CH1: The Man of Two Worlds

At twenty-eight years old, Morvan Ross was a man who commanded respect. Tall, sharp-featured, and always dressed in attire that spoke of precision and order, he was known in the business world as a genius who never lost his composure. But behind that flawless exterior lay a secret that he had carried since he was a child—a secret he guarded more fiercely than his own life.

Morvan did not walk through life alone. Inside his mind and body lived another identity, another soul who shared his existence. While Morvan was the one who handled the harsh realities of the world, making hard decisions and building walls to keep everyone out, Vann was the part of him that felt everything deeply. Vann was the artist, the dreamer, the one who loved the sound of rain, the beauty of sunsets, and the softness of poetry.

They were two separate minds, two different ways of thinking, yet they shared one heart, one body, and one destiny. For years, they existed in a careful balance, switching control depending on the situation, often confusing the people around them who could never understand why the same man could be so cold one moment and so tender the next.

Most people saw only Morvan—the successful businessman, the man who seemed to have no weaknesses. Very few had ever met Vann, and those who did often thought Morvan was just being moody or acting differently. No one knew the truth. No one knew that it was not just a change in mood, but a change in the very person occupying the body.

It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon when their world began to shift. Morvan had gone to the city library to look up some documents related to a project. He was walking down the aisle, focused on his goal, when he suddenly felt that familiar shift—the quiet pull that meant Vann was coming forward. It usually happened when Morvan was tired or when something touched a part of his heart that he tried to keep locked away.

Before he could stop it, the sharpness in his eyes softened, his posture relaxed, and the stern expression on his face melted into something gentle and curious. Vann was now in control.

He wandered through the shelves, no longer interested in business papers, but drawn to the sections filled with novels, poems, and art books. It was there that he saw her.

She was standing on a small step stool, trying to reach a book placed high up on the shelf. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and her face held a look of determination mixed with a little frustration. When she stretched too far, she lost her balance and began to fall.

Without thinking, Vann moved quickly, catching her gently in his arms before she could hit the ground. For a moment, time seemed to stop. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and surprised, and Vann found himself lost in the warmth of her gaze.

“Are you alright?” Vann asked, his voice soft and kind—very different from the deep, commanding tone Morvan usually used.

She nodded, a blush coloring her cheeks as she steadied herself. “Yes… thank you so much. I almost made a fool of myself there.” She smiled, and that smile felt like sunlight breaking through the clouds. “I’m Stephani. Stephani White.”

Vann smiled back, his heart beating in a way it never had before. “I’m… Morvan. But you can call me Vann.”

He didn’t know why he said that. Usually, they only introduced themselves as Morvan, to avoid confusion. But looking at her, he felt that she was different. He felt that she might understand.

Stephani tilted her head slightly, looking at him with curiosity. “Morvan… and Vann? Interesting. Do you have two names for different occasions?”

“Something like that,” Vann replied softly. “You could say I have two sides to me.”

Stephani laughed gently, not knowing how true his words really were. “Well, everyone does. I’m glad I met the kind side today.”

From that moment, something changed. Vann knew, deep down, that this meeting was not just a coincidence. And somewhere in the back of his mind, Morvan was already warning him, telling him to be careful, reminding him that letting anyone get close would only lead to pain and danger.

But for the first time, Vann chose to ignore the warning. For the first time, he wanted to let someone see everything—even the parts that were complicated and difficult.

To be continue...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***