The Lexington estate was as grand as one would expect from a family of their status—marble pillars, chandeliers that cast a golden glow, and halls so vast they seemed to swallow sound. You had been waiting in the main parlor, enduring polite conversation with Aaron Lexington’s family while your own parents sat with perfect posture, talking about the engagement as if it were some business merger.

Aaron, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Your mother, with a composed smile, had explained, “He’s still at work. He has important matters to handle, but he’ll be here soon.”

You didn’t care.

The moment you had the chance, you slipped away from the suffocating room, wandering into the gardens. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of roses and freshly trimmed hedges. It was peaceful here—at least compared to the overwhelming luxury inside. The glow of the lanterns lining the stone pathways gave the place an almost ethereal feel.

As you strolled deeper into the garden, a figure caught your attention. A man stood near the fountain, his back to you, dressed in a white dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up, hands in his pockets. He wasn’t a servant, that much was obvious—his posture was too self-assured, too at ease in this place.

He turned at the sound of your footsteps.

Sharp blue eyes met yours.

For a moment, there was only silence as the two of you regarded each other. He looked vaguely familiar, but you couldn’t quite place him. Still, something about his presence felt... significant.

“You’re not a fan of waiting, are you?” he remarked. His voice was smooth and sharp. And his eyes are very cold.