Chapter Two

Vanessa didn't remember falling asleep. One moment, she had been sitting on the floor of her bedroom with her parents' photograph pressed against her chest, crying until her body was completely exhausted. The next thing she knew, she was waking up to the sound of loud voices coming from downstairs.

She opened her eyes slowly and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. Then the memories came rushing back, and the heaviness in her chest returned. Her parents were gone.

She turned onto her side and pulled the blanket closer to herself. She didn't want to go downstairs. She didn't want to see those people again or listen to them argue about her father's properties as though that was the most important thing in the world.

But then the voices suddenly stopped.

Vanessa frowned.

The house became strangely quiet for a few seconds before another commotion broke out downstairs. She could hear several voices speaking at once, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

Curiosity got the better of her.

She reluctantly got out of bed and walked toward the door. She could hear someone asking who had arrived, followed by another voice demanding to know what was going on.

Vanessa opened her door and hurried down the stairs.

She was almost at the bottom when she looked toward the living room.

And froze.

Her eyes met a pair of deep blue eyes.

For a moment, Vanessa couldn't breathe.

She knew those eyes.

She knew that face.

"Ryan?"

The name left her lips before she even realized she had spoken.

Standing in the middle of the living room was a man she hadn't seen in years. He was much taller than she remembered, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence that made everyone around him seem smaller. He wore a dark suit, and his expression was serious, but the moment his eyes settled on Vanessa, something in his face softened.

Ryan Cole.

Her father's best friend.

The man who had been around during her childhood before leaving the country several years ago.

The same man Vanessa had secretly had a crush on when she was fifteen.

But none of that mattered now.

Because the moment she saw him, something inside her broke.

She rushed down the remaining steps and ran straight into his arms.

Ryan barely had time to react before Vanessa wrapped her arms around him and burst into tears. He immediately held her, one arm securely around her back while his other hand rested gently against her head. Vanessa buried her face against his chest and sobbed like she had been holding everything inside for far too long.

Ryan didn't ask her to stop crying. He didn't tell her to be strong. He simply held her.

Vanessa breathed in his familiar scent, and for the first time since losing her parents, she felt a small sense of comfort. She didn't know why. Maybe it was because he was someone she remembered. Maybe it was because her father had trusted him. Or maybe she just desperately needed someone who didn't feel like a stranger.

After a while, she pulled back slightly and looked up at him through her tear filled eyes.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Ryan looked down at her, and a small softness appeared in his eyes.

"I had to come check on you, Nessa," he said quietly. "And pay my respects to my old friend."

He had always called her Nessa.

Hearing that nickname again made her eyes fill with tears.

"My parents..." she whispered.

"I know," Ryan said.

His expression changed for a moment, and Vanessa could see the pain in his eyes too.

"I'm sorry, Nessa."

That was all it took.

She started crying again, and Ryan pulled her back into his arms, holding her tightly against him.

Around them, everyone went silent.

Every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on them, but Ryan didn't seem to care. He didn't look at the relatives who had spent the past day fighting over Vanessa's future. His attention remained on her.

After a few moments, Ryan finally looked over Vanessa's head toward the man standing beside him.

His lawyer.

"Read it" Ryan said.

The lawyer nodded and stepped forward with a thick document in his hands.

The moment the relatives realized what was happening, murmurs began spreading through the room.

"What is that?"

"Who gave him the right to do this?"

"Let him explain himself."

The lawyer ignored the interruptions and opened the document.

"According to the last will and testament of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Thompson..."

Vanessa lifted her head.

Hearing her parent names made her heart ache.

The lawyer continued reading. "All properties, financial assets, businesses, and other holdings belonging to the deceased shall remain under the legal inheritance of their daughter, Vanessa Thompson."

The room immediately erupted.

Vanessa stared at the lawyer, barely processing what she had just heard.

The lawyer continued. "However, as Vanessa Thompson is currently a minor the management and protection of the estate shall remain under the supervision of the appointed guardian until she reaches the age of eighteen."

Someone immediately spoke up.

"And who exactly is this guardian?"

The lawyer looked toward Ryan.

"Mr. Ryan Cole."

The room exploded into arguments.

"What?"

"That can't be possible!"

"She has family!"

"How can they leave her with him?"

Vanessa looked at Ryan.

He remained completely calm, as though he had expected all of this.

"You knew?" she whispered.

Ryan looked down at her.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

His expression softened.

"Because you've had enough to deal with."

Vanessa stared at him for a moment before her eyes filled with tears again.

She didn't care about the properties. She didn't care about the money. She didn't even care about the arguments happening around her.

All she knew was that, for the first time since her parents died, she didn't feel completely alone.

Ryan turned toward his lawyer.

"Is that everything?"

"Yes, sir."

Ryan nodded before looking back at Vanessa.

"Come on, Nessa."

Before she could say anything, he gently lifted her into his arms.

Vanessa instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder.

The room went completely silent.

Ryan carried her toward the stairs without sparing anyone another glance.

Vanessa didn't look back either.

As he carried her upstairs, she closed her eyes and held onto him a little tighter.

She had lost her parents. She had lost the life she knew. She had no idea what the future held for her.

But for the first time since that terrible day, she felt like she had someone.

Someone her parents had trusted.

Someone who knew her.

Someone who still called her Nessa.

And somehow, that was enough to make the loneliness hurt a little less.