Dove's POV

As I watched their figure fade from view, I couldn't deny the truth: Vinter and Nina truly did look like a power couple. I chuckled to myself as the realization dawned upon me; people misunderstanding me was by no means a new phenomenon. In fact, I fully expected him to misunderstand me as well. Such was the nature of my life so far; I would be surprised if someone finally managed to see beyond my facade.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, a brief memory flashing through my mind.

~Flashback~

As I splashed water on my face, humming a random tune, I couldn't help but reflect on the constant bullying I faced at school. The students and even some of the teachers frequently mocked and taunted me, and the occasional breaks I took only provided temporary relief.

I looked up and saw the reflection of the person I detested the most. "Oi! Freak," a voice behind me taunted, and I felt her grasp on my arm, tight.

"She-devil," I muttered under my breath; I didn't wish to waste energy engaging with her. I tried to walk away, but she held onto my arm, refusing to let go.

"We need to talk," Nina insisted. I sighed in frustration. "Let go of my arm, lady," I snapped. "I don't need whatever you have to say."

"Stay away from Jace," she threatened. I rolled my eyes. "Like I'd ever be interested in him," I scoffed.

"I'm already loyal to a soulmate," I responded firmly. Finally, I broke free from her unrelenting grip, and I had the pleasure of seeing her expression darken with shock.

Nina made one last desperate attempt to stop me by grabbing my ankle, causing me to lose my balance and fall to the ground, wincing in pain. "What in the world is wrong with you?" I groaned, rubbing my sore ankle.

She was undeterred by my pain, bending down to inspect my injured ankle with an almost sadistic glint in her eyes. "I will keep the initials V.H. in mind," she said, her tone chilling.

"Stay the hell away from me," I spat, pushing myself away and getting back on my feet. I was done with this conversation.

"I will destroy everything you hold dear, Stanley," she threatened with a dark voice. As I turned to face her, I was shocked to see her gripping a sharp pocket knife close to her wrist, her eyes filled with a crazed glint. Before I could intervene, she slashed her wrist, and a terrifying amount of blood came spilling out. It made me feel sick to my stomach.

"What the hell were you thinking!?" I cried in horror, "Why did you do this to yourself?"

But her smirk stayed plastered on her face as she burst out the door, running for help. "What did I ever do to you?" she sobbed, "Why would you make me suffer like this?"

As I tried to make sense of the situation, someone accused me of trying to kill Nina Robbins, and I was framed for a crime I didn't commit. The overwhelming sense of confusion and dread hit me like a wave, and I struggled to process the events that had just transpired.

~Flashback ends~

A gentle touch on my shoulder brought me back into focus, and I saw Charles looking at me with concern-filled eyes.

"What happened?" I asked him.

"You're crying, my dear. Did Vinter say something to upset you?" He asked. I shook my head with a small smile, wiping away my tears.

"Nothing he could ever say would ever hurt me, Charles," I replied.

"Yeah, I figured you two are soulmates, and Tristan confirmed it as well." Charles gazed at me with concern-filled eyes. "Vinter can be difficult sometimes," he said. "I'm sorry for any problems he may have caused you." "I will talk to him and see if I can persuade him to break it off."

"Charles, your kindness speaks volumes. However, my main priority is to work for Hope Records and Raining Blaze, not to pursue any relationship with my soulmate," I explained. "I'm determined to help Vinter get back on track with his original music, and that's all the matters."

"Don't worry about it," he assured me with a warm smile. "As long as you work for us, that's all I care about." I nodded, ready to move forward.

"Let's discuss the contract," he offered, preparing to guide me to the appropriate room.

"That sounds good," I said, and Charles gestured for me to walk first. He walked alongside me as we made our way to the meeting room.

In the meeting room, Charles and I discussed the contract in detail. It was a five-year contract, but if I wanted to work more, I could renew it after the five-year duration. Under the contract, I would solely write the songs for Raining Blaze, but I could also assist with music production, if desired. Although I wasn't sure Vinter would take my help, I was eager to try.

After resolving all the details, I signed the contract. Despite Charles' offer to drop me home in his car, I declined, preferring to spend some time strolling before hitting the road. Alone, as always, I was preoccupied by my thoughts.

I recalled my childhood and realized that I had always been different, perhaps weird, from others around me. In my elementary school when an art teacher instructed the class to draw a sunny scenery, I ended up drawing a starry sky instead, as I didn't feel comfortable with the former. I had even defied the teacher's orders, a trait that persisted into my adulthood.

A memory from my childhood remains etched in my mind. Back then, I did feel like an outcast, as it was the first time that everyone made me feel that way. That wasn't the last occasion, though. People often labeled me a weirdo for possessing different opinions and ways of working from others. My reputation as a slow learner exacerbated the bullying.

