Chapter 3 Stranger

"Ugh..."

Aliyah stirred as her body moved slightly, a sharp pain washing over her.

She slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she noticed was the ceiling-luxurious, intricately designed, with a modern chandelier hanging from it. It wasn't familiar.

She abruptly sat up, her eyes scanning the room. It was spacious, lavish, and clearly owned by a man. The gray and black interior, the minimalist yet elegant design, and the scent of expensive cologne in the air, all of it spoke of wealth and power.

"Where am I?" she whispered to herself, touching her temple.

Then suddenly, the memories came rushing back. The chaos in her family, Benedict's betrayal, the overwhelming emotions that had made her cry. Her escape that night. The blinding headlights of the car. The horn. The fear.

She had almost been run over...

Who saved her?

Before she could come up with an answer, the door opened.

She turned to look, and a tall, handsome man entered the room. He wore a fitted black long-sleeve shirt, slightly unbuttoned at the collar, revealing his chiseled chest. His posture exuded authority, and his presence seemed to weigh down the space.

Her eyes widened.

"You?!"

There was no mistake.

This man, the stranger standing in front of her, was the same one who had handed her a handkerchief in the elevator the night she caught Benedict and Aleli.

He smiled quietly, one hand in his pocket, his gaze cool and piercing.

"Good. You're awake."

His baritone voice echoed in her ears, deep and tinged with confidence.

Who was this man, really? And why was she here?

Aliyah blinked, still unable to believe the situation.

"Who are you?" she asked, unable to hide her hesitation.

He stepped closer and introduced himself.

"Conner Sudalga."

Her lips parted slightly. The name sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where she'd heard it before.

"I was the one who almost ran into you last night," he continued, watching her reaction.

"I saw you running down the street, you were crying, completely out of it. You probably didn't even notice my car coming. Good thing I hit the brakes just in time."

She gasped. What he said was true, that was the last thing she remembered before losing consciousness.

"When you collapsed on the road, you didn't move. So I brought you here and called a doctor. Fortunately, you didn't suffer any serious injuries. You were just exhausted, and your blood pressure dropped," he said in a calm voice.

"Thank you," she replied, slightly pulling back. Even if she wasn't sure whether to be afraid or grateful, it was only right to show that she wasn't easily swayed by a sense of indebtedness.

Conner sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward slightly as he looked at her seriously.

"Are you hungry?"

She actually was, but didn't know if she should admit it.

"Do you want to eat here, or will you come downstairs to join me for breakfast?" he asked, with no hint of pressure.

She glanced at him again. There was something strangely alluring in the way he spoke, a quiet confidence she couldn't quite understand.

Should she go downstairs? Or was it safer to stay in the room?

She chose to trust Conner. She had nowhere else to go, and if he had bad intentions, he could've done something last night, when she was completely defenseless. Instead, he'd called a doctor for her.

"Alright," she finally replied.

"I'll come down."

A smile curved on Conner's lips before he helped her out of the room. As they descended the grand staircase, Aliyah couldn't help but be in awe. From the elegant chandelier casting a soft glow throughout the house, to the spacious interiors and luxurious furniture-it was clear this man wasn't just anybody.

When they reached the dining area, she froze for a moment.

A long table greeted her, filled with a lavish spread. There were various dishes-gourmet meals that clearly weren't just ordered from a restaurant. Steak, roasted chicken, pasta, different types of bread, and fruits. In the center, a bottle of expensive wine stood tall.

But despite the luxurious table, it was only her and Conner.

"Looks like you overdid it," she couldn't help but say.

"No, not really," he replied with a light laugh in his voice. "I want to make sure you eat properly."

She swallowed. It was the first time someone had shown that kind of concern for her, or maybe she just wasn't used to being taken care of.

She sat in one of the chairs, facing Conner. Quietly, she watched him as he served her food. Despite his stern presence, there was something charismatic about his movements-a silent force that seemed to wrap around a person without them even realizing.

"Eat," he said softly.

As she slowly began to eat, she couldn't help but wonder.

Who really was Conner Sudalga? And why did their meeting feel too perfectly timed?

While eating in silence, her gaze wandered to a large portrait hanging on one side of the dining area. Her brows furrowed. There were three people in the photo-Conner, an older woman, and...

Her body jolted. The utensils slipped from her hands with a clatter against the plate. Her glass almost spilled.

Benedict.

She stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair.

"What does this mean?" she asked in a low but firm voice, her tone trembling.

Conner noticed the direction of her gaze and leaned back slowly in his chair, as if unsurprised by her reaction.

"Ah, so you noticed."

She couldn't speak. Her eyes returned to the portrait-to Benedict's familiar face, and the woman she didn't recognize. Suddenly, the room felt smaller, each second heavier, the silence between them turning into a loud, unanswered question.

"What's your connection to Benedict?" she asked in a whisper, tension laced in every word.

"He's my nephew."

She froze at his words. She blinked, trying to process what she just heard. Nephew? That meant... he was related to Benedict?

Before she could react again, Conner spoke-wasting no time letting her ask.

"I've known who you were from the beginning, Aliyah." He paused, studying her before continuing. "I know you were Benedict's first girlfriend before he courted your sister. I also know how he betrayed you."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. How did Conner know all of this?

Shocked, she gripped the edge of the table. Goosebumps rose along her arms.

"H-How did you find out?" she asked weakly, confused by the situation.

Conner smiled, but it wasn't the smile of someone pleased-it was the smile of someone holding a secret.

"It's simple. Because there are things you still don't know about him-and even more that you don't know about me."

"I'm leaving."

Aliyah said flatly as she abruptly pushed her chair back and stood. She felt like she was being played by the uncle and nephew. She couldn't understand why Conner had to interfere in her life, and even more, why she was here now-in the house of a man she barely knew.

But before she could take a step, Conner spoke-a single sentence that made her freeze in place.

"Marry me."