The morning sun barely touched the skyline of Seoul as nineteen-year-old Mia walked through the gates of Seojin University. Her black blazer clung perfectly to her slim frame, her steps precise in sleek heels, and her dark sunglasses shielded her eyes from both the sun and prying gazes. To anyone watching, she looked like just another student—quiet, composed, almost invisible.
But beneath the calm exterior, Mia carried a secret heavier than any backpack. She was the heiress of one of the most powerful mafia families in Korea, a truth she had hidden from everyone around her. Adoption papers and a carefully crafted identity had made her "normal" to the outside world, but the shadow of her real life loomed constantly behind her.
As she walked past a cluster of students, she caught snippets of whispered insults.
"Look at her… she thinks she's better than us."
"She's probably hiding something… no one is that perfect."
Mia's lips curved into a small, controlled smile. She had heard it all before. Harassment, envy, suspicion—this was nothing new. She had learned early that revealing even a fraction of her true self could be dangerous. She swallowed her irritation and continued forward, letting the murmurs fade behind her like smoke.
Turning the corner, she almost collided with someone tall and broad-shouldered.
"Oh! Sorry—" Mia started, but the words froze on her lips.
The young man before her had sharp features, dark hair that fell perfectly into place, and an intensity in his eyes that made it impossible to look away. He was about twenty-one, older than her by two years, and carried himself with a quiet authority, despite his casual uniform jacket.
"You're new this semester, right?" he asked, his tone neutral but curious.
"Yes… Mia," she replied softly, keeping her voice measured.
He studied her for a moment, and a flicker of recognition—or maybe surprise—crossed his face. Then he nodded and moved on, disappearing into the crowd of students.
Mia exhaled slowly, her heart still racing. She didn't know why his gaze had unsettled her so much. Something about him felt… familiar. Dangerous, even. But she pushed the thought aside. There was no time for curiosity—not when the world she truly belonged to waited in the shadows.
Today was just another day at the university. But somewhere deep in the city, powerful figures were already moving chess pieces that would soon collide with her carefully constructed life. And when they did, nothing would ever be the same.
Mia straightened her back, adjusted her sunglasses, and walked into the lecture hall, hiding both her secret and the storm of emotions that threatened to betray her calm. The heiress in shadows had just stepped into a world that would test her limits, and she was ready.