I sat there, cold and detached, buried in contracts I didn't care about. The board droned on; their voices faded into the background against the sharp sound of my pen scratching on paper. I was focused. Untouchable. Just how I liked it.
Then my phone buzzed. I never check my phone during meetings. Never. But something about the vibration and the brief flicker of Ella's name in my peripheral caught my attention.
I shouldn't have looked. But I did. A story. Posted by her. And there he was, Cameron. His fingers held her jaw as he owned it, his gaze fixed on her lips as if they belonged to him. Something inside me snapped.
My pen cracked between my fingers. Ink splattered across the table as my vision blurred with a surge of anger. I couldn't breathe for a moment. I couldn't think past the image of her soft smile directed at him. Him.
My chest tightened; rage gripped me like a fist around my ribs.
"Sir? Should we continue?" someone asked timidly. Continue? With what? Pretending I wasn't being torn apart by an Instagram story? I grabbed another pen I signed the papers without reading them, my signature a slash of irritation.
"Meeting dismissed," I said, my voice so cold the room fell silent. I didn't wait for a response. I walked out, my pulse pounding, my jaw clenched, my fingers still stained with ink and fury.
The drive to the location passed in a blur, breaking all the signals I reached there. The shooting location was chaotic, flashing lights, people shouting, equipment clattering but all of it faded when I saw her sitting there under that beautiful breath breathtaking setting.
Ella. And Cameron. His head rested in her lap. Her fingers brushed through his hair as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if he were the one who belonged there with her.
With My Ella? My stomach dropped and burned at the same time. I didn't remember moving. I just found myself walking straight toward them.
"I swear to fucking hell if he had kissed her, I would fucking slaughter the infuriating face of his. Let alone I was letting him touch what belonged to me. Only to Sylus Morano."
She looked up. Our eyes met. Her smile vanished instantly. Good. At least she knew something was wrong. The shoot wrapped up in a few minutes. Cameron stood, casually brushing himself off like he hadn't just crossed every boundary. He walked toward me, that smirk on his face making me want to slam him against the nearest wall.
"Well, Mr. Morano," he said lightly, "didn't expect you here." I forced my voice to stay steady, controlled barely. "I was passing by. Thought I'd check on the shoot." My eyes dropped to where he had been sitting in her lap. "You both seem… very comfortable."
He had the gall to step closer to her, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Don't we look like an actual couple?" he teased.
My blood boiled. The Fuck he meant read couple? I stepped in front of her, blocking him from getting any closer, my gaze locked on him with lethal calm. "Couple?" I repeated. "Let's not be fucking delusional, Cameron. Ella looks better when my arms are around her shoulder—"
Ella's hand flew to my mouth, those soft palms pressed against my lips. "Sylus," she hissed, panic in her voice. "Excuse us."
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me away, but even as she dragged me, my eyes stayed locked on him, promising that this wasn't over. Not even close.
"What are you doing, Sylus?"
Her voice sliced through the chaos, sharp and breathless. She pulled me away from the shooting area, her fingers gripping my wrist tightly, her eyes wide and filled with questions.
As soon as we were out of sight, she turned to face me.
"Why are you—" I interrupted her. I barely heard her voice as she pulled me from the shooting zone, only noticing the panic in her eyes and the tremble in her breath. But once we stepped behind the wall, something inside me snapped. I shoved her back, trapping her between my arms before she could finish saying my name.
"Sylus—" Hearing my name from her lips rattled me. I leaned in inches apart, looking at that pair of beautiful brown eyes.
My forehead nearly touches hers, my voice broken and quiet. "Ella… do you have any idea what you just put me through?" Her breath caught. Confusion, fear, and concern played across her face.
"You wouldn't pick up your phone," I said, my words spilling out. "There was a landslide near your route, I thought…" My voice faltered, choking on the thought. "I thought -
Her eyes widened in horror. "I'm sorry, I didn't know—" My hand moved to the back of her head, my fingers threading through her hair, my thumb brushing her cheek, as if I needed proof she was real. "The only thing keeping me together right now is that you're standing in front of me," I whispered, too close, too far, everything intense.
"And then I walk in and see him that close to you…" My jaw tightened. "Do you like him? Did he kiss-
Jealousy was overwhelming my senses. Suddenly, her body pressed closer, her face buried in my crook.
"Ella…" I said, my voice harsh and controlled. Her face pressed into my neck, her warmth sliding under my skin like a fever I couldn't resist. Why was she always so open around me? Why did she hand me every weapon that could hurt her? My words were a deceiving lie just to convince the situation for now, but little did I know this would pull her this close to me.
