“Kairus!”
A loud voice echoed through his apartment, sharp and demanding. He heard it loud and clear. Letting out a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair, already feeling exhausted before even turning around.
He had just finished studying with Avyanna—or rather, they had barely covered two cases before she abruptly stood up and bid him goodbye, claiming there was an urgent emergency. He didn't ask for details, nor did she offer any. Just like that, she was gone, leaving the rest of the readings unfinished.
And now, instead of getting a moment of peace, he was greeted by the sight of his mother standing in the middle of his living room, her arms crossed, eyes burning with irritation.
“You visited without notice—” he started, but his words were cut off.
“I’m your mother! And you call this an ill-mannered thing?” she snapped, her expression growing even more frustrated.
Kairus let out another sigh, already knowing that this conversation wasn’t going to end anytime soon. His mother’s persistence was exhausting, and at this point, he didn’t expect anything less.
“What is it now? It’s already late in the evening,” he muttered, glancing at the wall clock. His voice carried the weight of his frustration, his exhaustion evident in the way he rubbed his temples.
His mother, however, remained unfazed. Instead, she stood by the door with a composed expression, her arms crossed as she looked at him expectantly.
“Why not enter first before we talk? Isn’t that a great idea?” she suggested with a firm yet seemingly patient tone.
Kairus knew better than to argue about something so trivial. With another exasperated sigh, he stepped aside, allowing her to enter. He closed the door behind them, bracing himself for whatever was coming next.
She didn’t waste time.
“Zhen wants to stay here for a bit at least—”
“No,” Kairus interrupted without hesitation. His tone was clipped, sharp. “No one is going to stay here with me.”
His mother’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her voice remained steady, carrying that familiar note of authority. “Kairus, she is your soon-to-be fiancée. Why are you treating her like that?”
“Did I say yes?” he shot back, his jaw tightening.
His mother’s lips pressed into a thin line, her patience visibly waning. “It doesn’t matter if you say yes or not. We’ve already decided,” she said, her voice firm and resolute.
By “we,” she meant her and his father. The decision had been made without him, as if his own life was a mere chess piece in their grand strategy.
“Really—”
Before he could even finish his sentence, a sharp, stinging pain exploded across his cheek. The impact was sudden, making his head slightly snap to the side. His skin burned where her palm had landed, a lingering heat spreading across his face. For a moment, he was too stunned to react.
“If I say yes, it’s yes. And if I say no, it’s still a yes,” his mother declared coldly. “Even if you refuse, it doesn’t change anything. This is for your own good.”
Kairus let out a bitter chuckle, his hand slowly coming up to his cheek as he turned back to face her. His eyes were dark, burning with restrained anger. “Let me correct you,” he said, his voice low but firm. “This is for your own good, not mine.”
His mother’s expression didn’t waver, but the flicker of irritation in her eyes was undeniable.
Kairus clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. The sting on his cheek was nothing compared to the frustration boiling inside him. He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm despite the storm raging within.
“This again?” he muttered, his voice laced with barely contained resentment. He met his mother’s sharp gaze, refusing to back down.
“Kairus, this isn’t up for discussion,” she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Zhen is the perfect match for you. She comes from a good family, and this marriage will secure your future.”
“My future?” Kairus let out a hollow, humorless laugh. “You mean your business connections. Don’t twist this into something about my well-being.”
His mother’s expression darkened, her patience finally beginning to crack. “You’re being ungrateful. Do you really think you can run your life however you want? This is how the world works, Kairus. You can’t always follow your childish dreams.”
Kairus exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head. “I don’t care how the world works in your eyes. I’m not a pawn for you to move around.”
His mother scoffed, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. “You always think you know best, but one day, you’ll see that I was right. You’ll regret this stubbornness.”
Kairus squared his shoulders, his eyes burning with defiance. “Then let me regret it on my own terms,” he shot back. “Because I’m done living by yours.”
The tension in the room was suffocating. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. His mother held his gaze, her expression unreadable. Then, without another word, she turned toward the door.
