PROLOGUE

🌹 Prologue 🌹

"Joan Franklin!" A deep husky voice called out with a smile.

"Shh.." A lady with icy eyes popped out from behind the rose bush. "Don't be so loud!"

"I don't care if anyone sees us." He smiled, showcasing his beautiful set of teeth complimented by his chiseled jaw.

He quickly grabbed her from behind in one swift motion.

"You want my father to ship me back to Australia?" She giggled in his arms.

"Then I'll go with you!" He sniffed in the delicious scent of her hair. "I'll go to the lengths of the earth with you and for you!"

"Oh please, not the cheesy lines." She threw her head back to snuggle with his neck.

He grabbed her bare neck with one hand.

"You have no idea what goes on in my heart every time I get to hold you." He placed a light passionate kiss on her shoulder.

"Or what goes on in my pants. You turn me on effortlessly." He seductively pressed a kiss in her neck.

"Don't be a pervert!" She laughed, trying to get away from him but his grip was tight.

"Where do you think you're going, peanuts?" He drew her closer.

"Can you feel that?" He made sure she felt how hard he was. "That's all you babe, all you."

She giggled some more.

"What have you done to me, Joan?" He circled her waist. "Close your eyes." He released her.

She obeyed.

And patiently waited until she felt a cold necklace gently rest around her neck.

"Can I open my eyes now?" She smiled and couldn't wait to see her gift.

But no response.

She quickly turned around but he was gone.

"Hey!" She pouted her lips. "Not today again."

"Find me!" His voice sounded.

"This is not fair!" She stormed her feet.

"Just follow my voice."

She looked around.

Joan wore a simple white dress with open shoulders that flowed down her legs.

She had brown gladiator sandals on with a plain pearl bracelet.

Her hair was brown with fading blond tips.

Her eyes, icy blue and lips, purplish.

She looked so simple yet very beautiful.

Little freckles spread around her nose bridge with thick lashes.

Her smile caps it up as it gives her such a unique look.

Made her look like a freshly bloomed white rose.

Joan was curvy on the hips and even round on the ass but flat on the chest.

"Noah!" She desperately called for him when she couldn't hear his voice anymore.

"You know I hate it when you do this! Stop!" She said again.

Joan looked around for him until she reached the waterfall.

"Noah?" She looked around in circles.

"I'm here." He grabbed her from behind, making her jump in fright.

"Hey!" She turned and jumped into his arms.

"What took you so long?" He nuzzle her nose.

"You need to stop doing that." She whispered.

"I want you to always seek me."

"Why?!"

"Only tells me how much you want me." He kissed her.

"You know I'll always want you." She replied.

"I know, but that's not enough for me." He said. “I'm teaching you how to find me even when you can't see me. That way, you'll know I'm always there.”

"Oh Noah.."

"Joan, I love you with the whole of my heart." He confessed.

She looked at him lovingly.

"You've been saying those words to me since we were sixteen and honestly, I don't think I can live without them anymore." She kissed him on the forehead.

"Peanuts, you're my life. So don't you ever leave me." He hugged her. "I love you so so so much."

"I love you too..."

"Don't say 'too'. Makes it feel as if you're only agreeing to what I said." He cut her short.

“I am.”

“Peanuts!”

"I love you Noah!"

He sniffed in her citrus scent.

"Thank you for the necklace." She whispered but he immediately picked her up.

"What are you doing!?" She giggled.

"How many times did I warn you not to thank me when I get you something?" He walked towards the waterfall.

"Wait! Noah, no! I'm sorry okay?" She begged. "I'll never thank you again, please don't do this."

He got her a diamond necklace, why shouldn't she thank him?

But it was too late as he threw her into the water.

Joan screamed before submerging into the warm water.

"Noah Grey! You're such a child!" Her head came up.

He only laughed at her and jumped into the water with a splash!

"Like I said, you don't know what you do to me. You bring out the 'everything' in me." He drew her closer.

"Oh please.."

"You know I'm only like this when I'm with you so just let me be free in my comfortable space which is you." He added. "When I leave here, it's back to my grumpy self and you said you don't want that man so enjoy this while it last." He splashed water on her face.

She quickly swam away from him.

"Stop! You're too playful right now. Is this how are gonna be with the children? Or are they all gonna take after their father?" She teased.

