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Just then the elevator doors slid open with a low ping.

When you and your soulmate stepped quietly out of the elevator after an atmosphere of intense attraction, you couldn't do anything even if you wanted to hurl yourself in his arms. Elevator cameras are always on, so you just stood there basking in each other's presence.

You stepped out first, your heart thumping painfully in your chest after the altercations with Vidhan. Seokjin looks at you with hurried affection. The luxurious hallway to the spa and hot spring jacuzzi was before you. No staff was visible in the hallway. The spa's frosted glass doors were closed; you could feel the cool air-conditioning air seeping through your white flowy sleeves.

You and Seokjin walked quietly but with purpose as you saw the hot Jacuzzi pool's frosted glass door. It read "Private hot  jacuzzi opens at 2:00 pm. It's almost 12pm now. Breakfast is over.

Seokjin pulls on the door, and with a triumphant smirk, he opens the glass door. You look around nervously and pull on his arm.

"Jin," you whisper-yelled, "we're not supposed to—"

Before you could finish, he grabbed your hand and pulled you towards the door. His grip was firm, but you could feel the trembling and urgency. It was as if you were racing against time.

When you went in, Seokjin locked the door behind you.

The room was dark, blinds drawn over the wide window overlooking the skyscrapers of Seoul. There were three round blue Jacuzzi pools that shimmered in the half-dark room; you could see the hot steam still across the surfaces. Lounge chairs and a small table were on the other side, with an area with numerous white rolled-up towels and white slippers.

Once in, you didn't even have time to enjoy the luxurious room before Seokjin pulled you gently against the wall. His breath was hot against your ear. You were standing in a camera blind spot.

"Jin..." You gasped at his close proximity. His body pressed against yours, and his hot, fervent lips desperately found yours.

The kiss that follows wasn't only desperate but hungry. Your cheeks were damp and your breath ragged. Your hearts were beating in sync as his fingers tangled in your wild curls, your hands clutching onto his white silk shirt, too afraid to let go, afraid that you'll lose him forever.

Your kisses were intense, and you were panting from the heavy makeup session. When you finally broke the kiss, it felt like hours. His forehead rests against yours. Seokjin's eyes were intense in your warm brown ones. His voice was strained, almost cracking.

Seokjin, with a strangled, hoarse voice, said, "Mia, you're my safe place. I'm so tired of fighting. I just can't do it anymore, hiding about our status, pretending I'm okay."

You looked at him with wide eyes; the resignation in his voice made your heart race.

You bit your lip, "Jin—"

Seokjin inhaled deeply. "They're going to make me choose, Mia. Family or girlfriend. I'm so scared, baby. I do love my family...but I love you more, Mia. If I disclose my status, my family will try to intimidate you and force you to let me go so that they can legally rig the system."

You gulp as if you could remove the lump from your throat. You felt the hot streams falling on your flushed cheeks. The steam around you was blurred into something softer, almost too intimate around you. You notice your soulmate's moist eyes. He was experiencing a tremendous amount of stress.

You inhaled deeply. "Family is power, Seokjin. If you lose your anchor...it will cost you everything. Parents in this system are allowed to disown their kids and take away their lineage and name. You could lose your career because of dating me. I can't let them hurt you because of me, sweetheart."

Seokjin clenched his jaws. "Then let them take everything. I'll still find you. I love you only."

You closed your eyes and then looked at him with conviction. "I love you too, Jinnie. With all of my heart."

Then their lips met again, softly and slowly. A kiss with a deep promise of commitment amid the fear of exposure.

Seokjin took your hand and led you to the cream-white lounge chairs; you both sank onto them, his arm around your waist, with your head rested against his chest. Your breaths are in a relaxed mode. For a brief moment it felt that the world with its explanation and duty didn't exist. It was only the two of you. No paparazzi, constant cameras, or whispers whenever you passed. It was just the two of you.

Seokjin was stroking your hair and murmured, "Our schedules will resume after this Legacy luncheon. But we need to take it one day at a time. Mia, I want one full day with you alone before we head to Japan. Just us, no eyes, no rules."

