Chapter 1

SHE IMMEDIATELY GETS up and feels her chest where her heart is. She's having a hard time breathing and she's sweating profusely too. She felt like someone took her heart out as if someone pulled it out from her chest and it terrified the hell out of her because it felt so real.

"Nightmare Again." She hissed and gazed at the clock above the side table.

It was already 1:16 in the morning, the same time again. Every time that dream visited her, she would wake up, always at that time. She leaves her room to drink water in the kitchen. She didn't bother to open the lights because the beam of the moon was enough to lighten up her surroundings.

She sipped her water while staring outside the window, its full moon.

And due to the rain last night the window was foggy. She raised her hand and traced the shape of the moon on the window. The moon is in its perfect shape, glowing and it's breathtakingly beautiful.

Somehow, she forgot about her nightmare for a moment while looking at the sky.

"Is there something wrong, Nina?"

She almost flinched when she heard Argus' voice. He is her butler slash bodyguard slash personal driver. Except for Soleil, her handmaiden, and personal assistant, she also trusts him. They are the only ones she has trusted completely since then and until now.

She continued sipping her water.

"Nothing. I just got thirsty."

Nina Celestine Gabriel was pampered since birth, She gets everything she wanted and everyone adores her. For others, she was the soft and fragile heiress of the Gabriels but for her, she's more than that.

She wants to be more than that. She wants people to know her more than that.

Her every move is calculated and should be done only according to the wishes and wants of her parents. And her family should also benefit from her decisions.

She felt like a puppet and a robot while growing up and her parents hold the key or strings or they own the switch of her body and mind to control her.

Nina gasped when Argus put a robe on her. It's black, maybe it's the skin of an animal and it's very soft. She was immediately enveloped in heat and felt relieved because she was only wearing thin pajamas.

Argus is always caring and gentlemanly. He was five years older than her and she also considered him as her brother. Maybe he heard her when she got out of her room earlier. Her room was only next to him to ensure her safety, it's what her parents wanted too.

"Do you dream, Argus?" She asked him, still staring at the moon.

"You had a nightmare?" He Already concluded.

It's funny how fast he can read her and sometimes he scares her. It felt as if he knew her more than she knew herself.

"I'll sleep now! Good night, Argus."

Without looking at him, she finds her way out. Her parents taught her to be strong, to always act calm but elegant. They raised her not as a princess but as a son, they have a lot of expectations of her and she never, not even once, disappoints them.

Nina loved her parents so much she does not have any strength to disobey them even if it's against her will or her happiness is at stake.

SOLEIL SLIGHTLY BOWED down when she entered Nina's room, the woman's face was formal and serious. She's wearing a draped dress, a coat and underneath it was a black turtleneck. Her shiny and straight shoulder-length hair was also well combed.

While Nina was ready as well, she was very elegant in her peach high collar slip dress and peep-toe Mary Jane heels. Her straight nose and red cupid's bow lips are the most attractive features in her face that made people think she went under the knife.

"The car is ready, miss Nina. Shall we go to your clinic first?" She asked flatly but full of respect.

Nina owns an animal clinic and she's a veterinarian too, That's the only thing she asked her parents. When she finished studying, she studied again. She's studying while managing their company and foundation at the same time. Her parents are against it but they didn't interfere with her decisions, though they didn't support her.

They said if she wants to study again then they will allow her but she will not be given even a cent and they want to make sure that she should prioritize their company first. It was really hard and exhausting but it pays off, she's now a well-known CEO and a veterinarian.

Nina smiled and nodded while sitting on her throne-like sofa, deep thinking.

"My parents?" She asked.

"They already left, Miss Nina."

She nodded again, slowly tapping her fingers on the table.

"Hasn't your family been serving us for a long time, Soleil?"

Soleil blinked, slowly nodding her head. "Yes, miss."

"I just want to know if we have a history of heart problems? heart attack or someone in our family did a heart transplant?"

"Not that I know of, Miss. Why?"

Nina's shoulders dropped but she did not show the frustration she felt. Why does that dream bother her so much? It's just a dream, it's not true. She stood up and went out. Soleil followed her, carrying her briefcase and her double-breasted trench coat.

Everyone stops what they are doing when they see her just to bend at her. She's already used to that. Though she's not strict, she even has a friendly aura and angelic face but people avoided her on purpose. They're avoiding her not because they are afraid but because they are intimidated by her.

Argus opened the door to the backseat of their car. When she finally seated, that's the only time they got inside and Argus started the car.

