Chapter 1 : Meet Again

It's been a year since the night I witnessed the senator commit murder. Since then, I've been trying to find the name of the old man. I was sure he'd be on the guest list I obtained from Mom. I even described him to her, asking if there were any elderly men on the list. She simply chuckled and said that most of the guests were older men.

Frustrated, I searched the internet for reports of a missing elderly man, a prominent figure perhaps, but found nothing.

I felt foolish. I could just let it all go, but my conscience wouldn't allow me to simply be a bystander. I knew I couldn't have intervened, but I wished the memory erasure had truly worked to free me from this torment.

Senator Emmanuel Marcello Nim, adopted son of a prominent Japanese medical CEO and an American professor based in Singapore. At 37 years old, he has no publicly known partner. He initially pursued medicine, then law, and eventually entered politics, rising to become a newly elected senator.

Clean records. I can't see any flaw that might link him to illegal businesses.

But what truly lingered within me were those red eyes and sharp fangs. There are few photos of him online, but I'm sure his eyes are brown and his teeth are perfectly straight.

"Could he be... a vampire?" I muttered aloud, swiftly dismissing the notion. Even if he were, it's no longer my concern. I'm just a businessman's daughter who left the party early that night and slept peacefully. That's all there is to it, nothing more.

Today, I am preparing to attend the engagement party of Vanessa, a college friend who's been making it big in modeling, gracing the covers of popular magazines. And now she's engaged to a business tycoon.

An emerald green dress lay on my bed. It was an off-the-shoulder, knee-length dress. Jennifer, my assistant since graduation four years ago, helped me with my hair and makeup.

I rode with our family's chauffeur on the way to Vanessa's family mansion, where both families had agreed to host the engagement party. As we approached, I could already see several cars nearing on the same destination.

The Lozarias really outdid themselves; the event was grand and bustling. I greeted several influential people on my way to my assigned table. They certainly spared no expense.

I sipped my wine quietly, gazing upon the stage as Vanessa's mother gave her speech.

"Thank you for attending this momentous event," she said, standing at the right side of the stage as Vanessa and her now-fiancé sat on the two designated seats at the center stage. "Now, I would like to also thank the presence of our beloved senator, Emmanuel..."

My heart stopped. I followed her gaze to a man sitting at the front, slowly standing up to greet the people around him. The events of that night flooded back. It had been a year since I last saw him, but the fear was still fresh.

I kept my gaze fixed on him as he slowly turned in my direction, our eyes meeting. I held his gaze, a smile creeping up my lips as a greeting. Deep down, however, I was utterly shocked.

I hope he doesn't notice anything unusual about me. The last thing I want is for him to become suspicious of me.

Our eyes met briefly before he turned away and took his seat.

Vanessa's mother continued speaking, but my attention remained fixed on the senator, unable to focus. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself.

A hand slid around my shoulder, and I glanced up to find Evan, my friend from college where we both studied business administration. Our mothers were close friends, which brought us even closer.

"What's up?" he asked, his smile brightening his eyes. I kissed his cheek lightly. "Same old, same old," I replied, returning his smile.

Leaning close to my ear, he whispered, "I heard the senator is friends with the groom's father." Pulling back slightly, he watched for my reaction. I gave him a puzzled look, prompting him to lean in again. "Politicians and their connections," he added with a chuckle. I pushed his chest playfully, teasing, "Don't pretend you're innocent. We both come from families with questionable businesses."

"Sounds plausible," he replied, taking a sip of his wine while his arm still rested on my shoulder.

I mingled with several other girls around my age. I'd always been popular among them, having hosted numerous parties during college that drew people from beyond my usual circle. More connections meant greater stability.

As the party wound down, I approached Vanessa to offer my personal congratulations.

"Congratulations," I said warmly, giving her a hug which she returned with a pat on my back.

Feeling a gaze behind me, I instinctively turned to find Senator Emmanuel standing there, his expression initially blank but quickly transforming into a smile when our eyes met. Returning the smile, I watched as he approached. Before he could greet me, I took the initiative.

"Ashianna Quinn," I greeted, extending my hand with a smile still on my face. "We met at my father's party." He took my hand, surprising me by lifting it to his lips for a kiss instead of a handshake.

His gesture caught me off guard, and as he looked up at me, he murmured, "How could I ever forget you, Ashianna?" His voice was deep and resonant. His smile briefly shifted to something mischievous before returning to its previous gentleness, though I couldn't shake the feeling of something more beneath the surface.

Releasing my hand, he said, "See you around this weekend, madam," before I could respond. I simply smiled and watched him walk away.

I barely remembered getting into the car, but once inside, I let out a deep breath, my hands trembling. I rubbed them together slowly to calm myself. His parting words lingered in my mind, leaving me wondering what he might have meant.

His words began to make sense when Jennifer handed me an invitation to an auction, explaining that the senator had specifically invited me to be his companion.

That night, I couldn't sleep. Did he sense something from me? Had he figured out that I remembered everything? Countless questions raced through my mind.

Everything had been going so well. I hadn't contacted him for a year, and now it seems I'll be seeing him again this Saturday.

Each day, I wished time would slow down or stop completely, delaying the dreaded day of the auction.

"I can do it."

"I'll never let him know."

"I will not let him sense anything."

These have been my daily mantras, until today.

I wore a silver strapless, halter top dress that reached the floor. My hair was tied into a low bun, and red lipstick adorned my lips.

"You look like a goddess, Ashianna," Jennifer said, adjusting the slightly crooked part of my dress.

I smiled in response. If only she knew the true nature of my date tonight, she'd pity this so-called goddess, I thought as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. What a shame.

"The senator will surely admire your beauty." I hope not. "It would be earth-shattering if you became his woman." I'll die before that happens.

Jennifer looked dreamily at me, her thoughts obvious. The senator is indeed handsome, with his brown-blonde hair and striking brown eyes. He's tall; I only reach his neck. His features make many women yearn for him—a devil in disguise.

Over time, I've become less fearful of him, but the fear is still there. Let's hope everything goes smoothly today. I need to keep my act together.

Jennifer informed me that Senator Emmanuel was already downstairs. I took one last glance at my reflection before heading down to meet my date.

A coachman opened the car door for me as I stepped inside. We were still waiting for the senator, who was discussing something with my father. The partition separating the backseat from the front made me a little nervous.

I heard the car door click open as the senator got in. I smiled and gave a small nod in greeting, which he responded to by taking my hand and kissing it.

"I'm honored to have you as my date this evening, madam," he said with a grin. I scrutinized his teeth but saw no fangs.

The pleasure is mine," I replied, still staring at his now closed grin, a tiny smirk forming on it. I looked away, realizing I had stared too long. My body instantly felt cold with nerves.

I avoided his gaze, but I could still feel him staring at me.

Another mistake.

I was becoming more suspicious to him.

"Did you remember?"