Chapter 2 THE FIRST GAZE

Sir, shall we proceed to the next round?" Jay's assistant leaned in, whispering the question low enough for no one else to hear. "Yes," Jay replied sharply, jaw clenched.

They'd been at the casino since morning, and the losses kept piling up. But Jay wasn't the type to walk away from a game, even if it meant burning the whole table down. Jeff, his right-hand and cousin, stood nearby, watching him like a shadow with a pulse. The energy was off, too loud, too tense. Jay could feel it in the air before he saw it. A whisper from his assistant made him look up. And then he saw him. "Jack".

Sitting at the far end of the floor, like a king who didn't care to be noticed. Calm, Cold. Watching him.

Their eyes locked and Jay's blood boiled. He stood up, furious, pushing through the crowd toward the front office. Mr. Nuel Arapin, the casino's owner, practically jumped at his approach.

Why the hell is Jack here? Jay snapped. You know we don't breathe the same air. Nuel stuttered. Sir, I-I told him you were already inside. I tried to stop him, but he said no one can stop him from entering where he wants and when he wants, Jay finished bitterly. He didn't need to hear the rest. Of course Jack would say that. Jay stormed across the room, the crowd parting like smoke around him. He went straight to Jack, grabbed him by the collar, dragging him up from his seat.

You looking to die tonight? Jay hissed.

Jack smirked. That signature, infuriating smirk that made Jay want to destroy him. Let go, Jack said coolly. Unless you want everyone to know how badly you want to touch me.

Jay's hand tightened, and then let go. He turned to walk away. To cool off. To leave.

But then, sirens. The Police. Panic erupted. People screamed, tables overturned, chips scattered.

Everyone ran. Jay's men grabbed him. Jack's crew surrounded him. But amid the chaos, Jay and Jack collided again, this time in a dark corner hallway behind the slot machines. Instinct told them to hide, and they ducked behind the thick curtain wall of the VIP vault room.

Breathing heavy. Barely inches apart. Then it happened. Their eyes met. This time... something shifted.

The rage disappeared. And in its place, something electric. Wild. Unspoken. A spark.

Jay felt it rush up his spine, into his head, like a storm trapped in a cage.

It was like the butterfly effect, he would later try to explain to Jeff.

Like everything that ever happened suddenly made sense, because it led to that moment.

Jack would never forget it either.

The world stood still, he whispered to himself that night. Like we weren't enemies. Like we weren't anything but... human.

The sirens faded. The police left. And the moment broke. They pulled away instantly. Like fire meeting fire.

Like they were afraid of what just happened. They left separately, with their men, their pride, and their confusion.

But neither of them slept that night.

Back home, Jay paced his room, drink untouched.

He reminded himself again and again:

He's your rival. His family is your enemy. He is everything you were trained to destroy.

But his body still burned. His chest still ached.

His mind still repeated one word: Jack.

Jack lay in bed, fully dressed, staring at the ceiling.

He hadn't felt anything that real since Joy.

And Joy... nearly destroyed him.

Don't be stupid, he told himself. Don't make that mistake again.

But Jay's face haunted him. His voice. His anger. His eyes.

And for the first time in years...

Two heirs of rival empires

found themselves lying in separate rooms, in the same city, under the same stars-

Thinking the same thing:

What if?...