"Did my mom tell you anything, Soleil?" Nina asked after checking her phone.

Her forehead puckered when she noticed her silence.

She sighs in annoyance. "What is it?"

"It's about Sir Diether, Miss. I know that this is just going to ruin your day so I did not say anything."

"What about him?"

"Madame told me that If I can, I should be the one to make ways for the two of you to talk, and it's not good in business to always quarrel, especially that you two will soon be married."

She leaned back in her seat then exhaled deeply as she remembered the last time she saw Diether. He is her longtime boyfriend and fiancée. When she was young, her parents always reminded her that Diether would be her husband. They said that it would not only help and benefit her but also their company and Foundation.

It is also one of the reasons why her parents did not stop her from studying again. Diether Lexington's Family Owns The Biggest Hospital in Castavale, he also came from a family of popular and great doctors.

"In our office, Argus. I will visit the clinic later." She commanded.

She became so busy in her office that she would not have known the time if only her father had not visited her. She stood up and greeted him, her father sat up in her swivel chair as Nina asked her secretary to prepare their drinks.

She sat in the chair coolly too. "What brought you here, dad?"

He stared at her. "I just want to inform you about the event this coming weekend for our board members and shareholders. It will also be attended by benefactors, magnates, and tycoons."

In short, a dull party!

"I don't want to disappoint our guests, Nina, so I want you to take the lead in the preparations especially that Hawthorne Salvatrix will also attend."

Nina just nodded even though she knew the party would be as boring as hell.

"And I want you to search about this Hawthorne Salvatrix. I know all the Salvatrix's but this is my first time to hear that name. If that Hawthorne Salvatrix turned out to be a fraud then I don't want to waste my money and time."

Salvatrix? Then it's a big party. They're known for their shopping malls, resorts, and hotels and they're one of the richest and most powerful families in Mysticshire. They are elusive and don’t immediately invest or trust other companies. If they will become a shareholder of their company or benefactor of the foundation then their family will be more recognizable and even more powerful.

They will also be jealous because here in Castavale, the Salvatrix's never invested in any business ventures.

"Have you talked to Diether yet?"

Nina sat up straight when her father immediately changed their conversation. She would rather talk about the company than her raw fiancée.

"Don't prolong your fight and fix it already. It's bad luck in business to always fight."

She nodded, not showing any emotion. "I understand, dad. I will call him later."

Even though it was against her will, she said that so that it would not worry him anymore.

"That's part of a relationship, Nina. Not because you saw Diether with another woman doesn't mean you're going to break up with him already. You're both been engaged since you're in high school, don't waste everything just because you saw him hugging some girl. Grow up and stop being a child.”

Even though she wanted to rebel and wanted to disagree with him, Nina still nodded. It's been a few weeks since he saw Diether at a party, it was just an accident. She was more surprised to see him there but what surprised her, even more, was to find out that he had another date.

And it's not just a hug, she saw them kissing. With her own eyes.

She's not jealous, she's mad and disgusted because the woman he was kissing looks like a slut. A low-class whore, yes, she did her research. And that's rude of him. If he wants to commit adultery with others, he should make sure that the woman is at their level. That can match or surpass her and not that low-class woman who will look like trash when you put beside her.

And until now Diether has not called to apologize or even to explain to her. The brat inside her won't yield and she won't gonna make the first move. She was raised that way so she won't be gentle and nice.

WHILE ON THE TRIP to the clinic, heavy rain suddenly fell, and the sky and the surroundings lit up because of a series of lightning bolts. Nina even gets flustered every time that happens so she chooses to just close her eyes. Soleil played classical music to divert their attention from the bad weather.

"I already informed the secretary of your parents that you will be late tonight, miss Nina."

"Hmm! Thank you, Soleil." She just murmured, suddenly she felt so tired and sleepy.

She moaned softly when she felt the pain in her chest, she rubbed her temple and took a deep breath to calm herself. But as time went on, her chest ached, even more, her heartbeat seemed to be pounding slowly so she could feel how hard it was to breathe.

She heard a noise and almost sank into the front seat. She opened her eyes. Their car was parked in the middle of the road and was a bit tilted.

"Are you all right, miss Nina?" Soleil immediately asked, she turned to her with concern while checking if she was okay.

"I'm fine," Nina assured her then she gazed at Argus, brows furrowed. "What happened?"

"I'm sorry, Nina. A car suddenly appeared." Argus answered with gritted teeth, also gripping the steering wheel tightly. His fists clenching too.