“Fine,” she said icily. “But don’t come crawling back when you realize your mistake.”
With that, she stormed out, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Kairus let out a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. His cheek still stung, but the pain was nothing compared to the weight pressing down on his chest.
"Crawling back?" He scoffed under his breath. "Or maybe it’ll be you who comes crawling back."
Kairus knew the truth—his mother couldn’t just cut him off. No matter how much she tried to control his life, she wouldn’t simply throw him away. He was too important to their carefully laid-out plans. That thought alone gave him little comfort, but it was enough to keep his anger from boiling over.
Shaking his head, he turned away from the door, his jaw still tight with frustration. He shut the door with a firm click before trudging towards the sofa. The weight of the conversation, of expectations he never agreed to, pressed down on him like an unseen force.
With a tired sigh, he slumped onto the couch, his body sinking into the cushions as exhaustion settled in. He ran a hand down his face, fingers brushing over the lingering heat on his cheek. The pain was dull now, but the sting of betrayal burned deeper.
“Fuck everything,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Then, he let out a deep sigh—a sigh that felt as if he carried the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. His body sank further into the couch, exhaustion wrapping around him like an inescapable fog.
His gaze drifted to the ceiling, his mind clouded with thoughts of a future he had no control over. The walls of his apartment felt smaller, suffocating, as if they were closing in on him—just like his mother’s expectations.
“I hope that in the future, it’s me who gets to decide my own path,” he murmured, his voice laced with quiet defiance.
With that, he closed his eyes, allowing the weight of everything to momentarily fade into the darkness.
While studying with Kairus in the warm, inviting ambiance of the coffee shop, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sharp ringing of Avyanna’s phone. The sound cut through their focused silence, making her jolt slightly. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and answered it swiftly."Avyanna, come here immediately," Rin’s urgent voice came through the other end of the line, his tone carrying an undeniable weight of urgency.She let out a quiet sigh, already sensing that something serious was happening. Adjusting her grip on the phone, she responded in a calm but firm voice. "What is it?"“Naoki requested you to be here. Same address. It’s an emergency,” Rin added, his voice tense, making Avyanna immediately straighten up in concern.Her eyes flickered toward her study partner, Kairus, who remained completely absorbed in his book, seemingly unaware of the call. The dim glow of the coffee shop lights cast soft shadows on his face, accentuating his sharp, stoic fea
“Kairus,” she said, her voice neutral as she watched him take the seat across from her.He sat down without a word, his expression unreadable. “I’ll eat with you, and I’ll go to class with you too…” he stated, placing his food on the table with a soft clatter.Avyanna remained silent as they ate, the quiet atmosphere settling between them like an unspoken agreement. Kairus, too, refrained from speaking, focusing on his meal. The only sounds were the occasional clink of utensils against their plates.Once she had finished, Avyanna stood up, pushing her chair back with a faint scrape. She was about to walk away when, out of nowhere, her foot caught on something. Before she could even process what was happening, she lost her balance, stumbling forward.Everything happened in a split second. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she braced for impact—but instead of hitting the ground, she felt a strong grip catch her.Kairus had acted on reflex, his arms instinctively reaching out to steady he
"Hide, Avyanna!" her father shouted, his voice filled with fear and urgency. Avyanna could clearly hear the loud gunshots outside their room. Her hands trembled as she slowly peeked through a small hole in the wall. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw men dressed in black tuxedos engaged in an intense battle against enemies dressed just like them."Dad! What’s happening? Why is this happening? Why are there gunshots outside?" Avyanna asked in rapid succession, barely able to breathe from fear. Tonight was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life—her quinceañera. But instead of joy and music, the air was filled with screams, gunfire, and blood."I can’t explain it anymore, please just go to the secret base! Hide, do not come out!" her father urged in panic. Suddenly, they heard loud banging on the door, making their hearts pound faster. Avyanna looked at her father, fear written all over his face. Her mother, on the other hand, sat pale and weak in a chair, looking draine
