Chapter One: The Ghost from the Past

(Ariadne Asselina Ildelfonso's POV)

The scent of salt and damp earth lingered in the air.

A faint glow from the gas lamps barely illuminated the pathway, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. The sound of water sloshing against the wooden dock filled the silence, broken only by the shuffling of heavy boots against the floorboards.

I was dragged forward.

My delicate wrists were bound, my fingers numb from struggling against the coarse ropes that dug into my skin. My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as I fought against the sheer terror swallowing me whole.

"No... no, please—"

My voice trembled, breaking under the weight of my fear.

The grip on my arms tightened.

"Walk."

The command was cold. Unfeeling.

I dug my heels into the wooden planks, trying to resist, but the force behind me was merciless.

Beyond the dock, a small boat waited. Dark. Ominous.

And him.

The man I once loved stood just a few steps away, his face cast in shadow. The dim light of the lantern above reflected in his icy gaze—one that no longer held the warmth it once did.

"P-please…" I choked out.

Tears streaked down my face, but I no longer cared about the humiliation of begging.

"Just this once… believe me."

But there was no hesitation when he turned to his butler.

"Send her to the Green House."

A sharp gasp escaped my lips.

"N-no! NO!"

I fell to my knees, clutching at his legs, desperate.

"Please, I’m begging you!"

But he simply looked down at me.

Not with love.

Not with sympathy.

But with utter detachment.

Sir, the boat is ready."

"Then take her away."

"N-no! P-please! P—"

I screamed, my cries swallowed by the vast emptiness around them.

And then—darkness.

"PLEASE!"

I gasped awake, my body jerking upright in bed.

Cold sweat clung to my skin, my breath coming in sharp, panicked bursts.

My fingers curled around the sheets as I tried to steady my racing heart.

I swallowed hard, looking around.

I was in my apartment.

Not there.

I exhaled shakily, brushing damp strands of hair from my face.

It had been years since that nightmare haunted me. But now, it was back.

I shook my head.

No. I shouldn't dwell on the past.

I had built a new life. A life of reason. Restraint. A life I was determined to protect.

With a sigh, I threw the blankets off and got out of bed. There was no point in trying to sleep again—I wouldn’t be able to.

I grabbed my laptop and checked my schedule, immersing myself in work until I realized it was already six in the morning.

After a quick shower and a simple breakfast, I dressed in my usual office attire and headed out.

The ride to work on my motorcycle took only thirty minutes—fifteen minutes faster than if I had taken the train.

By the time I arrived at the company, the parking lot was already half full.

I clocked in, then made my way to my desk, only to be greeted by a familiar voice.

"Good morning, Ms. Yannie!"

I looked up to see Bella, one of my closest colleagues, grinning at me.

"Good morning," I replied, offering her a small smile. Then, with a teasing glint in my eye, I asked, "You're early today. That’s unusual."

She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, shut up."

I was about to tease her more when Ahsirt arrived, plopping down at her desk with a heavy sigh.

"Morning," she mumbled dully.

Bella and I exchanged looks before approaching her.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked.

Ahsirt sat up, stretching. "Do you guys want coffee?"

Bella and I nodded instinctively.

"Okay, I’ll go buy some," she said before walking off without another word.

Bella blinked. "What’s up with her?"

I shrugged.

Just then, Alexa, our other deskmate, appeared, laughing as she overheard our conversation.

"Don’t worry," she said, smirking. "She’s just being dramatic because her favorite character in Demon Slayer died."

Bella and I groaned in unison.

"Seriously?"

Alexa held up her phone, proving her point.

As expected, when Ahsirt returned with our coffees, she was back to her usual self.

"Told you," Alexa said smugly.

The conversation shifted when Bella suddenly asked, "Did you guys see the announcement about the new consultant?"

I shook my head. "No, not yet."

"Apparently, he's the same age as Bella," Ahsirt chimed in.

"He must be elite of elites, then," Bella mused.

"Or just really strict," I muttered.

We made our way to the meeting room together, chatting along the way.

Once inside, the assistant manager began the morning meeting.

"As mentioned, we've brought in a consultant from TL-IL Corp to assist with our business developments. Please introduce yourself."

I was focused on my laptop, barely paying attention—until I heard the voice.

"Nice to meet you all. My name is Gavyn Del Herrera."

My entire body went rigid.

The world seemed to stop.

I couldn’t breathe.

I felt Ahsirt’s hand against mine, and I gripped it tightly.

