Morning sunlight spilled through the tall windows of a small apartment, lighting up the quiet living room.
The place wasn't luxurious, but it was neat and warm. A few toys were scattered near the sofa, and a small backpack rested beside the door. On the dining table, a simple breakfast was already prepared.
Mei Lin stood in the kitchen, tying her hair into a loose ponytail while checking the time on her phone.
She looked tired.
Seven years had passed since that strange night at the hotel. A night she barely remembered and never spoke about again.
Life had changed a lot since then.
The biggest change was sitting at the table behind her.
"Mom, can I bring my robot to school today?" a small voice asked.
Mei Lin turned around and smiled softly.
Her six-year-old son, Liang Rui, sat in his chair swinging his legs while holding a small toy robot in his hands.
His bright eyes looked up at her hopefully.
Mei Lin walked over and placed a plate of toast in front of him.
"You already brought it yesterday," she said gently.
Liang Rui frowned in deep thought.
"But Teacher Lin said we can bring toys on Fridays."
Mei Lin chuckled quietly.
"You have a good memory."
Liang Rui smiled proudly and continued eating.
Watching him always filled Mei Lin's heart with warmth.
Raising a child alone had never been easy. There were times when money was tight, times when she barely slept because of work and childcare. But no matter how difficult life became, she never once regretted keeping him.
He was the brightest part of her world.
The only thing she didn't know…
was who his father was.
That night seven years ago remained nothing more than broken memories in her mind. A dark room, a blurred face, and emotions she couldn't clearly remember.
At first she had been terrified when she discovered she was pregnant.
But by the time Liang Rui was born, she had already made her decision.
She would raise him alone.
And she had.
Mei Lin looked at the clock again and quickly grabbed her bag.
"Rui, hurry up. We're going to be late."
The boy finished his milk and jumped down from his chair.
"Yes, Mom!"
A few minutes later, they left the apartment together.
Outside, the city was already alive with morning traffic.
Cars moved slowly along the busy streets, people rushed toward offices, and tall buildings reflected the bright sunlight.
One of those buildings stood far above the others.
Zhen Group Tower.
A massive glass skyscraper that dominated the center of the financial district.
Inside the top floor office, Liang Zhen stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the city below.
Seven years had only made him more powerful.
As the CEO of Zhen Group, his name carried weight across the entire business world. People respected him, feared him, and followed his decisions without question.
But there was something most people didn't know.
Liang Zhen wasn't just a powerful businessman.
He was also an Alpha.
The leader of a powerful werewolf pack hidden within the modern world.
Most of the time he controlled that side of himself perfectly.
But recently something had begun to feel… strange.
A restless feeling.
An unfamiliar pull deep inside him.
It appeared without warning.
Like his instincts were searching for something he had lost long ago.
Behind him, the office door opened suddenly.
Zhang Ming walked in carrying a tablet.
"Good morning, President Liang," he said casually.
Liang Zhen didn't turn around.
"Morning."
Zhang Ming glanced at the schedule.
"You have three meetings today, a conference call with the investors, and an interview with the media this afternoon."
Liang Zhen finally turned toward his desk.
"And?"
Zhang Ming smiled.
"And your previous secretary just resigned."
Liang Zhen raised an eyebrow.
"That's the third one this year."
Zhang Ming shrugged.
"Well… you are not exactly the warmest boss."
Liang Zhen ignored the comment and sat down.
"Hire someone competent."
Zhang Ming nodded.
"Already done."
Liang Zhen looked up.
"What?"
"The new secretary starts today."
At the same moment, several floors below, the elevator doors opened.
Mei Lin stepped out nervously, holding a small folder in her hands.
This was her first day working at Zhen Group.
The building felt enormous, and the atmosphere was far more serious than any office she had worked in before.
She took a deep breath.
"Calm down," she whispered to herself.
This job meant stability.
A better future for her and Liang Rui.
She walked toward the reception desk where a woman handed her a visitor card.
"The CEO's office is on the top floor," the receptionist said.
Mei Lin nodded politely.
"Thank you."
As the elevator carried her upward, she had no idea that the man she was about to work for…
was the same man from that forgotten night seven years ago.
And upstairs, Liang Zhen still had no idea that the woman entering his company…
had already changed his life forever.