The morning sun was gentle, casting a soft glow through the curtains of a small apartment.
Aria Cole sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the floor in silence.
Last night's events replayed in her mind.
The warehouse.
The confrontation.
And him.
Dante Voss.
Her rival.
Her enemy.
"…Still the same," she muttered quietly, her fingers tightening slightly.
But that was last night.
Tonight was different.
Today, she was just Aria Cole.
A university student.
Nothing more.
She stood up, stretched lightly, and walked toward the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her—calm eyes, soft expression, no trace of the coldness she showed in the mafia world.
She reached into her drawer and pulled out simple clothes—nothing extravagant, nothing that would draw attention.
"Just another normal day," she said to herself.
---
Across the city…
A sleek black car pulled up in front of a tall corporate building.
Dante Voss stepped out, dressed in a neatly tailored suit. His hair was perfectly styled, his expression composed and unreadable.
To everyone around him, he was just another young businessman.
Respected. Quiet. Untouchable.
"Good morning, sir," his assistant greeted, bowing slightly.
Dante gave a small nod. "Schedule?"
"You have a meeting at 10 AM, followed by a presentation review."
"Cancel the review," Dante said calmly as he walked forward.
His assistant blinked. "Sir?"
"I'll handle it later."
Without waiting for a response, Dante continued inside.
No one questioned him.
They never did.
---
Aria walked through the campus gates, blending easily into the crowd of students.
Laughter. Conversations. Normal life.
Everything felt… distant.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and headed toward her class.
"Aria!"
She turned slightly to see one of her classmates waving at her.
"Hey," Aria replied with a small smile.
"You look tired. Did you stay up late again?"
Aria paused for a second, then shook her head lightly. "Something like that."
If only they knew…
---
Meanwhile, in a different part of the campus…
Dante stepped out of a black car, drawing subtle attention.
Not because people knew who he truly was…
But because of his presence.
Confident. Calm. Different.
"Who's that?" one student whispered.
"No idea… but he looks like someone important."
Dante ignored the attention and walked inside the building, heading toward the administrative office.
---
Aria exited a lecture hall, her mind slightly distracted as she checked her phone.
Without noticing, she stepped forward—
And bumped into someone.
Her phone slipped from her hand.
"Ah—!"
A hand caught it mid-air.
Aria froze.
"…Careful," a calm voice said.
She looked up.
And for a brief moment…
Her breath paused.
Dante stood in front of her, holding her phone.
Their eyes met.
Something unfamiliar flickered in both of them.
A strange sense of recognition… though neither could explain why.
"Thanks," Aria said, quickly taking her phone.
Dante nodded slightly. "You should watch where you're going."
There was no hostility in his voice.
No tension.
Just calm indifference.
Aria frowned slightly. "I usually do."
A small pause.
Then—
"Good," Dante replied simply.
Silence settled between them.
Neither moved immediately.
It was brief.
But strange.
Like something had just shifted… without either of them realizing it.
"Are you new here?" Aria asked casually, breaking the silence.
Dante looked at her for a second before answering.
"Something like that."
Aria studied him briefly.
There was something about him…
Familiar… but not quite.
"Alright," she said, stepping aside. "Then welcome."
She walked past him.
Dante remained still for a moment, watching her leave.
"…Interesting," he murmured under his breath.
He didn't know why.
But that brief interaction…
Stuck with him.
---
Far from the campus…
In a luxurious room filled with mirrors and designer clothes, Selena Hart stood in front of a mirror, scrolling through her phone.
Her lips slowly curved into a smile.
"So… he's attending a university now?"
Her fingers tapped lightly on the screen.
"Dante Voss…"
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"If you're trying to hide… I'll find you."
She turned off her phone.
"And whoever gets close to you…"
Her smile turned sharper.
"…will regret it."