Her voice softened against my throat. "I shouldn't have grabbed you like that. I just—"
A broken laugh escaped me, low, bitter, painfully honest. "I get scared when it comes to you."
She froze, her fingers tightening on my shirt. I reached for her hand, lifting it carefully, brushing my lips over her knuckles. A feather-soft kiss, gentle enough to tear us both apart.
"You mean more to me than you should," I murmured, my lips lingering on her skin. "And I don't know how to stop."
I pulled her closer without thinking, a magnetic force tightening the air between us. Her breath hitched, her fingers gripping my shirt as if she couldn't decide whether to push me away or pull me closer.
Then my phone buzzed. A harsh vibration sliced through the moment. I exhaled sharply, ready to ignore it, my thumb hovering over the decline button when her soft but steady voice reached me.
"Pick it up." There was something in her eyes. Was it quiet guilt? A plea? A boundary?
I hated that it made sense. I hated even more that it made my chest feel tight. So I answered. Alex's voice burst from the speaker. "Dude, where are you? We've got a hangout planned tonight, karaoke downtown. Selene's been trying to reach Ella, but she's not picking up. Can you check on him, too?"
My jaw tightened. My gaze stayed on Ella's face.
"Yeah," I said, my voice low. "Yeah, I'll handle it."
I hung up. Immediately, she stepped back a little—not far. Just enough that the absence of her warmth felt like someone pulling out a stitch.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes refusing to meet mine for more than a second.
"I… I should get changed," she murmured. "And head for karaoke?"
Something inside me raged at how casual she sounded. As if we hadn't just been pressed against a wall with our hearts in our throats. As if I hadn't been losing my mind at the thought of anyone else having her. As if I just hadn't created a whole scenario, a lie to have her this close.
But I just nodded. "Yeah," I said quietly, giving her the space she didn't seem to realize she was creating. "You should… go get ready." I stepped out of the green room, every muscle tense walked towards the car
HER pov~
Sylus waited by the car, calm and collected, almost like stone, as if the storm inside me didn't affect him at all. His hands rested loosely in his pockets, his posture relaxed, and his eyes unreadable. I couldn't understand how he looked so at ease when my chest still buzzed from everything that had happened earlier. What a jerk.
I adjusted the top and skirt he had bought me, exhaling softly as I climbed the steps toward him. He watched me the whole way, his gaze following me openly.
The car ride was warm and silent. With each minute that passed, my body felt heavier—drained, sore, exhausted in a way I couldn't explain. The inside of his car smelled faintly of vanilla and roses, warm and soft. It was a scent that didn't match him but somehow suited him perfectly.
The perfume he bought from me, he had been using that perfume too much lately. Either way, it wrapped around me like a lullaby. Before I realized it, my eyelids became heavy. My head tilted slightly toward the window, drifting off without meaning to.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, we were pulling up to the karaoke bar. Neon lights flickered on his face as he parked. He didn't say anything or tease me; he just let me wake up on my own. " Why didn't you wake me up?" I noticed his coat resting over me, " I couldn't you looked so much at peace."
Inside, the warmth hit me right away. Let's head in. He got out and opened the door for me as we both entered inside slight smell of alcohol hitting, and music blasting through other booths. As we entered the assigned room.
"There you are!" Selene squealed, practically tackling me into a hug. I hugged her back, laughing softly as Alex and Hyunwoo waved from the couch. Drinks were already lined up, music poured from the speakers, and the whole room buzzed like a soft party.
We sat and talked, the tension in my body easing slowly. Sylus stayed a little behind our group, leaning against the couch, one hand resting on the head of the couch and the other holding a whiskey glass. He looked like a scene from a dark, broody movie, someone out of place yet impossible to ignore.
After Alex and Selene did a duet terribly, someone handed me a mic.
"My turn?" I asked. Selene grinned. "Oh, absolutely."
We walked up together as the next song loaded. "Make You Mine — Madison Beer."
Really? I sighed, gripping the mic as the first note hit.
"Step inside my mind, you can see the shrine…
Got you on my walls, believe it…"
My voice came out softer than I expected, more breathy. Selene harmonized beside me, swaying gently.
But halfway through the verse, I felt it. That weight. That heat. That stare is burning between my shoulder blades. I didn't want to turn. I tried not to. But my eyes lifted anyway. And there he was.
Sylus.
Sitting on the far end, whiskey glass cradled in his hand, thumb brushing the rim in slow circles. His gaze didn't flicker. Didn't blink. Didn't stray.
Just held me. Just gazing into my soul as the proximity flashed across my mind as I hurriedly turned away. My breath stuttered, and the next line slipped out shaky.
