It was already 10 p.m. without them realizing it. Tonight was incredibly precious for Lilith—not only did she get to have dinner alone with Lucian, but she also had the chance to be close to the man she had secretly loved for eight years.
"Lucian, did you join the military after dropping out of school?" Lilith asked softly.
No wonder back then, when she tried to ask around about him, not a single person had a clue where he had gone. So he had enlisted.
"Yeah. I wasn't old enough to work, and I had nothing better to do, so I joined the army in Venturon City for two years," Lucian replied casually, not hiding anything. "But I was too impulsive back then—got into a fight and injured someone. I got kicked out before the two years were up."
Lilith's heart ached at his words. She said gently, "It's okay. Kynix is on the rise. I believe it won't take long before you make a name for yourself here in Solviva City. Your future's full of potential."
"Then I'll be counting on Director Lilith to look after me," Lucian said with a grin.
Lilith blushed and said shyly, "I'm just an employee, too. Don't tease me."
After leaving Solviva One, the two strolled along a riverside park. A beautiful woman blushing—there was nothing more enchanting in the world. Under the warm orange glow of the streetlights, Lilith's fair complexion and delicate features looked all the more alluring. Her big, glistening eyes were filled with a softness that tugged at the heart, and her enticing red lips resembled a blooming rose—impossible to ignore. Lucian, who hadn't had much contact with women in years, found himself staring in a daze.
"Lucian..."
Lilith called his name softly, feeling flustered under the weight of his unrestrained gaze. Her heart pounded wildly, her face flushed, and her hands fidgeted without knowing where to rest. The poised and capable Director Lilith found herself completely thrown off by Lucian's dreamy eyes—her body heated, her mind in disarray.
She was wearing a pale violet dress tonight, elegant and finely tailored. The light fabric danced in the river breeze, making her look like a goddess descending from the heavens. Paired with her naturally gentle and graceful demeanor, the effect was utterly captivating. Even Lucian, whose will was usually solid, felt his defenses slipping as a certain dangerous impulse stirred within him.
"You were really my classmate?" he asked after a long silence.
"Mhm," Lilith nodded gently, showing none of her usual commanding air. "I sat right behind you."
"You got plastic surgery or something?" Lucian asked bluntly. "I don't remember having such a gorgeous classmate in high school."
Lilith let out a helpless laugh, biting her lip. "I didn't. If you don't believe me, I can show you our old class photo."
"I'd like that," Lucian chuckled, brushing off the awkward moment with a smile. "It's getting late. Shouldn't you head home?"
Lilith felt a pang of reluctance but knew she had no excuse to keep lingering. She nodded. "Yeah. My car's over there."
She pointed across the street to a nearby parking lot. Not too far, but still a few hundred meters away.
"I'll walk you to it," Lucian offered.
"Okay."
Even at 10 p.m., Solviva was still alive with noise and energy. Especially in this busy downtown area, the city barely slept. Neon lights sparkled, and the streets bustled with people. As the night deepened, more and more couples filled the sidewalks—walking hand in hand, whispering sweet nothings to each other. It was a scene that Lilith, twenty-six years old and never having been in a relationship, longed for deeply.
With her looks and status, Lilith could've easily had her pick of suitors. If she so much as lowered her standards, the men would come swarming like locusts. Yet in all her years working at Kynix, she'd never been in a relationship—not even tried. Part of it was the lack of options, but more importantly, she had never stopped thinking about Lucian. Because of him, she'd never had room in her heart for anyone else.
Now, walking beside him through the city's cool night air, Lilith felt a happiness too deep for words.
Wasn't this the exact scene she had fantasized about eight years ago? Back in senior year, she used to dream over and over again about walking home with Lucian after school. Even if it was just to talk about difficult homework problems, she would've been content.
And now, that long-held dream had finally come true. But she wasn't satisfied. Not at all.
When it comes to love, women are greedy and never truly content—at least not until the man who once etched himself into their heart becomes theirs completely.
