Soft golden light spilled through the curtains.
It touched her skin first.
Warm.
Gentle.
Jade stirred slowly, eyelashes fluttering as the sunlight traced along her shoulder, her collarbone… the quiet rise and fall of her breathing.
For a few seconds, she didn't move.
She just felt.
The softness of the sheets.
The faint scent of him still lingering on the pillows.
The silence.
Then memory came back.
And a small smile curved her lips.
Jade stirred slowly, stretching slightly under the sheets.
For a second, she reached beside her—
Empty.
She frowned.
Then she heard movement.
Soft footsteps.
The faint clink of porcelain.
Her eyes opened fully.
Daniel was already dressed.
Tailored suit. Perfectly fitted. Tie adjusted. Hair impeccable.
As if he hadn't spent the night losing control at all.
He stood near the door—
Holding a breakfast tray.
She blinked.
"You're kidding."
He walked toward the bed calmly, composed as ever.
"I have a meeting in forty minutes," he said smoothly. "Efficiency is important."
He placed the tray carefully on her lap.
Coffee. Fresh fruit. Warm pastries.
She stared at it.
Then at him.
"You brought me breakfast in bed?"
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Is that a problem?"
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"You look like the type who makes people sign NDAs before handing them water."
A corner of his mouth curved.
"Only when necessary."
She pushed herself up slightly, the sheet sliding as she adjusted.
"And now you're doing romantic gestures?"
He sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'm capable of multitasking."
She picked up the coffee, studying him over the rim of the cup.
"So this is your post-chaos strategy? Feed me so I don't complain?"
He leaned slightly closer.
"If you were going to complain," he murmured, "you wouldn't be smiling like that."
She immediately wiped the smile from her face.
"I am not smiling."
"You are."
She took a bite of a pastry just to avoid answering.
He adjusted his cufflinks calmly.
"You sleep like you're at war," he added casually.
Her eyes snapped up.
"Excuse me?"
"You take the entire blanket."
She gasped.
"That is slander."
He looked at her with exaggerated seriousness.
"I had to negotiate territory at five in the morning."
She pointed at him dramatically.
"You are a CEO. Act like it."
"I am," he replied calmly. "I secured half the blanket."
She tried not to laugh.
Failed.
The room felt lighter this morning.
She studied him quietly for a second,with concern.
"Are you okay? I mean about memory. You don't look at someone that loss it"
His movements paused — just slightly.
Then he continued adjusting his watch.
"I prepare for that."
She softened.
Silence.
Then she broke it.
"Good."
She took another sip of coffee.
"If tomorrow you forget, I'll just remind you how impressive you were."
He froze for half a second.
Then slowly turned his head toward her.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
He stepped closer to the bed again, one hand resting beside her knee.
"Careful," he said softly.
"You're very bold for someone still in my bed."
She tilted her chin up.
"Boldness got me breakfast."
A slow, dangerous smile appeared.
"Boldness might get you more than breakfast."
She threw a pillow at him.
"Go to work."
He caught it easily.
"Yes, ma'am."
But before leaving, he leaned down and kissed her — slow, warm, lingering.
CEO mode returned.
But the softness in his eyes hadn't disappeared.
.
.
.
The penthouse was quiet after Daniel left.
Too quiet.
Jade sat at the large table near the window, her laptop open, notes scattered around her. She was working on the upcoming event — checking logistics, confirming the director's availability, reviewing the guest list.
Everything looked fine.
Everything was under control.
Except her mind wasn't.
Her fingers paused above the keyboard.
She leaned back in her chair slowly.
But her mind drifted to what Daniel to her, the cursed, VESPERIS etc.
"I still don't get it…" she murmured to herself.
"Why do I faint?" she whispered to herself.
Every time she touched something related to Vesperis.
Every time she stood too close to that symbol.
Every time she heard that name.
Her chest tightened slightly at the memory.
The first time she touched the black door handle.
The dizziness.
The darkness swallowing her.
Then the voice.
She rubbed her temples lightly.
"It doesn't make sense."
The curse belonged to the Ooman bloodline.
Not hers.
Her heartbeat had accelerated. Her vision had blurred. Her knees had given out.
She stood up slowly and walked toward the window.
"What's the connection…" she murmured.
Was it coincidence?
Was it proximity to Daniel?
Or was there something about Vesperis itself that responded to her?
She closed her eyes briefly.
Every time she thought about it too deeply, she felt that same faint pressure behind her forehead.
Like something trying to surface.
Like a memory that wasn't hers.
She opened her eyes again.
"No," she whispered firmly.
"I need facts. Not fantasies."
But deep down, one thought wouldn't leave her:
What if she wasn't just witnessing the curse—
What if she was tied to it?
And that was the part she couldn't explain.
She shook her head and tried to concentrate and then again her mind went to Daniel.. she felt suddenly red and hot, she thought of this night.
Then she paused.
"Wait!"
"He hasn't tell me that he love me" she said