This world is brimming with mysteries and wonders.


    "Sometimes I catch myself wishing the world could just start over... Wouldn''t that be something?"


    If we could hit the reset button, everything would change.


    Let''s rewind back to when Sophie was seventeen.


    "Sophie, you''re a youngdy. Why on earth are you trying to learn to smoke?"


    Her homeroom teacher, looking all serious, sat across from Sophie in the office.


    Sophie was in a tweaked version of her school uniform. Even at seventeen, she carried herself with a grace that was hard to miss. Her long hair was casually pinned back. Unfazed, she shot back, "Why can''t girls learn to smoke? Loads of guys do it."


    "The issue isn''t whether you''re a girl or a boy. It''s smoking itself!"


    The teacher tossed a pack of cigarettes in front of Sophie. "Get your guardian in here after school!"


    "I don''t have parents," Sophie replied, not even bothering to look up. "They both passed away, so I''m on my own."


    "Well, get your Uncle Perry and Aunt Jessica toe! Not having parents isn''t a free pass to act out."


    "...Alright."


    Sophie calmly whipped out a phone from her pocket.


    The teacher''s eyes nearly popped out: "You''ve got a phone hidden too?!"


    "Didn''t you just tell me to call my guardian?"


    Sophie dialed a number nonchntly and spoke into the phone, "Yeah, they want


    a guardian here. Hurry up, I''ve got a game to catch at the café tonight."


    With that, she hung up.


    The teacher was floored by Sophie''s audacity.


    How could someone be so bold?


    "You''re a lost cause! If your grades weren''t so good, I would''ve..."


    The teacher trailed off, knowing that if Sophie hadn''t lost her parents, the school wouldn''t be this lenient.


    Sophie ended up standing in the office all afternoon.


    As school was winding down, two sleek ck Mercedes rolled up to the school gate.


    A bunch of bodyguards got out and opened the door for the guy in the backseat.


    Students crowded at the windows, trying to catch a glimpse.


    "Wow, a Mercedes!"


    “Whose guardian is that? He looks so young!”


    "Don''t you know him? That''s James, the head honcho at Burke


    swn yel.n


    International. He''s even more dashing in real life than on TV!"


    "Why''s the CEO of Burke International here? Could he have a secret kid at our school?!"


    A group of girls ogled James, surrounded by his bodyguards.


    At this age, seeing someone so charismatic was bound to make hearts flutter.


    Outside the office.


    James''s secretary knocked on the door.


    "Come in," the teacher called out.


    The secretary opened the door, and the bodyguards took their positions.


    James strolled in, looking sharp in a tailored ck suit, probably fresh from some fancy event. His


    gleamed, his hair the est


    1.n


    swnovel.


    styled and he wore the Burke International crest with pride.


    The teacher was momentarily stunned, recognizing the face from magazine


    covers.


    James''s expression was cool andposed, his deep eyes and aloof: "I''m Sophie''s


    “Guardian?” The teacher nced between James and Sophie.


    It was hard to wrap her head around it.


    One was the CEO of the biggestpany in Devonport, and the other was just a high school junior.


    Sophie stood there, just as surprised that James was the one who showed up.