"W-what was the consultant’s name again?" My voice shook.

Ahsirt looked at me oddly. "Didn’t you hear? Gavyn Del Herrera. Why?"

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

My hands trembled.

No.

No.

He was here.

Gavyn.

Why?

Slowly, I forced myself to look up.

And that was my mistake.

Because the moment our eyes met—

The color drained from my face.

He was staring right at me.

Expression unreadable.

But his presence alone suffocated me.

The past clawed at my mind, whispering of things I had fought so hard to forget.

"And that concludes the morning meeting."

I barely heard the words.

The meeting had lasted only a few hours, but to me, it felt like an eternity.

I stood quickly, gathering my things.

Bella caught my arm. "Are you okay? You look pale."

"I’m fine," I lied. "Just… not feeling well."

She didn’t look convinced, but she let me go.

I walked out of the meeting room, trying to steady my breath.

My phone vibrated.

I checked the screen.

Shaun.

My boyfriend of one year.

I hesitated before answering.

"Shaun?"

"Yannie… I need to talk to you."

There was something off about his tone.

"I have work, but I’ll be free tonight. Is that okay?"

A pause. Then, a sigh.

"Yeah… Okay. I’ll wait for you at the café downstairs."

The unease in my chest deepened.

By the time I finished my report and clocked out, it was 6:30 p.m.

I headed straight to the café.

The moment I walked in, my eyes landed on him.

And the woman sitting beside him.

Holding his hand.

I approached them, my heart pounding.

Shaun looked up, his expression serious.

"I want to break up."

The words crashed over me like a tidal wave.

"I want to be with Lyka."

I felt like the ground had been ripped from under me.

"Shaun… Aren’t you being deceived?"

Lyka’s voice trembled as she clutched his arm. "It’s my fault… I just couldn’t let him go… even though I knew he had a girlfriend."

I stared at her.

She knew.

And she still did it.

"I’m sorry, Yannie," Shaun said. "But I have needs."

SLAP!

I hit him hard.

"I won’t let you break up with me," I spat.

"Because I’M breaking up with YOU."

And with that, I walked out.

Never looking back.

I stormed out of the café, my heart pounding violently against my ribs.

The humiliation burned in my chest—everyone saw. Everyone heard Shaun’s words, his pathetic excuses, his betrayal.

I clenched my fists.

I refused to cry. Not here. Not now.

But the cold night air did little to cool the storm raging inside me.

My feet moved on their own, and before I knew it, I was standing beside my motorcycle in the parking lot.

My hands shook as I reached for my helmet.

I needed to leave. To be anywhere but here.

"Still reckless, I see."

That voice.

Deep, smooth, with an edge of amusement.

I froze, my fingers tightening around my helmet.

No.

It couldn't be.

Slowly, I turned.

And there he was.

Gavyn Del Herrera.

Standing only a few feet away, hands tucked casually into his pockets, his sharp suit looking effortlessly expensive.

The years had refined him. His once-boyish features were now strikingly chiseled, his dark eyes more piercing, unreadable.

But the smirk—the one that used to drive me insane—that was still the same.

I felt the ground shift beneath my feet.

"What the hell are you doing here?" My voice barely came out steady.

Gavyn took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving mine.

"That’s quite the way to greet an old friend," he mused.

"You are not my friend."

His smirk deepened. "Harsh."

I took a step back, gripping my helmet like a lifeline.

"Why are you here?" I demanded, forcing steel into my voice.

Gavyn tilted his head slightly. "I believe the assistant manager already answered that. I’m the new business consultant."

"Bullshit."

He chuckled. "Now, now, kitten. You wound me."

My breath caught.

Kitten.

That name.

A name I hadn’t heard in years—a name only he used to call me.

The past slammed into me like a freight train, memories I had buried clawing their way back to the surface.

I couldn't do this. Not now.

Not with him.

"Stay away from me," I bit out.

I turned, but before I could mount my bike, a hand wrapped around my wrist.

Not tight. Not forceful.

But firm.

Unyielding.

"Let go," I hissed.

Gavyn didn’t move.

"You’re shaking." His voice was softer this time.

I gritted my teeth. "I said let go."

A beat of silence.

Then, slowly, he released me.

I didn't hesitate. I got on my bike, revved the engine, and sped off—away from him, away from everything.

But no matter how far I rode, one thing remained clear.

Gavyn Del Herrera was back.

And this time, he wasn’t leaving.

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