"She lives near the place where you met her for the first time. The day you almost hit her with your car."
Jade's fingers tightened around her phone.
"So… she wasn't just passing by," she whispered.
"No," Riguel confirmed quietly. "She lives there. When you're ready, I can take you to her place."
Jade nodded slowly.
"Thank you, Riguel."
A silence settled between them, heavier than before.
Jade stared at the city lights, her mind racing.
"Riguel…" she called softly.
"Yes?"
"Do you know about the curse in your family?"
Riguel froze.
For a brief second, his playful aura disappeared.
"I know it's personal," she added quickly, her voice almost pleading. "But please… I need to know."
He hesitated, then stood up, running a hand through his hair.
"They say… every generation of the Ooman family is touched by a curse," he said slowly.
"A curse pronounced by VESPERIS."
Jade's heart skipped a beat.
"And what is the curse about?" she asked.
"My father never told me," Riguel admitted. "It was like he was hiding something important."
She swallowed.
"Do you think Daniel is the one affected in this generation?"
Riguel looked away, thoughtful.
"I don't know, Jade. He never showed any sign that something was wrong with him."
She sighed deeply, something heavy pressing on her chest.
"What I don't understand," she continued, "if it affects every generation… why weren't your father and Daniel's father affected?"
Riguel frowned slightly.
"I never thought about that," he admitted. "Honestly, I don't believe in this kind of thing."
He waved his hand, trying to change the subject.
"Do you want to eat?"
She nodded slowly, grateful for the distraction.
"I'll cook," Riguel announced casually.
Jade blinked.
"You can cook?"
He smirked.
"You think rich guys only know how to order food?"
She laughed softly.
Soon, the kitchen was filled with the smell of spices and laughter.
They joked, teased each other, and shared stories like old friends.
For a few hours, Jade forgot about the curse, the paparazzi, Daniel, and VESPERIS.
She felt… normal again
And peaceful.
.
.
.
That night, Jade slept in one of Riguel's guest rooms.
The bed was soft, the sheets smelled like lavender, and yet… her mind refused to rest.
Her sleep was heavy.
Too heavy.
She was standing in a long white corridor.
The place felt empty, silent, almost sterile.
At the end of the corridor, she saw a familiar silhouette.
"Daniel…" she whispered.
He was walking away from her, his back turned, his steps slow and distant.
"Daniel! Wait!" she called, running toward him.
She reached out and grabbed his arm.
But the moment her fingers touched him,
He vanished.
Her hand passed through empty air.
"Daniel?" her voice trembled.
Suddenly, a metallic sound echoed around her.
Clank.
She looked down.
Black chains appeared around her wrists, wrapping tightly around her skin.
Clank. Clank.
More chains appeared, pulling her hands down, binding her, restricting her movements.
"What is this? Let me go!" she struggled.
The chains tightened, cold and heavy, digging into her skin.
She tried to break free, her heart racing, her breath uneven.
"Daniel!" she shouted again.
But only silence answered her.
The chains pulled harder.
She screamed,
Jade woke up with a gasp, sitting upright in bed.
Her heart was pounding, her breathing chaotic.
"It was just a dream…" she whispered.
She looked at her hands.
Her eyes widened.
Around her wrists, faint red marks were visible, like the imprint of chains.
She touched them slowly.
"They were… real?"
She swallowed.
"What is this?"
.
.
The next morning, Jade was still lost in her thoughts about the strange dream.
She discreetly applied ointment on her wrists, hoping the redness would fade.
She and Riguel were having breakfast in his luxurious dining room when someone knocked on the door.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Jade asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Riguel replied, confused. "I wasn't expecting anyone."
He stood up and opened the door.
His expression froze for a second.
Daniel.
He didn't wait for an invitation. He stepped inside like he owned the place.
"Riguel, who is that?" Jade asked from the table, lazily sipping her coffee.
Daniel walked straight to the dining room, his eyes fixed on her.
"Daniel?" Jade blinked. "How did you know I was here?"
He ignored the question.
"Is it really important?" he asked calmly.
She frowned. "Yes. It is. I'm not a lost puppy with a GPS tracker, you know."
"Let's go," he said simply.
"Where?" Jade crossed her arms. "I'm going nowhere with you."
Daniel stood still for a second, his jaw tightening.
Riguel watched them, trying very hard not to laugh.
"I'm not asking you," Daniel said flatly.
Before Jade could react, he bent down, grabbed her, and lifted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"HEY! Put me down, barbarian!" Jade protested, hitting his back.
"Do I look like luggage to you?! This is kidnapping, Mr. Ooman! I will sue you! And I will win!"
Riguel burst into laughter.
Daniel ignored her completely and headed toward the door.
"Thank you for keeping her safe," Daniel said calmly to Riguel, as if Jade wasn't yelling on his shoulder.
Riguel nodded with an amused smile.
"Anytime. She was… very entertaining."
Jade groaned dramatically.
"I heard that! Traitor! Cousin of ice cube!"
Daniel walked out with her.
She crossed her arms, hanging upside down.
"You know," she muttered sarcastically, "normal husbands ask their wives to come home. They don't carry them like stolen furniture."
Daniel didn't reply.
But the corner of his lips twitched.
Jade struggled on Daniel's shoulder, clearly not done with him.
"Put me down right now or I will bite you," she threatened.
He stopped walking for a second and tilted his head slightly, amused.
"Bite me?" he repeated calmly.
Then he leaned closer, his voice low and dangerously smooth.
"If you bite me, I might not let you go. Be careful what you promise, Jade."
She froze.
Her brain short-circuited.
Then she turned red.
"YOU'RE A PERVERT!" she snapped, hitting his back harder.
"Put me down, you shameless man!"
Daniel chuckled quietly and finally put her down near the car.
Luccianho was already in the driver's seat, pretending he heard nothing.