THE VAMPIRE CEO IS MY MATE

ELIARA RIVERA’S POV I held the cake box tight against my chest—one I’d spent the entire night making myself. It was his favorite chocolate moist cake, and I’d even decorated it with a motorcycle design because I knew how much he loved them. In my other hand, I carried a large paper bag holding his gift. This wasn’t just any ordinary present. For nearly six months, I’d worked overtime, cut back on my fare and meals, and denied myself every little thing I wanted, just so I could afford it. Inside was a limited-edition custom leather jacket and a pair of rare sneakers he’d been dreaming of owning for years. These were items even wealthy people struggled to get their hands on, but I’d pushed through every hardship just to make it happen—for my boyfriend, Vico. It was his birthday, and I’d traveled all this way just to reach the bar he always hung out at. My chest was full of hope and joy; I was completely ready to surprise him. “I love you so much, Vico…” I whispered to myself as I pushed open the establishment’s heavy door. Loud music, cigarette smoke, and the sharp scent of alcohol mixed with different perfumes immediately washed over me. The place was packed and sweltering, making it hard to breathe, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was seeing him. I glanced toward the VIP section at the far end, and there I spotted that familiar back. It was Vico. He was sitting with his group of friends, clearly already drunk and having the time of his life. I approached slowly, trying not to catch his eye right away—I wanted this surprise to be absolutely perfect. But before I could get close enough, a woman stepped right in front of me. She was beautiful, sexy, and obviously used to being the center of attention. Without hesitation, she climbed straight onto Vico’s lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek with such tenderness it made my chest ache. “Happy birthday, birthday boy~” she said in a sweet, cooing voice. His friends immediately cheered and burst out laughing. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” they chanted, as if there was no tomorrow. In an instant, it felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice-cold water all the way down to my bones. I watched as Vico rested his hands on her waist, then leaned in and kissed her on the lips—a kiss full of raw desire, the very same kind I’d always believed was reserved only for me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to hurl the cake and the expensive gift I’d worked months to buy straight in their faces. But it was as if my voice had been stolen. My whole body went rigid, frozen in place by the pain and shock crashing over me. “Hey, Vic!” one of his friends called out. “Don’t you have a girlfriend? Eliara, right? The one who’s so loyal to you and gives you everything you want?” I squeezed my eyes shut tight, waiting for him to deny it all. Waiting for him to say he loved me, that I was the only woman in his life. Waiting to hear that every sacrifice I’d made—every shift I’d worked, every meal I’d skipped to buy that jacket and those shoes—had all been worth it. But what I heard instead… was him laughing. It was a laugh that cut straight through my soul, a laugh that slowly killed every bit of love I still held for him. “Forget about her,” he answered, not a single trace of guilt in his voice, like what he was saying meant nothing at all. “She’s just someone to pass the time with. She’s so boring, way too much of a prude—she can’t even give me the things I want in bed. Why would I ever take her seriously? I’m just using her money anyway. Look at her, working hard just to buy me things. She’s such a fool.” Smack. It felt like something exploded inside my chest. All my sacrifices, all my trust, every single tiring day and every peso I’d saved up… it had all just been one big joke. I’d been used. I’d been played with like a toy. Overwhelmed by pain and shame, I turned around and ran away before any of them could notice me. Before he could see just how foolish I’d been to keep hoping. I dropped the cake and the gift right there on the side of the street—they meant absolutely nothing to me now. I headed straight for the bar counter, and without saying another word, I ordered the strongest drink they had. “Fill it up! Give me everything you’ve got that’s strong!” I shouted, tears already streaming down my face, mixing with the alcohol I was swallowing down. One glass, two, three… until the whole world started spinning around me. My vision blurred, my body burned with heat, and slowly, the sharp pain in my chest began to fade—though not nearly enough. I couldn’t stand the heat and noise inside any longer. I stumbled my way out of the bar, my steps unsteady, feeling like I was drowning in my own drunkenness and despair. As soon as I stepped outside, my legs gave way. I slid down until I was sitting on the cold concrete ground. While tears kept falling nonstop and my whole body trembled from hurt and intoxication, a dark shadow suddenly loomed over me. All I could see were his feet and legs—clad in well-tailored black trousers and polished black leather shoes, obviously expensive and belonging to someone from high society. Because my vision was blurred and because I was desperately reaching for something I couldn’t even name, I reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes, holding on tight like a lost child clinging to anyone who might offer even a little comfort in my emptiness. He stopped walking. For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. Slowly, ever so slowly, I lifted my head. I rubbed my eyes hard, trying to clear my vision, and even though everything still looked hazy through the tears and alcohol… it was more than enough to see just how devastatingly handsome he was. He wore a black suit that fit his tall, well-built frame perfectly—giving him an air of seriousness, something almost dangerous about him. His hair was as black as a moonless night, falling neatly across a forehead so smooth and pale it looked like fine porcelain crafted by the gods, untouched by hardship or weariness. I took in his thick, dark eyebrows, perfectly framing his sharp, straight nose. And then there were his eyes… They were crimson. The color of blood, glowing even in the dim light—deep and mysterious, like they could swallow my whole soul with just one look. And his lips… so full, naturally flushed, tempting to gaze upon and radiating an irresistible allure. I don’t know how long I sat there, staring. I was like a statue—unable to move, unable to breathe—while he simply stared right back at me. Not a word was spoken, not a single muscle moved, but I could feel the weight of his gaze, piercing straight through to the very core of who I was. “Help me…” I whispered the words, so quiet they were almost lost, my voice hoarse from crying and drinking. I was nothing more than a lost soul, begging a stranger for just a little bit of peace on this night filled with nothing but pain. He didn’t answer right away. But in the next second, it felt like an invisible hand pulled me gently toward him. Before I could think or move, my body was pressed right up against his. His skin was ice-cold—so cold it sent shivers running down my spine—but there was something strange about it… Because the moment our bodies touched, it felt like a fire ignited deep inside me. A warmth spread through every part of my being, melting away all the pain and sadness, replacing them with a feeling I couldn’t begin to explain. Right there, beside him… for the first time all night, I felt safe.