The skyline of East City gleamed under the golden afternoon sun, casting long shadows across the streets below. From her corner office on the 38th floor, Selene Mondiego stood silently, gazing through the expansive glass window. The city had changed so much over the past three years—or perhaps, she had.
Skyscrapers, museums, eco-parks, even a university building—all bore the mark of her hand, a vision born from late nights with coffee-stained blueprints and hands calloused from real work on-site. These structures weren’t just steel and concrete; they were her dreams, turned into reality—each one etched with her dedication and the drive to make something for herself. Something that was hers, and not just an extension of her family name.
She glanced to her left, where the polished desk reflected the afternoon light. A small velvet box sat there, unopened but not forgotten. Inside it, a simple silver ring—one half of a heart, its partner lost in the whirlwind of the past. She opened the box again, as she sometimes did on quiet afternoons like this, letting her fingers brush the ring gently.
Three years.
It felt like yesterday when she was just a graduating student at Hillwood University, filled with youthful ambition and emotions she never fully understood. After graduation, she left Hillwood City behind, hoping distance could help her forget. She completed her six-month architectural apprenticeship in Central City, passed the licensure exam with flying colors, and was immediately offered a position as one of the executives in Mondiego Empire.
But Selene wasn’t ready to be boxed in. She wanted to build something that was hers, something independent from the shadows of her powerful family. She told Kian she wanted to settle in East City and start her own architectural and construction firm. At first, he refused. The Empire needed her. But seeing the fire in her eyes, Kian compromised—she would handle Mondiego East City operations, but also have the freedom to build her own company.
That was the birth of Eastpoint Blueprint and Beyond—a full-package architectural and construction firm. And in three years, Selene had done more than just survive. She thrived. Projects came pouring in. Hotels, luxury residences, public museums, government infrastructure. Her designs were a blend of modern ingenuity and timeless aesthetics. Her reputation quickly spread, and now, she was planning to expand into West City.
But even as success wrapped itself around her like silk, something still felt hollow.
A year into her new life, Kian introduced her to someone who changed everything: their long-lost brother, Hunter. Stolen as a child and raised in an orphanage in Southbay City, Hunter’s return to the Mondiego family was a miracle that brought a sense of completeness to her. She helped him adjust to the overwhelming change, supported the construction of a new orphanage in Southbay, and stood beside him as he built his own legacy in the medical and business world. Their bond as siblings grew stronger each day, making up for the years they had lost.
But no matter how much fulfillment her family brought or how much success she achieved, a quiet space in her heart remained untouched.
She picked up the promise ring and stared at it.
"It will serve as our promise ring—that wherever we are in this world, time and fate will always bring us together."
Sebastian Ford.
She still remembered the way he said her name, the way he smiled at her like she was the only one who mattered. His hands, always so gentle but firm, especially that day when he held hers before their first public kiss on the mall terrace. That kiss had sealed the quiet vows they made without words.
But the moment her identity was exposed, everything crumbled. He never called. Never texted. He didn’t even show up at their graduation. And just like that, he disappeared from her life.
Was it the truth he couldn’t handle? Was he hurt that she kept it from him? Or was it pride?
Over time, Selene tried to move on. She dated once or twice, even attended a couple of high-profile charity galas. But no one could match Sebastian. And now, three years later, as she stood at the peak of her personal success, she was also on the brink of giving up hope.
Maybe he loved the girl she was before—the humble, driven, somewhat clumsy Selene Parker. Maybe the moment she became a Mondiego, she became someone else to him. Someone unreachable.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting her thoughts. It was a message from Hunter.
Hunter:
> Meeting with City Hall at 4 p.m. Re: West City project. You in?
She replied quickly.
Selene:
> Absolutely. I’ll be there.
The Mondiegos were expanding again, and now Selene was tasked with designing their West City innovation and arts complex. She would be traveling there tomorrow to oversee initial site surveys.
She closed the ring box and placed it in her purse. No matter what happened, she would carry that piece of her past. Maybe it was foolish to hope after all these years. But maybe... just maybe... fate wasn’t finished with them yet.
Because the truth was—she never stopped loving him.
And somewhere out there, she still hoped that maybe... he didn’t stop loving her either.