He took me to the most expensive restaurant in Paris. The place screamed luxury and wealth, making me feel almost out of place in such grandeur. Meanwhile, Adagio walked in as if he owned it. His presence and aura are more powerful than any amount of money could ever provide. His ruthless gaze and dangerously controlled temper seem so fragile, it feels as though one wrong move could shatter it. His words carry such authority that even the law would bow to him. And now, this kind of person has invited me to dine with him? In this moment, I feel honoured and special, though I can't promise I'm the only one he's brought to places like this. I still don't know the reason behind his generous gesture, but I'm willing to accept anything as long as it involves him. I know I'm probably just being a fool for him, but there's a small hope flickering at the edges of my heart. I sat across from him as he ordered for both of us, nodding at the waiter before turning his gaze toward me. His intens
Adagio~ I've kissed countless times, and I've always had someone by my side when I wanted. Those kisses never held any meaning, and I've done a lot without any commitments. A kiss on the cheek shouldn't be keeping me up at night.Maybe it just caught me off guard, seeing her break free and act on whatever crossed her mind. I knew she was trying to get closer to me, and I knew I should protect myself from her, but my defenses crumble every time she’s around. I hated how, bit by bit, she carefully dismantled the armor I wore to guard my heart. I woke up the next day, determined to stay away from her, no matter what. I didn’t care if she thought we were building something—her high hopes weren’t my responsibility.As I walked downstairs, she came into view. Sunlight gleamed on her face, casting a soft glow in the shadows of the house. My gaze drifted to her rose-colored lips, and the memory of last night rushed back to me.Sensing my stare, she looked up from the pan. A smile spre
Aster~"Oh my gosh, Mom and Dad, I've missed you both so much," I exclaimed, pulling them into a tight hug. They smiled at me, and I could feel the emptiness inside me slowly start to fade. "How have you been, Mom?" I asked as I stepped back."It's just not the same without you, sweetheart," she said with a sad smile, though she finally seemed content and happy. "And you, Dad?" I waited for his response. The last time I saw him was on my wedding day, and his mood and expression from that day flashed through my mind.I was searching for answers, but all I could find was the same guilt that had surfaced during my wedding. "Dad?" I called out, and he looked at me for a moment longer than usual before smiling, pushing away the regret that had started to reappear."I've been doing well, love," he said, pulling me closer and kissing the top of my head. But before I knew it, he was gone. He walked away, disappearing into the crowd. What happened to Papa?I didn't want to ask my mother about i
Aster~It's been two days since the fight, and Adagio has retreated back into his cold shell. We haven't had a proper conversation since then; whenever I try to talk to him, he either ignores me or pushes me away, saying something really rude. I don't intend to address the issue between Adagio and Ace; I just want to be there for him. I know the effort it took to break through the walls between us, only for him to retreat and add two more layers on top. He’s been avoiding me like I caused the fight. It's absurd to see someone react so irrationally to situations like this instead of just facing it.In the past two days, he's completely shut the world out, and while I’ve tried to tell myself he might just need some space, I'm the one feeling suffocated by his absence.My heart is drawn to him because I caught a glimpse of his humanity—that small, vulnerable part of him that slipped through. It showed me the person inside who seems desperate to break free, but Adagio keeps him hidden. I
A smirk tugged at his lips. Aster intrigued him, yet memories of his darkest days kept resurfacing, erasing any hint of affection he felt toward her. Those memories reminded him he was only trapped here because of her.Countless times, he’d tried to keep his true self hidden from her, yet it always found a way to break free, as if it were desperate to escape. He was torn between wrapping things up quickly and dragging them out just a bit longer, savoring each moment with her before it all inevitably fell apart. The day when untold truths and unspoken words would surface, breaking down every fragile brick of the bridge she was trying to build to close the distance between them, was coming—but it didn’t have to be so soon, right? Right? "I love playing baseball." He smiled a little, and it surprised her. Beneath the guy who buried himself in work and took everything so seriously, there was someone who just wanted to enjoy the little things. When they first met, she thought h
She was on her way to meet Matteo, who had been urging her to visit. She found him affectionate and caring, someone who was both clingy and lovable. She had kept pushing herself to see him, believing that if she spent more time with Adagio during his vulnerable moments, she could help him break free from his inner struggles.But it had taken a toll on her, too. She finally realized it would be better to free herself from the thoughts of him that constantly filled her mind.Yet, thoughts of him had become part of her. We don’t always need a reason to love someone, and that was exactly what she was holding onto. Adagio had never done anything but hurt her with his actions, yet her heart remained tethered to him.After that dinner, Adagio had left her dangling, forced to search for answers to her questions on her own.She started to realize that she thought of him only because there was nothing else to distract her. Her pages filled with his name, her sketchbook with his face, her songs w
