Chapter 3

Mira's POV

I froze. Ultraviolet allergy wasn't actually rare, but severe cases were uncommon—most people could manage as long as they avoided prolonged sun exposure.

To be unable to even see the sun, though, that was truly severe. I suddenly felt sorry for Draven, deprived even of the right to walk in sunlight.

My heart ached for him, and my voice softened considerably:

"I'm sorry. I understand now."

He met my gaze, and then I saw the corner of his lips move slightly.

"You don't need to apologize."

I chatted with him a bit longer before he began his work.

Draven's schedule was incredibly packed—wave after wave of people came to report, meetings to attend, and he didn't stop all morning. But his capability was genuinely impressive: clear-minded, incisive when facing problems, extremely efficient.

I couldn't help but admire him. And a man focused on his work was truly handsome—it was just a simple shirt, but on him it had a distinctive charm.

For some inexplicable reason, I felt he seemed familiar. When I was ten years old, my father had borrowed from loan sharks and then fled. The lenders caught me, planning to use me to force my father to repay the debt.

Of course he wouldn't repay—he didn't even answer his phone.

I thought I was going to die, but someone remarkable saved me. He could fly, like a superhero.

But too much time had passed, and that memory had grown blurred. I couldn't even recall my savior's appearance anymore.

Yet I felt Draven resembled him somehow. What a strange feeling.

By noon, I couldn't help but urge him:

"Shouldn't you rest a bit? You didn't sleep last night, and you've been working under such mental strain today. You'll wear yourself out."

Hearing me speak, Draven rubbed his temples, revealing a weary expression.

"Alright. I'll have my secretary send up lunch. Would you mind eating with me?"

I hastily waved my hands: "No need, I can just go downstairs to eat."

I was still in my probation period—how could I mooch a meal?

"Owen, send up two lunches for me."

Draven didn't listen to my refusal, efficiently arranging for lunch with crisp decisiveness.

"You're my personal physician now. What would it look like if I didn't even provide lunch?"

I stuck out my tongue: "Thank you, sir."

Hearing me call him "sir," Draven's eyes changed, revealing an emotion I couldn't quite read.

I was about to chat with him when my phone suddenly vibrated.

I excused myself to Draven and took my phone to the stairwell.

"Mira, you blocked William?"

Priscilla's shrill voice came through from the other end. I frowned.

She was my mother.

We hadn't been in contact for several months, yet when she called me, there was no small talk, no concern—only interrogation. This made my mood somewhat irritable.

"Mom, please don't interfere in my affairs..."

"Don't interfere? I gave birth to you! And you're telling me not to interfere? Mira, you've hurt me so deeply!"

She didn't even wait for me to finish before interrupting. I could even imagine what she looked like now—sitting in that villa in the suburbs of Duskfall City, her beloved white wine on the table, and the moment she heard any disobedience in my voice, she'd be screaming questions with fury written all over her face.

Slamming tables, throwing glasses, using every means possible to force my submission.

This had happened countless times over the past six years.

My hand holding the phone trembled slightly, my fingertips unconsciously applying pressure until they turned faintly white.

"I don't like William. I won't be with him, and I certainly won't marry him."

"Don't like him? Then what do you like? William's family is so wealthy—you could marry in and become a rich wife without worrying about anything. Plus, you two were engaged when you were five years old. That's childhood sweethearts! What more could you possibly want?"

I shot back sarcastically without courtesy: "Don't think I don't know what you're after. You want to pave the way for your man, so you're using me as a stepping stone?"

The other end of the line went quiet for a few seconds. I seemed to hear the sound of a wine glass being set on the table with a soft 'clink.'

"What are you implying? Mira, don't forget—when that damned father of yours abandoned you, I was the one who brought you back from the orphanage."

Priscilla's words made my heart contract with waves of pain.

"But you were also the one who abandoned me first."

I felt my voice go dry. The year I turned eight, Priscilla divorced my father. I had waited eagerly with my doll, expecting Mom to take me with her.

But she didn't.

Not even a goodbye.

I felt like my heart had a gaping hole in it, and the missing piece could never be filled.

I took a breath, pushing away those inappropriate emotions.

"You brought me back and said you'd make it up to me, but that very night you took me to William's house for dinner and made me honor that engagement I didn't even remember. Ms. Priscilla, don't you find that ironic?"

"You're blaming me? Mira, William is a very good man. I'm doing this for your own good."

Her voice softened:

"William actually likes you very much. Why won't you try to accept him?"

"Enough! Stop talking!"

I was agitated, my originally rational emotions stirred into chaos by her.

"Since you say he's so great, why don't you marry him yourself? I wish you both happiness!"

"Mira! You—"

I quickly hung up, cutting off whatever insults she hadn't yet voiced.

When Priscilla came to get me, I was already eighteen, but I was still happy.

The truth was, I'd always longed for a mother.

I had tried to get along with William—it wasn't that I hadn't. But after certain things happened, I realized he wasn't a man I could entrust my life to.

If I married him, the rest of my life would surely be miserable.

He was annoying, constantly sending me harassing messages, so I blocked him.

"Your heartbeat is irregular."

A deep male voice came from behind me. I jumped, standing up abruptly. I rose too quickly, lost my footing, and my entire body tilted backward.

Help!

Falling down stairs this high—I could die!

The medical bills would definitely be expensive, and hospitals weren't places someone as broke as me could afford right now!

I desperately closed my eyes, praying I wouldn't break any bones.

Suddenly my body fell into a broad chest. A familiar cool fragrance surrounded me, and I instinctively grabbed his collar.

My body suspended in mid-air, I opened my tightly shut eyes just a crack.

It was Draven!