تسجيل الدخولAlbert's POVThe drive back to my apartment was unusually quiet.Not awkward.Just... unfamiliar.Every now and then, I stole a glance at the passenger seat.Amara sat with both hands resting on the small duffel bag on her lap, her fingers gripping the worn handles tightly. It was the only luggage she had brought.One bag.That was all she owned.Inside the car, silence lingered between us.Neither of us seemed to know what to say after signing a contract that legally made us husband and wife.Even if only on paper.I cleared my throat."You don't have to look so nervous."She turned toward me."I'm not nervous."I raised an eyebrow."You've been squeezing that bag like it's planning to escape."She immediately loosened her grip before realizing what she'd done."I have not.""You just did.""I didn't.""You absolutely did."She huffed, folding her arms.A smile tugged at the corner of my lips."And you've known me for exactly... what? A few weeks?""Long enough." I replied Despite h
Hart's Kitchen had never been busier.The cheerful chatter of customers filled the air as waiters hurried between tables carrying steaming plates of food.The aroma of freshly baked bread, grilled chicken, and herbs drifted from the kitchen, making the cozy restaurant feel even more inviting."Table five needs another pasta!""Coming!""Miss Amara, two grilled salmon!""I'm on it!"Amara moved effortlessly through the kitchen despite the chaos surrounding her.She tied her apron a little tighter before lifting another sizzling pan from the stove."Jessica!""The mushroom sauce!""I'm bringing it!"Jessica appeared with two bowls balanced expertly in her hands."I swear," she laughed, "if this place gets any busier, we'll need to clone ourselves."Daniel carried a tray past them."Or hire ten more people.""I vote for ten."The kitchen erupted into laughter.Even Amara couldn't hide her smile.Only a few weeks ago...She had worried whether anyone would even visit the restaurant.Now..
Inside, the last of the evening customers filtered out one after another, their cheerful laughter lingering in the air."Thank you! Please come again!"Amara bowed slightly as an elderly couple stepped through the door."We definitely will," the woman replied with a smile. "The food was wonderful."her husband added with a satisfied pat on his stomach, "that stew is the best I've had in years."Amara laughed softly."I learnt from the best."The couple waved goodbye before disappearing into the evening crowd.As soon as the door closed, Amara let out a long sigh."What a day..."Her feet ached.Her shoulders were sore.She had been cooking almost nonstop cleared.One of the newly hired waitresses was wiping down the last table while another counted the day's receipts beside Maya. Jessica stretched dramatically."I swear, my legs are about to file for divorce from the rest of my body."Daniel laughed from behind the counter."You only carried plates."Jessica shot him a look."Only ca
The next morning, Amara stood across the street from a modest three-story office building, clutching the strap of her handbag tightly.She looked up at the sign hanging above the entrance.Burke Law Firm.The same name the lawyer had mentioned over the phone.Taking a slow breath, she glanced at the message on her phone once more.> Good morning, Miss Williams. This is a reminder of your appointment scheduled for 10:00 a.m. We look forward to meeting you.The message had come from the same number that called her the previous evening.Everything looked legitimate.And yet...A knot twisted in her stomach."What if it's a scam?" she muttered under her breath.People were getting tricked every day.She had heard countless stories online—fraudsters pretending to be lawyers, fake inheritances, forged documents.This could easily be one of them.Her fingers tightened around her bag."...Only one way to find out."Straightening her shoulders, she stepped into the building.The reception area
The city lights blurred past the tinted windows of the black rolls- royce car, their golden glow stretching into long streaks against the night.Inside the car...The only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the quiet sniffles coming from the young woman seated beside Ethan.Amara had tried.She had really tried to hold herself together after Ethan got her out of there.But the moment the car doors closed, everything she had been holding back came crashing down.Tears streamed freely down her cheeks.She covered her face with both hands, but the sobs refused to stop."I don't understand..." she whispered brokenly. "Why are they still like this after all these years?"Ethan remained silent.His gaze stayed fixed ahead while his fingers rested calmly on his knee.Normally...He hated noise.Especially crying.To him, tears solved nothing.If anything, they only made people irrational.At least...That was what he had always believed.Yet tonight...He wasn't irritated.Not even a l
The reunion party was far livelier than I had expected..Laughter echoed from every corner.Everywhere I looked, old classmates were embracing one another, taking pictures, exchanging stories, and laughing over memories that seemed to have happened only yesterday.For the first time in a very long while...I wasn't thinking about work.I wasn't worrying about bills.I wasn't thinking about how many extra shifts I needed to pick up to support Maya and my younger siblings.Tonight...I was simply Amara.Jessica grabbed my wrist before I could reach for another strawberry tart."Oh no," she laughed. "You've been hiding at the food table for five whole minutes.""I'm hungry."She rolled her eyes dramatically before pulling me toward the dance floor."You owe me one more dance.""I absolutely do not.""You do.""I'll fall.""I'll catch you.""I don't trust you.""You should."Despite my protests, she dragged me into the crowd.The DJ switched to one of our favorite songs from our universit







