LUST
Some mistakes begin with desire
Others begin long before anyone realizes they were mistakes at all
THE D. UPSTAIRS
"11:39 P.M."
The city looked beautiful from the windows of the private restaurant
That was the problem with beautiful places
They had a way of making terrible decisions look harmless
Stella Lucia Mariano sat across from Archie Silvestre III, her hands wrapped tightly around a glass of water she had barely touched
Neither of them had spoken for almost a minute
The silence between them was heavier than the traffic far below
Finally, Stella looked up
"Archie"
He raised his eyes from the table
"You're scaring me"
Stella swallowed
"I'm pregnant"
For a moment, Archie didn't react
Then he leaned back
"How far?"
"Six weeks"
His expression changed
Not dramatically
Just enough for Stella to notice
"Are you sure?"
"I took three tests"
She placed the folded medical report on the table
Archie didn't touch it
He stared at it as if the paper itself had become dangerous
Six weeks
He calculated silently
Then he looked at Stella
Neither of them needed to say what they were both thinking
Their relationship had been complicated long before that night
They had known each other since they were young
Their families had once been close enough that their names were spoken in the same rooms Then business changed everything
The Mariano and Silvestre families became rivals
Old friendships became old grudges
And Archie eventually married someone else
Stella eventually became engaged to another man
Yet somehow, after years of pretending they had moved on, they had found themselves crossing a line neither of them could uncross
Now there was a child
And suddenly, the past had a future
Archie finally picked up the report
"We can't let anyone know."
Stella's eyes hardened
"I'm not ashamed of the baby"
"I'm not saying you should be"
"Then what are you saying?"
Archie looked toward the window
"The world doesn't care about the truth
It cares about the scandal"
Stella gave a bitter laugh
"So that's what you're worried about?"
"I'm worried about everything"
He lowered his voice
"Your family"
Mine
My marriage
Your engagement
The companies."
"And the baby?"
That question stopped him
Archie looked at her
"The baby too."
Stella placed one hand over her stomach.
Her voice became quieter
"I already lost one child."
Archie's expression softened
He knew
Six years ago, Stella had disappeared from everyone's lives for months
When she returned, she refused to talk about what happened
All anyone knew was that she had lost a baby
Stella had never completely recovered from it
And now she was pregnant again
This time, she wasn't willing to lose another one
"I won't let anything happen to this child," she whispered
Archie didn't answer
Outside the glass windows, the city continued shining
Neither of them noticed the person standing across the street
Watching
Waiting
TWO MONTHS LATER
The provincial house stood far from the city
No reporters
No business meetings
No crowded streets
Just trees, old stone walls, and a road that disappeared into the countryside.
Archie had suggested the place because Stella's pregnancy had become increasingly difficult
She needed rest
At least, that's what he told himself
The truth was that the house also gave them privacy
Too much privacy, perhaps
Stella stood beside the bedroom window, looking at the trees
She felt strangely cold
Then warm
Then cold again
She placed a hand against her stomach
The baby moved
She smiled despite herself
"You're stubborn."
A knock came from behind her
"Stella?"
"Come in."
Archie entered carrying a small basket of fruit and milk
"You haven't eaten."
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat."
She looked at him
"Since when did you become a doctor?"
"Since you became impossible."
She smiled
For a moment, everything felt normal
Almost.
Then Stella noticed something on the wall.
A small carving
A flower
Five delicate petals surrounding a tiny circle.
A cherry blossom.
She stepped closer.
"Was this always here?"
Archie looked at it.
"I don't know."
She touched the carving.
The moment her fingers brushed the center the room felt warmer.
Stella pulled her hand back
Archie noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
But she looked at the symbol again.
Something about it felt familiar.
She just didn't know why.
That night, Stella couldn't sleep.
Rain tapped against the windows.
The old house creaked whenever the wind moved through the trees.
She reached for the glass of water beside her bed.
Then stopped.
A faint sound had come from downstairs.
A click.
Like a computer turning on.
She frowned.
Archie was asleep in the other room.
Slowly, Stella stepped into the hallway.
The sound came again.
Click.
Then another.
She followed it downstairs.
The study door was slightly open.
Inside, an old computer screen glowed against the darkness.
Stella froze.
She hadn't turned it on.
The screen flickered.
A black background appeared.
Then white letters.
"PROJECT HINAMI"
Stella stared.
"What is that?"
The screen changed.
"SUBJECT H-01"
Another line appeared.
"GESTATIONAL CARRIER: CONFIRMED"
Stella's breathing stopped.
She stepped closer.
The next line appeared.
"DEVELOPMENT: STABLE"
Then
"SECONDARY SUBJECT: UNACCOUNTED FOR"
Stella stared at the words.
"What...?"
The screen flickered.
For a second, another sentence appeared.
"DO NOT ALLOW THE SUBJECTS TO MEET."
Then everything went black.
Stella stood completely still.
Someone was behind her.
She turned.
Nothing.
Only the hallway.
Only darkness.
SOMEWHERE ELSE
A boy woke from a dream he couldn't remember.
He sat upright.
His room was dark.
For several seconds, he simply listened.
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Only the sound of rain against the window.
He looked toward his desk.
