The morning sun rolled lazily over Silver Town's rooftops, casting soft amber light onto the cracked pavement below. Vicky, Evan, and little Emily walked side by side, the young girl's tiny steps skipping ahead with excitement and hope.
"When Mr. Nate proves to you that he's not bad, you won't break mommy's promise, right?" Emily asked, her tone innocent but firm. "No one breaks a mommy promise."
Evan scoffed, eyeing his sister protectively. "We've already been burned once by a rich man, Emily. We're not letting another come anywhere near our family—especially not near Vicky."
Emily, unshaken, raised her brow. "And what if you're wrong, Evan?"
He crossed his arms, defensive. "Rich people are all the same. Self-centered, blind to anyone beneath them. Your Mr. Nate isn't special."
Elsewhere, Catty lounged in her lavish bedroom, tossing her hair as she stared into her phone screen. A video call with her girlfriends filled the room with buzzing chatter and girlish squeals.
"Your girl won't be a bachelorette much longer," she said with a dramatic twirl. "I'm finally crossing over."
"Chomie! I'm so proud of you!" Lonia beamed. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"You better not," Catty said, winking. "We're about to have the wildest engagement bash in Windhoek."
"You're so lucky," Justine chimed in dreamily. "You met Nate in Spain, you became friends, and now—wedding bells?"
"Yes, and soon I'll be sharing some very good news," Catty teased with a sly smile.
"Aww! Can't wait!" Lonia squealed. "What's the theme?"
"We're still finalizing it. So sharpen those party-planning claws, ladies. And bring a date!"
Lonia fell quiet.
"What's wrong?" Catty asked, her tone softening.
Justine answered instead. "Lonia and Smith broke up…"
"Oh, Lonia…" Catty sighed, then added with a knowing smirk, "I warned you. You've got a type—Greg, José, now Smith… All those European imports."
A knock interrupted the call. "Catty?" came the voice of Kuku Veronica, her tone gentle.
Catty's eyes widened. "Oops, it's the grandmother-in-law. Hold on, girls."
She muted the call.
"Oh, Kuku! I didn't know you were up," Catty said sweetly.
"Are you busy, my dear?"
"No, no! What's up?"
"I was thinking," Kuku said with a soft smile, "since the engagement is in two days, why don't we go shopping?"
Catty blinked, stunned. "Shopping… with you, Kuku?"
"Unless you have other plans?"
Catty laughed nervously. "None at all! I'll get dressed now."
Meanwhile, Nathan was stuck in Windhoek traffic, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel with increasing irritation.
"Damn it… I didn't know half the city lived in Katutura," he muttered. "Can't these people see I've got somewhere important to be?"
Back outside Emily's school, time was ticking.
"It's already half past seven," Evan growled. "See, Emily? He's not coming. Rich frauds like him love watching people wait—maybe he's doing it right now."
Emily frowned. "You guys aren't planning to act like this at my school, right?"
"We're in full parent mode until we meet the guy," Vicky said, trying to stay composed.
"He's probably just stuck somewhere…"
"I've got work, Vick. I'm leaving," Evan said, stepping away.
"Okay," Vicky said. "Good luck at school."
"You too. Smash that new tender," Evan replied, giving her a quick hug before disappearing into the crowd.
Vicky turned to Emily. "Now give me that hug and get in there."
Her phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Is this Vicky Samuels?"
"Yes?"
"I'm calling from the BCC Organization. Regarding the business event you applied for—congratulations! You got it."
Vicky's eyes widened. "Thank you, sir! Thank you so much."
"I've sent the program and theme. Just bring your creativity—we're counting on you."
"I'll deliver my best."
Call ended. Reality hit. She had to be at the venue by 8:30.
"Emily, we have to go. I'm also running late."
"But Mr. Nate—"
"He's not coming. Get inside, and when school's out, stay put until Evan comes. No wandering, okay?"
Disappointed, Emily nodded and walked in. Vicky accompanied her to the teacher's office.
"I've spoken to her teacher," she assured. "You're safe here."
Emily nodded slowly and entered her classroom.
At that exact moment, Nate finally pulled up, breathless and flustered, scanning for Emily. But she was gone.
Among the crowd of rushing parents and children, Vicky emerged from the school gates, her eyes glued to the event documents on her phone. She didn't notice the broken pavement in front of her.
She stumbled.
A pair of arms caught her just in time.
The scarf around her neck fluttered up, veiling her face.
The man who caught her—Nathan—felt that strange, familiar tug in his chest again. The same inexplicable warmth he'd felt at the store.
He reached to move the scarf from her face just as her hands reached up to do the same. Their fingers touched.
A spark. A memory. Two children, years ago, hands interlocked just like this…
"Oh, how romantic! You two make a lovely couple," a parent nearby gushed.
Startled, they broke apart.
Vicky pulled down her scarf.
"What? No—I just caught her!" Nathan stammered, then stopped cold.
His breath caught. "You?!"
Vicky's mouth opened in surprise. "You?!"
Nathan blinked. "So it's true—you really are a Necro."
"And if I am, then what are you? A stalker? Shouldn't you be in your fancy house far away from Silver Town?"
"I'm not rich!" he snapped. "You just love getting on my nerves."
"Oh? So what is this—some school you secretly own too? Should I expect to see my face on posters saying I'm banned?"
"If I owned this school, I would ban you!" he retorted. "Wait… You go to school here?"
"What?" Vicky said, blinking. "You think I'm a student?!"
"Education has no age limit," he said smugly.
"You're unbelievable."
"No, you're unbelievable. Stop following me!"
"You stop following me!"
They glared at each other, exchanging the same line again and again.
"Look at the way you're fighting…" the same parent said with amusement. "A great—"
"—enemy," they both finished in sync, stunned by their own words.
They turned away at the same time, hearts pounding.
Vicky muttered under her breath, "He thinks I go to a kids' school… ridiculous."
Nathan stormed off in the opposite direction. "Am I tied to this Necro by fate or curse? What is this madness…"
From the shadows, a pair of cold eyes watched them silently. Someone had seen it all.