The next morning, he woke up and followed his usual routine.
Black coffee.
Online news.
Silence.
He sat at the small table near the window, scrolling absentmindedly, expecting nothing out of the ordinary. But one headline caught his attention—bold, dramatic, impossible to miss.
"The Leopard Heiress' Endless Adventures: Another Fight, Two Injured."
The Leopard family—one of the most influential families in the nation. The heiress was expected to take over LP Company one day, yet her name was always tied to scandals, fights, and reckless behavior. The internet was flooded with opinions, accusations, and harsh criticism.
He smirked faintly.
"Money can't fix everything," he muttered to himself.
He closed the article, stood up, and began getting ready for work, pushing the story out of his mind as easily as he always did.
On his way, the streets felt the same as always—familiar, predictable. Until something small and unexpected stopped him.
A cat.
It lay near the sidewalk, injured and barely moving. At first, he ignored it and continued walking. Helping wasn't part of his routine. He had places to be.
But after a few steps, he stopped.
Without understanding why, he turned around.
For the first time, he didn't care if he might be late for work.
He knelt down, carefully lifting the cat into his arms. It flinched weakly. One glance was enough to tell him it needed medical attention. Without hesitation, he changed direction and headed to the nearest veterinary clinic.
While waiting, he sat quietly, the cat resting beside him. Then someone approached.
A woman.
She had long black hair, dark eyes, pale skin, and a smile that felt… disarming. She greeted him warmly, but for a few seconds, he didn't respond. His mind went blank, as if the world had paused.
She waved her hand gently in front of his face.
"Sir?"
He snapped back to reality. "Ah—yes. Sorry."
She smiled. "Is everything okay?"
"Nothing, I'm fine. I just—"
He stopped.
"The cat," she corrected softly. "What's wrong with the cat?"
He realized then how foolish he must have looked. Clearing his throat, he explained what had happened and how he found it on the road.
She examined the cat carefully, her movements calm and professional.
"It'll be fine," she said. "But it needs to stay here for a few days under observation."
He nodded without a second thought. "That's fine."
After settling the details, he left the clinic and headed to work—late, distracted, and unaware that something had already shifted.
He didn't know her name.
He didn't know why his heart had paused.
But for the first time, his routine had been delayed… and it didn't feel wrong.