The Starlight Diamond

11:30 PM. Hospital again.

My mother was sitting up this time. The nurses had changed her sheets, combed her hair, even put a little pink lipstick on her that I left in her drawer three years ago.

She looked alive.

"Sophia," she said when I ran in, "you left your coat in the mansion. You will catch cold."

Only a mother would worry about a coat after waking up from three years of poison.

I hugged her, careful of the IV.

"Mom, you said something about a diamond?"

She nodded and looked at Alexander, who was standing politely by the door with two cups of hot milk — one for me, one for her.

"Alexander, can you... can you close the door? This is Lane family secret."

Alexander closed the door and stood outside like a soldier. He knew when to give us space.

My mother took my hand and placed it on the jade ring.

"This ring is the key."

"What key?"

"Your grandpa didn't just leave Starlight. He left Starlight's heart. The first diamond he ever cut when he came to America in 1975. 100 carats. Perfect. He named it Starlight Diamond. Worth $50M now, but he never sold it. He said it belongs to the real CEO of Lane."

I remembered. Grandpa used to tell me bedtime stories about a diamond that glowed like morning star.

"Where is it, Mom?"

"Inside the sewing machine. The old one in the basement. The one you used to play with as a child. He hollowed the bottom. The ring opens it. Turn left three times, right two times."

My heart pounded. $50M diamond hidden in a broken sewing machine that everyone thought was trash. Lisa walked past it every day and never knew.

"Mom, why didn't you tell Father?"

"Because your father is not a Lane anymore," she said, eyes sharp, like the CEO she used to be. "You are. Tomorrow, take it and use it for your Revival Collection. Put it in your centerpiece dress. Let New York remember who Starlight really belongs to."

I cried again. This time not from sadness.

"Mom, I will."

She touched my cheek. "And Sophia... that young man outside... does he... does he love you?"

I blushed. First time since rebirth.

"He... he says he liked me since PE field..."

My mother smiled, tired but happy. "Your grandpa would have liked him. He looks like he can kill for you but will ask your permission first. Marry him properly this time. Not contract. Proper wedding. In red."

"I will, Mom. After I finish all this."

"Good. Now go. I'm tired. And tell him... tell him thank you for the milk. No one ever brought me milk at midnight before, not even your father."

I kissed her forehead and went out.

Alexander was leaning against the wall, two milks still warm in his hands, tie loosened, looking exhausted but still handsome.

"She told you?" he asked.

"She told me where the $50M diamond is. Hidden in sewing machine. And she told me to marry you properly."

He choked on air.

"What did you say?"

"I said after I finish revenge."

"And what did she say about me?" he tried to be casual but his ears were red.

"She said you look like you can kill for me but will ask permission first."

He laughed low. "She is correct."

We walked to the hospital rooftop garden because I couldn't sleep. New York at midnight was quiet, lights far away.

I sat on the bench, holding the milk. He sat next to me, not too close.

"Sophia," he said after a long silence, "can I ask you something from my contract?"

"What?"

"Clause 8 says no kissing unless both parties agree for business purposes."

I remembered. I wrote that clause myself to protect myself.

"Yeah..."

"Can we... break clause 8 tonight? For non-business purpose?"

I looked at him. The cold billionaire who had $1B to give, who brought milk, who waited outside basement, who learned to ask permission.

In my last life, I waited 10 years for Ethan to kiss me like he meant it. He never did.

This man waited for me to say yes.

I put the milk down.

"Mr. Knight, as CEO of Lane Group, I approve breaking clause 8."

He didn't move fast like in movies. He moved slowly, giving me time to push him away if I wanted.

He leaned in, hand hovering near my cheek but not touching until I nodded.

Then he kissed me.

Soft at first, like tasting milk. Then deeper, like he had been holding it since PE field, since wedding day, since basement, since always.

I kissed him back. I put my hands in his hair and pulled him closer. The jade ring was cold between our hands.

It was not a business kiss. It was a real one.

When we broke apart, both breathing hard, New York lights reflecting in his eyes.

He whispered, "Mrs. Knight, that was worth $50M."

"No," I whispered back, forehead against his. "That was worth more than Starlight."

My phone buzzed again. It was my assistant.

_CEO Lane, bad news. Chloe just posted on I*******m — she says you stole her design for Revival Collection and she has proof. It's trending #LaneSistersFight. What do we do?_

I looked at Alexander and smiled. Not scared smile. Excited smile.

"Mr. Knight, she wants a design war?"

He stood up and took off his coat, putting it over my shoulders again.

"Then let's go home and draw. I will stay up with you. All night if you have to."

We walked out of the hospital hand in hand, milk finished, diamond waiting in basement, mother awake, kiss still on our lips.

Chloe wanted to fight about designs?

Tomorrow, she would learn who really drew Starlight.