The faint golden hue of dawn spilled through the edges of my curtain as the world beyond my window slowly began to stir,, I blinked my eyes open to the silence of my penthouse—still,, serene,, and cold. The bed felt too big. Too empty. The absence beside me felt like a gaping void that,, no amount of expensive sheets or luxury could fill.
Sighing softly,, I rose and padded barefoot across the polished floor. I drew the curtains open,, letting the early morning light flood in. Seoul looked majestic as always—its high-rise buildings bathed in amber,, cars already beginning to move like blood through the veins of the city...
Something soft brushed against my ankle... I looked down.
"Bella,," I whispered with a faint smile,, bending to stroke the kitten's silky white fur. She purred instantly,, leaning into my touch.
"Don't you miss him too??" My voice broke slightly. "Adrian…"
The name hung in the air like a ghost,, unwanted yet ever present.
I paused,, my fingers buried in Bella's fur,, thoughts spiraling without mercy. Why did it hurt so much?? Why did the silence from him feel like a punishment??
Was it something I did?? Something I failed to understand??
No. I shook my head,, stepping away from the window. I needed to stop doing this. I was a grown woman,, the CEO of one of Seoul's leading companies,, I couldn't fall apart over a man—especially not one as complicated as Adrian William.
"He's just like the rest,," I whispered bitterly. "A mystery wrapped in charm… impossible to hold on to."
Still,, my chest ached.
I left my bedroom,, entering the wide corridor that led to the living area,, Sunlight danced across the marble tiles as I stood by the large floor-to-ceiling glass pane of the living room window,, The view from my penthouse was breathtaking—skyscrapers and the bustling heart of the city.
A soft knock. One of the maids walked in,, her hair neatly tied,, a coffee mug in her hands.
"Good morning,, Miss Rimi,," she said kindly,, offering me the cup.
"Good morning,," I murmured,, taking it from her. "Thank you..."
She bowed slightly and made her way to the kitchen,, leaving me alone again.
I stared out into Seoul,, the heat of the coffee warming my fingers but not quite reaching the emptiness in my chest.
I needed distraction.
I finished my coffee,, showered,, and got dressed in a sleek cream blouse paired with navy trousers and heels that clicked against the tile with purpose. My long hair was pulled into a loose,, elegant ponytail,, and a soft shade of lipstick gave life to my otherwise pale expression.
Luna,, my personal assistant,, was waiting by the elevator. Together,, we walked down to the garage,, where Alice,, my driver,, greeted me with a polite nod.
"Good morning,, Ma'am,," he said,, opening the back door of the black car.
"Good morning,, Alice,," I replied with a faint smile,, slipping inside.
The drive was silent,, my mind already preoccupied with the day's agenda and the ache I couldn't shake. As we passed familiar streets,, I felt myself slipping into autopilot.
I arrived at Mirain Corporation,, the company I had built with everything I had—heart,, soul,, and an uncompromising will. I strode through the lobby,, nodding at the receptionists,, and entered the elevator without a word.
The doors opened to the executive floor,, and I walked straight to my office,, letting the glass doors close behind me. My desk awaited,, polished and pristine,, but the weight of today felt anything but.
I had barely sat down when Luna entered—always composed,, always efficient. Her dark hair was in a bun,, glasses perched on her nose,, and in her hands were a file and a fresh mug of coffee.
"Good morning,, Ma'am," she said,, placing both in front of me.
"Good morning,, Luna,," I replied softly.
She hesitated. "I brought the first phase of what you asked for,, But…" Her voice lowered slightly. "We couldn't find much about Adrian William."
My heart gave a painful thud. "What do you mean??"
She flipped open the file and pointed to a section highlighted in red. "He was adopted at sixteen by his uncle—Leonardo William. A powerful businessman... From that moment, his records go dark. No public school transcripts,, no medical history,, no digital trail before that age."
"Leonardo William…" I repeated slowly. The name clicked into place like a dagger to the gut. "Isn't he… connected to Black Ridge Pharmaceuticals??"
Luna nodded gravely. "Yes... And… he's more than a businessman.. He's rumored to be the head of one of ,,the most elusive mafia networks operating under pharmaceutical fronts."
My stomach dropped.
"That's why we couldn't find anything,," she continued. "Every trace of Adrian's past was buried."
I leaned back in my chair,, stunned. "He was… adopted by a mafia-connected tycoon?? And no one knew??"
"That's not all,," she said quietly,, sliding over another document. "There's more..."
I took the paper,, eyes scanning rapidly.
"He changed his last name at eighteen,," Luna continued. "He took William—his biological mother's maiden name,, It was a legal change. Clean... Precise."
I swallowed. "Why would he do that??"
"We're not sure... But here's the part I found strange,," she said,, pulling out a tabbed page from the stack. "He studied business. In Seoul... The exact same years you were in university."
My heart stopped. "What??"
"Same year. Same department. Same classes,, in some cases."
I blinked at her, the file trembling in my hands. "I never met him back then..."
"Not by name,," Luna said gently. "But someone went to great lengths to hide him. Every yearbook,, every student roster. His name is erased. Not redacted,, Deleted. It's like he was a ghost."
A shiver crept up my spine.
"Why would anyone do that??" I whispered.
Luna's eyes were heavy with uncertainty. "People don't erase themselves unless they're running from something… or someone..."
My grip tightened on the document,, knuckles turning white... My mind raced with a thousand thoughts.
What if Adrian had known me all along??
What if I'd been close to the truth without even realizing it??
Her phone buzzed softly. She checked it,, then looked at me.
"That's from the security team,," she said. "They traced one of Queen Corp's offshore accounts... An inactive branch."
I raised an eyebrow. "So??"
"It was opened under your name,," she said cautiously. "You were listed as a beneficiary."
I felt like I'd been slapped.
"What??"
"It's not active,, and nothing illegal has passed through it. But it's tied to Queen Corp… which Adrian is connected to. There's no logical reason for your name to be on it—unless he was trying to protect you... Or perhaps… keep you close in a way you wouldn't notice."
My mouth went dry.
The room felt like it tilted. I stood abruptly,, pacing the space behind my desk. The cold coffee mug sat forgotten... My heart pounded in my ears.
"Luna,," I said finally,, "I want every single thread pulled. I want to know where he is, who he's with,, what his next move might be. Every detail. I don't care what it takes..."
She nodded,, gathering her tablet and papers. "I'll get you a full update within forty-eight hours."
As she turned to leave,, I stopped her.
"Luna."
She looked back.
"Don't tell anyone about this,," I said firmly. "Not even Lily."
She hesitated,, but then nodded. "Understood,, ma'am."
The door clicked shut behind her..
I sank slowly into my chair,, my pulse still racing.
Adrian. Who are you really??
Had he been protecting me… or using me??
My gaze shifted to the skyline visible through my window. The city looked beautiful from this height—so full of secrets beneath its gleaming surface...
And one of those secrets,, I realized,, had been standing beside me all along.
Watching...
Waiting.
Loving me in silence...
Or deceiving me in plain sight.
I didn't know which truth hurt more.
But I would find out...
No matter what.
Maybe he is connected to kai... maybe...
To be continue...