A single cherry blossom petal lay there.
He didn't remember putting it there.
He picked it up.
Something strange happened.
Warmth.
Not much.
Just enough to make him pause.
He stared at the petal.
"That's weird."
He placed it back on the desk.
The warmth disappeared.
The boy frowned.
For some reason, the sensation felt familiar.
Like something he had forgotten before he was old enough to remember it.
THE ROAD
Stella's pregnancy reached its final weeks faster than anyone expected.
Too fast.
The doctors had said she still had time.
But that evening, everything changed.
"Archie."
He turned.
Stella was gripping the edge of the table.
"Something's wrong."
He rushed toward her.
Within minutes, the quiet house became chaos.
The car was ready.
The hospital was called.
And Archie drove through the rain with both hands locked around the steering wheel.
"Stay with me."
"I'm here."
"Just breathe."
"I am breathing."
"You don't sound like it."
Despite the fear, Stella almost laughed.
Then she looked through the rear window.
A black vehicle followed them.
Her smile disappeared.
"Archie."
"What?"
"That car."
He glanced at the mirror.
The vehicle remained behind them.
Too close.
Too persistent.
"Maybe they're just going the same direction."
"They've been behind us since we left."
Archie's jaw tightened.
He accelerated.
The vehicle followed.
Stella looked at him.
"Someone knows."
"Knows what?"
She didn't answer.
Because she wasn't sure.
The only thing she knew was that the old computer had shown her something she was never supposed to see.
And someone had written: "DO NOT ALLOW THE SUBJECTS TO MEET"
The car turned suddenly onto another road.
The black vehicle followed.
Then, just before the hospital appeared ahead, it disappeared into the darkness.
Archie slowed.
Neither of them spoke.
THE HOSPITAL
The hallway smelled of antiseptic and rain.
Doctors rushed Stella into the delivery room.
Archie waited outside.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
He sat down.
Stood up.
Sat down again.
He had negotiated million-dollar contracts without trembling.
He had faced hostile businessmen without blinking.
But waiting outside that door made him feel completely powerless.
Finally..... a cry.
A baby's cry.
Archie closed his eyes.
A doctor eventually stepped outside.
"Mr. Silvestre?"
Archie stood immediately.
"Is she okay?"
"Your wife is stable."
"And the baby?"
The doctor hesitated.
Then smiled.
"It's a girl."
Archie stared at him.
"A girl?"
"Healthy."
Something inside Archie finally loosened.
He followed the doctor toward the room.
But before entering, the doctor stopped.
"There is something you should know."
Archie turned.
"What?"
The doctor lowered his voice.
"The timing of the pregnancy doesn't completely match the baby's development."
Archie frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"We're still reviewing the records."
"Is something wrong with her?"
"We don't know."
The doctor looked toward the nursery.
"She appears healthy."
Appears.
That word stayed with Archie.
Inside the room, Stella was awake.
She looked exhausted.
But the moment she saw the baby, her expression changed.
She reached toward the tiny bundle.
"Let me see her."
The nurse carefully placed the baby in her arms.
Stella stared.
For the first time in months, she wasn't afraid.
She touched the baby's cheek.
Warm.
Soft.
Alive.
"My daughter."
Archie stood beside her.
He looked at the child.
Then at Stella.
Something about the moment felt strangely familiar.
As if they had arrived at a place they had been searching for without knowing they were searching.
A nurse entered carrying an envelope.
"Mrs. Mariano?"
Stella looked up.
"This was found with the hospital records."
She took it.
There was no name.
No address.
Only a symbol.
A tiny cherry blossom.
Stella's fingers went cold.
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Three lines.
"SUBJECT H-01: BORN." "VIABLE." "PHASE TWO MAY BEGIN."
Stella stopped breathing.
Archie took the paper from her.
His face changed.
"Where did you get this?"
The nurse frowned.
"It was already there."
"Who left it?"
"I don't know."
She left.
Stella stared at Archie.
"Archie..."
He looked at the sleeping baby.
Then back at Stella.
"What is H-01?" Stella didn't answer.
Because she remembered the computer.
The symbol.
The message.
And one sentence she couldn't forget.
SECONDARY SUBJECT: UNACCOUNTED FOR
Her hands began to tremble.
Archie noticed.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Stella looked toward the nursery.
Then she whispered: "That child..." She swallowed. "...wasn't the only one."
SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY
A computer screen illuminated a dark room.
Someone opened a file.
A photograph of a newborn girl appeared.
Underneath it: "PROJECT HINAMI"
"SUBJECT H-01"
"STATUS: VIABLE"
The person stared at the photograph.
Then opened another file.
It was almost completely empty.
Only one line remained.
"H-02 — LOCATION UNKNOWN"
The person slowly closed the file
Outside, rain continued falling.
Inside the room, a voice whispered: "Find the other one."
The screen went black.
And somewhere far away, a boy slept peacefully— unaware that a girl had just entered the same story.
A story that had begun long before either of them knew how to remember.
END OF CHAPTER 1
"LUST"
Some mistakes are born from desire.
Some secrets are born from science.
And some stories begin when two people are created worlds apart without knowing that one day, they will become the answer to each other's mystery.