"Baby, don't be scared… want you everywhere…"
His jaw tightened just a little, as if the lyrics were getting under his skin. Like every word coming from my lips was meant for him. I swallowed, heat crawling up my neck.
Selene bumped my hip, whispering, "You okay?"
I nodded. I lied. The music swelled, and I kept singing even though my pulse raced in my throat. "I wanna feel the rush.
I wanna taste the crush…"
His eyes darkened at the word taste. I looked away instantly, my heart pounding against my ribs. But I could feel his stare the whole time hot, steady, a touch that never actually touched me yet somehow traced every inch of exposed skin.
By the time the chorus ended, my hands trembled around the mic. Selene cheered and hugged me afterward. Alex clapped, and Hyunwoo whistled.
I turned to sit as the other 3 fussed about who would sing next. That's when I heard his low voice, as if restrained.d Sylus lifted his glass to his lips, slow and deliberate, and murmured just loud enough for me to hear:
"You shouldn't sing like that… not when I'm in the room."
And my stomach dropped. " Selene chose it, it's not my fault-" I murmur. Soon, my phone rang, display screen glowing "ASHER." I picked it up 'Excuse me." I went outside the room.
I stepped out of the karaoke room. The music and laughter echoed behind me, making it hard to leave. My body still felt warm from the stage and Sylus's intense gaze.
My phone buzzed again it was Asher. I answered quietly, "Hey."
His voice came through fast and urgent.
"Ella, I'm outside of karaoke. We have to go somewhere. Come outside quickly." My brows furrowed.
"What? Asher-why?" But that jerk had already hung up on me. A strange feeling settled in my chest as I walked back into the room and grabbed my purse and jacket.
"Guys, I have to go. Something came up." Selene looked up at me," Was that Asher?" "Yeahh." She nodded, not protesting, " Well, I will see you guys around then." I quickly hugged Selene as I exited the room before and I caught a glance of Sylus as He sat slumped in the booth with a glass of whiskey. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were locked on me, like a quiet storm waiting to break.
The hallway outside was colder than I expected. Night air was cold asf geez why there is so much cold I said pulling my jacket closer around me tighter.
The low hum of the car engine filled the space between them, streetlights casting fleeting shadows over Ella's face as she leaned back into the passenger seat. The city outside blurred past, but inside the car, the air felt lighter—familiar. Like slipping into an old sweater, worn and stretched in all the right places.
Asher tapped his fingers against the wheel, throwing a side glance at her." So... did the great Ella miss me?" I looked at him, "Seriously?" I opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. "What happened?" I asked as I buckled in.
Asher ran a hand through his hair and exhaled softly before starting the engine.
"My aunt invited us last minute. She's been asking about you. I thought it might be good."
"Oh."
I smoothed my skirt—the one Sylus bought—still smelling faintly like cedar and smoke.
"You could've told me earlier," I murmured. He gave a small, amused breath.
"And how did you know where I was?" Asher glanced over with soft eyes.
"Ella, did you forget we share locations?"
My chest tightened. "We did. I turned it off." "I know," he said gently. His fingers tapped the steering wheel before he spoke again, voice quieter.
"You turned it off the day everything changed. I turned it back on the day you walked out of the car crying."
Something inside me twisted guilt, exhaustion, maybe relief. He reached over, took my hand, and pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles. It was the kind of gentle affection that used to feel safe.
"I'm sorry, El," he whispered. "I should've been there then. I want to be now." Before I could respond, he nudged me lightly.
"Close your eyes."
"What? Why—"Just… trust me." I sighed but complied.
Something small and cool rested in my palms. A faint recognition as I opened my eyes to see a familiar pink box. Strawberry chocolate. My favorite. A laugh escaped me—quiet, surprised, a little broken.
"You remembered."
"I remember everything about you," he murmured. Even when you think I don't, "I do."
I pulled his cheek."Well, you are forgiven," I said happily, munching on chocolates as I pulled up an old playlist from my phone, connecting it, and our playlist was buzzing.
We used to sing it in broken harmonies with the car windows down, laughter loud enough to drown out everything else.
An hour slipped by in headlights, old lyrics, and unspoken history. When we finally pulled up to his aunt's house, warm light spilled through the windows, and cinnamon and butter filled the air. The garden lights twinkled like the past was waiting for us.
The car slowed to a stop in front of a house wrapped in warm fairy lights. It smelled faintly of cinnamon, even from outside. Stepping inside felt like diving into a memory—comforting, familiar, and a little risky for someone like me.
I stepped out and walked beside him, my heels clicking against the stone. His hand hovered near my back—close enough to steady me but not touching.
He said with a teasing smile. "Alright," he said quietly, nudging me with his shoulder. "Ready for my aunt's interrogation? You know she'll ask if we're dating again."