Lilith turned her head slightly to study Lucian's face—the face that had lived in her memories for so many years.
His features were sharper than they had been in high school, and his skin had roughened slightly. He had lost the youthful glow and gained a rugged charm. His eyes were no longer clear and innocent, but deep and unreadable, like an endless sea that could drown you with just one glance.
His nose was straight, lips thin, and a shadow of stubble lined his jaw, adding to his masculine appeal. When he smiled, the brightness from high school still lingered, but when his face returned to calm, there was a faint loneliness to him—as if he carried countless unspoken stories within.
"Watch out."
All of a sudden, Lucian pulled the distracted Lilith into his arms, his strong arm wrapping tightly around her waist as he spun their bodies aside, narrowly avoiding a speeding car.
The motion caused Lilith to fall into his chest, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. She didn't dare let go. She didn't want to let go…
Pressed against Lucian, she could feel his warmth, his faint scent of tobacco. From the outside, he didn't look particularly muscular, but in that moment, she could feel the strength in his body. Not the kind of muscles built in a gym, but sleek, powerful muscles full of explosive energy.
Once Lucian steadied himself, he gently let go of her waist and asked softly, "Are you okay?"
"No," Lilith murmured, still clinging to his neck. She looked up at him, her eyes glistening.
"What's wrong? Did you get hurt somewhere?" Lucian asked, concern in his voice.
"My heart," she said, biting her lip, her cheeks flushed red. Then, with a note of stubbornness, she added, "Lucian, I like you. I've liked you since eight years ago!"
"I gave up my spot at Solviva University just to be in the same class as you. I repeated a whole year just so I could be with you."
"For the past eight years, I've never forgotten you. I always believed that one day, you'd come back. No matter what you've become, in my heart, you'll always be that brave and dashing Lucian I once admired!"
Lucian was completely caught off guard by Lilith's sudden confession. He stood there frozen, his face blank with shock.
He wasn't stupid. To become the top student in Solviva High, a school teeming with geniuses, Lucian obviously had a brilliant mind. He had long sensed that Lilith's kindness toward him was a little too unusual, but with everything that had happened recently, he never had the time to seriously think about it. What he didn't expect was that Lilith had been treating him so well… because she'd been in love with him. For eight whole years.
Eight years. How many sets of eight years does a grown woman even have to spare?
How long can a woman's beauty and charm truly last?
And yet Lilith—Kynix Corporation's high-ranking CFO, admired by countless employees—had been in love with him for eight years, and never once forgot him.
This kind of affection… let alone for someone like Lucian, who had been single for nearly his entire life—was coming from a woman who wasn't just stunningly beautiful, but smart and powerful?
Whether it was his barren love life or his just-beginning career, Lucian couldn't help but feel like Lilith was a gift from above. A gift from God—one of a kind, and priceless.
His thoughts were in disarray, his face a storm of conflicting emotions. Meanwhile, Lilith, who had summoned all her courage to confess, was slowly spiraling into panic. Her breathing grew erratic.
"He's not going to accept me, is he..."
Lilith's heart began to sink, her palms slick with cold sweat.
Eight years ago, she didn't have the courage to speak to Lucian—let alone confess. She was just an ordinary girl then, so plain, so insignificant. And he was the golden boy of Solviva High, adored by all. She knew she wasn't worthy of someone like Lucian. She had no special traits, nothing he would notice. All she could do was quietly watch him from a distance, burying her overflowing feelings deep within, telling no one.
For eight years, she had yearned to see him again. She had imagined that moment countless times. What should she say when they met?
"Long time no see"? Too cliché.
"How have you been"? Too bland.
"Do you remember me"? But he never even knew her. So how could he remember?
Lilith was grateful that fate had given her this second chance—to meet him again, to mend the pain of eight years of longing. Even though Lucian had changed—he was no longer the dazzling genius he once was—he was still the one her heart beat for. The only one.
