Only four days remained before graduation. Hillwood University buzzed with anticipation and pride as final events rolled in. Among the most celebrated was the successful transition of leadership within the Hillwood Investment Club. After a year and a half of effort, long nights, and visionary planning, the original founders had officially passed the torch.
Kairo, now the new president, stood confidently at the front of the HQ meeting room. Lana, always calm and poised, stood by his side as second in command. They would oversee the club’s open recruitment when the new school year began, ensuring its legacy would continue.
Following the formal turnover, the original members held their exit celebration at the HQ—one last gathering to mark the end of an era. Laughter filled the air, drinks clinked, and nostalgia painted their conversations.
As the evening waned, Lucas stood up, brushing the crumbs of chips from his pants. “Guys, I’m heading out. Gotta take Irene on a student date before we stop being students,” he grinned.
Maya, Clint, Wendy, and Clark all nodded in agreement. “Same here,” Maya said. “This is our last chance before the business worlds our families control swallow us whole.”
One by one, the pairs departed, leaving only two couples behind—Kairo and Lana, and Sebastian and Selene.
Kairo stretched his arms and looked around the mildly chaotic HQ. “I think it’s time to wrap up and clean this place. Let’s leave it spotless.”
With no objections, the four worked together, laughing as they cleaned spilled drinks and tossed leftover food. When everything was back in order, Kairo and Lana waved their goodbyes and left, leaving Sebastian and Selene alone.
As they stepped out into the cool evening, Sebastian turned to Selene with a gentle smile. “Let’s go on a date. Just us.”
She nodded, her heart skipping. “Let’s do it.”
They drove to the nearby Hillpoint Mall. At 5 PM, the mall was lively but not crowded, just enough to give it energy. They walked hand-in-hand, laughing at silly store displays and reminiscing about their time in school.
Then, unexpectedly, Sebastian tugged her toward a sleek jewelry shop. Selene raised an eyebrow, but followed without a word.
Inside, Sebastian picked a pair of rings—simple silver bands, each carved with half a heart. When placed together, they formed a perfect whole.
Selene’s eyes widened. “A couple ring?”
He nodded. “More like a promise ring.”
Later, they made their way to the mall’s rooftop terrace. Sunset bathed the horizon in pink and gold hues. Around them, other couples whispered and laughed, but Sebastian and Selene seemed to exist in a world of their own.
Sebastian gently slipped the ring on Selene’s finger. “This will serve as our promise… that no matter where we are in this world, time and fate will always bring us back together.”
Selene smiled as her heart melted. “It’s beautiful.”
Without hesitation, Sebastian leaned in and kissed her—tender, unhurried, yet filled with so much feeling it silenced the world around them. Their first public kiss felt special, a memory marked by sky and city light.
But just as they were about to leave, the moment shattered.
As they exited the mall’s main doors, a sudden flash of cameras stunned them. A barrage of reporters surged forward.
“Selene!” one shouted. “We received a tip—you’re the unknown sister of Kian Mondiego. Is it true you have Mondiego bloodline?”
Selene froze, stunned by the ambush. Her eyes darted to Sebastian, whose expression was blank with confusion.
More cameras flashed.
“Sebastian Ford,” another reporter called, “are the Fords and Mondiegos in talks for a partnership? Is your relationship with Selene personal or strategic?”
Selene opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, a black car screeched to a stop near the entrance. A group of suited bodyguards rushed out, pushing back the reporters. One opened the car door for Selene while shielding her from the flashing lights.
She tried to reach out to Sebastian, her fingers stretching toward his, but the distance between them grew. He stood still, overwhelmed and silent, as the bodyguards whisked her into the vehicle.
The car sped away, leaving a trail of murmurs, unanswered questions, and a shaken Sebastian behind.
Inside the car, Selene sat quietly, her hand pressed to the window, her chest tight. Across from her sat her brother, Kian Mondiego, looking grim.
“Our database was hacked,” he began, tone clipped. “The IT department stopped the breach, but some information was leaked. Including yours.”
“You didn’t think to warn me?” she snapped, her voice cracking.
“I tried. I’ve been calling. You were unreachable.”
Selene pulled her phone from her bag. The screen was black. Dead battery.
She sighed and leaned forward, burying her face in her hands. “Sebastian... how do I explain all this?”
Back at the mall, Sebastian sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel. Questions tumbled through his mind, unraveling everything he thought he knew.
Selene... a Mondiego?
Not a self-made student or an ambitious architect from humble beginnings—but an heiress of the most powerful empire in the region?
She had lied. Or had she?
The memory of their kiss, the way she looked at him just moments before the cameras arrived... was that all real?
The confusion twisted inside him. Had he been protecting someone who never needed his protection?
And yet... the Selene he knew never used her name to get ahead. Never demanded special treatment. Maybe, just maybe... she was trying to live her life as a student, free of her family name.
Still, his heart ached with the weight of truth.
Was everything between them real?
As the night deepened, two hearts sat in separate places—torn between a love they knew and a world neither of them was prepared for.