## Chapter 1: Echoes in the Metropolis
Three years had sculpted new realities for Great since his campus days. The familiar scent of sterile antiseptic now clung to his tailored suits, a stark contrast to the ink and old paper of academia. His mastery extended beyond the intricate pathways of the human brain, for he now helmed one of his father's substantial enterprises. Yet, his surgeon's hands, capable of the most delicate neural dances, still carried a certain restless energy. Beside him, Tessa remained a constant, a carefully cultivated presence in his life. Her engineering mind thrived in structure and control, qualities she'd diligently applied to their relationship, much to the quiet approval of Great's mother, who envisioned Tessa as the perfect anchor for her son.
Sonia, meanwhile, had risen as a formidable force in the city's legal landscape. Her sharp intellect, once honed on case studies, now dissected complex legal battles with precision and flair. Courtrooms had become her stage, victories her accolades. Beyond the courtroom, her entrepreneurial spirit had blossomed into a diverse portfolio of thriving businesses – a sleek law firm, a vibrant media house, an elegant décor atelier, and a cutting-edge fashion school. Success shimmered around her like a well-tailored power suit.
Their paths, once intertwined on the university grounds, diverged and flourished, only to converge again at a prestigious business conference held in the city's gleaming heart. The vast hall buzzed with ambition and influence, a symphony of hushed conversations and clinking glasses. It was there, amidst the titans of industry, that Great's gaze locked onto Sonia. Time had not dulled her essence but had instead burnished it. The youthful angles had softened into elegant curves, her posture radiating a quiet confidence that was undeniably alluring. The once casually dressed student now moved with a poised grace, her attire a sophisticated statement of her achievements. Great felt a familiar tug, a magnetic pull towards this evolved version of the woman who had once occupied his thoughts.
Tessa, acutely aware of the subtle shift in Great's focus, subtly tightened her grip on his arm, her manicured nails pressing lightly into his expensive fabric. She angled her body towards him, her perfectly coiffed hair catching the light, and offered a practiced smile, a silent reminder of her presence. But Great's attention remained tethered across the room, where Sonia sat in conversation with a distinguished-looking man.
That man was Prince, the charismatic son of a renowned royal family. He was captivated by Sonia's sharp wit and the quiet strength that emanated from her. Their exchange was animated, punctuated by genuine smiles and shared laughter. For Sonia, Prince represented a fresh start, a chance to finally eclipse the lingering memories of Great that still occasionally surfaced in the quiet moments. Prince was everything one could desire in a partner – kind, influential, and undeniably smitten. Yet, despite his undeniable appeal, a persistent undercurrent of awareness flowed towards Great, a ghost of a connection that years and distance had failed to fully sever. A part of her, perhaps a wounded and defiant part, considered a relationship with Prince as a way to finally capture Great's undivided attention, to evoke a reaction from the man who had once held her heart. Unbeknownst to her, Prince's affection was genuine, his desire for her to be his life partner sincere and heartfelt.
The air in the conference hall crackled with unspoken tensions, a silent drama unfolding amidst the polished veneer of professional networking. The echoes of the past resonated in the present, threatening to disrupt the carefully constructed futures of those whose lives were about to collide once more.