Chapter 005 (Râmi-ki)

The moment her sky-blue eyes met the deep blue of his, the world seemed to still.

He stood tall and confident, broad-shouldered, his features carved in a serene way that unsettled the heart. Long strands of his black hair slid over his shoulders with a gentle breeze—as if they danced to a rhythm only he could hear.

Suddenly he moved smoothly, approaching her with a gentle smile.

“Lila, right?”

His voice was low, resonant… like a private melody composed for her alone.

A soft twist tightened inside her. “Yes…”

“I’m Zane.” He offered a faint, knowing smile. “I think you should get to know me.”

She had no idea why he said that.

And even less idea why it felt—just for a heartbeat—like her name had been waiting on his lips for years.

She opened her mouth to answer, but Ryan cut across the space between them in tense, urgent strides, his face shadowed with an emotion she couldn’t read.

“Lila,” he said harshly. “Your mother wants you.”

She frowned. “No one told me—”

But Ryan didn’t let her finish. He took her by the elbow, guiding her with a gentleness that felt strangely firm… almost possessive.

She glanced back—just briefly—and found Zane still standing where she left him, watching her with a look so strange it made her heart stumble.

Lila stood behind her mother, surrounded by a cluster of laughing women. Her mother lifted the bouquet high, swaying it playfully in her hand, her smile glowing like moonlight.

“Ready?” she called out cheerfully.

Lila held her breath—not because she wanted the bouquet, but because she suddenly felt every eye anticipating whether it would land in her hands.

Her mother tossed the bouquet.

Slow motion followed.

Silence.

The roses spiraled enchantingly through the air.

They were heading straight toward her, and she lifted her hand instinctively—

But just before she touched it, a sudden gust of wind swept through, knocking the bouquet sharply to the side. It flew across the circle and landed at the feet of another girl, who squealed with delight as though she’d won a treasure.

Lila froze, startled by the strange coincidence.

She lifted her gaze—and there he was.

Zane, standing at a distance, yet looking only at her with a calm, warm expression filled with something that felt almost… ancient.

Then he smiled.

A small smile—yet it pierced straight through her.

When the dancing faded, and the laughter softened, and the music died away, Lila wrapped her arms tightly around her mother.

“Take care of yourself, Lila… and try not to overthink,” her mother whispered.

Lila nodded, knowing she absolutely would.

She would overthink everything.

After the car carrying her mother and Ryan’s father drove off, the place felt abruptly colder—emptier.

Guests dispersed. Chairs folded. The garden widened under the weight of the quiet night.

Before she could leave, she noticed Zane walking toward her again. His steps were slow and gentle—as though he didn’t want to disturb the moment forming around them.

But Ryan stepped in front of him suddenly.

As if he had materialized out of thin air.

“Leaving?” Ryan asked, voice flat.

Zane extended his hand politely, a subtle glimmer in his eyes. “I’ll be on my way now.”

Ryan shook his hand too firmly—so firmly that Zane lifted an eyebrow in mild amusement.

Before turning away, Zane let his gaze drift over Ryan’s shoulder… settling on Lila.

A warm, lingering look that could unsteady anyone.

Then he walked off.

The imprint of that look burned into both of them… neither could deny it.

Inside the mansion, Lila felt the walls closing in. The glittering chandeliers overhead didn’t feel luxurious—they felt suffocating.

Ryan headed to the kitchen, his steps quick, almost angry. She followed, uneasy.

“Ryan, wait—”

He turned abruptly. She collided with him. Hard.

She stumbled back from the impact, breath catching, her hands rising instinctively to brace against his shoulders.

Both of them stilled. The closeness sparked something neither understood. His honey-brown eyes locked onto her sky-blue ones.

Their breaths mingled. His chest rose and fell slowly… as if he were fighting something inside.

Lila felt the heat of his body seep into her skin—confusing, infuriating, and undeniably magnetic.

He stepped back. Then again. Then smothered whatever that moment had been.

“Where did they go?” she whispered, trying to steady her voice.

“Far away,” he muttered, eyes avoiding hers. “And that’s enough for you.”

She raised her brows, irritated. “You’re rude.”

“And you’re annoying.” His tone was sharper than intended. He turned away quickly.

She couldn’t stand another second.

She turned and ran up the stairs, refusing to look at him.

In her room, she had no energy left—for anger, for confusion, or for the storm of Zane’s gaze and Ryan’s strange nearness.

She collapsed onto her bed fully dressed and fell asleep instantly, as though her body had surrendered. But her sleep was not peaceful.

She found herself somewhere unreal. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, holding her tightly. She couldn’t see the man’s face, but the feel of his body… was painfully, intoxicatingly real.

His chest pressed warmly against her back.

His breath slipped down her neck.

A large hand stroked her arm slowly, setting her skin alight.

She wanted to pull away, but her body wouldn’t move.

She wanted to see who he was… but the shadow never revealed his face.

He leaned closer to her ear.

And whispered in a deep, masculine, mesmerizing voice—a voice powerful enough to tear her heart apart:

“Râmi-ki…”

She didn’t know what it meant.

But it felt… entirely hers.

Before she could turn to see him—

She fell from the dream and woke up sitting upright, gasping as though she had been running—from love, or from death.

She placed a hand on her neck, checking if the warmth was real.

But her heart—

It pounded as if someone had truly been holding her.