It had been three days since I visited Matt, yet the questions still lingered, unanswered. That strange feeling from our last meeting hadn’t faded, and no matter what I did, my mind kept drifting back to the mystery I couldn’t let go of. Even with these thoughts weighing on me, I managed to make some progress in launching my business. It wasn’t easy, but having this distraction kept me grounded, pushing me to take small but steady steps toward turning my dream into a reality. I've just come home from my evening run, and I'm about to head out to scout a new location for my business. I have an appointment with my broker at 5 p.m., and it’s already 4:15 p.m. Just enough time to shower and get ready—perfect timing.As I stepped into the house, I was startled to see a familiar figure. Adagio was here—home early for once. Ever since that dinner, he hadn’t come home until 1 a.m., so seeing him now was a surprise. My heart skipped a beat as I walked toward him, unsure of
He was never going to change, and honestly, why should I even want him to? It’s not as if I love him or anything. It’s the empathy I feel for him that stirs up emotions I’ve never experienced before. I need to stop what I’m doing—I can’t keep this up. The harder I try to pull him out of this nightmare, the more I find myself dreaming of being close to him, and it’s tormenting me. My sobs echoed within the four walls. It’s only been four months since the wedding, since moving in, and yet I’ve made more cherished memories in this room than I ever have with anyone else in this entire mansion. I’ve learned that this world has the power to break even the happiest soul in the cruelest of ways. But I refuse to be defeated. I want to be the girl who stands up and fights back. No more tears. With unwavering determination, I wiped my eyes and rose, resolved not to let anything shatter me. The next day, my eyes were swollen even though I had only cried for a few minu
He was never going to change, and honestly, why should I even want him to? It’s not as if I love him or anything. It’s the empathy I feel for him that stirs up emotions I’ve never experienced before. I need to stop what I’m doing—I can’t keep this up. The harder I try to pull him out of this nightmare, the more I find myself dreaming of being close to him, and it’s tormenting me. My sobs echoed within the four walls. It’s only been four months since the wedding, since moving in, and yet I’ve made more cherished memories in this room than I ever have with anyone else in this entire mansion. I’ve learned that this world has the power to break even the happiest soul in the cruelest of ways. But I refuse to be defeated. I want to be the girl who stands up and fights back. No more tears. With unwavering determination, I wiped my eyes and rose, resolved not to let anything shatter me. The next day, my eyes were swollen even though I had only cried for a few minu
It had been three days since I visited Matt, yet the questions still lingered, unanswered. That strange feeling from our last meeting hadn’t faded, and no matter what I did, my mind kept drifting back to the mystery I couldn’t let go of. Even with these thoughts weighing on me, I managed to make some progress in launching my business. It wasn’t easy, but having this distraction kept me grounded, pushing me to take small but steady steps toward turning my dream into a reality. I've just come home from my evening run, and I'm about to head out to scout a new location for my business. I have an appointment with my broker at 5 p.m., and it’s already 4:15 p.m. Just enough time to shower and get ready—perfect timing.As I stepped into the house, I was startled to see a familiar figure. Adagio was here—home early for once. Ever since that dinner, he hadn’t come home until 1 a.m., so seeing him now was a surprise. My heart skipped a beat as I walked toward him, unsure of
She was on her way to meet Matteo, who had been urging her to visit. She found him affectionate and caring, someone who was both clingy and lovable. She had kept pushing herself to see him, believing that if she spent more time with Adagio during his vulnerable moments, she could help him break free from his inner struggles.But it had taken a toll on her, too. She finally realized it would be better to free herself from the thoughts of him that constantly filled her mind.Yet, thoughts of him had become part of her. We don’t always need a reason to love someone, and that was exactly what she was holding onto. Adagio had never done anything but hurt her with his actions, yet her heart remained tethered to him.After that dinner, Adagio had left her dangling, forced to search for answers to her questions on her own.She started to realize that she thought of him only because there was nothing else to distract her. Her pages filled with his name, her sketchbook with his face, her songs w
