Morning sunlight filtered lazily through the curtains as Ekansh Rajvanshi finally dragged himself out of bed. After a moment of reluctance, he made his way to the washroom, freshened up, and prepared for the day ahead. Standing before the mirror, he adjusted his hair with practiced precision, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

“Perfect,” he muttered under his breath, admiring his reflection. “I am the most handsome one.”

Grabbing his laptop bag and phone, he walked downstairs with his usual composed confidence.

Far away, in the middle of the vast ocean near Italy, the atmosphere was anything but calm.

Under the blazing afternoon sun, a massive private ship stood still amidst endless waters. The deck was filled with guards dressed in black uniforms, their movements sharp and restless. Some of them dove repeatedly into the ocean, searching desperately for something hidden beneath the waves.

Tension hung thick in the air.

On the far side of the ship, away from the chaos, Ekansh sat silently on a chair, a laptop resting on his lap. His long fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, his focus unbroken. His face, however, was unreadable—cold, distant, almost lifeless.

Behind him stood Dev Singh, his assistant, hesitating. He seemed unsure how to speak, how to interrupt the silence that surrounded his boss. Just as he gathered courage, a deep, chilling voice broke the stillness.

“Did you find it?”

Dev stiffened. “Boss… we found it.”

Ekansh paused for a second, then leaned back slightly, a faint smirk appearing. “Good. Let’s go back.”

“Y-yes…” Dev replied, but his voice faltered.

Ekansh noticed immediately. His gaze sharpened.

“What more?”

Dev swallowed nervously. “B-boss… we found a body.”

Ekansh’s expression darkened, irritation flickering across his face. “Then why bring that up? Leave it.”

Before the moment could settle, Dev quickly added, “Boss… she’s alive.”

That changed everything.

Ekansh stilled.

“…Then?” he said slowly.

Dev continued, his voice low but clear this time. “That woman… she was holding the Ruby Diamond.”

Ekansh rubbed his forehead, exhaling softly. “You do like bringing trouble.”

Without another word, he closed his laptop and stood up. His steps were calm, but there was a subtle urgency beneath them as he walked across the deck. Dev followed closely, guiding him to where the girl had been placed.

“There,” Dev said quietly.

Ekansh stopped.

For the first time, his composure cracked.

The girl lay unconscious on a chair, her long black hair falling across her face, partially hiding her features. Her clothes were soaked, clinging to her fragile body, evidence of the ocean’s grip.

Something stirred inside him—something unfamiliar and unsettling.

As if pulled by an invisible force, Ekansh stepped closer. His heartbeat, usually steady and controlled, felt… off. Heavy.

He reached out and held her wrist gently, checking her pulse.

Weak.

“How long?” he asked, his voice lower now.

“Boss… at least thirty minutes before she regains consciousness.”

Ekansh’s jaw tightened.

“Be quick,” he ordered sharply. “Her pulse is weak. Prepare a team of doctors at the hospital. Immediately.”

Dev nodded without hesitation.

But Ekansh didn’t move.

His eyes remained fixed on her face, as if trying to understand why a stranger—someone he had never seen before—was making his chest feel so… uneasy.

Dangerous.

Important.

“Boss… I’m leaving to call ahead,” Dev said, already dialing as he hurried off.

Ekansh didn’t respond.

His attention was elsewhere.

Slowly, almost unconsciously, he reached out and brushed the strands of wet hair away from the girl’s face. His fingers paused mid-air.

For a moment, the world around him seemed to disappear.

Her face was pale, almost lifeless—but breathtaking. Two tiny moles rested delicately on her skin, making her beauty strangely captivating… unforgettable.

His heartbeat, usually steady and controlled, turned erratic.

Fast. Loud.

Unfamiliar.

But then—

His gaze shifted.

Her lips had turned slightly bluish.

His expression hardened.

His eyes moved lower… and stopped.

A deep cut marked her abdomen, the dried blood mixing with seawater. It wasn’t a small wound. It was the kind that should have taken her life already.

For a brief second, even Ekansh—the man who feared nothing—felt something close to disbelief.

How is she still alive?

The ship had already reached the city.

But Ekansh hadn’t noticed.

He stood there, lost in thoughts he couldn’t explain—until a voice pulled him back.

“Boss… shall we go?” Dev said carefully.

Ekansh blinked, regaining his usual cold composure. “Yeah.”

He straightened slightly, then spoke again.

“Get up.”

Dev turned toward the guards. “Boy—”

But before he could finish—

Ekansh removed his coat in one swift motion and gently wrapped it around the unconscious girl. Then, without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms.

Silence fell.

Every single person on the deck froze.

Shock spread across their faces.

Ekansh Rajvanshi… carrying someone himself?

Dev’s eyes widened, but he said nothing. He simply followed as Ekansh walked ahead, his steps firm, controlled—yet strangely urgent.

Within moments, they reached the cars.

The convoy sped toward the nearest hospital.

Inside the car, Ekansh still held her carefully, as if even the slightest movement could break her.

Dev, sitting across from him, couldn’t help but steal glances at the girl.

Who is she?

What kind of person survives the ocean… with that injury… and still holds onto the Ruby Diamond?

But more than that—

Why is Boss acting like this?

Dev had never seen this side of Ekansh.

Not once.

The man who didn’t care whether someone lived or died… was now watching over a stranger like she mattered.

Like she was… important.

Ekansh’s gaze remained fixed on her face.

His jaw tightened slightly.

“Drive faster.”

The driver pressed harder on the accelerator.

Outside, the city blurred past.

Inside, something had already changed.

And none of them—not even Ekansh himself—understood what had just begun.