"Children?" He easily grabbed her again.

He had a wide grin on. "Children? Our kids?" Noah looked ecstatic talking about children.

"Calm down."

"I want like seven. No, eleven.." He dreamingly said.

"What?" She laughed.

"Good luck with that."

"You know I love children! You know!"

"I'm not doing eleven with you." She replied.

"C'mon. Look, I'll take care of you, I'll do everything! I'll give you anything you want. I'll cook, clean, wash and even..."

"That's enough, Noah." She rolled her eyes.

"But peanuts we need to talk about this because..."

He was interrupted by a sound of a car from a distance.

"Oh shit! That's my father's car!" She panicked and flew out of the water.

"Chill." He followed her.

"Um.. You need to hide!" She pushed him behind the bushes.

"Hide? How long will we do this for, Joan!?" He was visibly upset.

"Don't argue with me, Noah." She looked at her dress. "Oh shit!"

She quickly kissed him and but he didn't reciprocate.

"I love you." She whispered and heads out.

But instead of her father in the car, her very identical sister stepped out.

"Vera!" Joan frowned. "What'd I say about taking father's car?"

"Take a chill pill sis! He is sound asleep. He won't know. I'll take this baby out for a ride and then hit the club. I'll be back before he notice."

Vera was nothing like Joan.

She wore a mini tight leather skirt that showcased her sexy long legs.

Unlike Joan, Vera had huge breasts.

Vera is a blonde while Joan is a brunette but growing up, Vera always wanted to be like her elder sister so she dyed her hair to look like Joan.

Apart from the close striking resemblance as sisters, the hair made them look like twins.

"This isn't right! And look, what are you wearing?" Joan gestured at her shirt that showcased her cleavage and left her belly wide open.

"Oh please." Vera rolled her eyes. "Why are you soaked?"

"Um..I fell into the water.."

"Joan!" A thick voice called from a distance.

"Fuck! Daddy! I'm screwed!" Vera panicked.

"Joan!" The voice got closer.

"Father." Joan said when he walked up to them.

"What did I say about taking my car you brat!?" He angrily asked.

"Daddy.." Vera hugged him from the side. "I actually.."

"I wanted to take it out for a ride..w-with m-my f-friends.." Joan stammered.

"Do you have friends you lonely piece of trash!?" He pointed. "This should be the last time you try this bullshit! You can't even drive!"

"I'm sorry."

Vera had a frown on.

"Be more like your sister! Behave yourself. She has been a good girl and that's why we're trying to send her to Europe for her studies. If she was behaving like you, I would've canceled her trip a long time ago!"

"No daddy!" Vera pouted.

And that was exactly why she took the blame.

She can't let anything jeopardize her sister's dreams in any way.

Even if their father can be an ass sometimes.

"Don't worry princess." He kissed Vera on the forehead.

"Go make yourself useful and make some more money!" He said to Joan. "Your sister needs it!"

He looked around. "And what the hell are you doing here? You want to get to me fired? Don't forget this is our boss's property and you are betrothed to his son!"

"Yes father." Joan replied.

"Behave yourself! This is our only saving grace. If you get married to the boss's son, we will be rich and we'll get everything we want! Understood? And why the hell are you wet? Don't answer that, I don't even care. Don't mess this up Joan, I'm warning you!"

He entered the car. "Are you coming honey?"

"Um, I'm gonna stay with Joan. We'll walk home together daddy." Vera answered.

"Okay, take care."

They watched him drive away.

Vera turned to her sister with a shriek.

"Oh my God Joan! You have no idea how happy I am right now! The money is almsot complete and I'll be in Europe in no time!" Vera jumped in excitement.

Joan happily watched her sister.

"I need to buy expensive jewelries, change my wardrobe, oh my, I need to make a list!" She pulled out her phone.

"I need to tell my friends as well!" Vera squeaked, punching her phone.

"But I'm gonna miss you!" Vera sadly hugged her sister. "Oh Joan, everything is happening because of you. Thank you for the extra jobs you took. Thank you for always looking out for me."

"I'll really miss you too, Vera." Joan sniffled.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you but I have to go." Vera kissed her sister on the cheeks. "Muah, muah! Later!"

Joan watched with a smile.

Mischievous little brat!

But she loves her anyway.