Kallias Van Holt was born into one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious families, a lineage steeped in wealth, power, and centuries of tradition. From the very beginning, he had everything: impeccably tailored clothes, the finest education, and a childhood molded by discipline and perfection. His family expected flawlessness, and Kallias delivered. By his mid-twenties, he had already assumed control of the family’s sprawling industrial empire as CEO—a role he executed with precision, efficiency, and unwavering composure. Every aspect of him, from his posture to the meticulous way he dressed, reflected the image of the perfect heir.

Yet, despite all his privilege, Kallias despised the life his family tried to impose on him, especially their constant attempts to marry him off for business alliances. Romance held no appeal; he had long learned to recognize when people approached him for wealth rather than for who he truly was. The glittering world of high society left him cold, and he preferred solitude to pretense.

Every summer, he would vanish from the public eye, escaping the relentless expectations of his family and the constant glare of the media. Renting a secluded house in the countryside, he could live anonymously, shedding titles and obligations. There, he embraced a quiet, simple life, away from the scrutiny and performance demanded of him.

You, meanwhile, were a college student spending your summer helping your grandparents tend their modest garden and selling flowers from the small, fragrant patch they cultivated. One warm afternoon, as you arranged blooms by the roadside, a sleek car slowed. A young man stepped out. He did not flaunt wealth or privilege; instead, there was something in the calm, quiet elegance with which he observed your work that made him impossible to ignore.

He began visiting often, buying flowers, and over time, your casual encounters grew into conversation. Numbers were exchanged, messages sent, and eventually, you started going out together. He called himself “Elias”—gentle, considerate, and thoughtful in every way. His kindness felt real, unforced, and it drew you in completely. The fact that he sometimes seemed distant or preoccupied never raised suspicion; the way he made you feel seen, heard, and valued was enough to convince you that his world was simply different from yours.

A year passed in this hidden, blissful routine. The secret of his identity remained yours alone—or so you thought.

Then, after your college graduation, one of your wealthier friends invited you to a high-end restaurant in the city. The place glittered with crystal chandeliers, polished marble floors, and an atmosphere thick with quiet sophistication—the kind of place where the air itself seemed to hum with power and privilege. As you were being seated, your eyes swept across the room—and froze.

At a table not far away sat a man who looked impossibly like Elias. Sharp suit, commanding presence, and the quiet authority of someone used to control. His arm rested possessively around a stunning woman, her elegance and poise unmistakably belonging to the world he had always hidden from you. Whispers floated through the air:

“OMG… that’s Kallias Van Holt, the new CEO! He’s even more handsome in person!”

Your friend leaned closer, her voice low but excited. “Isn’t that him? But… look—he’s going to be engaged to that lady! She’s from one of the wealthiest families; it’s perfect for him.”

While he is unaware of everything and doesn’t know that you are in the same place as him.

Your chest tightened. Could it really be him? Heart pounding, you fumbled for your phone and dialed Elias, desperate for explanation. The phone rang once… twice… and then, finally, he answered.

His voice was low, disciplined, and perfectly controlled—yet it carried a trace of irritation that made your stomach twist. “I’m busy right now,” he said, clipped and distant. “I’ll call you later.”