Chapter -1

The Smile That Watched the Storm

Lia Park knew how to disappear without leaving the room.

She sat in her usual spot by the café window—clean notebook, lavender tea, soft sweater, and eyes downcast like she was too polite for the world to bother with.

No one ever saw the way her gaze tracked people like clockwork.

No one ever asked why her hands never trembled.

That’s what she wanted.

> To be unseen.

Until he walked in.

---

“You’re doing it again,” Minji Ahn groaned, sliding into the seat across from her. “Staring out the window like some ghost bride waiting to be avenged.”

Lia smiled, barely.

> “It’s just peaceful here.”

Minji unwrapped her muffin like it was a personal ritual. “Peace is boring. We need chaos. We need scandal. We need—”

The café bell chimed.

Minji stopped mid-bite.

Lia didn’t look.

But she already knew.

> He came early.

---

Kael Daejin.

CEO. Billionaire. Enigma.

He stepped inside like gravity followed him.

Black coat, dark eyes, sharp jaw. He didn’t check his phone. Didn’t speak.

He looked like a man used to having his silence obeyed.

His eyes scanned the café.

They landed on her.

And stayed.

---

He crossed the room in slow, deliberate steps. Pulled the chair out across from her.

> “Is this seat taken?”

Minji blinked. “W-what?! No—go ahead!”

He didn’t even glance at her.

Just at Lia.

Her fingers curled lightly around her teacup.

> “Do I know you?” she asked softly.

> “No,” he said, sitting down. “But you didn’t flinch when I walked in.”

Lia looked at him, all calm eyes and unbothered breath.

> “Should I have?”

> “Most people do.”

> “I’m not most people.”

That made him pause.

He studied her then—like a puzzle with too many missing pieces.

> “What are you, exactly?”

She smiled faintly.

> “Just a student.”

---

He reached into his coat. Placed a sleek black card on her notebook.

> “Kael Daejin. In case you’re curious.”

Then stood and left, just like that. No goodbyes. No second glance.

---

Minji nearly shrieked.

> “OH MY GOD. Did he just—did he just—?! Lia, SAY something! That was literally Kael freaking Daejin.”

Lia stared at the card. She didn’t touch it. Didn’t react.

> “He seems intense,” she said softly.

> “Intense?! Girl, he could’ve bought this whole café just to sit here!”

Lia didn’t respond. Her gaze followed Kael’s retreating back until the door closed behind him.

Only then did her hand brush the card.

---

Across the café, Yoon Haneul, top of his class, frowned into his coffee.

His eyes shifted from Kael to Lia.

She never looked rattled.

Never distracted.

But today, her fingers lingered too long on a name.

---

That night, alone in her dorm, Lia stood by the window.

The city lights flickered like memories she couldn’t name out loud.

She turned Kael’s card in her fingers once, twice, then slipped it into a drawer.

> “Too early…” she murmured.

Not afraid.

Just… unreadable.

---

Because no one knew what Lia Park was hiding.

Not even the man who once looked at her like she was heaven—

and walked away with blood on his hands.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***