AN:

What kind of ending are you rooting for? A happy ending or a sad one? I'm thinking of a sad ending for this story, but you can always change my mind.

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London – Present Day

Ravenna drives through the busy streets, her mind set on meeting her best friend, who’s likely fuming by now. Their art gallery has finally made it big, climbing the ranks of the business world, and tonight’s dinner is supposed to be a celebration. But exhaustion clings to her like a heavy cloak, and each step feels like a struggle against the urge to just turn around and collapse into bed.

She yawns as she steps into the restaurant, her eyes half-lidded with fatigue. The dress she’s wearing is elegant but stifling, every second in it a reminder of how much she longs for the soft embrace of her sheets. She picks up her pace, eager to reach Cedric, but in her rush, she slams into something solid—a person.

Ravenna stumbles, her nose throbbing from the impact. Instinctively, she rubs it, cursing her clumsiness. But then, she feels a hand on her bare shoulder, steadying her, and she looks up, startled. The man before her is striking, his presence commanding in a way that makes her heart skip. His steel-blue eyes bore into hers, familiar yet strange, like something from a dream she can’t quite remember.

"Are you alright?" His voice is deep, rich with a calm authority that sends a shiver down her spine. There’s an intensity in his gaze that makes her feel both seen and exposed, and she finds herself taking a small step back.

"Yes, I’m fine," she manages, nodding quickly. "Sorry about that," she adds, before brushing past him, her heart pounding for reasons she can’t quite understand.

Relief washes over her as she spots Cedric Zhao, seated at a table, his glittering dinner jacket making him impossible to miss. He’s already halfway through a glass of wine, looking every bit the part of someone used to waiting.

"Finally!" Cedric exclaims, his tone teasing. "For a moment, I thought you’d ditched me for hot sex."

Ravenna rolls her eyes, smoothing her dress as she takes a seat. "And let you hold that over me? Never."

Cedric grins, lifting his glass. "To our friendship and our success."

"To our friendship and success," Ravenna echoes, clinking her glass against his.

When their food arrives, Ravenna dives in eagerly, the exhaustion momentarily forgotten. The steak is perfect, the flavors bursting on her tongue. "This is incredible," she mumbles, savoring every bite.

Cedric smirks, clearly pleased with himself. "Told you I know how to pick the best. Try the sushi, too—you won’t regret it."

Ravenna piles some onto her plate, her hunger making her reckless. "Isn’t this from your country?" she asks, her mouth full.

Cedric’s smile falters, and he gives her a flat look. "I’m Chinese. Sushi is Japanese."

She shrugs, unfazed. "Close enough."

Cedric groans, but his annoyance fades as another thought crosses his mind. "Have you heard about Johanna?"

Ravenna pauses, her appetite suddenly dampened. "What about her?"

"Her ex—the one after you—passed away in her sleep recently," Cedric says, his tone more serious than usual. "You should go see her. She deserves that much, don’t you think?"

Ravenna’s shoulders tense, the joy of the evening dimming. She lowers her fork, staring at her plate. "What am I supposed to say, Cedric? ‘Sorry for your loss, and by the way, sorry for leaving you because I can’t handle love’? It’s not that simple."

Cedric reaches out, his hand covering hers in a rare show of gentleness. "Just be honest with her, Rav. It’s all she ever wanted from you. It’s the least you can do."

Ravenna nods slowly, the weight of his words settling over her. "I’ll think about it."

Cedric hums, his mood lightening as his eyes drift over her shoulder. A mischievous grin spreads across his face. "Heads up—there’s someone who can’t take their eyes off you."

Curiosity piqued, Ravenna turns to see the man she bumped into earlier, now seated at a nearby table. His gaze is fixed on her, intense and unyielding, sending a chill through her. There’s something about him that pulls at her, something she can’t quite place.

"Good God, he’s definitely interested," Cedric whispers, barely able to contain his excitement. "You’re in for an interesting night."

Mortified, Ravenna stands abruptly, covering Cedric’s mouth with her hand. "Cedric, stop!"

After apologizing profusely to the other diners and extracting a promise from Cedric to behave, she finally sits back down, her face flushed with embarrassment. Cedric leans in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper.

"If you don’t go for him, I might."

"Cedric, I swear, if you don’t shut up, I will stab you with this fork," she hisses, glaring at him.

He raises his hands in mock surrender, but the grin never leaves his face. "What is it with you Brits and your shyness?"

"Says the Brit," she retorts, shaking her head.

"My parents were Chinese. I’m only British by birth."

"Whatever."

"He’s still watching you."

Ravenna glances back at the man, and suddenly, the restaurant fades away. She’s somewhere else entirely—somewhere familiar and yet distant, like a memory long buried. 

She lies in a bed, the sheets warm against her skin. Her body is exhausted, her eyes heavy with unshed tears, but she refuses to close them. She can’t look away from the man beside her, whose dark eyes mirror the same stubbornness.

Morpheus watches her with a small, knowing smile, his gaze deep and unreadable. There’s a challenge in the air between them, one she’s determined to win. Slowly, she reaches out, her hand tracing the contours of his chest, her touch light and teasing. But he catches her hand, his grip firm but gentle. "You’re bending the rules, love," he says, his voice low, a mix of amusement and warning.

"Which rules, my lord?" she asks, her tone playful, though her smile hints at mischief.

Morpheus chuckles, a soft sound that sends warmth through her. He lets go of her hand, only to let his fingers trail down her body, stopping at her thigh where he gives a gentle squeeze. She gasps, her concentration broken, and he smiles, triumphant. "I win."

Ravenna scowls, playfully annoyed at her loss. But she’s not one to admit defeat easily. She moves closer, hovering over him, her hair falling like a dark curtain around them. His hands rest on her waist, steadying her as she leans in, her lips brushing his ear.

"Did you really, my dream?" she whispers, her voice filled with both challenge and desire.

"I did," he murmurs back, his voice rough with longing.

She hums softly, her lips tracing the line of his jaw. "I want you," she breathes, the confession laced with need.

"Then take me," he replies, and their lips meet, the kiss deep and consuming, filled with a hunger that neither can deny.

Ravenna jerks back to the present, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The memory lingers, leaving her body trembling with a need she doesn’t understand. She touches her lips, half-expecting to find his warmth still there. A shiver runs through her, her body betraying the lingering effects of the memory.

Cedric watches her closely, concern etched on his face. "Ravenna, are you alright? You spaced out for a minute there."

"I’m fine," she lies, her voice shaky. She glances around, searching for the man, the one from her dream. But he’s gone, leaving her with an unsettling emptiness, like something precious has slipped away.

"You're truly considering, aren't you?" Cedric teases, his concern quickly morphing back into his usual cheekiness.

"Shut your bloody mouth, you idiot!" she snaps, tossing her handkerchief at him with more force than necessary.

Cedric catches it, holding it up in mock offense. "Violent much? And people wonder why I’ve sworn off women."