8 Ten years had passed since I last saw Alec, yet he seemed almost unchanged. There were no traces of age between his brows-only a touch of maturity that lent him the steady air of a man who had weathered the years well. A single, finely tailored white shirt was enough to highlight his lean, well-toned frame, proof of discipline and self-control. And me? These ten years had reduced me to a shadow of myself, neither fully alive nor entirely broken, just a wretched figure caught in between. Suddenly, the gulf between us felt immeasurable-like clouds and mud. The greetings I had rehearsed over and over in my head crumbled into silence. f there had been a crack in the car floor, I would have gladly slipped inside to hide. As if sensing my unease, Alec didn't press. He simply matched my silence with his own, as if we ad always been in sync that way. At some point, drowsiness overcame me. By the time I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a lean, orderly room. he soft, natural tones of wood filled my vision, and the faint fragrance of roses drifted ir hrough the open window. turned my head. On the nightstand sat a small jewelry box. side, neatly preserved, was my mom's old protective pendant-restored to its original state, as it had never been broken. My nose stung, and I had to sniff hard, willing back the tears threatening to spill. ust then, the door opened. Alec walked in, carrying a tray neatly arranged with medicine bottles nd packets. When he saw me awake, the corners of his lips curved upward, joy flickering in his eyes. le had always been known as an iceberg since we were young. In my memories, I could barely ecall a single moment of him smiling. et now, his smile was gentle, almost dazzling-so soft it melted the distance between us. it the corner of his lips, a faint dimple appeared, playful and disarming. It was almost... dorable. found myself smiling back. How have you been all these years?" I asked. He let out a deep breath, as though relieved that I had finally spoken. Good," he said softly. "And not so good." His cryptic answer puzzled me. Only much later did I understand-his "good" was literal, but his not so good" was born from worrying whether I had been living poorly. You've changed a lot," I admitted with genuine awe. Back then, he had been the infamous school delinquent-skipping classes, getting into fights, always at the bottom of the rankings. He was the boy trailing after me, begging to copy my homework. Now, he stood as a self-made man, someone who had fought his way through the business world until he could rival Clint himself. Where Clint had inherited his empire, Alec had built his from scratch, brick by brick, with his own hands. Rumor had it, admirers lined up from his company's front doors all the way to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. We are the same age. n these ten years, we had passed through the same length of time. But the roads we walked on were completely different. And you..." He said, his gaze steady, "You haven't changed at all. You're still shining, just lik when we were kids." gave a soft, bitter laugh. "How could that be? The radiant young heiress of the Bellemares is jone. What's left is just the disgraced wife of the Flemings' son." From today on," Alec cut in firmly, his eyes unwavering, "you are no longer his miserable wife." lis conviction was so unshakable, so certain, that I almost believed him-perhaps, his words veren't flattery at all but the truth as he saw it. First and foremost, you are Soleil," he said. Then, almost shyly, a faint flush crept up his ears And if you're willing... You could also be my wife." My heart faltered. I couldn't bring myself to answer. part of me cursed inwardly-wasn't it I who had agreed to his so-called 'wedding hijack'? nd now, when faced with the reality of it, why was I the one wavering? \..." It's alright," Alec said gently, his eyes glimmering like they held a thousand stars. His voice was o soft, as though he feared breaking something fragile in his hands. "You don't need to answer ight away. I'll wait for you... for as long as it takes." t was only then that the realization struck me-he had already been waiting. He had been waiting for me... for ten long years.