You lift your eyes to him. "Are you sure it will be possible? Won't your dad place a trace on you?" You chuckled softly.

Seokjin chuckles softly. "I'll make it possible. Keep your phone near. I just need to organize. I'll send you the plan."

He brushed his thumb over your cheek.

Seokjin shook his head. "I was supposed to meet Alia at the bar to put Noodle on a wild chase. But when I saw Vidhan shouting and practically verbally abusing you, I just couldn't walk away. Alia told me Noodle followed her there, but she assured me that she'd handle Noodle and asked me to find you and bring you here."

You nodded silently. "So that was the plan?"

Seokjin sighed, "Yeah. She was the diversion to help me meet you and spend time with you."

You nodded silently as you caressed his chest, where a few buttons were open. Seokjin's body stiffened at your intimate touch, and then he abruptly turned and pulled you tightly against him and kissed you with renewed fervor and hunger.

Not in the least afraid of fate's new pathway.

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The Peninsula Italian Resturant and Bar.

Meanwhile downstairs, the atmosphere was extremely strikingly different. Soft, classic Italian music was echoing through the softly illuminated bar area. Alia sat with her back to the entrance, swirling her piña colada, trying to look unfazed by the admiring eyes on her.

Some young adults that were seated around the soft sofa chairs munching on succulent Italian cuisine recognize Alia not only for her striking beauty but also for her swimsuit spread in a magazine that is selling out like hotcakes from online stores and shelves.

Alia smirked at the young bartender that was blushing at her teasing smiles. She is pleased that her best friend and her soulmate were together spending valuable time together. He was also a university student but at Seoul National University, studying hospitality.

Then she froze.

She felt a quiet moment beside her. The bar stool beside creaked softly. A slightly familiar cologne of sandalwood and musk teased her nostrils. Then her stomach dropped as she stopped her cocktail midair, her eyes widened, and her jaws almost dropped on the floor. Alia blinked twice to make sure what she was seeing was not a figment of her imagination.

Alia inhaled deeply and with a perplexed voice said, "You've got to be kidding me..." She murmurs softly.

The guy beside her smirked as he lazily turned his face to her. She could see the corner of his mouth lifting as if what he saw was so amusing to him. It was the same cold, teasing smile she remembered from Hawaii.

Vin Zhang, the hot Chinese-Korean actor/model. Sauve, seductive, handsome and dangerous.

The guy who both enchanted her and ruined her once.

Alia's eyes narrowed, and with a cold voice, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

Zhang chuckled, his husky voice tone making shivers run up her spine. "Hello to you too. What a pleasant surprise. Didn't think I'd run into you here. "Alia Bhatt, the famous enchantress," he said with a mocking voice.

The bartender's eyes darted from him to her. He slid Zhang's glass of whiskey towards him. Zhang nodded in polite thanks and sipped some of it, but his eyes were still intensely fixed on hers, which made her more unsettled. She was just silently picking up a cocktail once again and sipping it; her hands trembled a little.

Zhang's mouth twitched at her cold demeanor. "Well, seeing you is so interesting. I'm part of the Legacy nonsense. I'm here representing the Vin family. I listened to the speeches...left before the egos filled the room. You?" His eyes roam over her pale expression. She was a beauty.

Zhang then quietly opened his black jacket, took out a gold card, and slid it towards her. Alia looked at him inquiringly. The gold card was his suite keycard.

Her eyes widen.

Zhang smirked, but an undefined emotion slid over his eyes, which Alia couldn't decipher at that moment.

Zhang drank another sip of his whiskey and said softly, but with an intimate tone, "Take it.Executive Suite 3109, Main Wing. Maybe we should...finish what we started in Hawaii." He casually said.

Alias's eyes started to well up, not from what he said but because of humiliation. Every memory came back like a tidal wave...the duet shoots, the beach, the darkness, and the shame...all flooding back.

Alia inhaled deeply and seethed, "You're disgusting."

