Caspian Aurelius.
How could I possibly forget that ridiculous yet stunning combination of light-ivory skin, ash-blond hair, and those dangerously mesmerizing sea-glass green eyes?
He stood tall and effortless, as if the world bent itself to accommodate his presence. The group behind him looked like business elites straight out of a high-stakes corporate meeting, but Caspian? He looked like he'd stepped off the cover of a luxury fashion magazine.
"Caspian? What are you doing here?" I asked, genuinely surprised. He looked even more devastatingly handsome than the first time I saw him at the hospital. Today, he wore a sleek black three-piece suit with a gold-colored tie that complimented his hair perfectly. His ash-blond hair was neatly styled, and not a strand was out of place.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Mia," he said, his voice smooth and calm, like we were old friends running into each other by chance.
"Small world," I replied, trying to keep my cool.
Behind him, one of the suited men leaned in to whisper something. Caspian nodded but never took his eyes off me.
"You all can go ahead and continue with the work," he said, turning slightly to address his team. His tone was firm, commanding—but when he looked back at me, his expression softened. Relaxed, almost warm. The others bowed politely before walking away.
"I work here," he said casually. "Well, to be exact…I own this mall."
My jaw almost dropped.
What? Another domineering CEO?! Oh, come on. Why is it so easy for me to encounter a domineering CEO nowaday? It's almost as common as finding fish at the market.
Aurel Kingdom.. Oh, now I remember why the name sounds familiar. That was Aurel from Aurelius!
"That's... new information. I didn't know," I replied calmly, fighting to keep my surprise buried.
He glanced at the shopping bags in my hands. "Doing some shopping? Why are you carrying so much? Here, let me help."
"That's okay. It's not too heavy," I said quickly, but he ignored me and took all the bags anyway like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"So, where are you headed next? I've got time. I can join you."
"I'm starving. I was thinking of getting lunch. I'm craving fried chicken and Coke."
He blinked at me, raising a curious brow. "Fried chicken and Coke? Really? I didn't think you ate... that kind of food."
"What's wrong with that kind of food?" I frowned, not thrilled with his reaction.
He chuckled. "I just assumed you were the type to stick to Michelin-starred restaurants. You know—steak, omakase, or maybe something organic and healthy."
"Ugh, no way. Eating that stuff once in a while is fine. But three times a day, every day? I'd go crazy or even throw up," I said honestly.
To my surprise, he laughed. A real, genuine laugh. "You're something else. You really have a way with words. Makes me think all those rumors about you were just nonsense."
"Rumors?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing important. Just some idle gossip floating around high society to kill time," he said, brushing it off.
"I can probably guess. Something about me being a spoiled troublemaker, who's constantly embarrassing the Ceneric family name and ruining their dignity?" I said it with a shrug, my tone light. After all, I wasn't that version of Mia. So, I don't really mind.
"Something like that," Caspian said, his tone suddenly a little guarded. "But it's just a rumor. Don't take it to heart."
"Of course I won't," I replied with a confident smile. "I already told you—I lost my memories after the car accident. So whatever bad things I might have done before… I don't remember any of it. That's why I've decided to start fresh."
I meant every word. Rumors from strangers didn't matter to me. As long as they didn't interfere with my plan to survive in this world, I could ignore them completely.
"That's good to hear," he said with a smile that seemed both relieved and warm.
"My stomach's going to riot soon. Let's hurry up," I said, pressing a hand to my belly as it gave another loud growl.
Caspian chuckled, the sound light and amused. "Hahaha."
I frowned. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," he said, still smiling. "You're just… unexpected."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling too.
***
We arrived at the first floor. After what happened in the elevator earlier, I decided to play it safe and take the escalator this time. Caspian followed beside me as we navigated through the bustling crowd, eventually stopping in front of a fast-food restaurant that was clearly popular as there was a line of people stretching out the door.
The delicious smell of fried chicken hit me hard, making my stomach growl louder and my mouth nearly water. Just the scent alone was pure temptation.
"Here?" Caspian asked, raising a brow at my sudden stop.
"Yup," I nodded eagerly, my blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Okay," he said, sounding a little unsure but willing.
We stepped inside to find a table. There was one open on the balcony at the back. This restaurant had a huge outdoor seating area that extended beyond the mall's walls, overlooking the road below while still connected to the interior.
"What do you want to eat? I'll go place the order," I offered, watching him set the shopping bags down on one of the chairs.
"Anything's fine. I'll eat whatever you get," he replied casually.
"Okay!" I beamed, feeling oddly cheerful. It had been a while since I had someone accompany me like this. The idea of sharing a meal, even at a fast-food place, lifted my spirits.
As I walked toward the counter, I turned back to steal a glance at him. Caspian was already seated, sitting there with the effortless poise of someone born for high society. His presence stood out sharply in the casual, noisy atmosphere of a fast-food joint. He looked almost comically out of place, like a luxury model sitting in a diner ad.
Even earlier, walking down from the fourth floor, I'd noticed how many heads turned in his direction—young girls, stylish ladies, even men. Everyone took at least one, if not two, admiring glances at his striking features and calm demeanor.
I grinned to myself. He was clearly used to the attention. But here he was, joining me for fried chicken and Coke like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I went to place the order: a full fried chicken set and, of course, two Cokes. Despite the crowd, the service was fast. Original, mild, spicy, cheese, garlic — I ordered them all with no regrets.
When I returned, my hands were full with trays stacked with chicken, and one of the restaurant staff kindly followed behind, helping me carry another tray. As I approached the table, I saw Caspian's expression shift — a mixture of disbelief and quiet horror.
"Is this... all for us?" he asked, his sea-glass green eyes wide with surprise.
After thanking the staff member, I placed everything down and smiled brightly. "Don't worry. If we can't finish, we'll pack the rest to go. Come on, today's my treat — for carrying all my shopping bags."
He laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "You really know how to catch someone off guard, Mia. Alright, thank you for the feast but next time, it's my turn."
I grabbed a drumstick and took a bite. The crispy, juicy flavor nearly brought tears to my eyes. "Deal. And next time, let's go eat spicy ramen."
He paused mid-bite, slowly lowering his chicken breast and turning to look at me — eyes wide, expression dazed, like he was trying to connect brain cells that short-circuited.
Then he burst out laughing. A real, deep laugh that echoed around the balcony. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes as he said, "Hahaha! As you wish!"
I looked at him for a moment, then asked softly, "So... are we friends now?"
He turned to me, expression sincere. "Of course. I'd love to be your friend, Mia. Let's hang out often and try every food you've been craving. I'll be right there with you."
My smile grew so wide it nearly touched my ears. Heart light and full, I reached for my second drumstick.