The Armon Deluxe Hotel-
Neo Hames walked out of the men's washroom and entered the party floor.
His eyes scanned throughout the floor, and it soon stopped at a scrawny guy with short brown hair and an unremarkable face.
"Ronnie!" Neo called out.
"Ah! Neo, where were you? We were looking for you," Ronnie said while pointing at the seemingly dead person beside him. He had short black hair, a lean body, and an above-average face.
"I-is he d-dead?" Neo asked with a stutter.
"Haha! No, he just passed out. Man, you and your weak heart."
"I-is that so? Hmph! I was just acting. My heart isn't weak!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
"I'm telling the truth."
"Yeah, I can hear you."
The two friends continued their bickering for quite some time.
"By the way... did you know that Anieal Starborne is here?" Ronnie asked in a whisper.
"Hmm? What about it?" Neo said with a tilted head.
"Huh?.. you know who Anieal Starborne is, right?" Ronnie asked with a furrowed eyebrow.
"Well, of course I do, duh," Neo replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
Ronnie was left speechless after hearing Neo talk about Anieal Starborne like she wasn't the sister of the Head of Starborne Emporium.
"Yeah.. you tell them, Neo," Adam, who had come back to his senses a few minutes ago, spoke.
Ronnie felt an ominous premonition after hearing Adam. Adam had asked Anna out for a date, but she had rejected him. Anna, being the first woman to reject his advances, caused him to hold a grudge against her.
"That Anieal Starborne isn't anything without her brother. I am telling you," Adam said with a wide, mocking grin on his face.
People who were standing nearby, perked up their ears, waiting for the drama to play out.
Anna, who also happened to hear Adam, walked towards him.
"What did you say?" Anna questioned while squinting her eyes.
"What? Didn't hear me the first time?" Adam questioned back with a taunting grin plastered on his face.
"Oh, I did hear you. I just assumed no one else cared enough to respond." Anna replied with a small, pitiful smile on her face.
Adam, who heard Anna call him someone ⟨insignificant⟩ couldn't help but get enraged.
Neo, who could sense his emotions, walked towards Adam, seemingly getting ready to stop him from doing something outrageous in anger.
Jacob, who could see the mood getting sour. Called out.
"Everyone! It's time to cut the cake."
Everyone turned toward the sound. A black-haired youth with silver eyes stood there, he was donning an Italian suit, standing beside a table. A 3-layered chocolate cake can be seen on the table. Everyone started walking towards the table and stopped a few steps away.
Jacob, seeing the mood getting better, smiled and began to cut the cake.
Celebrations, gifts, and greetings were passed to Jacob, who had a small, gentle smile on his face and replied to everyone with the same enthusiasm.
Anna walked towards Jacob with a gift in her hand.
"Happy birthday, Jacob!!" Anna said with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, Anna.. I am so happy that you came." Jacob replied with a similar smile.
"Haha! How could I miss my friend's birthday?" Anna replied while giggling to herself.
"I mean… your reputation isn't that good in that department," Jacob said while slightly shaking his head.
Anna, hearing that, smiled wryly and stepped aside allowing others to greet Jacob.
Soon, the party ended. Anna walked out with a sour expression due to Jacob's words as it made her remember that day. She denied all of her friends, who wanted to continue having fun partying.
She had already called Jack to pick her up. As soon as she stepped out of the hotel, she could see Jack standing beside a car while holding his hat in his hands, seemingly waiting for Anna. Anna started walking towards him.
"Uncle Jack!" Anna called out to Jack, who was lost in his thoughts.
"Ah! Miss Anna, "Jack replied small smile as he turned towards Anna.
"Would you like to go to the mansion or do you have some other place in mind?"
"Let's just go home," Anna replied lazily.
"As you say, Miss Anna," Jack bowed and opened the door for Anna to take a seat, and he sat in the driver's seat.
Feeling exhausted from the party, Anna closed her eyes as the visage of a silver haired woman resurfaced in her mind.
The shy moon drifted away, and came the bold sun announcing the start of a new day and a new beginning.
As the warmth of morning sunlight hit Anna, who was still sleeping on her bed. Her eyelids fluttered open. She yawned and got up from her bed.
After freshening up, Anna now dressed in clothes suited for daily workout, stepped out of her room and called her butler as she started walking towards the garden.
"Uncle Andy!"
Moments later, Anna sat at the chairs placed within the garden, Andy came with a tray holding a glass full of mango and orange juice and a small plate with a few slices of fruit and almonds and placed it on the table, Anna swiftly ate and drank all of it.
"I hope you have yet another great day, Young Miss," Andy said.
"Mhm.. I told you not to call me young miss, I am not a child anymore," Anna pouted.
"As you say, Miss Anna," Andy replied with a small smile.
Anna stood up and began jogging on the garden pathway surrounding the mansion. The garden was neatly lawned, and it had multiple vibrant flowers, giving a colour of joy and refreshment to the garden.
"Mew"
"Hmm?" Anna, who was jogging, suddenly stopped due to some weird noise coming from nearby. When Anna listened attentively, she found out that it was the sound of a cat.
"Meow"
Anna moved towards the sound and she found a feline cat with long black and white fur and topaz eyes, tilting its head curiously, with a collar around its neck.
"Hey, kitty!!" Anna's eyes sparkled when she saw the cat.
"Hmm, so your name is Veylor, huh?" Anna said after she read out the name on the collar, Anna picked up the cat in her arms, seemingly wondering what a pet cat was doing here.
Soon Anna started walking towards the mansion.
"Uncle Andy!" Anna called out for her butler.
"Yes, Miss Anna," Andy replied after a few minutes.
"Do you know whose pet this cat is?" Anna questioned, thinking that the cat might be a pet of one of the servants.
"Hmm? A Cat? I don't think we have any servants with a pet," Andy answered with a tilt of his head.
"Maybe it's from other houses?" Andy said after pondering it.
"Hmm, maybe.." Anna said as she paused for a few moments and continued, "Check out if anyone is trying to find him; if not, then I'll make it my pet instead. Hehe!" Anna finished with a chuckle.
"As you say, Miss Anna," Andy said as he bowed and went inside the mansion.
"Hmm, Veylor is a good name, but I'll call you Vey," Anna said with a small grin on her face.
Veylor replied with a "meow.." and started nodding his head "myu.. myu"
"So cute," Anna said while hugging Veylor.
"Let's go.. It's already too late to start jogging again."
"hehe" Anna chuckled after picking Veylor in her arms.
"To the mansion," Anna said as she ran inside the mansion with Veylor.