𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑

⭒3.𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓸𝓻'𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷⭒

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There were so many questions swirling in my mind, each one clamouring for answers, but the moment our eyes locked, they all faded into oblivion. His gaze was like a deep forest, a shade of green so rich it threatened to consume me whole. AARON FERNANDO. I couldn't believe it-it was him. Even after all these years, I could feel the undeniable connection between us, a thread woven through time that pulled tight, yet I felt an instinctive urge to pull away.

But as I stood there, rooted to the spot, I nearly jumped at the sheer force of his presence. He was different-so much more than what I remembered. The boy I once knew had transformed into a man who radiated power and control, and it terrified me. His blonde hair was meticulously styled, framing a face that was both familiar and foreign. It was as if he had stepped out of a dream, yet the hints of darkness in his demeanor sent my heart racing with unease.

His forest-green eyes, which once sparkled with mischief, now held a storm of grudges and unspoken words. I remembered how those eyes used to pull me in, tempting anyone into their depths, but now they felt like a warning. And that smile-the rosy lips that had once brightened my darkest days-were now twisted into a savage smirk. It carved a dimple into his cheek, a feature I had adored, and yet now it only deepened the sense of danger that enveloped him.

He wore a black suit that clung to his torso like a second skin, accentuating his form in a way that was both mesmerising and frightening. The aura he exuded was palpable, thick with tension and a hint of menace. It sent shivers down my spine, igniting a primal instinct to flee, yet I was frozen in place, caught in a web of memories and unresolved feelings.

Who was this man standing before me? The boy I once loved had transformed into someone I barely recognized, and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened in all those years apart. My heart raced, caught between the thrill of seeing him again and the fear of what he had become as he stood up from the couch, placing the tea mug on the nearby denim blue teapoy and advanced toward me, each step amplifying my anxiety.

But I didn't want to sow any doubt in his mind that I remembered everything, so I reached out to shake his hand as he offered, forcing a calm I didn't feel. His hand was so cold despite his eyes radiating spark ignited by malice, a jarring contrast to my own, which felt like it was on fire from the sweat that pooled after I hastily rubbed it on my peach pants. The moment our palms met, a jolt of electricity surged through me, but I quickly masked it with a bewildered smile, stammering, "I beg your pardon, but are you saying you're Jasmine's fiancé?"

I sounded genuinely shocked, even though I was merely acting, desperately searching for reassurance from Charlotte, who sat straight there avoiding my gaze, her expression unreadable. "This is utterly shocking! I had no idea she was engaged!" My words stumbled out, trembling with a fit of terror as his grip on my hand tightened, then leaving me with a sudden emptiness that made my stomach churn and straightened his custom-made suit.