Fated to Be

Mr Reynolds?!

Lyrien Reynolds had just arrived at his company when he realized he had left his phone behind.

"I forgot my phone," he said, turning to Gilbert.

"I'll get it for you, sir."

"No. I'll go myself."

A few minutes later, Lyrien unlocked the door to his private suite.

His phone was exactly where he had left it.

As he reached for it, his eyes caught something on the white bedsheets.

A small crimson stain.

His movements froze.

He stared at it for several seconds.

Then everything from the previous night came rushing back.

The fear in Kiona's eyes.

Her trembling body.

The confusion on her face that morning.

His fingers slowly tightened around the bedsheet.

"So..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"She wasn't lying."

A deep sense of guilt settled over him.

She hadn't approached him for money.

She hadn't tried to trap him.

She had been an innocent victim... and he had treated her like a gold digger.

Regret washed over him.

Without another thought, he hurried downstairs.

At the reception desk, Lyrien looked directly at the receptionist.

"The waitress who served my room last night... where is she?"

"You mean Miss Kiona Brooks?"

"Yes."

The receptionist's expression turned sympathetic.

"She resigned this morning."

For the first time in years, Lyrien felt his heart sink.

"Before she left," the receptionist continued, "she asked me to return this to you."

She handed him a small envelope.

Lyrien opened it.

Inside was the bank card.

Untouched.

He stared at it silently.

A bitter smile crossed his face.

"I really misjudged her..."

Gilbert, who had been standing quietly behind him, spoke.

"Sir..."

Lyrien closed the envelope and handed it back to him.

"Find her."

Gilbert nodded immediately.

"Yes, Mr. Reynolds."

"I don't care how long it takes."

His voice was firm.

"I want to know everything about Kiona Brooks."

One Month Later

Jihna University

Kiona stood alone inside the ladies' restroom.

Her hands trembled as she stared at the pregnancy test in front of her.

Two red lines.

Her breathing stopped.

She blinked several times, hoping she had misunderstood.

But the result remained the same.

She was pregnant.

Slowly, she placed a trembling hand over her stomach.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"So..."

A faint smile appeared on her lips despite the tears threatening to fall.

"You really came into my life."

For a long moment, she stood there in silence.

Then she gently rubbed her stomach.

"No matter who your father is..."

Her voice shook.

"I'll protect you."

"I promise."

Taking a deep breath, she wiped away her tears and forced herself to smile.

"You've been through worse, Kiona."

"You can do this."

Just then—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Ona!"

"Kiona!"

"Hurry up!"

Alicia's voice echoed from outside.

"The conference is about to begin! Mr. Reynolds is already here!"

Kiona quickly slipped the pregnancy test into a small zip-lock pouch before placing it inside her handbag.

"I'm coming!"

She unlocked the door and stepped outside.

The two friends hurried toward the university auditorium.

"I heard Mr. Reynolds is allergic to women," one female student whispered as they walked past.

"I heard the same thing," another replied.

"They say any woman who touches him causes him to break out in a severe allergic reaction."

"But strangely..."

"There was one woman who didn't."

"They say he's been searching for her ever since."

Kiona paid little attention to the conversation.

She simply kept walking beside Alicia.

At the entrance of the hall, the headteacher addressed the students.

"Everyone, maintain order."

He paused before adding,

"And female students, please avoid getting too close to Mr. Reynolds. We don't want any accidents."

"Yes, sir!"

The students answered together.

Not far away, a sleek black luxury car came to a stop.

Gilbert stepped out first before opening the rear door.

Lyrien Reynolds emerged, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit.

The moment several female staff members noticed him, they instinctively stepped back, leaving a respectful distance between themselves and the CEO.

Gilbert lowered his voice.

"Mr. Reynolds."

"We've confirmed Miss Brooks is a student at this university."

Lyrien nodded.

"I see."

His gaze drifted toward the campus buildings.

A trace of regret flashed across his usually emotionless face.

"I hope..."

He paused.

"...she'll give me a chance to apologize."

With that, he walked toward the auditorium.

The moment Lyrien Reynolds stepped into the auditorium, whispers rippled through the crowd.

"He's so handsome..."

"No wonder he's the youngest CEO in the country."

"I can't believe he's here in person!"

"He's even more attractive than the pictures online."

The students watched him with admiration as he made his way toward the stage.

Kiona, however, remained seated, completely uninterested.

To everyone else, he was an admired businessman.

To her...

He was the man who had shattered her heart.

She lowered her head, hoping the conference would end quickly.

Just then, Alicia nudged her shoulder.

"Ona."

"What?"

"At least look at him once."

Kiona sighed.

"I really don't care."

