Location: Paris, France — Morning
The morning sun bathed Île Saint-Louis in warm light, casting golden reflections onto the flowing Seine. Birds chirped lazily on wrought iron balconies, and the scent of fresh croissants drifted up from the boulangeries below. But none of it reached Mike White.
He stood at the edge of his penthouse terrace, dressed in silk pyjamas, a steaming espresso untouched on the marble table beside him. The Eiffel Tower loomed in the distance, indifferent and majestic.
Mike's sharp jaw tensed. His grey eyes, once dead with addiction, now held something new. Guilt. Determination. Memory.
"I can't repeat the same mistake that happened in my past life. When I see Olivia… I'll love her. I'll cherish her."
He gripped the railing, the chill of the iron grounding him.
He had died young, in another life. A drug overdose in a hotel suite in Milan. Cold. Alone. Hating Olivia for reasons he no longer even understood.
But when his soul opened its eyes again in this body, his body. He saw her crying over his grave. That pain… stayed with him.
And now?
He was back in Paris.
And Olivia was still alive.
Location: Château Noir Restaurant — Central Business District, Paris
Crystal chandeliers, fine wine, whispered conversations. Château Noir wasn't just a restaurant, it was where old money met dirty secrets and smiled for the cameras.
At a private table shielded by velvet curtains, the White Family and the Castle Family sat opposite each other. Old enemies dressed like old friends.
Richard White, regal in a charcoal three-piece suit, sat beside Mike. He hadn't said a word since they arrived.
Mike wore black. No tie. Clean-cut. Cold. Dangerous.
The restaurant doors opened with a hush of air. In walked Henry Castle, tall and broad, wearing a deep navy coat and surrounded by two sharp-eyed bodyguards. Every movement he made screamed: I own this city.
As he approached the table, Henry raised a hand. "Laissez-nous seuls."
His guards stepped back in silence.
"Old friend," he said, voice dipped in sarcasm, reaching out to Richard.
Richard extended his hand briefly. "Henry Castle. Always on time."
"White, don't fake it," Henry snapped, no longer pretending.
Mike sipped his water slowly.
"You should sit before you talk to my father like that," he said, voice calm but laced with venom.
Henry smirked. "My future son-in-law. I didn't know that today you will accompany your father, but since you are here. It is better, because I wanted to inform your father. It is time for our families to become one."
Richard gave Henry a question ing look. "What do you mean??"
Mike knew what was coming, because this happened in the past before. It was the proposal for the marriage between Lucus and Olivia. The only problem was the proposal will change to him and Olivia, because of his father.
Henry let out a short, cruel laugh. "You know A merger in business terms, but in natural terms Marriage between My daughter Olivia and your son Lucas as they are both future leaders of both our companies."
Mike didn't flinch.
"No, Oh hell no. Not my son Lucas. "
" What do you propose then, because that's the solution to our problems." Asked Henry while being frustrated.
"Richard, I love this life. Freedom, high class wine , food and women. Know I won't let that go. So either you bring a solution or the marriage will happen by force."
"Is that a threat Henry??" Asked Richard while fuming inside.
"No old friend. Just a solution, business solutions. Right Mike??"🤣
Mike flinched, because he didn't except being brought again into this thing. While he was about to open his mouth:
"Let me trade Mike for Lucas. " Proposed Richard.
"The man-hoe and drug addict huh??" Asked Henry while amused.
"Mike is clean now, The past is the past. Plus he is a White. You need the surname White to represent you. " Replied Richard.
"You are trading sons or should I say selling the other one for another one 🤣🤣. A funny family indeed."
"Mike, what do you say." asked Richard while giving him that look of be grateful and doing what's best for you.
"Father, I don't oppose. I know Olivia has had feelings for me. So let me take her." Replied Mike with no smile or any facial expression. His heart was cold, because he knew his father only cared about Lucas.
"Ok, he is a White alright hahaha😂😂." Saying those words was Henry while fake laughing, because he knew Richard played him. Also he had to accept the deal, because the problems needed any White family member useless or not useless.
While on :
Location: Le Marais — Olivia's Apartment
In a cozy yet elegant apartment above a flower shop, Olivia Castle sat barefoot on a vintage armchair, flipping through an old photo album. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders, her delicate fingers paused on a photo.
It was Mike.
A younger version. At a vineyard in Bordeaux. Smiling, before the hate. Before the destruction.
She traced his face with her finger, her eyes misting.
"Why do I still love you?"
He had broken her once while they were still in highschool.
But part of her heart refused to forget him.
She closed the album gently and turned her eyes to the window, where the sun rose like a quiet promise over the city of love.