Fated by the Cards
The door clicked softly behind,, me as I entered my hotel room,, cradling the tiny kitten gently against my chest... Her small body was warm and fragile,, a comforting presence against the chaos inside my heart. I set her down carefully on the plush bed,, and almost immediately,, she started batting at the folds of the blanket,, her tiny paws flailing with innocent delight.
A small, tender smile found its way to my lips as I watched her. I lay down beside her,, one hand reaching out to absentmindedly stroke her fur. Her soft purring vibrated against my fingertips,, but even her soothing presence couldn't anchor my drifting thoughts.
Because my mind wasn't really on the kitten at all...
It was on him...
Adrian William...
The man who looked so achingly like the boy who had once filled every corner of my heart... My first love... My ghost from the past.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment,, trying to steady myself. It couldn't be him... It was impossible. My childhood crush hadn't come from wealth or privilege,, and Adrian,, with his easy confidence and polished charm,, clearly belonged to a world of private jets and tailored suits.
And yet... the familiarity in his smile,, the warmth in his touch... It clawed at something deep inside me,, something that had never quite healed.
My father had tried everything to find that boy. He had poured money,, influence, and endless resources into the search—but it had been futile. It was as if the boy had vanished off the face of the earth... Maybe he had moved away... or maybe he had chosen to forget me...
And if he had tried to find me too....
He would never have recognized me now.
Because,, I wasn't the same girl anymore.
I was han rimi.... before...
Now I am the CEO of Mirain Group, a name that commanded attention across industries...
I had built walls around my heart so high even I could barely see over them...
Yet despite everything—the power,, the prestige—I had failed at the one thing that mattered most.
Finding him...
The ache inside me pulsed stronger,, more persistent.
Where are you??
The question haunted me.
A knock at the door jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts... I sat up quickly, smoothing down my hair and brushing invisible creases from my dress before making my way to the door...
When I opened it,, Adrian stood there,, his hands shoved casually into the pockets of his jeans,, a relaxed,, almost boyish smile playing on his lips.
"It's 5:20,," he said,, cocking his head. "We were supposed to go for a walk,, remember??"
I blinked,, momentarily disoriented.
"Oh!!" I gasped. "I'm so sorry!! Come in,, let me grab my things."
I stepped aside to let him in... He walked in with an easy grace,, lowering himself onto the sofa and watching me with an amused glint in his eyes as,, I hurried around the room.
I grabbed my purse and was about to head out when I remembered—the kitten's medicine. I turned back,, crossing to the bed where she sat looking up at me with wide,, curious eyes...
"Just a second,," I murmured.
I carefully measured the dose and coaxed it into her mouth... She wrinkled her nose in disgust and bolted straight to her water bowl the second I let her go...
Behind me,, Adrian chuckled,, his laughter low and warm.
"She's smart,," he said,, amusement lighting up his face.
"Yeah," I agreed,, smiling fondly at the kitten. "Every time I give her medicine,, she rushes for water. She hates it,, but she knows she has to take it."
He leaned back against the sofa,, watching me.
"Sounds just like someone else I know,," he teased.
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you implying I'm stubborn??"
"And adorable," he added,, his voice dropping just slightly.
I turned away quickly,, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.
"Let's just go for our walk,," I said,, my voice a little too bright.
He only laughed,, pushing himself up from the couch and falling into step beside me as we headed out...
The evening air was crisp,, filled with the mingling scents of city flowers and the mouthwatering aroma of nearby street vendors setting up for the night. The streets were alive with color and noise,, but somehow,, with Adrian beside me,, it all faded into the background.
We wandered aimlessly for a while,, talking about nothing and everything.
"Do you live in New York??" I asked,, glancing up at him.
He shook his head,, a strand of hair falling across his forehead...
"No.... But I visit often. My uncle lives here. He's... important to me."
I nodded,, absorbing his words. There was a hint of something unspoken there,, but I didn't press. Not yet...
Suddenly,, he reached over and plucked the kitten from my arms. I opened my mouth to protest,, but stopped when I saw her snuggling quietly against his chest...
"She likes you,," I said softly,, surprised.
He looked down at the tiny bundle of fur, then back at me with a grin.
"Maybe she can sense, I'm a good guy."
I laughed,, the sound slipping out of me more easily than it had in a long time.
