Later that week, Caleb Reid visited Vale Corporation's flagship department store to better understand their potential business partner. Elara accompanied him, her steps were light but her heart was uneasy.
It had been almost a year since she had last set foot in anything connected to Vale. Even though she knew the chance of meeting Adrian was small, the mere thought of seeing him again made her chest tighten.
On the other hand, Caleb was eager, talking about strategy and brand presentation, but Elara's mind drifted. She nodded along, keeping her smile polite, hoping he wouldn't notice her distraction.
When they arrived, a staff member from Vale's marketing division welcomed them and began showing Caleb around. Elara followed quietly, her gaze moving over the displays, the familiar logo, the air that somehow still carried his name.
After a while, Caleb received a phone call. "Go ahead and look around," he told her with a quick grin. "I'll meet you in ten."
Elara nodded and walked off toward the other end of the store, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in her stomach.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed. It was Caleb.
"Elara, the project in charge just called," he said. "They need us to pick up a file from their sales department. It is something related to the partnership proposal. Can you grab it for me?"
"From sales?" she repeated, instinctively glancing toward the direction of the upper floors.
"Yes. It should be ready. Just tell them you're from Reid Tech," he said.
"All right. I'm on my way," Elara replied and hung up, trying to steady her breathing.
She entered the office tower and crossed the polished lobby, her reflection flickering across the glass doors. The air smelled faintly of cologne and fresh paper, a scent she remembered far too well.
Inside the elevator, several employees were already waiting. She stepped in quietly, pressing the button for the sales floor.
Then she turned and her breath caught.
Adrian was there.
He stood near the front, tall and composed in a dark suit, one hand in his pocket. The small group of staff greeted him respectfully, their voices laced with admiration. He acknowledged them with a polite nod, his expression calm, distant, perfectly professional.
For a moment, Elara could not breathe.
Her heart pounded in her chest as her gaze met his. Just for a second, his eyes lingered on her face. There was a flicker, a trace of something searching before he looked away, turning back toward the elevator doors.
The brief connection unraveled something deep inside her.
He didn't recognise her.
Wasn't that what she had wanted all along? To disappear from his world, to free him from the memories that tied him to pain? Yet standing there, watching him only inches away, she realized how much it still hurt to be forgotten.
She lowered her eyes, forcing herself to breathe steadily. Still, she couldn't stop from stealing one last glance at him, his posture, the quiet strength in his shoulders, the way he carried himself with that same quiet confidence.
But he looked thinner now, a little more serious, a little less like the man who used to smile just for her.
When the elevator stopped on the sales floor, the soft chime echoed too loudly in her ears.
Elara stepped out carefully, her pulse still racing. She had to pass close to him to leave, her shoulder brushing the faint scent of his cologne. Every instinct told her to look back but she didn't.
She kept walking, her hands clenched at her sides, her heart a mess of longing and restraint.
After collecting the file from the sales department, Elara turned to leave, relieved that her errand was almost over. She just wanted to return to Caleb and put distance between herself and everything that still reminded her of Adrian.
But as she rounded the corner near the elevators, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Elara?"
She turned and there he was.
Rowen stood a few feet away, holding a stack of documents, his expression a mix of disbelief and warmth.
"Rowen," she said softly, her lips curving into a faint smile. It felt strange to say his name again after so long, yet there was comfort in seeing a familiar face.
He smiled back. "It's really you. I didn't think I'd ever see you here again."
"Neither did I," she admitted.
"Come," he said, gesturing toward his office. "We should talk for a bit. I think we both have questions."
Inside, the office felt the same as she remembered. He set his papers aside and sat across from her.
"So," he began, studying her carefully, "what brings you here?"
"I'm working at Reid Tech now," she explained. "My boss, Caleb Reid, came to visit. We're working with Vale's on a joint project, and I came to pick up some documents."
Rowen blinked. "Reid Tech… you mean the company we're about to sign with?"
She nodded. "Yes. We're meeting next week to discuss the proposal and finalize the contract."
A slow smile spread across his face. "I'm glad to see you doing well. You deserve that much."
Elara's expression softened. "Thank you." She hesitated, then asked the question that had been sitting in her heart since the elevator ride. "How's Adrian?"
Rowen leaned back, his smile fading. "Not good," he said after a pause. "He's colder than ever. Angrier too."
Elara's heart tightened. She had believed that by leaving, she had freed him, that regaining his sight and returning to Luna would help him find happiness again.
"And Luna?" she asked quietly.
"They broke up," Rowen said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She couldn't take his moods anymore. I think she's gone for good this time."
Elara looked down, her hands twisting together in her lap. The ache in her chest grew sharper. So even after everything, he was still alone.
Rowen hesitated before speaking again. "He's been asking questions lately. About those lost two years."
Her head lifted, eyes wide.
"He came to me a few days ago," Rowen continued, lowering his voice. "Said he found a half-used box of condoms in his room. He wanted to know who the woman was."
Elara froze, the color draining from her face. That small, forgotten boxes she had missed it when she cleared out the house.
Rowen studied her expression, then sighed. "Elara, how long are you going to keep this from him and from us?"
She looked away, her throat tightening. "It's better this way," she murmured.
"No," Rowen said gently but firmly. "If I'd known back then that you two were together, I never would've agreed to your plan. I saw how happy he was when you were around. He laughed more. He lived more. Maybe you're the only one who can bring him back to life."
Elara's eyes stung with tears she could no longer hold back.
"Rowen," she whispered, her voice trembling, "I just wanted him to be happy."
Rowen shook his head, his tone soft. "Then maybe it's time you ask yourself if he really is happy without you."
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Rowen glanced up from his desk. "Come in," he said.
The handle turned, and the door opened.
Adrian stepped inside.
Elara's pulse spiked instantly. For a heartbeat, she couldn't move.
He looked exactly as he had in the elevator, composed, sharp in his tailored suit, every line of him familiar yet distant. Seeing him again in such close proximity made her chest ache.
She forced herself to stand, clutching the file in her hands as if it could steady her. "Thank you for your time. I'll see you next week," she said quickly, keeping her voice polite and even.
Then she turned and walked out, eyes lowered, careful not to look at him. Her steps were steady even though her heart was racing.
Adrian watched her leave, something flickering in his expression. The faint scent of her perfume lingered for a moment after the door closed. He couldn't place it, but it stirred something deep within him.
"Who was that?" he asked, his tone even but curious.
Rowen straightened slightly, keeping his face neutral. "She's from Reid Teach. We're finalizing their online project with us, remember?" he said quickly, praying Adrian wouldn't hear the tightness in his voice.
Adrian's brow furrowed. "You know her?"
"Yes," Rowen replied after a brief pause. "Just an old friend. I didn't know she worked at Reid Tech until today." He cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject. "So, what did you need to discuss?"
Adrian turned toward the desk, though his eyes lingered on the closed door for another second. "Reid Tech's proposal," he said shortly.