Chapter 2

Isabella’s POV

“Flight attendants, prepare for landing. Passengers and cabin crew, please take your seats for landing. We are slowly descending to our destination.”

The announcement startled me awake.

I blinked slowly, trying to shake the dizziness from my eyes as I became aware of my surroundings.

A few seconds later, a woman with red hair, who looked like a flight attendant, stopped beside my seat.

“Miss, please fasten your seat belt. We are about to land,” she said politely with a small smile.

I nodded quickly as the realisation hit me.

With slightly shaky hands, I fastened my seat belt just like she had asked.

I didn’t know how long I had been asleep, but my nerves were slowly getting the better of me.

The dream of a new life in a new city was about to become real.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest as goosebumps spread across my arms while I gripped the edge of my seat.

I didn’t know what to feel or even what to think.

Excitement.

Fear.

Uncertainty.

Everything mixed together.

“I wanted this… no, I needed this,” I whispered to myself. “A fresh start.”

I tried to convince myself that I was doing the right thing.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even notice when the plane had landed until the man sitting beside me stood up to leave.

Looking around, I saw everyone else doing the same.

So I grabbed my bag and stood up as well.

When I finally stepped out of the plane, I paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

New York air.

A smile slowly spread across my face as I saw new people and unfamiliar faces everywhere.

It was so different from the small town I came from, where everyone knew each other.

I quickly walked out of the airport and hailed a taxi.

During the ride, I couldn’t stop staring out the window.

The tall buildings.

The crowded streets.

The endless movement of people rushing from one place to another.

“Everyone here is always on the move,” I murmured to myself.

This place was nothing like my quiet hometown.

Soon, the taxi stopped in front of a large apartment building.

“This is it,” I whispered to myself as I stepped out of the cab.

I pulled my suitcase behind me and walked into the building.

“Apartment 387,” I reminded myself as I climbed the stairs.

A few minutes later, I finally spotted the number on the door.

“Finally,” I sighed with relief.

I knocked on the door and waited nervously, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

After a few moments, the door opened.

A tall guy with dark brown hair and hazel eyes stood in the doorway.

“Hi. How can I help you?” he asked, looking me over curiously.

“Hello… I’m Isabella,” I said quietly. “I rented a room here.”

“Oh! Great. You’re the one who took the empty room,” he said with a smile.

I nodded, still feeling nervous.

“Come on in,” he said, stepping aside and helping me with my bags.

I slowly entered the apartment and looked around.

It wasn’t big, but it was comfortable.

Simple.

And honestly, that was enough for me.

“So, Isabella, this is the living room… or the common area,” he explained while pointing around the space. “The rooms are down that hallway.”

“Are you the only one living here?” I asked carefully.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about living alone with a guy.

Judith would absolutely lose her mind if she heard about it.

He chuckled lightly.

“No, I’m not alone. We have another flatmate.”

Then he raised his voice.

“Mia!”

A few seconds later, a girl stumbled out of one of the rooms… followed by a shirtless man.

“Aiden!” she groaned. “What did I tell you about interrupting my happy time with this sexy gentleman?”

She kissed the guy beside her before casually sending him out the door.

I stood there awkwardly, unsure where to look.

“Oh, right,” the guy beside me said with a grin. “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Aiden… and this is my annoying roommate, Mia.”

“Hey!” Mia protested.

Then she turned toward me.

“Move aside, Aiden. Let me see her properly.”

Mia walked around me slowly, inspecting me from head to toe.

“Nice,” she said approvingly.

“You’re definitely worthy of our gracious apartment.”

Before I could react, she pulled me into a tight hug that nearly crushed my ribs.

“I’m Mia,” she said cheerfully. “And I’m going to help you with whatever you need.”

“Maybe we should show her to her room before you scare her away,” Aiden said with a laugh.

Mia finally let go of me.

“Come with me,” Aiden said, dragging my suitcase behind him.

I followed him down the hallway until we reached an empty room.

Inside, there was only a bed and a small dresser.

“I know it’s not much,” he said apologetically.

“It’s perfect,” I replied softly as I sat down on the bed.

“Well, I’ll leave you to settle in,” he said. “The bathroom is outside if you want to shower.”

“Thank you,” I said.

After he left, I sat there quietly for a long time.

Trying to process everything.

I was really here.

Far away from my past.

Far away from my guilt.

“Judith,” I suddenly whispered.

“I need to call her.”

I quickly grabbed my phone from my bag and dialled her number.

She answered almost immediately.

“My child! Sweetie, are you okay?” Judith’s voice filled the phone.

“I’m good, Judith,” I said softly. “I’m in New York.”

“Oh, my dear child! When did you arrive?”

“Just a few hours ago. I’m already at the apartment.”

“That’s wonderful,” she said warmly. “Were the people there nice to you?”

“Yes,” I said, smiling slightly. “My two flatmates are really nice.”

“That makes me happy.”

There was a short silence.

Then Judith spoke again, more seriously.

“Isabella… I hope you find what you’re looking for there. You deserve to be happy.”

I could hear her voice breaking.

Tears filled my eyes immediately.

“Thank you, Judith. I love you so much. And I miss you already.”

“I love you too, my child,” she whispered. “Don’t forget to call me every day.”

“I won’t.”

After we hung up, a wave of emotion crashed over me.

I fell back onto the bed, hugging my pillow tightly as tears streamed down my face.

“She’s my only family,” I whispered.

“And I left her all alone.”

But deep inside my mind, a quiet voice spoke.

She adores you.

---

I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up, it was already morning.

The sounds of car horns and busy streets filled the air.

New York was already awake.

I opened the window and let the cool breeze fill the room.

After taking a quick shower, I changed into joggers and a crop top.

Then I walked into the living room to get some water.

That’s when I saw Aiden.

He was standing in the kitchen.

Shirtless.

His muscles and well-defined abs were on full display.

And… wow.

I couldn’t look away.

“Don’t fall in love there, Isa.”

Mia’s voice suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked and turned toward her quickly.

She just laughed mischievously before walking into the kitchen to join Aiden.

Taking a deep breath, I followed them.

“Morning,” I said.

Aiden turned around with a bright smile.

“Oh, Isabella. Good morning.”

Hearing my name roll so easily off his tongue made my stomach flutter.

“Want some breakfast?” he asked. “I’m making my world-famous French toast and bacon.”

I nodded.

“But first… coffee,” he added, handing me a cup.

“Thank you.”

As I took a sip, Mia leaned against the counter.

“So, Isa,” she said curiously, “what brought you to the big city?”

I nearly choked on my coffee.

The question caught me completely off guard.

Because the truth was…

I couldn’t tell them.

I couldn’t tell them that I was running.

Running from my past.

Running from my demons.