Eight years ago, she met the best version of him, but she didn't dare speak up because she didn't feel good enough. Eight years later, she had become her best self, and though he wasn't as exceptional as before, he was still the man she had loved for eight long years.
When you love someone, you have to say it. Even if you fail. Because if you don't, you won't even have a chance.
Lilith had said it.
But now, she regretted it.
Reason is just reason—it doesn't always work for everyone. Some people can face failure head-on. Others can't.
Lilith hated herself for not being calm enough, for being immature. Why had she blurted it out so impulsively? Why hadn't she taken it slower? Maybe tried dating first?
Had she really never considered that Lucian, at this stage of life, might not be ready for a relationship?
Was she really so selfish, so wrapped up in her own desire, that she never stopped to wonder if Lucian even wanted her?
Lilith, oh Lilith… for all your boardroom savvy and negotiation skills, couldn't you try seeing things from someone else's point of view?
In that moment, Lilith was overwhelmed with regret, frustration, and helplessness. She feared rejection—and she wasn't sure she could take it.
She had waited eight years. If this failed, she might not even be able to remain friends with Lucian. Maybe he would avoid her from now on. Maybe, if he ever saw her again, he'd turn and walk away.
Just thinking about it made her feel like the sky was collapsing. Lilith, the poised CFO of a soon-to-be-listed company, broke down in the middle of a busy street, sobbing in silence.
Women must be God's most favored creation. Because they have something even the bravest men can't resist—tears.
The moment Lilith cried, Lucian broke.
Why was she crying?
Because she'd fallen for someone she shouldn't have?
Because she thought he wasn't good enough for her?
Because she believed being with him meant a bleak future?
Lucian, narrow-minded as ever, snapped.
He pushed Lilith back slightly and barked through clenched teeth, "What the hell are you crying for?!"
Lilith was stunned. Completely thrown off. Her heart aching with injustice.
You're about to reject me, and now I don't even have the right to cry?
In that instant, Lilith felt like the world had ended.
"Am I that bad? Is loving me such a shame? If just confessing makes you cry like this, then what? If we go shopping together, hold hands in public—you're going to throw yourself off a building?"
Lucian was both angry and embarrassed, practically shouting now. "Back in high school, I was the top guy at Solviva! Girls liked me left and right! Did I ever care? Did I ever look twice? Please. You think I'm desperate for your affection just because you've got some beauty and class and money? You think I've never seen a beautiful woman before? Let me tell you something. I might be at the bottom now—low pay, unstable hours, struggling to get by—but I will rise up. With my own two hands, I'll make a name for myself. And when that day comes, you'll regret shedding these tears!"
He spun around to leave in a huff.
But before he could take a step, Lilith threw her arms around him from behind, trembling.
"I don't care! I don't care how much you make, or how unstable your job is—I don't care about any of it! I care about you! I've cared for eight years already—just let me keep caring, please?"
She clung tightly to him, tears still flowing. But this time, they weren't tears of sorrow.
They were tears of joy. Of relief.
Because she knew Lucian's outburst had been his way of cheering her up—of not wanting to see her cry. The more he ranted, the more her heart ached with happiness.
Eight years.
She had finally waited him out. And thank God she hadn't given up.
She was even more grateful that she had never let herself forget him during those eight long years.
Feeling her soft body against his, the warmth of her tears on his skin, and the trembling of her arms locked around him, Lucian slowly lifted his hands. He held her hands against his chest, a tidal wave of emotions welling in his heart.
So… I'm not alone?
So someone has been thinking about me… missing me… even during the darkest times, when I thought no one cared?
In the middle of a crowded, noisy street, Lucian's heart—so often hollow and cold—suddenly warmed. And he laughed. Loudly, recklessly, like a man who had finally dropped all his burdens.
"What… what's so funny?" Lilith asked cautiously, a little freaked out by his laughter.
Lucian turned his head slightly and grinned. "Your boobs are huge. They're pressing against me. Feels amazing. Mind if I turn around? My back isn't nearly as sensitive."
"Go to hell!"