Chapter3:The man who remembered
1402 Words
The rain refused to stop.
It poured endlessly over Manhattan, washing silver across the streets while shattered crystal glittered around the hotel entrance like broken diamonds.
But nobody moved.
Not the security guards.
Not the hotel staff.
Not even the crowd gathering behind the barricades.
Because Kael Verrano was staring at someone.
And that someone was currently trying very hard not to pass out from humiliation.
Aria Betty Taylor wanted the ground to open and swallow her whole.
Preferably immediately.
“Oh my God,” she whispered under her breath, staring at the ruined medication bottles near the curb. “Oh my God…”
The prescriptions were gone.
Destroyed.
Which meant her grandmother’s treatment would be delayed again.
Which meant more pain.
More bills.
More drowning.
A strange numbness crept slowly through her chest.
Around her, security guards rushed toward Kael instantly.
“Sir, are you hurt?”
“Should we call the police?”
“Mr. Verrano—”
“I’m fine.”
Three simple words.
Cold enough to silence everyone immediately.
Aria swallowed hard.
Even soaking wet beneath the rain, Kael Verrano looked terrifyingly composed.
His black dress shirt clung slightly to his broad frame while droplets slid slowly down the sharp line of his jaw.
Expensive watch.
Tailored suit.
Perfect posture.
Everything about him screamed power.
Meanwhile Aria probably looked like a drowned raccoon fighting financial ruin.
Fantastic.
A hotel employee rushed forward nervously.
“Sir, we deeply apologize—”
Kael ignored him completely.
His eyes remained fixed on Aria.
Sharp.
Unreadable.
Like he was trying to solve something.
The attention made her uncomfortable immediately.
“What?” she snapped softly.
One of the security guards looked offended on Kael’s behalf.
But surprisingly…
Kael’s expression barely changed.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Rain tapped softly against the marble pavement between them.
“You’re hurt.”
Aria looked down.
Blood trickled slowly from the scrape along her elbow.
Oh.
She had not even noticed.
“It’s nothing.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“I’ve had worse.”
Something flickered briefly in his eyes at that answer.
Not pity.
Kael Verrano did not look like a man capable of pity.
No…
Recognition.
And suddenly, Aria noticed the way he kept staring at her face.
Not in attraction.
Not curiosity.
Like memory.
The realization unsettled her instantly.
“Do I know you?” she asked cautiously.
For the first time since the accident, silence truly settled around him.
The city noise faded strangely into the background.
Kael’s gaze lowered slightly toward the silver locket resting against her collarbone.
The moment he saw it—
His entire body went still.
Aria frowned immediately.
What the hell?
The old silver locket slipped partially free from beneath her hoodie, the small circular surface glinting faintly beneath the hotel lights.
Her grandmother always told her never to remove it.
Never lose it.
Never let anyone take it.
But right now, the way Kael stared at it made unease crawl beneath her skin.
Then slowly…
He looked back at her.
“…Aria Taylor.”
Her breath caught.
“You know my name?”
One of the security guards blinked in visible confusion.
Because obviously someone like Kael Verrano should not know random girls standing in the rain.
But he did.
Aria could see it clearly now.
This man knew exactly who she was.
Kael’s jaw tightened slightly.
“You don’t remember me.”
Not a question.
A statement.
Aria stared at him blankly.
Should she?
Because trust her, if she had met a face like his before, she definitely would have remembered.
“I think I’d remember tackling a billionaire before tonight.”
A few nearby staff members looked horrified at her sarcasm.
But unexpectedly—
The corner of Kael’s mouth moved slightly.
Not quite a smile.
More like the ghost of one.
And somehow…
That tiny almost-smile changed his entire face.
Dangerous.
That was the word.
Beautiful things were comforting.
Kael Verrano looked dangerous.
Before Aria could answer again, dizziness hit her suddenly.
Hard.
Her knees nearly buckled.
A strong hand caught her arm immediately.
Warm fingers wrapped carefully around her elbow.
Steadying.
