Morning in Auckland arrived softly—golden sunlight spilling through tall glass windows, painting everything it touched in warmth.
Inside one of the most luxurious mansions in the city, where marble floors gleamed and silence echoed through wide halls—
Lived a girl who never truly belonged to it.
Aveline Laurent.
She stood near her balcony, her fingers lightly gripping the railing as the gentle breeze played with her long, open hair. The world outside looked peaceful from here—trees swaying, birds drifting lazily through the sky.
It was calm.
Too calm.
Aveline closed her eyes for a moment, letting the quiet settle inside her. But even in peace… her heart carried something heavier.
Responsibility.
Expectation.
A life already decided for her.
"Aveline."
Her father's voice broke through her thoughts.
She turned, her expression softening instantly.
"Yes, father?"
Chairman Laurent stood tall, composed, every inch the powerful man the world respected. His presence filled the room effortlessly.
"Prepare yourself," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "Dinner tonight. The Vex family will be there."
Aveline's fingers tightened slightly at her side—but her face didn't show it.
Lucian Vex.
Her future husband.
Her fate.
She nodded gently.
"Of course, father."
Because she had never been the kind of daughter who refused.
But Aveline had something no one could control.
Her heart.
And her heart didn't belong to power, or politics, or alliances.
It belonged to something much simpler.
Something real.
That's why, an hour later—
She stood inside a small orphanage, far away from luxury, surrounded by laughter that felt more genuine than anything she had ever known.
"Miss Aveline!" a little girl ran toward her, wrapping her arms around her waist.
Aveline laughed softly, kneeling down to hug her back.
"I brought chocolates today," she said gently, her voice warm, almost soothing.
The room lit up instantly.
Children gathered around her, their small hands reaching, their eyes shining with excitement.
And Aveline—
She didn't hold back.
She sat on the floor with them, her cream off-shoulder shirt slipping slightly against her skin, her long brown skirt spreading softly around her like waves. Her hair flowed freely, catching the sunlight that filtered through the windows.
She didn't look like someone from a powerful family.
She looked like something… softer.
Something untouched.
Like she had stepped out of a dream.
"Miss Aveline, play with us!" a boy tugged her hand.
"Okay," she smiled, letting herself be pulled into their little game.
And for a while—
She forgot everything.
The engagement.
The expectations.
The life waiting for her.
She just laughed.
Freely.
Genuinely.
Until—
She felt it.
A presence.
Strong.
Unfamiliar.
Watching.
Aveline's laughter faded slightly as she looked up.
And that's when she saw him.