Zhang breathily chuckled with the glass against his lips; his eyes held a teasing glint. "Oh, come on. You didn't seem to think that when you begged me to—"

Alia didn't know what hit her, but that mockery in his eyes had her reeling, and before she could help herself, her hand slapped him across his cheek before he could finish. The sound was so sharp that it echoed.

Her eyes were flaring with fury. How dare he?

But Zhang only grinned, brushing the corner of his lip, his eyes still holding hers.

Zhang chuckled loudly, making Alia feel stupid. "Hmm...still as fiery as those hot kisses I miss so much. I'll be seeing you, fixen."

Alia was speechless. They looked like a couple having a little spat.

Zhang stood up, drank the last liquid, placed the glass on the counter, and turned to her. She was still furious, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

Then he did something that made her freeze; he brushed his thumb over her flushed cheek deliberately and walked away, hands in his pocket. Making staff girls and guests gawk at his lean posture.

Alia sat there frozen, trembling with her tears welling again.

When he disappeared out of the huge glass doors, Alia heard a slow, mocking clap from behind.

Alia furrowed her brows just as she wiped the treacherous tear from her cheek.

When she turned and saw Noodle, her stomach dropped for a sec.

Noodle grinned, her eyes filled with malice and mockery. "Well, well. The mighty Alia caught in the act. How interesting."

She was waving her gold iPhone in her hand. A big smirk on her gorgeous face. Alia just gave her a deadpan look, still too unsettled to answer Noodle back with a witty remark. She was too emotional now.

Noodle gives a soft giggle. "I've got footage, sweetheart. About you and your secret Chinese lover. Oh gosh, Seokjin will not appreciate this. Imagine what his family will think. I've always known your tarnished carnal desires will soon emerge..." She started to laugh loudly.

Alia just rolled her eyes, stood up from her bar stool, and briskly walked to the exit with Noodle like a little poodle running behind her. When they reached the hallway, Noodle jumped in front of her, preventing her from moving.

Alia turned abruptly and said with a cold voice, "You know how pathetic you are, Noodle-Joo. Only pathetic people need proof to feel powerful. I'm not scared of you. You already tried to ruin my academics, but Seokjin still loves me—"

Alia's resolve faltered as she pursed her lips tightly and then seethed through her teeth, "You can call me pathetic, but you and Seokjin are done. This proof will be your last nail in your dating coffin. Seokjin's family will never accept her promiscuous, foreign daughter-in-law with a questionable character. So leave Seokjin alone. We are getting engaged, and you...lose."

Alia didn't have time to fight; she just shrugged, and with a loud sigh she brushed past her, her voice trembling but strong. "Enjoy your little victory, Noodle. You'll need it."

Noodle -joo was an insecure, catty and vindictive ex-girlfriend.

Noodle's smile widened, more triumphant as she looked at her glowing, pleased reflection on the mirrored walls.

With a soft murmur she uttered, "Goodbye, Alia Bhatt...say hello to your epic downfall."

When Alia entered the elevator, she opened her phone and quickly sent a text to Samiya and Seokjin.

Alia: Change of strategy. We've been compromised."

The message was sent...three dots blinking on the screen. Alia leaned closed-eyed against the mirror interior of the elevator wall as memories slid past her security walls of her mind.

Vin Zhang—the man that successfully destroyed her cold veneer in one weekend. Her Achilles heel.

Unrestrained tears fell warm on her cheeks, but she just let her emotions free fall. Alia knew that the fortitude of her heart was crumbling and her heart was no longer safe.

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A/N: The game has changed. Someone from Alias's past emerged.

Thank you for all the votes, reads, comments, and adding the book to your readers' list. This is the 8th update. So brace yourself for two more explosive updates in the coming days.

Thank you for staying so supportive of this book.

1. Do you think Seokjin risks it all for Mia?

2. What is your favorite scene?

3. Should Mia honor Seokjin's family legacy or fight beside Seokjin for their love?

4. How do you feel about Alias's encounter with the past?

5. Will Noodles's footage strengthen her hold on Seokjin?

6. Do you think Alia was right to keep the 'real' issue with Zhang hidden?

7. If you're in Mias place...will you chose family legacyor love?

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