The soft music, clinking glasses, and fragrant whiff of exotic roses drifted through the grand ballroom as Esha stood near the balcony, her baby pink gown glowing under the fairy lights. Though she tried to stay present, her mind kept wandering to that mysterious man she'd only caught a glimpse of—his back to her, deep in conversation with James Alexander, Albert's father. There was something so magnetic in the way he stood—calm, confident, like he belonged to a world beyond these chandeliers and polished tiles.
She didn't see his face properly, but that one glimpse of his strong side profile—the sharp line of his jaw, the slope of his straight nose, and the way his fingers flexed as he spoke—left something unsettled inside her. A strange restlessness brewed in her chest.
"Why do I feel like I've seen him before?" she murmured to herself.
"Who?" Albert leaned in, placing two drinks on the table beside them.
Esha blinked, embarrassed to be caught staring. "Oh… no one."
Albert narrowed his eyes playfully, "You're a terrible liar."
Esha laughed softly, shaking her head. "I was just… distracted."
Albert's eyes softened. "You don't have to pretend here, you know. You've already done more than I can thank you for. Just be yourself."
She smiled at that. His sincerity was comforting.
Suddenly, a woman from across the room waved and gestured toward Albert. "Come! The toast is about to begin!"
Albert sighed and turned to Esha. "I need to go say a few things for the press and my father's guests. Will you be okay for a few minutes?"
Esha nodded. "Of course. Go ahead."
As Albert left, Esha moved slowly along the edge of the hall. Her heels clicked softly on the marble floor, her gown flowing around her ankles. She wandered toward the corner where large glass doors opened into a moonlit garden outside. She needed air. Something felt too heavy in her chest.
As she stepped out, the chilly London air brushed against her warm skin. She folded her arms slightly but didn't retreat. The garden was quiet, dimly lit by warm lanterns placed among the hedges. The soft rustling of leaves and distant laughter from inside created a beautiful, cinematic contrast.
Just then, from the corner of her eye, she saw a tall figure standing alone near one of the ancient fountains—his face turned up toward the moonlight. It was him.
She stopped. Her heart thumped in her chest, loud and clear. Was it his presence? Or just her curiosity? She didn't know. But something about him called her.
He hadn't noticed her yet.
His suit fit him perfectly, the dark navy jacket complementing his broad shoulders and lean frame. There was a quiet strength in the way he stood. One hand was in his pocket, the other lazily brushing over the edge of the stone fountain.
And then, as if sensing her presence, he slowly turned.
Their eyes met.
Time stopped.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved nor blinked. The world seemed to slow, the sounds fading into a distant hum.
Esha took a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
He was breathtaking.
He had a face that looked carved by gods—a blend of sharp and soft. His eyes… oh his eyes—they held storms. Grey, with hints of steel and sadness. Deep and unreadable.
He raised an eyebrow. "Lost?"
His voice. Low, rough like a cello string, yet strangely gentle.
Esha blinked. "No… just… taking a break."
He gave a small nod, stepping aside to make space near the fountain. "You like silence too?"
She walked closer, the gravel crunching softly under her heels. "Sometimes silence tells stories words cannot."
He looked at her then, this time longer. "Interesting."
Esha looked back, almost teasingly. "You don't strike me as the kind of person who prefers parties."
"I don't," he replied simply, then smirked. "But I had to show my face for ten minutes, or my mother would disown me."
Esha chuckled. "Sounds like someone I just met."
He tilted his head. "Albert?"
She smiled. "Yes. You're…"
"Alexa," he said, extending his hand casually. "Alexa James Alexander."
Esha's eyes widened slightly. So he was that Alexa—the mysterious son everyone whispered about, who rarely appeared in public, who had media speculating but no photos to confirm. The one the girls inside were gushing about.
"And you must be the mysterious girl who saved my brother," he said before she could respond, his eyes scanning her face with quiet curiosity.
"I… I'm Esha," she said, slipping her hand into his. His grip was warm, firm. Familiar.
He didn't let go immediately. Neither did she.
Something flickered between them in that small contact. Like static. Like fate.
"It's a pleasure, Esha," he said softly, his voice suddenly gentler.
Esha looked away, slightly flustered. "So… you knew about me?"
He shrugged. "Albert wouldn't shut up about you for two days straight."
Esha laughed. "That sounds… intense."
"He owes you his life. That's not just intense, it's sacred."
There was a pause. A silence between them. A beautiful, heavy silence.
The wind picked up slightly, brushing her hair across her face. Without thinking, Alexa reached forward and tucked it behind her ear gently. His fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary.
Esha felt her cheeks warm.
"You're cold," he said, suddenly serious. "Let's go inside."
But Esha shook her head. "No… I like this. For now. It's peaceful."
Alexa looked at her for a long moment, then nodded.
"I don't usually talk to strangers," he said, almost absentmindedly.
Esha tilted her head, teasing. "But I'm not usual."
He looked at her then, full-on, like really looked.
"No, you're not," he whispered.
A beat passed. Then another.
"I've seen death. Many times. On the battlefield, in real life. But I've never seen someone bring it back to life… like you did."
Esha blinked.
"You don't know what you did for Albert. Or for my family," Alexa continued, eyes focused on hers. "But you saved more than a person that day. You gave them back their world."
Her lips parted, surprised. "I just… did what felt right."
He nodded. "That's exactly what makes it powerful."
They stood there, under the moonlight, a silence again settling between them. This time it wasn't heavy. It was warm. Comfortable.
Esha looked up at him, and he at her. Their eyes spoke a thousand unsaid things.
Maybe it was the night, the stars, the pull of the universe—but in that moment, they weren't strangers.
And then, before either could speak again—
Boom!
A distant explosion echoed in the dark.
The ground trembled slightly.
Esha gasped, turning toward the sound. Alexa instinctively stepped in front of her, his entire body shifting into alertness. His calm vanished. He looked deadly serious.
"Stay here," he said firmly.
"What was that?" she whispered.
"I don't know. But you're not going anywhere without me."
Suddenly, voices shouted from inside. Some guests screamed. Guards rushed toward the exits.
Alexa grabbed her hand. "Come with me."
Esha's heart raced—not just from the sound, but from the way he held her. Like she was something he refused to lose.
They dashed through the garden's side path as a second, muffled boom vibrated beneath their feet. Alexa turned back just once to make sure she was okay.
That one glance said everything.
Esha wasn't just a guest anymore.
She was part of something bigger.
And she had no idea that this night… was only the beginning of truths that would change her life forever.
"Just when she thought the night couldn't get more surreal, Esha finds herself holding hands with a stranger who feels too familiar—and running straight into a mystery that could either protect her... or destroy everything she's begun to feel."