Sunday morning woke me with a restful smile. I had slept better than I had in weeks.
Coco immediately jumped onto my lap, and I picked him up, carrying him downstairs. My dad was on a call, his voice low and serious, while my mom flipped through TV channels absentmindedly. Lily was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
I set Coco down and filled his bowl with food. After that, I stretched my arms and back lightly.
My mom glanced at me, amused. "You're in a good mood today."
I realised I had been carrying a small smile ever since I came downstairs. I looked at her and said, "Morning. It's Sunday, after all."
By then, my dad had ended his call. He beckoned me closer, and I immediately went to him, curling up beside him on the couch, hugging him without thinking.
"My little princess has grown up so much," he said softly. There was something in his eyes that made me look up at him.
Before I could ask what he meant, my mom interrupted, "Get dressed properly. Uncle Valor has invited us for lunch."
"Lunch?" I repeated, startled, which only made my mom chuckle.
"You're acting like you didn't grow up playing with Noah in that house," she teased.
My eyes lit up at the reminder, but something felt different today. I didn't think about Noah. Or Uncle Valor. Or the house.
The only name that crossed my mind was Adam.
I was still lost in thought when my mom spoke again. "Go take a shower, have your breakfast, and get ready by noon."
I took a shower, letting the warm water run down my body, easing both my mind and muscles.
By the time I stepped out, I felt relaxed and calmer.
I ate my breakfast quickly, still in my bathrobe, and hurried to choose my dress.
Out of all my favourite collections, today felt harder to pick a good outfit. I scanned through my wardrobe for minutes that passed in a blink.
Finally, I chose a light blue dress with a minimal design. I liked keeping things simple, but today I decided to add a thin chain with a delicate pendant.
I was still getting ready when Lily walked in.
"Your parents are ready," she said. "They're waiting in the hallway."
She noticed me struggling with my hair and stepped closer, gently helping me curl it into soft waves. After a moment, she chuckled.
"What?" I asked, glancing at her through the mirror.
"I've been watching you for the past few minutes," she said, amused. "You curl it, then straighten it, then smooth it back into waves again. What's going on?"
Her words made me realise how much effort I was putting into getting ready today.
Why?
Even I didn't know.
I still came up with an excuse. "It's just the neckline of the dress," I said. "It's making it difficult to style my hair properly."
She nodded, still grinning, clearly unconvinced.
An hour later, we arrived.
The car circled the fountain once before stopping in front of the main door. I noticed Noah standing at the entrance, talking to someone on a call. His eyes lit up the moment he saw us, and he started walking toward the car.
But before Noah could reach us, the door opened.
I stepped out, murmuring a quick, "Thank you," to whoever had opened it, and then my gaze met Adam's.
His eyes held mine for a moment before drifting unapologetically, taking in my outfit from top to bottom, then moving back up, pausing briefly at my lips before meeting my eyes once again.
My pulse tripped, making me conscious of my posture, my breath, and the space between us.
"Welcome," he said, his usual smug smile in place, his tone calm.
Noah stepped closer, his voice breaking the eye contact between Adam and me.
"Hey, cutie," he said, taking in my look before adding, "You look like you're going to cause some trouble today."
I rolled my eyes, knowing that was just his way of saying I looked good.
As we walked inside, I noticed Adam linger for a moment before following us.
After chatting for a few minutes, the table was finally set with food.
It felt like they had put in a little extra effort into the menu for today's lunch.
Noah asked us to take our seats. As we settled in, I kept waiting, but Adam didn't show up. No one called for him either.
Noah sat beside me and served some chicken onto my plate even before anyone else started eating.
"Eat," he said, nudging my plate slightly. "You've been working your head off lately. Or do I need to start supervising meals too?"
Everyone chuckled as I nudged him back. "Don't boss me around."
Then Adam appeared, taking the seat across from me.
The room fell quiet, and I instantly sensed the shift in tension.
Adam looked up, his gaze landing on me.
"What?" he asked lightly. "Eating without me?"
He said it as if I were the only one at the table.
Noah passed the bowl toward him, breaking the silence. "Here."
I went back to my food.
Soft conversations resumed as my father asked Adam a few questions about his return from London. Soon enough, the discussion drifted back to business, drawing Uncle Valor into it.
After lunch, I stepped into the garden for some air.
The fragrance of wet soil and fresh leaves lingered in the breeze as I walked aimlessly for a while. Eventually, I settled onto the old swing, letting it sway gently.
That's when I noticed Noah walking toward me.
He sat down on the swing beside mine, not bothering with small talk or suspense.
"I want to tell you something," he said, then paused. "Nuh! I actually want to show you something."
He looked serious, yet there was a trace of amusement in his eyes. It made me smile without thinking.
"Show me," I said.
His voice dropped, almost conspiratorial. "Not now. Tomorrow."
I frowned, curiosity tugging at me, but I nodded anyway.
Before I could ask anything else, Adam's voice cut in.
"Are you two about to fight?" he asked sharply.
When Noah and I turned toward him, Adam smirked.
"Facing each other like that," he said, "you look like cats ready to pounce."
