Three years later

Three years later.

"This is huge news for the entertainment business and a real hit for Unique Smith’s fans. It looks like Unique has stepped away from the cast of the much-anticipated thriller series, The Darkness Behind Me. There’s no word yet on who the new female lead will be, but insiders in the industry are saying the show is probably going to tank without its star..."

The channel flickered as the man in the corner office on the top floor with panoramic view, switched to another news station, only for the screen to go dark a moment later.

Ezekiel tossed the remote onto the big brown table and sat in silence in his office, staring into the dark screen of the TV. His eyes felt cold and empty, and his lips were drawn into a tight line, as if laughter had vanished from his life entirely.

The heavy office door creaked open. His assistant walked in, holding a leather file.

"Boss, I’ve put together everything for tonight," he began, speaking quietly. "You’ve got the industry event tonight. And..." He paused, checking Ezekiel’s face before adding, "The Young Miss is arriving today. You’re supposed to pick her up from the airport."

Hearing about the Young Miss made Ezekiel's composure waver. He felt a surge of restlessness and let out a long, deep sigh, revealing a weariness that ran deep. He wasn't ready for this. He didn't want to go.

Yet, in his world, what was expected was what you did.

…

International Airport - 6:00 PM

The terminal buzzed with the chaos of travelers and flashing lights, but Ezekiel moved through it all like a glacier, very slowly, coldly, and almost immovable. His mind was lost in thoughts about a past he'd tried to bury for the last three years.

Even though it's been over a thousand days, the memory still taunt him like it was yesterday.

He stopped near the VIP exit, checking his watch, waiting for the 'young miss' flight to land.

Then, something caught his eye, a flash of emerald silk.

A woman was striding toward the private parking bay, exuding an effortless, almost predatory grace that turned heads. Her features were sharp, her skin porcelain-like, and her long dark hair shone under the terminal lights.

Suddenly, Ezekiel’s heart, which had felt dead for three years, began to race.

It’s her.

The thought was absurd. Impossible. But the way she held her head, the curve of her shoulder, it felt like a ghost had come alive.

"Lorna?" he whispered, his voice barely a sound. He hadn't mentioned that name in three years.

But the woman didn’t hear him and kept walking, her heels clicking a confident rhythm against the floor. For a second, the woman didn't look like the woman who had been haunting his dreams but thete was something about her that draws him in almost immediately he saw her.

"Lorna!" he called again, his professionalism slipping away. He took off running, weaving through travelers, his eyes locked on that emerald dress.

He reached the glass doors just as she stepped outside.

"Lorna, wait!"

He burst through the doors, but she was already climbing into the back of a black SUV. A well-dressed man held the door open for her, while a woman with a tablet briefed her about something urgent.

The woman in emerald didn’t look back. Not once did she glance at the man sprinting toward her, desperation etched on his face.

The door slammed shut. The engine roared to life, and the SUV sped off into the evening traffic before Ezekiel could reach the curb.

He stood there, breathing heavily, watching the red taillights fade into the night.

"Ezekiel?"

A soft, melodic voice drifted from behind him.

He froze. Turning slowly, he saw the woman he was here to pick standing there with a luggage trolley and a bright, triumphant smile.

She looked just as she had three years ago, vibrant, beautiful, and full of the light that their family had always adored.

"Kiel, you actually came!" Lynn exclaimed, stepping forward to embrace him. "Did you miss me? Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

Ezekiel glanced down at Lynn, then back at the road where the black SUV had vanished. The woman in the car had looked like a queen. A word that shouldn't even be involved with Lorna.

Maybe it wasn't even Lorna.

"It was nothing," he replied, his voice slipping back into its usual icy tone. "Just a misunderstanding. Welcome home, Lynn."

Behind his eyes, the image of the woman in emerald burned brightly. He had no idea who she was, but for the first time in three years, a spark of something other than grief stirred within him.

It felt like fear.

...

Inside the stylish SUV, the woman dressed in emerald silk leaned back into the plush leather seat, looking beautiful and completely relaxed. She was happily watching the city lights blur by outside the tinted windows.

The woman in the front seat, who had been focused on her tablet, briefly looked at the side mirror before speaking up. "Is it just me, or did that guy earlier... wasn’t he going in our direction?"

The driver kept his eyes on the road. "Definitely not," he said firmly. "Plus, the name he was calling was different. It had nothing to do with us."

Anne, the woman in the front seat, nodded slowly. "Right. This is Vespera's first visit to City F, after all."

In the back, Vespera nodded in agreement. She looked calm, her voice light and musical as she spoke. "Anne might have misunderstood. This is really my first time in City F; it's like a dream for me! Now I get why everyone wants to come here. It’s so vibrant."

Vespera leaned towards the window, a big, bright smile lighting up her face as she admired the towering skyscrapers.

"We’ll head straight to your hotel room now," Anne said, turning slightly to look back at her. "We need to get you ready for the event tonight. It’s important that you look perfect."

Vespera nodded, her smile still bright.

"Welcome to City F, Vespera," Anne added, her tone softening with sincerity. "I know you’ll do great here."

Vespera turned her gaze back inside the car, nodding to herself. The smile stayed on her face, but her eyes hinted at something deeper beneath her cheerful demeanor.

She was determined to succeed. She had to.