The Stran

ian'

road. The further we went, the more I realized this wasn't just a

st beautiful, but grand. Modern glass walls, warm golden lights glowing from inside, and a wat

lose to this. I couldn't hide the way my lips parted in surprise. Dominic stepped beside me and noticed the

t sure I would. Inside, the air was warm and smelled lik

stepped into a different life. A better one. "Please, sit," he said, guiding me to a long beige couch

st a little. "Yeah. You look surprised." "I thought you just returned from abroad," I said. "I did," he replied, leading

ved toward the couch, I whispered under my breath,

d.' No flashy cars lined outside for attention. But the house spoke louder than

of the couch, his phone rang. He stood quickly and picked it up. "Yes?" His voi

gain?!" he said, turning his back slightly. "

r. DCE? That name sounded familiar. Then it clicked. DCE Global. I had heard Grayson complain about it multiple times. A rival company. One he hated. One that always

ed under his breath. "Doesn't surprise me." "But he never mentioned you by name," I added. "Of course he wouldn't," Dominic said with a shrug. "Grayson hates anyone he can't control or outshine." I hesitated

me to stop." He blinked. "You studied tech?" "I was good at

thinking. Then, to my surprise, he stood and said, "Com

do." My hands trembled a little as I sat. I hadn't done this in years. But once I saw the system open in front of me, it all came back-like breathing.

sed a ghost IP," I continued, fingers flying across the keyboard. "But they underestimat

wer. It was me-finally myself again. I turned t

did it?" I nodded. "Yeah." He was quiet. Then he slowly sat down beside me. "I don't know whether to thank you... or 'wow.'" I smiled a bit

g was growing in the air. Not heavy... but real. "Vivian..." I glanced up. "You don't have to return to that part of your life," he breathed. "You are mor

because, for the first time in my life, someone saw me-not as a p