Chapter 1

A storm was coming.

It was the heart of summer, yet Jane felt the hairs on her body standing at attention. For the past three days, Jane felt a thundering sensation gnaw at her insides. Her hands were warm and sweaty, yet she felt cold.

'Why do I feel this way?' she inwardly questioned, her eyes glued out the plane's window. She felt parched, perhaps it was the constant butterflies churning in her belly. Lifting the bottle to her mouth, Jane gulped down a large swallow of water, grimacing as the cold liquid dampened her throat. She wasn't drinking from the unbearable heat but from the nervous flock of butterflies dancing in her belly.

Ding!

--All passengers, please remain seated until the seatbelt sign is off.--

The expected message rang throughout the aircraft, but many seemed not to care as they unbuckled themselves, reaching for their luggage. On a typical day, she was one of these people. But today, something held her back.

'What is wrong with me?'

Jane shook her head wryly, looking at the now near-empty plane. With a low head, she ventured into the airport while fidgeting with her phone. And as she expected, she had several missed calls.

"Mom, Dad, I made it. My flight was delayed a bit, but I'm here now."

[Ahh! I'm so happy to hear that dear. Goodness...Your mother and I were worried sick. But now, we can rest assured.]

[Yes, Jany, have you eaten? Are you hungry? Where are you headed off to next?]

Jane felt warm, listening to her boisterous parents. She didn't blame them. Her flight was delayed for 2 hours. However, she forgot to alert them before boarding. They must have been worried sick. She could only blame herself for getting lost in thought since leaving home.

[So, Jany, are you excited? This is always what you wanted, right?]

Jane thinned her lips, seemingly distracted. "Yes. Yes. Yes. This is what I've always wanted." She affirmed, not wanting her parents to worry or nag her further. She was sure of her choice. But the bad feeling in her tummy kept growing by the minute.

'I need more rest and a strong drink to chug the feeling away.'

As Jane stood outside the airport, a black cat crossed under her legs, and almost instantly, a ladybug landed on her hand.

How odd. One signified bad luck and the latter good luck.

'Whatever.' Jane shrugged, hailing a cab. And soon, she was on her way to her hotel room. But even her ride made her on edge.

"May I just say, miss, you look outright exhausted."

The driver's deep but sensual voice made her heart flutter endlessly. The car was dark, and his hat obscured his face. Still, she could feel it was a man similar in age to her. She didn't know why, but he gave her a familiar yet unfamiliar aura. She thought she had heard his voice before. But where? She couldn't quite put her fingers on it.

However, one thing was certain. His rugged voice and that burly Scottish accent kissed her insides like the sun's warmth, giving her a strange sensation she had never felt before.

Hah!

Jane couldn't believe it!

She, who had been a single woman from birth till age 20, with no prior interest in any man or woman, was now having her ears impregnated by this strange man she knew nothing about.

'It's official. I must be insane.'

Jane mocked herself while massaging her temples helplessly. The man, on the other hand, didn't seem to know what he was doing to her.

"A foreigner, I presume?"

"Yes," Jane answered shakingly. Good heavens! Why was she nervous around him? She tried to make her voice as natural as possible.

"Yes, yes, yes... I'm here on an exclusive invitation to the Mackay Highland Museum."

The driver smiled meaningfully. "Then ye must be a lucky one."

Jane thought so too. The Mackay Museum was like no other in the world. It was highly protected and wasn't open to the public. Yet the few privileged ones who visited it sang its praises to the moon, placing it among the top five Museums in the world.

The mystery, the intrigue, and the many rumors and speculations about its treasures were enough to make the world rumble. So how could she not be thrilled after winning the once-in-a-lifetime ticket to the mysterious Mackay Museum? Tomorrow, she will be the only visitor to the museum. There will be a tour guide just for her.

Since she was young, she, a lady from England, has loved Scottish history, especially everything involving the mysterious Mackay Clan. She didn't know why, but it fascinated her more than normal. Whenever she went through history, she always felt something was missing. It was as though she was searching for answers to questions she knew nothing about.

Jane shook her head wryly, watching the vehicle drive further into Mackay land.

The drive was a long one from the airport. But in no time, the vehicle arrived at the hotel's entrance, and Jane stepped off. Before she could look at the driver's face, he stormed off, leaving but a few words behind.

"Welcome to Mackay Land, Miss Tourist."

"Thank you?"

Jane stared at the fleeting vehicle, getting a hint of oddity from the driver's tone. It might sound silly, but she felt there was some evasive secret the driver knew about her that he wasn't telling.

After checking in, Jane plunged into her sheets, caressing the pillow with her plump cheeks. The room was warm and nicely decorated. The room was plain but spacious, giving a clean look to any who stepped in.

Jane had little inkling to explore her room, as a cloud of sleep had already darkened her vision. She yawned, forgetting all about today's weirdness. Instead, her thoughts were drawn to the Mackay Museum. And soon, she fell into a deep slumber with a broad smile.

Tomorrow will be the happiest day of her life.