Noah stood up. "We don't fight," he said firmly.
Adam didn't say anything else. His gaze lingered on Noah for a moment before shifting to me.
"You two… used to fight a lot," he said, looking at me.
"Not anymore," Noah answered before I could.
When I came back home, I couldn't shake the sense of unease that clung to me, especially when it came to Adam.
He confused me.
He was polite, yet not considerate.
His actions were easygoing, but they felt calculated.
And most of all… his eyes.
I shook my head, trying to brush the feeling away. "I'm overanalysing again," I told myself, calling out to Coco.
He padded over and cuddled closer, his innocent eyes grounding me in the moment.
Another day began, and with it came the familiar weight of responsibility. I slipped back into routine again.
As a management trainee, every day felt like a lesson. I was learning how decisions were made, how silence in meetings often spoke louder than words, and how strategy mattered just as much as effort.
For the first time, I wasn't just observing or passing through the system. I was trying to understand it—where I fit, and what I could grow into. Unlike my habit of analysing life, even things that had nothing to do with me, this time the learning was personal.
When I finally took a break, my eyes drifted around the floor before landing on Noah, who was standing nearby, waiting patiently.
The moment he realised I was free, he walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, drawing a bit of attention from the people around us.
"Our couch potato is finally doing some work, huh?" he teased, lightening the mood.
"You—" I started, then stopped, suddenly aware of his position in the office.
"Easy," he chuckled. He didn't look like he was trying to get on my nerves. If anything, he looked tired.
"Tired?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.
"A little," he admitted, shaking his head lightly.
His voice dropped into that familiar secretive tone as he added, "Remember I told you I wanted to show you something?"
I nodded.
"My dad finally agreed," he said, unable to hide his grin. "I'm getting a new apartment. My apartment."
I thought about it for a second. "You'll have your own place…"
Then it hit me.
"…That means you can finally have your own studio."
He nodded, his grin widening.
I smiled back. "So—"
"My office. Now." Adam's deep voice cut through the moment, sharp and unquestionable.
I stood up without thinking and followed him immediately, not even glancing back at Noah.
Inside his office, Adam took his seat, slipping back into his usual composed demeanour.
He didn't give me a chance to speak.
"Listen to me very carefully," he began. "We have a new client arriving tomorrow. He'll also be one of our stakeholders."
He paused briefly before continuing, "I want you to handle this alongside me."
Another pause.
"He matters a great deal to the company. And since your father..." he stopped himself, then corrected smoothly, "...since you are a stakeholder of Valor Group as well, this will be beneficial for both of us in the long run."
He finally leaned back and took a measured breath.
"Understood?" he asked, lightly, a small smile playing on his lips.
I let out a slow breath, releasing my tensed shoulders, and nodded.
Over the next few days, I found myself working closely alongside Adam.
Even though he had made it clear that this new client meant a great deal to Valor Group, Adam remained composed, almost unbothered.
I, on the other hand, felt like I was walking on thin ice, careful with every step, determined not to make a single mistake.
The conference was scheduled for 3 p.m. today, and I made sure every detail and arrangement was in place.
The executive assistant had mentioned that the new client was like family to the Valors — a long-time friend.
He was already in Uncle Valor's office when I was called in to be formally introduced as the future heir of Mezani Capital.
I walked in slowly, closing the door behind me, keeping my steps steady and my posture composed.
Then he turned his head to look at me.
Victor Hale.
My smile faltered. Panic rushed through my veins, sharp and sudden, making my head spin.
The room felt suffocating. Smaller. Heavier.
My chest tightened as if the air had thinned, my lungs struggling to keep up. I wanted to run...to step out, to breathe but my body refused to move. My feet stayed rooted to the floor, betraying me.
"Elina… how are you, dear?" Victor asked, smiling the same way I remembered.
My hands trembled slightly before I hid them behind my back.
From across the room, Adam looked at me over the rim of his teacup. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," I managed, forcing a small smile before turning to Uncle Valor.
"There's something important I need to take care of. I'll be right back."
Without waiting for a reply, I walked out.
The entire day felt like torture, spent in the presence of the same man who had stolen my childhood.
His gaze lingered more than once as I sat across from him in the conference room.
At one point, I looked up and found nothing in his eyes.
No regret. No remorse. No repentance.
I looked away immediately. I couldn't meet his gaze again.
I held back the tears, my hands clenched into tight fists beneath the table, nails digging into my palms just to stay grounded.
The moment the meeting was adjourned, I left without looking back.
I couldn't sleep.
I couldn't eat.
And I couldn't stay ignorant anymore — not like I had in the past, when I didn't even understand what had happened to me, or how to name it, or why I had never been able to tell my parents.
The thought of seeing him again made me physically ill. My chest tightened. My stomach turned. Sometimes the air felt too thick to breathe through.
I wanted to run away. To quit everything. To shut the world out and lock myself somewhere quiet, untouched, and safe. Alone.
I stopped answering Noah's calls. Days passed.
Eventually, I took a sick leave, telling myself I would return only when I could face it again — if I could.