By the time Elian reached his luxury condo, his stomach was growling like an angry tiger.
"I can't believe I survived a dinner with the villains on an empty stomach," Elian muttered as he kicked off his shoes.
He walked straight into the kitchen. It was a masterpiece of modern design—black marble counters, silver appliances, and a fridge that probably cost more than a car. But when Elian opened it,
he sighed.
"Water. Champagne. More water. And... a jar of olives?"
The original Elian Sterling didn't cook. He lived on diet pills and restaurant food.
"Unacceptable," Elian shook his head.
Thankfully, he had ordered fresh groceries online while sitting in the car. Just as he was washing his hands, the doorbell rang. The delivery arrived.
Elian rolled up the sleeves of his soft cream sweater (revealing his pale, slender wrists) and got to work.
He didn't want anything fancy. He wanted comfort.
He decided on Creamy Mushroom Risotto with Garlic Butter Shrimp.
He moved around the kitchen like a dancer. Chop. Sizzle. Stir.
Soon, the condo began to smell divine.
The aroma of melting butter, frying garlic, and fresh thyme filled the air.
It was a warm, homey scent that chased away the cold loneliness of the luxury apartment.
Elian tasted the sauce. His violet eyes widened.
"Perfect."
He plated the food beautifully. The creamy rice, the golden shrimps, a sprinkle of parsley. It looked like a dish from a Michelin-star restaurant.
He took his phone and snapped a quick picture. He hesitated for a second, then created a new anonymous account called @VioletKitchen.
Caption: Comfort food for a tired soul. #MidnightSnack #HomeCooking
He posted it and finally took a bite.
"Mmm~" Elian hummed, closing his eyes in pure bliss. The food was warm, rich, and filled his empty stomach with happiness. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt truly alive.
Meanwhile, on the floor directly above Elian...
The Penthouse was dark. The only light came from the city skyline through the windows.
Kaelen Blackwood lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. His eyes were red and burning. It had been three days since he last slept. The insomnia was a curse that ran in his blood, slowly driving him mad.
His twin, Kieran, had migraines. Kaelen had sleeplessness. They were two broken halves of a powerful monster.
"Damn it," Kaelen cursed, running a hand through his messy hair. He stood up to get a drink, anything to knock him out.
But then... he stopped.
He sniffed the air.
A faint, sweet, savory scent was drifting in through the open balcony window. It smelled of butter... garlic... and something warm.
Kaelen usually hated food. To him, food was just fuel. It all tasted like cardboard.
But this smell...
His stomach, which hadn't demanded food in two days, suddenly clenched.
Growl.
Kaelen blinked in shock. He walked to the balcony and looked down. The scent was coming from the apartment directly below his.
"Who lives there?" Kaelen whispered, his voice raspy.
He breathed in the scent deeply. Strangely, the tightness in his chest loosened. The rage that constantly burned under his skin cooled down.
For the first time in days, he felt... calm.
He leaned against the railing, letting the aroma wash over him. His eyelids felt heavy.
"Smells... good," he mumbled.
And right there, on the cold balcony floor, the ruthless billionaire Kaelen Blackwood closed his eyes and drifted into a light, peaceful nap for the first time in forever.
Back in Elian's Apartment:
Elian finished his meal and patted his tummy, completely unaware that he had just put a monster to sleep.
"Time for bed," Elian yawned. "Tomorrow is the first day of University. I have to be ready."
He washed the dishes, brushed his teeth, and crawled into his soft bed.
"University," he whispered to the darkness. "Please, let it be a normal day. No drama. No villains."
But as he closed his violet eyes, fate laughed.
Tomorrow wasn't going to be a normal day.
Because waiting for him at the university were the people he wanted to avoid the most—Gabriel, the man the original Elian was obsessed with, and Serena, the heroine who had all the luck.
Elian drifted to sleep, unaware that his quiet life was about to get very loud.