The contact startled her.
Kael frowned instantly.
“You’re pale.”
“I’m wet, exhausted, broke, and surviving entirely on caffeine. Pale is expected.”
One of the security guards nearly choked trying not to react.
Aria realized too late she had just spoken to one of the richest men in America like he was annoying her during office hours.
Wonderful.
But Kael did not let go.
His eyes scanned her face carefully.
Studying.
Calculating.
“You haven’t eaten.”
Aria blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
“You’re shaking.”
How the hell was he noticing that?
“I’m fine.”
“You’re lying.”
The response came immediately.
Confident.
Certain.
Like he was used to people hiding things from him.
Aria straightened stubbornly despite her body screaming in protest.
“I said I’m fine.”
“And I said you’re lying.”
God.
Arrogant.
Annoyingly observant.
Very rich.
Exactly the type of man she hated interacting with.
Behind them, hotel staff continued panicking over the shattered chandelier while reporters began gathering outside the barricades.
Of course reporters came.
Kael Verrano breathing incorrectly probably made financial headlines.
A woman wearing an elegant silver dress hurried toward him through the rain.
Beautiful.
Perfect makeup despite the weather.
And immediately furious.
“Kael!”
Ah.
There it was.
The rich-people drama had arrived.
The woman stopped beside him before her sharp eyes landed on Aria.
Disgust flickered across her face instantly.
Subtle.
But definitely there.
“Who is she?” the woman asked coldly.
Aria almost laughed.
Because obviously the woman assumed she was some random desperate girl trying to climb social classes through accidental physical contact.
Honestly?
Fair assumption.
Kael’s expression darkened slightly.
“She saved my life.”
Silence.
The woman blinked once.
“…What?”
Kael finally released Aria’s arm slowly.
But his gaze never left her.
The intensity of it made her chest feel strangely tight.
“You should see a doctor,” he said calmly.
Aria stared at him like he had lost his mind.
“I literally work at a hospital.”
“You still need treatment.”
“I need money. Slight difference.”
Another dangerous flicker crossed his expression.
Then his eyes dropped briefly toward the shattered medication bottles near the curb.
Understanding settled across his face immediately.
And somehow…
That felt worse than embarrassment.
Aria hated being looked at like a problem someone else could solve.
Pride was a cruel thing.
Even starving people held onto it.
“I’m not asking for help,” she said quietly.
Kael looked back at her.
“I know.”
Something about the answer felt heavier than it should have.
Rain continued falling softly around them.
The city lights reflected in puddles beneath their feet.
And for reasons Aria could not explain…
The moment felt strangely important.
Like something invisible had shifted between them.
Then suddenly—
Kael’s phone buzzed.
One glance at the screen hardened his expression instantly.
Business mode.
Cold again.
The warmth—if it had even existed—vanished immediately.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket before speaking without looking away from her.
“Take care of your injuries, Miss Taylor.”
Miss Taylor.
Formal.
Distant.
Like he had not just looked at her seconds ago like she was tied to some memory he could not let go of.
Aria folded her arms tightly.
“You too, Mr. Billionaire.”
For the first time—
Kael actually smiled.
Small.
Brief.
Real.
Then he turned and walked toward the waiting SUV while security rushed around him once more.
Power followed him naturally.
Like the world rearranged itself whenever he moved.
Aria watched the vehicle disappear into the rain-soaked streets of Manhattan.
Only after it vanished completely did she finally exhale.
Weird.
That entire interaction had been deeply weird.
Her phone buzzed again.
Unknown Number.
Aria closed her eyes slowly.
Reality returned immediately.
Debt.
Hospital bills.
Work shifts.
Survival.
Whatever strange moment just happened with Kael Verrano…
It belonged to a world far above hers.
Or at least—
That was what she told herself before noticing something resting near the shattered chandelier debris.
A black umbrella.
Expensive.
Elegant.
Left behind beside her.
And embroidered carefully near the handle…
was the silver insignia of Verrano Group.
- Writer