Children at school found it fun to bully me - calling me names, hitting me with paper balls, and locking my bathroom stall. Soon, teachers themselves picked on me, falsely accusing me of cheating and stealing exam papers. They summoned my parents innumerable times and suspended and detained me endlessly.

Despite enduring bullying for nearly ten years, I was willing to put it all behind me. However, Nina Robbins was the bane of my existence. She was the worst person I had ever encountered, fueled by jealousy and insecurities. The last straw was when her boyfriend, Jace, constantly attempted to hit on me. I had turned down his advances each time – I had no interest in him or his advances.

Back in school, I fell prey to Nina Robbins and her vicious bullying. I became her first stepstone to gaining attention from her peers; her jealousy and hatred festered until she framed me for attempted murder. As if that wasn't enough, people didn't believe or trust me - they always assumed the worst when it came to me. Even my parents didn't believe me.

The final blow came when I found myself in a juvenile center, serving time for a crime I didn't commit. It was the turning point of my life, leading me down a path of villainy.

...Kidding

Unless you believe that I'm the villain in this story, you are free to speculate whatever.

I was released from the juvenile center after serving two years. However, my experience there left a permanent scar, killing my emotions and leaving me twisted inside out. Revenge fueled my every decision, and I was determined to give my brain the satisfaction it craved. Stalking Nina made me realize that she was still dating Jace and pursuing her career in acting, enjoying a flawless existence.

My anger knew no bounds, my blood boiling at the unfairness of it all. My blood was boiling; because of her, my life was ruined, and she was having a picture-perfect life.

So...

I killed Jace.

Kidding again.

I didn't kill Jace, but I did witness his death. I could have saved him, but who am I to defy God's plan? A car hit him one day, and I was on the scene, following him closely. I had originally planned to hire some goons and beat him up, but I never imagined it would end like this. The universe works in mysterious ways.

Poor fella...

Nah, I take it back.

You are free to draw your own conclusions. Some may view me as the villain of this tale, but the truth is that I felt no remorse or regret for Jace's death.

Recapping the events and describing how his death played out to his girlfriend was oddly satisfying. The fact that I could have saved him yet chose not to made the moment even sweeter.

Karma is no match for what I have become. The satisfaction from that day onward has fueled my every action - my heart pumping with sheer evil and determination.

Then, I came across Vinter, and it was like I was feeling hope again. My heart felt as if it were healing again. I saw an innocence in him that I seemed to have lost. He seemed to fix everything. It felt as if my life was falling back into place. I started pursuing writing again, and I quickly became a popular lyricist.

Everything was okay, and I had even started to plan our meeting. But then he changed—I don't understand why, but he changed. It seemed as if he were falling apart, so I continued to wait and wait for the right moment to enter his life. And now, here I am.

I know Nina is dating Vinter just to get back at me, but she will never be able to use Vinter against me. He is not my weakness. Even though manipulation is a skill I possess, I could have easily ended Nina's relationship with Vinter today. However, I decide to let her keep trying. I have to admit that this unexpected drama has made things interesting.

I was wandering aimlessly through a park, with only the dimly lit lights and the silence of the night for company. I didn't know where I was or how to get home, but who cares? In this day and age, I can always rely on my GPS.

As I am strolling, my cell phone rings with an unknown number. I know who it is, so I pick up the call.

"Hello~" I sing, as the voice on the other end chuckles.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you," the caller says. I smile.

"I'll always make time for you, don't worry," I assured him, and he let out a small chuckle, clearly amused. I could picture him blushing as he looked away, diverting his vibrant gunmetal eyes from mine.

"You know who I am, right?" he asked, and I chuckled in response.

"Of course, I do. How can I ever forget your deep, melodic voice?" I said, the nickname "bunny" slipping off my tongue. "And not many people take the time to call me these days. As a matter of fact, you're the only one who's done so today." I paused for a moment.

He let out another chuckle. "Aren't you just a clever little fox? How do you know so much?" he asked.

"I've been trying to learn new things and become more knowledgeable," I clarified. "May I ask why you called?"

"There's something I need to ask you," he said, pausing to take a deep breath.

"Ask away, darling~" I answered, adding a theatrical flair to my words for a playful touch. "I am at your service, ready to help in any way I can."

"You are my brother's soulmate, that much is true," he stated. "However, he has found someone else to be with." He paused again, searching for the right words.

"Go on," I urged him, knowing full well where this conversation was headed.

"Would you like to go on a date with me?" he asked, his voice a mix of nervousness and excitement. I smiled. I expected this question, but I still wasn't sure what to say. Should I reject him or accept his offer?

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