The name Vale had always carried weight.
In the business world, it was a name that opened doors before anyone even entered the room.
It was a name connected to power, influence, and decades of success.
At the center of that name was one man.
Alexander Vale.
The founder and chairman of Valecrest International Group.
The company he built from nothing had grown into one of the most respected corporations in the world.
From technology to investments, Valecrest had expanded into industries that many people could only dream of entering.
But despite having everything money could buy, Alexander Vale had one thing he could not control.
His granddaughter.
Seraphina Vale.
“Your grandfather is already waiting for you.”
Seraphina looked up from the documents in her hand as her secretary spoke.
She glanced at the time.
She had almost forgotten about the meeting.
Not a business meeting.
A family meeting.
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” Seraphina said.
The secretary nodded before leaving.
Seraphina looked at the large office around her.
This building belonged to Valecrest International Group.
The same company her grandfather created with his own hands.
One day, everything would probably become her responsibility.
That thought alone was enough to make her tired.
When Seraphina entered the top floor office, she found her grandfather standing beside the window.
Alexander Vale was no longer young, but his presence still commanded respect.
Even after decades in the business world, people still listened whenever he spoke.
“You are late,” Alexander said without turning around.
Seraphina looked at her watch.
“By three minutes.”
Her grandfather smiled.
“Exactly. Late.”
She shook her head and walked closer.
“You called me here because of work or because of another dinner arrangement?”
Alexander turned around with an amused expression.
“You always assume the worst.”
“Because I know you.”
He laughed softly.
“Sit down.”
Seraphina took the seat across from him.
For a moment, the old man looked serious.
“How was the dinner?”
She already knew what he wanted to ask.
“It was fine.”
“Fine?”
“Yes.”
Alexander studied her expression carefully.
“You didn’t dislike him.”
Seraphina looked away.
“I never said that.”
A small smile appeared on her grandfather’s face.
“Interesting.”
“Don’t misunderstand,” Seraphina said quickly.
“A conversation does not mean anything.”
“I know.”
But his smile said otherwise.
Meanwhile, far away from the human world, Lucien Silva stood in silence.
The room around him was ancient.
Unlike the modern buildings of humans, his home carried the feeling of another era.
Dark walls, forgotten books, and symbols that had existed long before human history.
In the center of the room was the black cross.
The source of his power.
Lucien stared at it.
Something had changed since the night he met Seraphina.
The cross had reacted.
And that had never happened before.
“Who are you?” Lucien whispered.
He had searched through countless records.
He had looked through every possibility.
But he found nothing unusual about Seraphina Vale.
She was human.
At least, she appeared to be.
A voice came from behind him.
“You are investigating a human.”
Lucien did not turn around.
“I am investigating something unusual.”
The person behind him smiled.
“That is what you call it?”
Lucien’s expression remained cold.
“Be careful.”
The voice became quiet.
For centuries, everyone knew one thing about Lucien Silva.
The Devil did not care.
Not about humans.
Not about emotions.
Not about anything.
But now…
something had caught his attention.
And that alone was dangerous.
Days passed.
Seraphina returned to her normal life.
Work.
Meetings.
Responsibilities.
Everything appeared the same.
But there was one small difference.
Sometimes, without realizing it, she found herself thinking about that mysterious man.
The calm expression.
The strange way he spoke.
The feeling that he was hiding something.
“You’re thinking about him again.”
Seraphina looked at Mira.
“I am not.”
Mira smiled.
“You didn’t even ask who I was talking about.”
Seraphina became silent.
Mira laughed.
“Exactly.”
Seraphina sighed.
“You talk too much.”
“And you think too much.”
Seraphina ignored her.
But deep down, she knew Mira was right.
Something about Lucien Silva bothered her.
Not because she disliked him.
Because she wanted to understand him.
That evening, Alexander Vale stood alone inside his private office.
On his desk was an old photograph.
A photograph from many years ago.
His expression changed as he looked at it.
There were memories he had never shared with Seraphina.
Secrets from the past.
Secrets connected to her parents.
And a promise he made long ago.
A promise he hoped she would never discover.
Because some truths were better left buried.
At the same time, Lucien stood beneath the night sky.
For centuries, he had believed he controlled his own fate.
He believed nothing could surprise him.
Nothing could change him.
But meeting Seraphina Vale had created a feeling he could not ignore.
And somewhere deep inside, he already knew.
Their meeting was not an accident.
It was the beginning of something that even the Devil himself could not stop.