"Oh, come on!" Alicia whispered. "Every girl on campus wants to see him up close."

"I don't."

Alicia pouted.

"Please?"

After several minutes of relentless persuasion, Kiona finally gave in.

"Fine."

The two friends quietly made their way toward the front rows of the conference hall.

As they walked, Kiona's thoughts remained elsewhere.

She wasn't paying attention.

Suddenly—

Her foot caught the edge of the carpet.

She lost her balance.

Before she could hit the floor, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.

The entire hall fell silent.

Alicia's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Mr... Mr. Reynolds?"

Several students gasped.

"He touched her!"

"Wait..."

"Isn't he supposed to be allergic to women?"

"Why isn't anything happening?"

The whispers spread through the hall like wildfire.

Kiona slowly looked up.

The moment their eyes met, her face turned pale.

It was him.

The man from that unforgettable night.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Without saying a word, she immediately stepped away from him.

"I'm... sorry."

Keeping her eyes lowered, she hurried past him.

Lyrien watched her leave, unable to hide the regret in his eyes.

"Kiona..."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Gilbert stepped closer.

"Sir, should I call her back?"

Lyrien slowly shook his head.

"No."

A faint, bitter smile appeared on his face.

"I've already hurt her once."

"I don't have the right to force her to face me again."

He took a slow breath before straightening his suit.

"The conference comes first."

He walked onto the stage.

The hall soon became quiet.

Lyrien stood behind the podium and looked across the audience.

His gaze instinctively found Kiona sitting in the second row.

For a brief second...

Their eyes met.

Kiona quickly looked away.

Lyrien suppressed the ache in his chest before beginning his speech.

"Good afternoon, everyone."

"Thank you for welcoming me to Jihna University."

"I am here today because I believe this institution has enormous potential."

"I've decided to invest in the university to improve its facilities, create scholarship opportunities, and help students receive a better education."

The audience applauded.

After finishing his introduction, Lyrien smiled politely.

"I'll now answer a few questions."

A male student stood.

"Mr. Reynolds, are you making this investment simply because it will benefit your company?"

Lyrien smiled.

"Business growth is important."

"But education shapes the future."

"If today's students are given the right opportunities, they'll become tomorrow's innovators, doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders."

"I believe that's an investment worth making."

The auditorium erupted into applause.

Another student raised her hand.

It was Becky.

The notorious campus bully.

"Mr. Reynolds."

"Yes?"

"Out of every university in the country..."

She smiled curiously.

"Why did you choose ours?"

For the first time since taking the stage...

Lyrien hesitated.

His eyes drifted toward Kiona.

Then he answered honestly.

"I came here because of one person."

The room became completely silent.

"I wronged someone very important."

"I've been searching for her for a long time."

"If she's willing..."

"I want the chance to apologize."

The students exchanged puzzled looks.

Even the teachers seemed surprised.

Kiona felt her chest tighten.

She couldn't stay there another second.

Quietly, she stood from her seat and headed toward the exit.

Becky noticed immediately.

A cruel smile spread across her face.

Just as Kiona passed by...

Becky deliberately stretched out her foot.

Kiona stumbled.

She lost her balance and fell to the floor.

Her handbag slipped from her shoulder.

Its contents scattered across the aisle.

Before Kiona could gather them...

A small plastic pouch slid across the floor.

Inside...

A pregnancy test.

Becky picked it up.

Her eyes widened dramatically.

"Oh my..."

She raised it high enough for everyone nearby to see.

"The innocent Kiona Brooks..."

"...is pregnant?"

The auditorium exploded with shocked murmurs.

"What?"

"Pregnant?"

"I can't believe it!"

"Wasn't she supposed to be the most well-behaved girl on campus?"

Kiona's face flushed with humiliation.

"You have no right to touch my things!"

She snatched the pouch from Becky's hand.

Tears blurred her vision.

Ignoring everyone's stares, she ran out of the auditorium.

The hall fell silent once again.

Lyrien stood frozen.

Pregnant...

His heartbeat quickened.

His mind replayed that unforgettable night.

Could...

Could the child be mine?

He immediately turned to Gilbert.

"Assign someone to protect Miss Brooks."

Gilbert nodded.

"Secretly?"

"Yes."

"I don't want anyone disturbing her."

"Understood."

Lyrien glanced toward the auditorium doors where Kiona had disappeared.

His fists clenched at his sides.

I've already failed her once.

I won't fail her again.

He concluded the conference earlier than planned.

The moment it ended, Gilbert approached with a file.

"Mr. Reynolds."

"We've found Miss Brooks' current address."

Lyrien accepted the document.

Without a moment's hesitation, he headed straight for his car.

There was only one place he intended to go.

Kiona's home.