Chapter 1: Fascinating
She moved lazily out of bed, staring blankly ahead. "Who are you?" she asked her reflection in the bathroom mirror. The woman staring back looked thoroughly exhausted, dark circles hinting at restless nights. Brushing the sleep from her eyes, Diya Ava Rivera washed up, dressed in her usual comfortable attire, and headed out of her apartment. She stopped by her local café to grab breakfast, but a quick glance at her watch made her gasp—she was running late. Hurrying down the street, she finally arrived at her destination just as a bright, childish voice echoed through the air.
"Miss Ava!"
"Hello, Lucas," Diya smiled, leaning down to playfully mess up his hair.
"Hello, Miss Ava. Please do take care of Lucas for me today, I might be a bit late for pickup," Lucas’s mother said breathlessly, offering a grateful smile before rushing off to work.
This was Diya. To the world, she was just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. She was lonely, yes, but possessed a quiet satisfaction that others spent their entire lives searching for. By day, she was both a beloved tutor and the Head of Department for the preschool section at the local private school. The children adored her, the parents trusted her, and only an envious few whispered behind her back.
During recess, while the children played safely in the courtyard, Diya joined her fellow teachers at their usual table. The conversation quickly drifted to its usual territory: marriage, husbands, dating drama, and kids. Diya sat back, sipping her coffee and laughing along, offering lighthearted thoughts whenever prompted. But in a room full of settled women, she knew what they secretly thought of her—the single freak.
"So, any luck on your side, Diya?" one colleague asked suddenly. Instantly, all eyes fell on her.
"Well, no," Diya chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. "I actually like being single. Besides, I’m not exactly old. I'm only twenty-four!"
"Huh. Diya, do you know who else is young, wealthy, and single?" another teacher teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Ivan Castle," the table chorused in unison, bursting into a fit of giggles.
Diya rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Huh, guys. Very funny." Gathering her things, she excused herself to go check on the kids.
The school day finally ended, but Lucas remained by Diya's side. True to her word, his mother arrived quite late, looking incredibly apologetic.
"I am so sorry, Miss Diya," she panted, taking Lucas by the hand.
"It's no problem at all. Have a good weekend," Diya replied, waving as they bid her farewell.
"How about a ride home?" the mother offered, noticing the darkening sky.
"No, thank you. It's Friday, and I’d really like to go for a walk," Diya declined gently.
She began her trek toward the bus station, but the weather had other plans. Within minutes, the sky opened up. Violent flashes of lightning cracked across the horizon, followed by a deafening roar of thunder. Diya stood under the flimsy shelter of the bus stop, completely forgetting about the bus as she watched the downpour. Then, she realized she wasn’t alone. A tall, imposing man stood a few feet away, seemingly unfazed by the storm.
"Well, it's Friday. What could possibly go wrong?" Diya whispered to herself.
To her surprise, the man closer to her let out a low, barely audible smirk. Deciding to ignore the strange tension, Diya plugged in her earphones, letting the music drown out the thunder. Stepping just to the edge of the shelter, she let the rain hit her face, genuinely enjoying the stormy atmosphere. From the shadows of the station, the man watched her every move, his dark eyes tracking the way the rain clung to her skin.
"Fascinating," he whispered.
Suddenly, the harsh glare of headlights cut through the torrential rain. Diya turned her head, startled as a sleek, intimidating convoy of black luxury cars screeched to a halt right in front of the bus stop. Men in sharp suits quickly rushed out, holding umbrellas. She realized the cars were for the gentleman standing next to her.
"Sir, sorry for the delay," a distinguished older man said, stepping forward.
"Markus, you... never mind," the master paused, his deep, commanding voice sending a strange shiver down Diya's spine.
Markus, his loyal butler, began to lead him toward the open door of the flagship car. But as the man went to step inside, his eyes drifted back to the bus stop. Through the sheet of heavy rain, he spotted her. She was soaking wet, her clothes clinging to her frame.
"She is going to catch a cold," he murmured.
"Sir?" Markus asked, halting the car door. To Markus, his master's sudden concern for a random stranger made absolutely no sense.
Without waiting, Markus grabbed an umbrella and began walking toward Diya to offer assistance, but a heavy hand gripped his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
"She is practically naked in that wet clothing. Let me," the master commanded.
Markus’s eyes widened in sheer shock. His master, doing a courtesy act for a civilian woman?
The powerful stranger walked toward the shelter, his gaze locked onto Diya. Seeing the massive, intimidating figure approaching her, Diya instinctively took a few frightened steps back.
"Here," he said, holding out a heavy, expensive designer coat.
Scared by the sheer dominance in his tone, Diya tripped backward over her own feet. Before she could hit the pavement, a strong, iron-like arm wrapped around her waist, catching her effortlessly. His bare fingers brushed against her bare skin, and a jolt went through him. She was freezing cold. He immediately let go of his umbrella, letting it clatter to the ground, and wrapped his heavy coat tightly over her shoulders.
"Hey..." Diya stammered, pulling the coat tight around herself. It smelled of expensive cologne and tobacco. "Can I get your name? So I can return it to you?"
The man didn't answer. He simply turned on his heel to leave. Markus, catching on quickly, stepped forward and handed Diya a sleek, black business card.
"Thank you, sir," she told Markus, before looking past him at the retreating back of the mysterious man. "I'm Diya, by the way!" she called out into the rain.
Clutching the heavy coat around her damp frame, Diya watched the convoy speed off into the night. Panic and confusion finally started to set in. Why did he give me his jacket? she contemplated frantically. Moreover, he looks like a genuinely dangerous person. Why on earth did I just give out my name? Holy crap, what if he's a criminal? What if he wants my life?!
Meanwhile, inside the quiet luxury of the speeding vehicle, the man stared out the window, the rain smudging the city lights.
"Diya," he whispered, the name rolling off his tongue like a sacred oath.
From the front seat, Markus nearly choked on his own breath, completely flustered. He looked at his master through the rearview mirror in absolute disbelief.
"Did I... did I just hear you say a woman's name, sir?"
