One

LENA’S POV

I woke up with a banging head and an aching body the next morning. Tired, I let out a whistling yawn. It was morning, yet my body wouldn't wake up. I stretched under the sheets, covering my mouth with one hand.

“ Tired…” I whispered to no one.

Then, just as I began to lower my hand, I felt the brush of something cold against my cheek. The sensation had come from the same palm I had just covered my mouth with.

When I checked quickly to observe, a glint from my finger hit my eye. With a squint, I took a glance, and my eyes almost popped out of its socket.

“A diamond ring.”

It looked stunning, too expensive, and unfamiliar. One look at the ring and I could tell even money couldn't buy it. It was the highly sought-after Star Diamond.

“Where did this come from?” I murmured in confusion.

It was obvious I could never afford this. As I sought the reason why I had such an expensive ring, my head started banging once again.

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to replay the events of the previous day.

Starting from my business trip, the final moments before I returned to my penthouse, anything that could explain not just this ring but how I even returned back to my home and this room.

But there was nothing tangible.

The memories had not disappeared completely. They were just blurry pictures , too dull to make complete sense. Was I that stressed? I finally exhaled, shaking off the awkward feeling.

“It must have been from Dave…”

Though, this was an awfully luxurious choice. It was almost impossible for Dave to afford it. It makes no sense, yet it was the only reason that i could grasp.

With a sigh, I pushed the thought aside.

“I have a company to run.”

An hour later, I arrived at the premises of the fifteen story glass structure that housed the empire I was born to inherit.

After I parked, I stepped into the glass-paneled lobby with the rehearsed grace of a queen, and my navy-blue pantsuit perfected it all. The moment I walked through the entrance, the air in the first room changed.

All conversations halted, and what followed next was a chorus of greetings.

“Good morning, Miss Carter.”

“Welcome back, madam.”

And then, as if on cue, a resounding applause erupted. I arched one of my brows.

Mr. Reynolds, an executive on that floor, stepped forward right after.

“Miss Carter,” He began, offering a respectful nod.

“It would be irresponsible on our part if we don't properly acknowledge your remarkable achievement at the pitch. You’ve secured one of the most consequential contracts in our company’s history. Huge bravo, madam.”

Another round of applause followed.

I allowed myself a small, knowing smile. After all, I was used to this. I expected it. I deliver results, and people would definitely notice, but something felt off.

It was about this business trip they were congratulating me for, I still could not remember the details of the trip.

It wasn’t exactly alarming. It just felt odd that my head had still not cleared fully since morning. Still, the deal was done. That was all that mattered, right?

Satisfied, I strode toward the elevator, the doors sliding shut behind me as I prepared for another day of running an empire.

—

Later that day, as closing hours started to near, I received an incoming call. I glanced at the name on the screen.

“Dave Love.”

A smile warmed my face. The caller was David Langford, my boyfriend or, rather, soon-to-be fiance. Without hesitation, I set aside my work and grabbed the phone.

“Dave,” I greeted softly.

The deep, affectionate tone on the other end made my chest grow lighter. I acknowledge him just as lovingly.

“Meet me at Le Bernardin tonight. Eight sharp. And wear something stunning.”He had finally said.

There was a small silence. An expectant brightness appeared in my eyes. I knew exactly what this was. I had spent all day waiting for it, actually.

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.” I managed to whisper.

I wanted to ask about the Star Diamond ring, but the call had already ended. Forget it, I might as well ask him when we meet. I placed the phone back on my desk and stared at a blank spot above the door, my smile brighter than ever.

It was finally happening. Dave was proposing.

“God, I can’t wait.”

As I prepared to leave minutes later, I thought of my best friend, Grace. About how she would have been perfect for helping me choose a dress, but she was unavailable and even if she weren’t, the fact that she had never really liked David very much would have dulled her enthusiasm.

Instead, I turned to my trusted secretary, Samantha, who was already waiting outside my office. The moment I mentioned my plans, she squealed with so much excitement that it left me even surprised.

Amused, I chuckled and playfully questioned why people loved proposals so much before motioning at her to follow me out.

At 7:50 p.m., I arrived at the venue in the dress Samantha had picked. I walked with confidence even though I was nervous. Then, at a table near the terrace. I saw David in a charcoal suit.

I exhaled, as the butterflies were exploding now in my stomach.

Then our eyes met. This was the long-awaited minute. David had since risen from his chair, reaching into his pocket just as I neared.

“ Another ring?” I whispered, beaming with smiles.

For a second, I caught a look of confusion on David's face. I watched as he wanted to say something. Instead, I saw a faint smile before he brought out a velvet box.

Another ring for the official proposal. I gushed, trembling as my right hand flew to my chest. My high school dreams…they were coming true.

But just as David was about to initiate his first words, a voice from behind us cut him short.

“There you are, Mrs. Hale!”

David and I jerked our heads towards the sound.

A man I had never seen before, tall and broad-shouldered in a three piece suit, was standing just a few feet away, watching me like he had every right to be there.

After I turned around to see if he was addressing someone else in the hall, I couldn't help but notice he had smirked playing around his lips.

A dangerous smirk, yet it went straight to my heart, making me giddy. The strange man called the name again and pointed directly at me.

“Yes, you, Mrs Hale, you're the one I'm talking to.”

I blinked because he did not even appear like he was joking, I had no words for a second.

David, who now seemed to have lost his patience, shot up from his kneeling position and angrily stepped between us.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" He snarled.

Before I could react, the stranger took a single step forward. He didn’t raise a hand, didn’t say a word, instead his pointy blue eyes locked onto my hand, the one with the Star Diamond ring.

He wore a scanning look, searching and waiting.

As if genuinely expecting recognition, but all I felt was a shady void. Was he mistaking me for someone? Or had I really met him somewhere?

There was this very little but vague familiarity about his face, but there were no memories attached to it. Then, slowly, my gaze started to drop downward. To the ring on my finger. The one that had startled me this morning.

And unlike before, this time, a flash of memory surfaced. An image of me, sliding the ring onto my own hand.

And just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished again.

I looked back at the stranger quickly. He was so much closer now. His blue eyes looked bluer. And as for his voice, it carried a passionate hiss. His eyes were desperate.

“Tell him, Lena…. Tell him who you belong to."

His gaze burned into mine, and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why my throat went dry at the sound of his words.

“What the hell was going on?” I mused, expecting an answer.

From anyone.