Nina looked in front of them and saw a car like them was also parked there. It was foggy too with very heavy rain. The streetlights there and headlights of their cars didn't help to brighten the darkness of the environment.

"Just ignore it. Let's go, Argus." She ordered, trying to ignore the pain she was feeling.

"I'll just talk to the owner of that car, it seems like they did it intentionally."

"Forget it. It's foggy and raining hard, the road is slippery too and they didn't see us either. All right, Argus, let's go!"

But Argus remained unresponsive, he was just staring at the car with wrath in his eyes.

"Argus!" Soleil called him but he didn't respond.

Nina sighs heavily, she's losing her patience already. "Just drop it, Argus, and let's go... Please?"

He cleared his throat then looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror. He stared at her for minutes and gradually the darkness on his face disappeared and he calmed down as well. Even though the resistance was obvious, he still nodded and then started the car.

HAWTHORNE PUNCHED THE steering wheel of his car, he's always been an excellent driver the moment he learned it. He's also into car racing and he Never loses so he was surprised by what happened earlier.

He lost control of his car and almost hit a car. He felt like his hands were stiff, he also suddenly lost his attention to driving which only happened now.

It's not because of the fog or the bad weather, there are other reasons but he can't determine what it is. Until now his hands are still shaking and for the first time, after several hundreds of years, he felt nervous.

When he was back in his senses, he parked his car at the side of the road. Lean back in his seat and look up at the roof, deep in thought. He would never be in this position if he didn't listen to Constantine.

He shouldn't believe in him, he shouldn't just go with him. He cursed loudly and disheveled his hair. He felt so hopeless and miserable.

Why when it's about Her, even if it's impossible, he still trusts. Even if it feels wrong, it would be right for him. Even if it's a lie, will he still believe it?

Constantine took him to an animal clinic but after a few hours of waiting, the person they were waiting for didn't show up. He even bought a dog before they went to the clinic and he restrained himself from hurting him.

"It would be easy if you shift into your wolf form then we will pretend that you're my sick pet and I'm your master."

He even has the nerves to say that while they had been walking in a mall for hours, he didn't even know where they were going. He has been with him for a few weeks now. He came here with him when he left Condoleeza, he didn't include his men and even Safiya.

"This is plain bullsxxt, Constantine! Why am I even here in the first place?"

He grinned, teasing him even more. "Because I'm charming and no one can't resist me, Hawthorne Salvatrix. And I'm good at encouraging people. Should I apply for a job here because for sure I will be good at sales talk?"

He mumbled. "If I find out that you're lying, Constantine. I will kill you myself."

"Oh! Stop with the threats, let's just enjoy our date!"

"Go to hell!"

He only returned a loud, silly laugh. As soon as they entered the pet shop, the animals went astray, barked at them, growled, and so on. Even the talking parrot was scared of them and it kept on flying inside its cage. Some hid and some wanted to attack them.

The woman working there scolded and tried to stop them but that wasn't enough. When she looked at us, her lips parted and she couldn't take her eyes off us.

"I want that dog," Constantine pointed at a Doberman.

It was salivating, looking at us furiously and even biting the iron railing of its cage.

He smirked at him. "I love taming animals and people in general."

Hawthorne looked around while shaking his head. Unable to bear the noise anymore, he changed the color of his eyes and showed them his fangs then growled a little. All the animals immediately stopped and they all sat down, some cried, some shut their mouths.

"That doesn't look sick at all," Hayes commented while staring at the Doberman that Constantine was now dragging out of the pet shop.

"Pregnant then? She's a girl."

"You're hopeless."

"This is for you too, Hawthorne." He grinned. "I will name her Rosemarie—"

"Don't you dare." He immediately cut him off to whatever he was going to say as his face darkened.

Hawthorne sighed, ruffled her hair again before opening the compartment then got something there, and stared at the picture of a woman. She doesn't look like her. Maybe at first glance but if you stare at the woman for a long time you will immediately know their differences.

Rosemarie was more innocent, always smiling and sweet. It looks like there are flowers and butterflies around her. It was always light and easy whenever she was around.

While this girl, even though she has an angelic face, you can still see the evilness in her eyes. She seems spoiled with luxury and can never be satisfied with just one simple thing.

They're different in a lot of things. His Rosemarie was simple and this girl isn't, she looks like she was used to everyone serving her. Their only similarity was they both love taking good care of sick people and animals.

Rosemarie treats sick people while this woman treats animals.

Clenching his jaw, he traced the photo using his thumb.

"Nina Gabriel."