" Yeah, I guess," I groaned and covered my face with my hands. "Great. Maybe she'll start planning the wedding while we're at it." I smacked his arm, but a smile crept onto my lips. He always knew how to make me laugh—even when I felt heavy inside.
As we rang the bell, Aunt Carla opened the door. Herer beauhadn'tn't faded she had pale skin and soft blonde hair tied messily. Her apron was dusted with flour.
"Oh my God—Ella!" She wrapped me in a tight hug before I could speak.
"My sweet girl!" his aunt exclaimed, nearly crushing me. "Look at you! Even more beautiful than the last time!"
I smiled, letting her warmth wrap around me. "I missed you so much." She cupped my cheeks, her eyes misty, then shot a glare over my shoulder at Asher. "You! Keeping her away is unacceptable."
"Auntie!" he whined. "She's the famous one, not me!"
We all laughed as she guided us inside. The aroma of dumplings and spices hugged me tightly. She told us to sit before disappearing into the kitchen.
Asher sank beside me on the couch, casually draping his arm behind me.
"You know she likes you more than her own nephew, right?"
"Can you blame her?" I teased, nudging his knee. "I'm way more charming."
"Charming?" He scoffed dramatically. "Sure, if charming means a pain in my—"
His aunt returned, placing a large plate of dumplings between us. I reached for one, but Asher snatched it first and popped it into his mouth with a triumphant grin.
"You're stealing from your honored guest?" I gasped in feigned betrayal.
"Relax." He held another dumpling up to my lips. "Open up."
I leaned in, my teeth grazing his fingers a little more than necessary. His breath caught, and oh—his aunt definitely noticed, smiling as if she had a secret bet. Just as warmth blossomed in my chest, memories from hours ago crashed over me—Sylus's icy gaze at the karaoke bar, his whiskey glass frozen mid-air, as if he owned the space.
"You okay?" Asher asked softly. I blinked away the memories. "Yeah. Just tired."
"Then lucky you," his aunt added, gently resting her hand on my shoulder. "Eat, sweetheart. You need some love in your body again."
Her kindness made my throat tighten. The meal flowed with laughter and old stories, nostalgia of her special pies and cheesecakes melting in my mouth like a sweet dream, going through our old pictures together as we both teased each other.
Until...
"You two look so good together," she said casually while sipping her soup. "I'd love to have Ella as my niece-in-law."
I choked on my drink while Asher nearly swallowed his dumpling whole.
"Auntie—" he sputtered, his face turning crimson. "That's sweet," I laughed awkwardly, my cheeks hot. "But Asher and I would kill each other."
"What a shame," she sighed dramatically. "I already picked the wedding destination."
"Aunt!" Asher groaned, burying his face in his hands. As she laughed, sharing more sweet memories and wine burned down my throat like a sweet, fragrant memory.
It was way past 11 pm as my gaze fell on the clock. " Aunty, I should get going now, I have work tomorrow." His aunt pulled me into one last warm hug. "You'll always belong here," she whispered into my hair. "Thank you, aunty," I said with a soft smile. Asher bid his goodbye.
It almost broke me with her soft words, after all I shared my childhood memory in this house after all. As we walked back to the car, Asher placed a gentle hand on the small of my back, steady and familiar.
"No arguments," he said. "I'm driving you home." The night air was cool, but the inside of the car felt warm. City lights flickered outside the window like fireflies. My heavy eyelids fluttered shut before I could help it.
The last thing I heard was his low voice, soft with an emotion I couldn't quite name.
"Sleep, El. I've got you."
--------
Somewhere, the light in the mansion was casting a beautiful soft golden hue & molten glow from the city bleeding through the window, casting him in sharp lines and shadows. The skyline was alive… but he was still. Too still.
A glass of amber sat in his hand, fingers wrapped around crystal the same way he wished he held her throat—gentle, yet undeniably claiming. His gaze fixated on countless pictures of her spread across the table. Caressing the room smelled a little too much like her.
"Oh, Ella." his tone shifted—low, reverent, possessive."Mia rovina. My ruin."
His thumb hovered over the curve of her jawline. "How can you walk away from something you're bound to?" A dark chuckle slipped past his lips—sharp, humorless. "You really think a boy like him can protect you from what you feel for me?"
The whiskey burned down his throat, not half as sweet as the memory of her breath hitching under his touch. "Run anywhere you want, sweetheart.Smile for him, laugh with them… but remember." His gaze hardened—obsession dressed as devotion."You belonged to a Morano before anyone could even have you. I will be the one you end up with the holding you, worshipping you. kneeling before you"