Chapter 1
UNTIL YOU MADE ME WALK AGAIN
Chapter One
The City's Most Eligible Bachelor
Westhaven glittered beneath the evening sky.
From the windows of the tallest buildings in the city, thousands of lights stretched into the distance, reflecting against the dark glass like scattered stars.
And at the very center of it all stood Creed Capital.
Forty-seven floors of steel, glass, and power.
Everyone in Westhaven knew the name.
Morgan Creed.
Twenty-seven years old.
Billionaire.
Businessman.
And, according to every magazine that had ever put his face on a cover, the city's most eligible bachelor.
Morgan didn't care about any of that.
He sat behind the enormous desk in his private office, his attention fixed on the documents in front of him.
"Sir."
Morgan didn't look up.
"Go ahead."
Jeremiah stepped farther into the office, holding a tablet against his chest.
"The board meeting has been moved to nine tomorrow morning."
Morgan turned another page.
"Move it to ten."
"Sir, the investors from Toronto are already—"
"Then they'll wait."
Jeremiah paused.
He knew that tone.
Morgan wasn't asking.
"Understood."
Jeremiah turned to leave.
"Jeremiah."
He stopped.
"Yes, sir?"
"Cancel dinner."
Jeremiah raised an eyebrow.
"Your parents' dinner?"
Morgan finally looked up.
His expression was calm, but there was the faintest trace of irritation in his eyes.
"I said cancel it."
"Your mother specifically asked me to make sure you came."
Morgan leaned back in his chair.
"That's exactly why I want to cancel."
Jeremiah almost smiled.
Almost.
"Sir, if I cancel it, she'll call me for the next three days."
Morgan stared at him.
Jeremiah sighed.
"I'll tell them you're coming."
"Traitor."
"Occupational hazard."
For the first time that evening, the corner of Morgan's mouth lifted.
Barely.
"Get out."
Jeremiah smiled and walked away.
Morgan's expression disappeared the moment the door closed.
He looked through the enormous windows at Westhaven.
He had everything.
Money.
Power.
A company people spent their entire lives trying to build.
Yet none of it had ever made him feel particularly happy.
His phone vibrated.
Mom.
Morgan stared at the screen.
Then answered.
"Hello."
"You're coming tonight."
It wasn't a question.
Morgan closed his eyes.
"Mother—"
"Seven o'clock."
"I have work."
"You always have work."
"I can't."
"You can."
"Mom."
"Morgan."
He exhaled slowly.
There was no point arguing.
"I'll be there."
"Good."
The call ended.
Morgan stared at the phone.
"Unbelievable."
---
At seven o'clock, the Creed mansion was already glowing with warm lights.
Valentine Creed stood near the fireplace, holding a glass of wine while Isabelle moved around the dining room, making sure everything was perfect.
"He's late," Isabelle said.
Valentine glanced at his watch.
"He's Morgan."
"That's not an excuse."
Before Valentine could answer, the front door opened.
Morgan walked inside.
Isabelle immediately smiled.
"There he is."
Morgan removed his coat.
"Good evening, Mother."
She kissed his cheek.
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"You always say you're fine."
"I'm always fine."
Valentine chuckled.
"Sit down, son."
Morgan joined them at the table.
For a few minutes, everything felt normal.
Until the door opened again.
A familiar voice filled the room.
"Sorry I'm late."
Morgan looked up.
Jonathan.
His cousin walked in wearing an easy smile.
"Traffic was terrible."
Isabelle stood.
"Jonathan, darling."
They hugged.
Jonathan smiled warmly at everyone.
Then his eyes landed on Morgan.
"Nice to see you, cousin."
Morgan gave him a brief nod.
"You too."
Jonathan took his seat.
Nobody noticed the slight tightening of his jaw.
Nobody except Jonathan.
He watched Morgan carefully.
Everyone looked at him the same way.
Valentine admired him.
Isabelle protected him.
Employees feared him.
The entire city praised him.
And Jonathan?
Jonathan had spent years standing in Morgan's shadow.
Always the cousin.
Always second.
Always watching Morgan receive everything.
The company.
The money.
The respect.
The future.
Jonathan lifted his glass.
"To Morgan."
Morgan looked at him.
"What about me?"
Jonathan smiled.
"To the man who has everything."
Isabelle laughed.
"Don't start."
"I'm serious," Jonathan said. "Morgan has the perfect life."
Morgan's expression remained unreadable.
"You don't know anything about my life."
Jonathan's smile faltered for half a second.
Then returned.
"Maybe not."
Dinner continued.
Conversation moved from business to family matters, but Morgan barely participated.
He had the strange feeling that someone was watching him.
When dinner finally ended, Morgan stepped outside onto the terrace.
The cold Westhaven air hit his face.
Behind him, Jonathan stood alone in the hallway.
His smile was gone.
He stared through the glass doors at Morgan.
"You have no idea," Jonathan whispered, "how much I hate you."
His fingers tightened around his glass.
"You've taken everything from me."
He looked toward Morgan.
"And soon..."
A cold smile slowly appeared on his face.
"...I'll take everything from you."
---
Across the city, in a small apartment far from the glittering towers of Westhaven, Deserian sat beside her father.
Daniel was asleep.
She quietly adjusted the blanket around him before looking at the medical papers resting on the table.
The numbers frightened her.
She rubbed her forehead.
"I'll figure something out, Dad."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I promise."
She didn't know it yet.
She didn't know that somewhere across the city, a man she'd never met was standing on a terrace, believing his life was completely under his control.
She didn't know that within days, everything would change.
For Morgan.
For her.
For both of them.
---
Morgan's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He frowned.
He answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Morgan's eyes narrowed.
"Who is this?"
Still nothing.
Then, finally, a man's voice came through.
Low.
Calm.
Dangerously familiar.
"You should have listened when you had the chance."
Morgan stood completely still.
"Who are you?"
The call ended.
Morgan stared at the screen.
For the first time that night, something unfamiliar settled in his chest.
Unease.
He looked toward the dark road beyond the mansion gates.
A black car was parked across the street.
Its headlights switched on.
Morgan's eyes narrowed.
The car began moving.
And disappeared into the darkness.
Morgan didn't know it yet...
but the life he had spent twenty-seven years building was about to disappear in a single night.
And the woman who would eventually change everything had not even met him yet.
