Only her family and closest friends knew about Zara's infatuation with Adrian—what others had brushed off as a harmless schoolgirl crush that only deepened over the years.
It didn't fade. It grew—with her, around her, inside her—becoming something far more intense.
Maybe even dangerous.
But even in that trusted circle, it became a painful kind of joke.
A truth that lingered behind sympathetic smiles and whispered warnings.
They all saw it—her longing. Her loyalty. Her foolish hope.
And none of them thought it would lead to anything real.
Zara was still in college, pursuing a double major in Marketing and Business Administration at one of Valmoria's most elite universities. But this morning, she hadn't gone to class.
Instead, she had called Adrian several times. No answer.
She sent him a dozen messages. Still nothing.
Adrian Langford wasn't just the man she loved—he was the only son of Maxwell Langford, chairman of the Langford Group. Though his family's reach didn't match the might of Robertsons Holdings, Adrian had earned his position as CEO by twenty-four, commanding respect with a ruthless, calculated charm.
Determined and frustrated, Zara concealed the red mark on her face, slipped past her family's security detail, and headed straight to the Langford Group building with one goal in mind—to confront Adrian.
As CEO of Langford Group, he was known for his discipline and punctuality. But when she arrived, the receptionist told her he hadn't been in that day and that no meetings were scheduled under his name.
Their relationship had always existed in the shadows. Despite the painful history between their families, Zara and Adrian had secretly been seeing each other for nearly a year. The secrecy wasn't her choice. From the beginning, Adrian had laid down conditions—no public appearances, no photos, no one could know. He said it was for her protection, that if their fathers found out, there would be consequences neither of them could control.
Zara had agreed, even when it hurt. Even when she wanted more.
She had fallen for him long before they were ever a couple. Back when she was thirteen, she'd followed her older brother like a shadow—just for a glimpse of Adrian. He was her brother's best friend back then—cool, aloof, and endlessly fascinating. At nineteen, when Adrian finally looked at her the way she had always dreamed, she thought it meant something real. Something lasting.
Now, in the silence of his absence, questions clawed at her.
Why isn't he answering me? Doesn't he care?
Her heart ached with every unanswered message. Fear crept in, quiet and cold. She knew something had changed between them recently—he had been distant, distracted—but she had convinced herself it was just work. Just stress.
Zara sat motionless in the driver's seat of her sleek, pearl-white BMW 740i, parked discreetly in the corner of the Langford building's parking lot. The hum of the city beyond her windshield buzzed like static—people rushing to work, engines revving, heels clacking against concrete. But inside the car, it was quiet. Still.
Her hands rested on the leather steering wheel, cold despite the warm air outside. She had been there for nearly an hour, watching employees come and go, hoping she'd catch even a glimpse of Adrian. But nothing. No sign of him. Not even his car.
She tried calling again.
Straight to voicemail.
Her messages, still unread.
Zara's fingers trembled slightly as she set her phone down on the passenger seat. Her stomach churned—nerves, fear, and something deeper she refused to name. She closed her eyes and leaned back, drawing a deep breath, but even that didn't calm her.
She had gone to his office. She had even called the front desk, pretending to be someone from another firm, but Adrian had not shown up for work. And his secretary—always polite—claimed he was out of town on business.
She knew it was a lie.
He was avoiding her.
Zara opened her eyes, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
She remembered the last time they spoke—his eyes searching hers with a guilt she hadn't understood. The way he held her like he couldn't get close enough… and kissed her like he was already saying goodbye.
Her voice cracked in the silence. "You promised, Adrian."
She had trusted him. Despite the war between their families. Despite the tragedy. Despite everything.
She had believed in him.
Her phone buzzed. She snatched it up, hope surging—
Her appointment at the clinic was in two hours.
Only a reminder.
Zara stared at the screen, numb. She had driven all this way for nothing. Still no Adrian. Still no answers.
Outside, life moved on.
But inside her car, everything was still.
Then, her phone rang.
She didn't recognize the number at first but answered anyway.
"Hello?"
"Zara? It's me, Simone."
Zara's breath caught. Her cousin. Her childhood best friend. Her fiercest defender. Simone—was the only one who knew about Adrian.
As soon as she heard her voice, Zara broke. The tears she had been holding back surged forward.
"I can't do this, Simone," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I don't know what's happening. I feel like I'm losing everything, and I don't even understand why."
"Zara, what's going on? Where are you?" Simone's voice was filled with concern.
Zara brushed the tears from her face, trying to stay calm. "I'm at the Langford building. But Adrian hasn't shown up. No one even knows where he is."
There was a pause. Then Simone said softly, "I didn't want to tell you like this, but... I saw something online. A photo."
Zara froze. "What photo?"
"He was at lunch today. With Tanya Hawthorne. At Maison du Verre."
A sharp, icy breath left Zara's lungs—as if the world had just tilted beneath her.