Years passed quickly for Avyanna, and before she knew it, she was stepping into her first year of college. Though she had been through countless hardships over the past five years, this was an entirely different kind of challenge. The weight of expectations pressed down on her shoulders as she walked through the towering gates of the most prestigious university in the city.She had chosen to pursue a pre-law degree—a decision she had been hesitant about from the start. The idea of sitting in lecture halls, surrounded by students who had lived normal, sheltered lives, felt almost foreign to her. She was used to the shadows, to the underworld where survival was the only priority. Here, things were different. Here, she wasn’t Avyanna, the hidden heiress of a fallen empire. She was just another student.At first, she had no intention of ever setting foot in a college. What was the point? Her life had already been carved into something far from ordinary. But the boss had been insistent.No
It was a dull day for Avyanna. She was sitting in a coffee shop across from the university with Huan-Yue and Monica, sipping coffee and chatting about random things. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, blending with the soft laughter of other customers and the rhythmic hum of the espresso machine.While her two friends were engrossed in conversation, Avyanna suddenly paused. Her gaze drifted towards the counter, where a young man wearing a coffee shop apron caught her attention. There was something about his presence—sharp eyes, an upright posture, and a sense of ease in the way he moved.Monica noticed Avyanna zoning out and smirked. “Hey, Avyanna, don’t be too obvious,” she whispered teasingly, snapping Avyanna back to reality. Quickly, she turned her gaze down to her coffee cup, taking a sip to play it cool.Huan-Yue grinned. “Hmm… You’re up to something, aren’t you?” she asked before taking a sip of her drink.Avyanna shrugged. “Uhmm, Huan-Yue… This is a Chines
“Good morning, students,” the professor greeted as he stepped in front of the class. His voice was calm yet authoritative, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.The new semester had just begun, and it was already January—a time for fresh starts. A new year, a new beginning, new classmates, and new challenges. But for Avyanna, it was just another phase in life, a cycle that repeated itself every few months. Things would change, whether she liked it or not, and she had long accepted that.“Good morning, sir,” the students chorused in response, their voices blending into a collective greeting.The professor took a moment to introduce himself, stating his name and background. However, he didn’t ask the students to introduce themselves one by one. Instead, he immediately transitioned into discussing the course syllabus and outlining his expectations for the semester.Avyanna sat quietly at the back of the classroom, listening but not particularly excited. A new semester meant new subje
“Kairus,” she said, her voice neutral as she watched him take the seat across from her.He sat down without a word, his expression unreadable. “I’ll eat with you, and I’ll go to class with you too…” he stated, placing his food on the table with a soft clatter.Avyanna remained silent as they ate, the quiet atmosphere settling between them like an unspoken agreement. Kairus, too, refrained from speaking, focusing on his meal. The only sounds were the occasional clink of utensils against their plates.Once she had finished, Avyanna stood up, pushing her chair back with a faint scrape. She was about to walk away when, out of nowhere, her foot caught on something. Before she could even process what was happening, she lost her balance, stumbling forward.Everything happened in a split second. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she braced for impact—but instead of hitting the ground, she felt a strong grip catch her.Kairus had acted on reflex, his arms instinctively reaching out to steady he
While studying with Kairus in the warm, inviting ambiance of the coffee shop, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sharp ringing of Avyanna’s phone. The sound cut through their focused silence, making her jolt slightly. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and answered it swiftly."Avyanna, come here immediately," Rin’s urgent voice came through the other end of the line, his tone carrying an undeniable weight of urgency.She let out a quiet sigh, already sensing that something serious was happening. Adjusting her grip on the phone, she responded in a calm but firm voice. "What is it?"“Naoki requested you to be here. Same address. It’s an emergency,” Rin added, his voice tense, making Avyanna immediately straighten up in concern.Her eyes flickered toward her study partner, Kairus, who remained completely absorbed in his book, seemingly unaware of the call. The dim glow of the coffee shop lights cast soft shadows on his face, accentuating his sharp, stoic fea
