Chapter 5: The Stranger She Shouldn’t Have Met

“Sometimes, the person you walk away from… is the one you were never meant to miss.”

The next morning felt unreal.

Like everything from last night had been a bad dream.

But it wasn’t.

Elara stood in front of the mirror in her hotel room, staring at herself.

Same face.

Same eyes.

But everything else?

Different.

Gone was the soft, quiet girl who waited to be chosen.

What stood there now…

Was someone new.

Someone done with everything.

“I’m not Elara Voss anymore,” she said quietly.

The name felt heavy now.

Like a past she didn’t want.

She picked up her phone and made a call.

“I need a name change. Legal. Fast,” she said, her voice calm, steady.

There was a pause on the other end.

“It can be arranged.”

“Good.”

She ended the call without hesitation.

Next

Flight booking.

Destination?

Anywhere but here.

Anywhere they couldn’t reach her.

Her fingers hovered over the screen for a second…

Then she picked a place.

New city. New life. No connections.

Perfect.

“Done,” she muttered.

No turning back.

The airport was crowded.

People rushing. Announcements echoing. Suitcases rolling.

But Elara moved through it like she already belonged somewhere else.

Head high.

Face calm.

Heart guarded.

She adjusted her sunglasses slightly and kept walking.

Almost there.

Almost free.

Then

Bang.

She walked straight into someone.

Strong.

Solid.

She staggered slightly.

“Watch it” a deep voice started.

Before she could even react

Two men in black suits stepped forward quickly.

“Step back!” one of them snapped, blocking her path.

Elara blinked.

Excuse me?

“I just bumped into him,” she said, frowning. “Relax.”

“Keep your distance,” the other one added, eyes sharp.

Elara looked past them.

And that’s when she saw him.

Tall.

Dressed simply, but somehow still… expensive.

Calm.

Unbothered.

His gaze met hers.

Cold.

Unreadable.

Oh.

So this is the “important” one.

Elara scoffed slightly.

“Wow,” she said, folding her arms. “Does he always come with a whole army, or is today special?”

One of the bodyguards stepped forward again. “Mind your tone”

“It’s fine.”

His voice.

Low.

Controlled.

The bodyguards immediately stepped back.

Elara raised a brow slightly.

Of course.

He glanced at her briefly.

Then spoke, almost like he wasn’t interested.

“You should watch where you’re going.”

Elara let out a short laugh.

“Or maybe,” she shot back, “your people should stop acting like the world belongs to you.”

A small pause.

The air between them shifted slightly.

For a second

It felt like a challenge.

Then he looked at her properly.

Really looked at her.

And something in his expression changed.

Just a little.

Interesting.

But Elara didn’t care.

Not anymore.

She shook her head lightly. “Rich people,” she muttered. “Always thinking they’re untouchable.”

Then she walked past him.

Just like that.

No apology.

No fear.

Nothing.

Behind her, the bodyguards looked shocked.

But he didn’t stop her.

He just watched her go.

Minutes later.

Elara sat comfortably in the VIP lounge, scrolling through her phone.

Flight confirmed.

Everything set.

New life loading.

She exhaled slowly.

Finally.

Peace.

Or at least…

Something close to it.

When boarding was announced, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked confidently toward the gate.

No hesitation.

No looking back.

Inside the plane.

Business class.

Quiet. Clean. Private.

Elara found her seat and sat down, adjusting slightly.

This was it.

A fresh start.

She leaned back, closing her eyes for a second.

Then

“Excuse me.”

Her eyes opened.

That voice again.

No way.

She turned.

And there he was.

The same man from the airport.

Standing right beside her seat.

Elara blinked.

Then laughed softly under her breath.

“You again?” she said.

He looked at her.

Calm as ever.

“Seems so.”

She shook her head slightly, amused. “Don’t tell me you’re sitting here.”

He glanced at the seat next to her.

Then back at her.

“I am.”

Elara leaned back, crossing her arms.

“Of course you are,” she muttered. “What are the odds?”

He didn’t respond immediately.

Just sat down.

Relaxed.

Like nothing bothered him.

Silence filled the space for a few seconds.

Then

“You always argue with strangers?” he asked.

Elara smirked slightly.

“Only the annoying ones.”

A pause.

Then

The corner of his lips moved slightly.

Almost a smile.

Almost.

“I see,” he said.

She turned to look at him properly now.

“You always travel with bodyguards?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Wow,” she said dryly. “Must be nice feeling that important.”

He didn’t react.

But his eyes flickered slightly.

“What about you?” he asked. “Running away or chasing something?”

The question caught her off guard.

For a second.

But she recovered quickly.

“None of your business,” she replied.

“Fair enough.”

Silence again.

But this time

It wasn’t awkward.

Just… calm.

Different.

“You have a name?” he asked after a while.

Elara paused.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

Her old name sat at the edge of her lips.

But she swallowed it.

“I do,” she said simply.

He waited.

But she didn’t say it.

After a second, he nodded slightly.

“Kael.”

The name landed quietly.

Elara looked at him.

Kael.

Something about it felt… important.

But she didn’t think too much about it.

“Elara” she almost said.

Then stopped.

No.

Not anymore.

She leaned back.

“Nice to meet you, Kael,” she said instead.

Without giving hers.

And strangely

He didn’t ask again.

Hours later.

The plane landed.

New city.

New beginning.

Elara stood up quickly, grabbing her bag.

No delays.

No attachments.

As she stepped out into the busy airport, she didn’t look back.

Didn’t wait.

Didn’t say goodbye.

She just walked.

Away.

Again.

Behind her, Kael stepped out a few moments later.

His eyes scanned the crowd briefly.

Looking for something.

Or someone.

But she was already gone.

Vanished into the city.

Like she had never been there.

Kael stood still for a second.

Then spoke quietly

“Interesting.”

And for the first time in a long time…

Someone had caught his attention.