A smirk tugged at his lips. Aster intrigued him, yet memories of his darkest days kept resurfacing, erasing any hint of affection he felt toward her. Those memories reminded him he was only trapped here because of her.Countless times, he’d tried to keep his true self hidden from her, yet it always found a way to break free, as if it were desperate to escape. He was torn between wrapping things up quickly and dragging them out just a bit longer, savoring each moment with her before it all inevitably fell apart. The day when untold truths and unspoken words would surface, breaking down every fragile brick of the bridge she was trying to build to close the distance between them, was coming—but it didn’t have to be so soon, right? Right? "I love playing baseball." He smiled a little, and it surprised her. Beneath the guy who buried himself in work and took everything so seriously, there was someone who just wanted to enjoy the little things. When they first met, she thought h
Aster~It's been two days since the fight, and Adagio has retreated back into his cold shell. We haven't had a proper conversation since then; whenever I try to talk to him, he either ignores me or pushes me away, saying something really rude. I don't intend to address the issue between Adagio and Ace; I just want to be there for him. I know the effort it took to break through the walls between us, only for him to retreat and add two more layers on top. He’s been avoiding me like I caused the fight. It's absurd to see someone react so irrationally to situations like this instead of just facing it.In the past two days, he's completely shut the world out, and while I’ve tried to tell myself he might just need some space, I'm the one feeling suffocated by his absence.My heart is drawn to him because I caught a glimpse of his humanity—that small, vulnerable part of him that slipped through. It showed me the person inside who seems desperate to break free, but Adagio keeps him hidden. I
Aster~"Oh my gosh, Mom and Dad, I've missed you both so much," I exclaimed, pulling them into a tight hug. They smiled at me, and I could feel the emptiness inside me slowly start to fade. "How have you been, Mom?" I asked as I stepped back."It's just not the same without you, sweetheart," she said with a sad smile, though she finally seemed content and happy. "And you, Dad?" I waited for his response. The last time I saw him was on my wedding day, and his mood and expression from that day flashed through my mind.I was searching for answers, but all I could find was the same guilt that had surfaced during my wedding. "Dad?" I called out, and he looked at me for a moment longer than usual before smiling, pushing away the regret that had started to reappear."I've been doing well, love," he said, pulling me closer and kissing the top of my head. But before I knew it, he was gone. He walked away, disappearing into the crowd. What happened to Papa?I didn't want to ask my mother about i
Adagio~ I've kissed countless times, and I've always had someone by my side when I wanted. Those kisses never held any meaning, and I've done a lot without any commitments. A kiss on the cheek shouldn't be keeping me up at night.Maybe it just caught me off guard, seeing her break free and act on whatever crossed her mind. I knew she was trying to get closer to me, and I knew I should protect myself from her, but my defenses crumble every time she’s around. I hated how, bit by bit, she carefully dismantled the armor I wore to guard my heart. I woke up the next day, determined to stay away from her, no matter what. I didn’t care if she thought we were building something—her high hopes weren’t my responsibility.As I walked downstairs, she came into view. Sunlight gleamed on her face, casting a soft glow in the shadows of the house. My gaze drifted to her rose-colored lips, and the memory of last night rushed back to me.Sensing my stare, she looked up from the pan. A smile spre
He took me to the most expensive restaurant in Paris. The place screamed luxury and wealth, making me feel almost out of place in such grandeur. Meanwhile, Adagio walked in as if he owned it. His presence and aura are more powerful than any amount of money could ever provide. His ruthless gaze and dangerously controlled temper seem so fragile, it feels as though one wrong move could shatter it. His words carry such authority that even the law would bow to him. And now, this kind of person has invited me to dine with him? In this moment, I feel honoured and special, though I can't promise I'm the only one he's brought to places like this. I still don't know the reason behind his generous gesture, but I'm willing to accept anything as long as it involves him. I know I'm probably just being a fool for him, but there's a small hope flickering at the edges of my heart. I sat across from him as he ordered for both of us, nodding at the waiter before turning his gaze toward me. His intens
Aster~Mark agreed to do the advertisement, and it turned out to be a huge success. Mr.s Anitta is really pleased with the outcome. As I got to know Mark better, I found him to be relaxed and fun—completely the opposite of Adagio. The sales took off just a few days after the ad was released, and profits quickly started piling up. Mr. Godwin had to delay signing the contract for a few days to reconsider his options and untimately choose us. I've already come up with a brilliant idea for marketing his products. When I explained it to Adagio, he didn't object and, once again, asked me to take the lead. Adagio has become slightly less distant than before, but the coldness is still very much there. He keeps me at arm's length. Though it hurt, I didn't complain—any progress, no matter how small, is still progress. I've been working in his office unofficially, helping with his business, and I'm not even getting paid. But I have a feeling that once all this is over, he'll push me out of hi