“Kairus!”A loud voice echoed through his apartment, sharp and demanding. He heard it loud and clear. Letting out a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair, already feeling exhausted before even turning around.He had just finished studying with Avyanna—or rather, they had barely covered two cases before she abruptly stood up and bid him goodbye, claiming there was an urgent emergency. He didn't ask for details, nor did she offer any. Just like that, she was gone, leaving the rest of the readings unfinished.And now, instead of getting a moment of peace, he was greeted by the sight of his mother standing in the middle of his living room, her arms crossed, eyes burning with irritation.“You visited without notice—” he started, but his words were cut off.“I’m your mother! And you call this an ill-mannered thing?” she snapped, her expression growing even more frustrated.Kairus let out another sigh, already knowing that this conversation wasn’t going to end anytime soon. His mother’s persi
“Good morning, students,” the professor greeted as he stepped in front of the class. His voice was calm yet authoritative, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.The new semester had just begun, and it was already January—a time for fresh starts. A new year, a new beginning, new classmates, and new challenges. But for Avyanna, it was just another phase in life, a cycle that repeated itself every few months. Things would change, whether she liked it or not, and she had long accepted that.“Good morning, sir,” the students chorused in response, their voices blending into a collective greeting.The professor took a moment to introduce himself, stating his name and background. However, he didn’t ask the students to introduce themselves one by one. Instead, he immediately transitioned into discussing the course syllabus and outlining his expectations for the semester.Avyanna sat quietly at the back of the classroom, listening but not particularly excited. A new semester meant new subje
It was a dull day for Avyanna. She was sitting in a coffee shop across from the university with Huan-Yue and Monica, sipping coffee and chatting about random things. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, blending with the soft laughter of other customers and the rhythmic hum of the espresso machine.While her two friends were engrossed in conversation, Avyanna suddenly paused. Her gaze drifted towards the counter, where a young man wearing a coffee shop apron caught her attention. There was something about his presence—sharp eyes, an upright posture, and a sense of ease in the way he moved.Monica noticed Avyanna zoning out and smirked. “Hey, Avyanna, don’t be too obvious,” she whispered teasingly, snapping Avyanna back to reality. Quickly, she turned her gaze down to her coffee cup, taking a sip to play it cool.Huan-Yue grinned. “Hmm… You’re up to something, aren’t you?” she asked before taking a sip of her drink.Avyanna shrugged. “Uhmm, Huan-Yue… This is a Chines
Years passed quickly for Avyanna, and before she knew it, she was stepping into her first year of college. Though she had been through countless hardships over the past five years, this was an entirely different kind of challenge. The weight of expectations pressed down on her shoulders as she walked through the towering gates of the most prestigious university in the city.She had chosen to pursue a pre-law degree—a decision she had been hesitant about from the start. The idea of sitting in lecture halls, surrounded by students who had lived normal, sheltered lives, felt almost foreign to her. She was used to the shadows, to the underworld where survival was the only priority. Here, things were different. Here, she wasn’t Avyanna, the hidden heiress of a fallen empire. She was just another student.At first, she had no intention of ever setting foot in a college. What was the point? Her life had already been carved into something far from ordinary. But the boss had been insistent.No
"Hide, Avyanna!" her father shouted, his voice filled with fear and urgency. Avyanna could clearly hear the loud gunshots outside their room. Her hands trembled as she slowly peeked through a small hole in the wall. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw men dressed in black tuxedos engaged in an intense battle against enemies dressed just like them."Dad! What’s happening? Why is this happening? Why are there gunshots outside?" Avyanna asked in rapid succession, barely able to breathe from fear. Tonight was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life—her quinceañera. But instead of joy and music, the air was filled with screams, gunfire, and blood."I can’t explain it anymore, please just go to the secret base! Hide, do not come out!" her father urged in panic. Suddenly, they heard loud banging on the door, making their hearts pound faster. Avyanna looked at her father, fear written all over his face. Her mother, on the other hand, sat pale and weak in a chair, looking draine