"Debatable," I teased...
He smirked,, his eyes glinting wickedly. "You wound me."
As we continued walking,, something caught my eye—a small table set up along the sidewalk,, draped in deep purple cloth and glittering candles... Behind it sat a woman with long silver hair and a deck of worn tarot cards spread before her...
"Adrian,, look!!" I tugged at his sleeve. "Let's get our fortunes read!!"
He raised a skeptical eyebrow..
"You actually believe in that stuff??"
"Not really," I admitted,, laughing. "But it's fun. Come on!!"
He sighed dramatically.. "Alright, But just so you know,, I'm only doing this for you."
"Good," I said,, grinning.
We approached the table and the woman smiled at us,, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Pick three cards,," she instructed me.
I hesitated for a moment,, then carefully selected three. She turned them over one by one...
"The Lovers,," she said first, her voice low and musical. "Deep connection... Unity. You will meet your true love very soon."
I frowned. "I'm not really looking for love,," I said stubbornly.
She chuckled, an eerie sound...
"The universe has its own plans,."
She turned the second card.
"The Six of Wands,," she said. "Victory. Recognition. Success... You are admired by many."
I allowed a small,, wry smile. That much,, at least, I couldn't deny...
Then she turned the final card..
Her expression shifted,, growing serious.
"The Three of Swords. Heartbreak... Betrayal."
I stiffened,, my hand instinctively closing into a fist.
"You will achieve great success,," she continued. "And find your soulmate... But someone close to you... will break your heart..."
I exhaled slowly,, forcing a smile.
"Life is unpredictable," I said. "I guess I'll deal with it.. "
Then I nudged Adrian.. "Your turn."
He gave me a look of mock dread but picked three cards anyway...
The woman flipped over the first.
"The Lovers,," she said, sounding genuinely surprised.
My heart skipped a beat...
We both turned to look at each other, startled... Then quickly looked away.
"The second card," the reader continued,, "is Strength. You have the resilience to overcome any challenge., Inner courage will define you."
I smiled, feeling a rush of pride.
"That's definitely you,," I said.
He raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm strong??"
I nodded. "Stronger than you know.."
Finally,, she flipped the third card.
"The Emperor. Leadership. Power...Authority. You will rule not just a company... but hearts..."
Adrian laughed softly. "Rule the world, huh??"
"And you're going to find true love,," I teased.
Our eyes locked for a long,, breathless moment.
Neither of us spoke...
Something silent and electric passed between us.
The tarot reader smiled knowingly but said nothing...
Flustered,, I stood up quickly. "Okay!! That's enough future-telling for one night.. "
Adrian rose more slowly,, cradling the sleeping kitten carefully in his arms..
We paid the reader and made our way back toward the hotel,, both of us unusually silent.
But the silence wasn't uncomfortable...
It was charged...
I glanced sideways at him,. He was frowning slightly, lost deep in thought,.
Unable to bear the tension,, I finally blurted out,
"What are you thinking about??"
He stopped walking,, turned to me,, and without warning,, pulled me into his arms...
I froze,, my breath catching in my throat,, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs...
"You're such a good friend to me," he whispered against my hair.. "But... I don't want to be just friends. ."
I pulled back slightly,, staring up at him in shock.
"Adrian… are you okay??"
He smiled faintly,, brushing a lock of hair away from my face...
"I just don't want to lose you.."
"You won't,," I promised before I could stop myself.
He let out a breath of relief,, his fingers lingering against my cheek.
After a moment,, he stepped back,, his voice lighter.
"Now go change into something comfortable... Dinner's in an hour., I'll watch the kitten."
Still stunned,, I nodded and hurried back to my room.
As I changed into my nightwear,, my mind replayed every word,, every glance,, every heartbeat.
He wants to be more than friends...
My reflection in the mirror showed flushed cheeks and wide,, bright eyes.
Downstairs,, Lily spotted me immediately and smirked...
"So... where's your knight in shining armor??"
I tried to sound casual. "He's... kitten-sitting..."
Lily laughed. "Sure... Go get your Romeo, Rimi."
When I walked into the dining room,, Adrian was already waiting,, the kitten curled up peacefully beside him.
And when his eyes met mine across the room,, the world fell away...
Maybe, just maybe...
Fate was real after all...