Chapter 1

I had been in love with Callum Sterling for three years.

On the night he celebrated discovering a new star, he hugged everyone in the research lab except me.

He even stood by while Sienna mocked me, saying I looked like a mess and it was no wonder I was nearly thirty and single.

My heart turned to ash, and I accepted a deep-space mission departing in seven days.

Later, the golden boy of the astronomy world named that very star after me.

But the only thing he received was a series of video monologues.

He didn't know that I had already become a star myself, and I was never coming back.

1

After training, I didn't even have time to shower before I excitedly pushed open the doors to Callum's lab.

"Congratulations! I heard you used the Saros cycle to observe a new star..."

In ancient Babylonian, the Saros cycle is also known as the shifting of the moon and stars.

Callum once told me about the romantic meaning of that term under a sky full of stars.

Before I could finish my sentence, I saw the cold, handsome young man in a white coat hugging a sweet-smiling girl.

His usually indifferent eyes were soft, and he was bathed in a pale silver light.

He was smiling brighter than I had ever seen, even in my dreams.

The room was buzzing, and many people were gathered around them, cheering.

Callum didn't seem to hear them. He carefully held the girl's waist, letting her pale arms hang around his neck.

I knew this girl.

Her name was Sienna, and she had joined Callum's lab only six months ago.

It was thanks to her that I realized a glacier like Callum could actually melt.

Sienna pouted and acted spoiled. "Callum, we're throwing a victory party for you tonight. You better show up!"

Callum looked helpless but didn't pull away. "I'll be there."

Not long ago, I had accidentally brushed against his sleeve while handing him water. He had glared at me so coldly that I backed away in fear.

Since then, I hadn't dared to touch even a thread of his clothes.

Just then, his gaze shifted and met mine through the crowd.

In the next second, he let go of Sienna and took a step toward me with his arms open.

My heart skipped a beat.

Last night, while I stayed up with him to observe the stars, he said he'd tell me a secret once he succeeded.

He said that secret was about me.

Was he finally going to tell me?

But he only took one step before stopping to hug another male researcher in a lab coat.

Then, he went around and hugged every single person in the room.

Finally, he stood in front of me.

The smile he had for Sienna was gone, replaced by his familiar, calm indifference.

He opened his arms toward me and tilted his chin slightly.

Unlike the others, he wanted me to be the one to initiate the hug.

People who know they are loved are always this arrogant.

I stared at him, looking at the embrace I had dreamed of for years.

But I couldn't bring myself to move.

He tilted his head, his brow furrowing as his lips pressed into a thin line.

I knew he was getting impatient.

"Oh, even if she's an astronaut, Lyra is still a girl. She's just shy. Callum, you should be the one to move first!"

Sienna's playful yet mocking voice rang out as she pushed Callum from behind.

Callum sighed as if giving in and finally moved to wrap his arms around me.

I abruptly stepped back, avoiding the embrace that now felt repulsive.

I lowered my eyes to the polished floor. "Sorry. I just finished training and haven't showered yet."

Callum's arms remained empty in the air.

I could see the shock in his eyes through the reflection on the tiles.

"Fine then," he said coldly.

His voice sounded like it had been dipped in ice, and he pulled his arms back.

"Honestly, Lyra, you really don't care about your image. No wonder you're almost thirty and still don't have a boyfriend," Sienna said with a giggle.

She even pointedly covered her nose with her hand.

The colleagues who usually joked with me all took a silent step away.

I looked up at Sienna.

"Yeah, I'm not like you. You're so easygoing you go through four guys in three days."

Sienna didn't seem to care, but Callum's face darkened immediately.

"Lyra, that's enough."

Seeing Callum leap to Sienna's defense made me feel exhausted. I didn't say another word.

I walked into my private breakroom and made a phone call.

"Captain Miller, that mission in seven days... I'll take it."