what happiness even felt like.

That was why she applied for The Soulmate Experiment.

Not for fame.

Not for money.

She just wanted to feel alive again.

“Contestants to the stage!” a producer shouted.

The room exploded into movement.

Selena inhaled slowly.

This is really happening.

As she followed the others toward the glowing stage entrance, music thundered through the walls.

The audience outside screamed loudly.

Millions of people were watching live.

Suddenly someone brushed past her shoulder.

Selena looked up—

—and forgot how to breathe.

Tall.

Dark hair.

Sharp jawline.

Black suit perfectly fitted against broad shoulders.

The stranger moved calmly through the chaos like none of this affected him.

Then he looked at her.

Gray eyes.

Cold.

Intense.

For one strange second, the noise around Selena disappeared completely.

The guy glanced at the number pinned to her dress.

“Contestant Five,” he said smoothly.

His voice sent warmth racing down her spine.

Selena blinked. “Uh… yeah.”

One corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“I’m Contestant Seven.”

Then he walked away.

Selena stared after him.

Ivy appeared beside her immediately.

“WHO was that?”

“I don’t know,” Selena admitted.

“But he looked at you like you already ruined his life.”

“That’s not comforting.”

“It’s hot though.”

Selena rolled her eyes, but her heart was still racing.

Contestant Seven.

Why did that number suddenly feel important?

The stage doors opened.

Light exploded across Selena’s vision.

The audience roared.

She stepped forward slowly while giant screens displayed each contestant’s face overhead.

At the center of the stage stood the host himself.

Orion Vale.

Perfect smile.

Perfect suit.

Perfect television voice.

“WELCOME,” Orion announced dramatically, “to the very first night of The Soulmate Experiment!”

The audience screamed louder.

“Tonight, twenty contestants begin the most emotional and unpredictable dating experiment in television history.”

Screens flashed around the studio.

Couples kissing.

People crying.

Luxury vacations.

Explosive arguments.

Selena’s nerves worsened immediately.

“This season,” Orion continued, “our contestants have been matched using psychological profiling, emotional analysis, and advanced compatibility technology designed to identify soulmates.”

The crowd cheered.

“Over the next several weeks, contestants will live together, compete together, and discover whether true soulmates actually exist.”

Selena shifted nervously beneath the lights.

“Some of you will find love,” Orion said.

The audience applauded.

“Some of you will leave heartbroken.”

Silence briefly filled the room.

“And some of you…” Orion smiled slowly, “…may discover that not everyone entered this experiment for love.”

The contestants exchanged uneasy glances.

Selena frowned slightly.

What does that mean?

“Now,” Orion announced, “let’s meet our contestants!”

Music blasted through the studio again.

One by one, contestants stepped forward while giant screens displayed their names.

“Bianca Hart!”

A gorgeous influencer waved dramatically.

“Ethan Cole!”

A charming football player grinned at the crowd.

“Sienna Cross!”

A brunette model blew kisses toward the audience.

“Nova Nyx!”

Then—

“Cassian Blake.”

The name hit differently.

Contestant Seven stepped forward calmly.

The audience reaction was immediate.

Screaming.

Whistles.

Excited shouting.

Even Orion looked impressed.

“Cassian Blake,” the host announced. “Award-winning music producer. Twenty-seven. Los Angeles.”

Cassian barely smiled.

Selena noticed almost every girl staring openly at him.

Honestly?

She understood why.

Cassian looked less like a real person and more like someone invented by the internet.

Sharp cheekbones.

Dark messy hair.

Expensive black watch.

Dangerous eyes.

And somehow—

right as Orion continued speaking—

Cassian looked directly at Selena again.

Her stomach flipped unexpectedly.

Why does he keep looking at me?

“Selena Vale!”

She nearly jumped.

Ivy shoved her lightly. “That’s your cue.”

Selena forced herself forward while polite applause filled the studio.

“Selena Vale,” Orion announced smoothly. “Law intern. Twenty-four. Chicago.”

Every camera turned toward her.

“Tell us, Selena,” Orion continued, “why did you join The Soulmate Experiment?”

For one horrible second, she forgot how words worked.

Then she remembered Hope.

Life is too short to stay afraid.

Selena lifted her chin slightly.

“Because I got tired of surviving instead of living.”

The audience quieted instantly.

Even Orion’s expression softened slightly.

“And what are you hoping to find here?”

Selena hesitated.

Then quietly answered:

“Something real.”

For the first time all night—

Cassian Blake looked genuinely interested.

Orion smiled slowly.

“Well,” he said, “you came to the right place.”

Suddenly the lights dimmed.

The giant screen behind them changed into glowing silver symbols shaped like locks and keys.

“What’s happening?” Bianca whispered nearby.

Orion grinned.

“Contestants… it’s time for the first Soulmate Match Ceremony.”

The audience exploded.

Production assistants rolled out two enormous glass boxes.

Inside one:

silver heart-shaped locks.

Inside the other:

matching silver keys.

Selena’s pulse quickened.

“This season,” Orion explained, “every contestant has been assigned a compatibility lock.”

Contestants exchanged nervous looks.

“Your soulmate,” Orion continued, “holds the only key capable of unlocking your heart.”

The lights flickered dramatically.

“Tonight… you meet your first matches.”

The room erupted into screams.

Orion reached into the first box.

“Selena Vale.”

Selena stepped forward slowly while a producer placed a silver lock necklace around her neck.

Her heartbeat thundered.

Then Orion reached into the second box.

“Cassian Blake.”

The audience SCREAMED.

Selena froze.

No way.

Cassian walked toward her calmly, silver key spinning between his fingers.

Every camera zoomed in instantly.

Orion smirked knowingly.

“Interesting.”

Cassian stopped directly in front of Selena.

Close enough for her to smell his cologne.

Warm.

Expensive.

Dangerous.

Neither of them spoke.

The audience held its breath.

Then Orion said:

“Cassian… would you like to see if your key fits Selena’s lock?”

Cassian’s gray eyes locked onto hers.

Slowly—

carefully—

he lifted the silver key.

Selena’s pulse pounded so loudly she could barely hear the audience anymore.

Then—

CLICK.

The lock opened.

The entire studio exploded into screams.

Behind them, giant screens flashed:

98% COMPATIBILITY MATCH

HIGHEST SCORE THIS SEASON

Selena stared at the screen in shock.

Ninety-eight percent?

And somehow—

standing beneath blinding lights with millions watching—

she suddenly had the terrifying feeling that this moment would change everything.