The Next Morning
The sun filtered softly through the velvet curtains. Jade turned lazily in bed, stretching slightly—only to find Daniel already awake, casually scrolling through his phone, shirtless, with that smug, freshly-woken face.
"Good morning," he said without even looking at her.
"Oh wow, you're suddenly polite?" she teased, rubbing her eyes. "Should I be worried?"
He finally glanced at her, amused. "I'm always polite... when I want something."
She snorted. "Typical."
He sat up, muscles flexing unintentionally—Jade tried not to stare. Failed.
"I have a business call in an hour," he said, swinging his legs off the bed. "Try not to miss me too much."
"Oh, I'll try my best," she rolled her eyes. "I'll even survive."
Before leaving the room, Daniel paused at the door. "By the way… last night meant something to me."
Jade blinked. "What?"
He smirked. "The dinner. The conversation. What else were you thinking?"
She threw a pillow at him. "Get out!"
Laughing, he closed the door behind him.
Jade sat in silence, her fingers touching her lips. That kiss still lingered. It confused her. A lot.
Daniel was in the office still working the entire morning and midday, jade felt bored so she decided to walk in the garden.
.
.
Jade was sitting alone in the garden, admiring the roses, still trying to make sense of her feelings after the strange tenderness from Daniel the night before.
Sofia stood silently in the garden for a moment, observing Jade from a distance. Her eyes scanned her carefully — elegant, yes, but simple. She couldn't quite understand *what* Daniel saw in her. *Her? Really?*
Clearing her throat gently, she approached.
"May I join you?"
Jade looked up with a polite smile. "Of course. It's your house, after all."
Sofia sat down gracefully beside her, keeping her posture perfect, though her thoughts were far from calm. A small, envious knot tightened in her chest.
"So… how did you and Brother Daniel meet?" she asked with a sweet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Jade tilted her head, amused. "Well… it's a long story."
"I suppose it was during some charity event? Daniel always loved helping… underdeveloped communities."
She said it with a smile, but the jab was clear.
Jade forced a smile, blinking slowly. *Oh, she's one of those.*
"Well," she said sweetly, "let's just say Daniel saw something he couldn't resist… Must be the 'raw charm of the commoners,' right?"
Sofia's smile faltered for a second before she laughed politely, though her clenched jaw betrayed her.
*That girl's a brat hiding behind ribbons and manners,* Jade thought, *but two can play this game.*
Sofia adjusted the hem of her dress, pretending to admire the flowers.
"You must feel… very lucky. Not every girl gets to be part of *our* family. Especially so soon."
Jade chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Lucky? Mmm… maybe. But I think Daniel is the lucky one."
She smiled sweetly. "After all, not every man gets to have *me*."
Sofia blinked, clearly not expecting that. She quickly recovered.
"Oh… of course. You're very… different from the women he usually dates."
Jade smirked. "Yes, I've heard. Tall, rich, boring."
Sofia's polite expression cracked just slightly. "At least they knew how to… behave in our circles."
Jade leaned closer, voice smooth. "And yet, here I am — in *your* circle, sitting in *your* garden, wearing *your* family's diamond on my finger."
Sofia looked at the ring and gave a tight smile.
"I just hope you're prepared for everything that comes with being with Daniel."
"Oh, don't worry," Jade said, standing up with confidence. "I can handle mysteries, expectations… even family traditions."
Sofia lifted her gaze slowly, a devilish smirk forming on her lips — the kind that hinted she was about to drop something cold and calculated.
"Well," she began softly, her voice smooth like silk but hiding thorns, "in our family… there are whispers. Old ones. About a curse that runs in the Ooman bloodline."
Jade's expression faltered for the first time, her heart skipping a beat. Goosebumps crawled across her arms.
Sofia saw it — the exact reaction she had hoped for — and leaned in, her voice just above a whisper.
"Something ancient. Every generation, someone pays the price. And in this generation… it's Daniel."
Jade's breath caught in her throat. But Sofia wasn't done.
"So… you may want to rethink your fairytale, before it turns into a nightmare. You wouldn't want to get too… entangled," she said with a chilling smile.
Then, without another word, Sofia turned and walked away gracefully — satisfied, like a predator who had just planted the perfect seed of fear.
Jade remained still for a moment, her eyes unfocused. She knew Sofia had said all that just to scare her… but somehow, it didn't feel like a lie.
There were too many secrets. Too many shadows lurking around Daniel — and the entire Ooman family.
And then… the conversation she had overheard the night before.
That wasn't a story.
It wasn't a legend.
It was real.
The curse was real.
She rose slowly, her body moving on instinct rather than will.
Then—
"Jade…"
A voice echoed faintly in her mind. Whispering.
She froze.
"Who's there?" she said aloud, turning around quickly. "Who's talking?!"
No one.
But the voice came again, louder this time.
"VESPERIS…"
"VESPERIS…"
It was as though the name was being dragged across her soul.
"Stop! Please, stop!" Jade clutched her ears, her heart racing.
Her head felt heavy—too heavy. The world spun violently around her. Her knees buckled.
And then—
Darkness.
Jade collapsed to the ground, unconscious…
but the whisper did not stop.
"VESPERIS"