Willowville, a small town, America,
Surrounded by hills and bathed in the golden hues of spring, Willowville was bidding goodbye to the sun for the day.
A girl sitting at her desk was trying to focus on the textbook spread open before her. The dim light of a fading afternoon filtered through the cracks in the curtains, casting a soft glow on her face as she attempted to immerse herself in her studies.
But just as she began to concentrate, her mother's voice resonated loudly from downstairs, shattering the fragile tranquility of the room and interrupting her focus.
"Jane! Come quickly, look who's here!" her mother's voice echoed through the house.
"Coming Mom!" She shouted at the top of her voice.
Heaving a deep sigh, Jane closed her book and rose from the chair, reluctantly making her way down the wooden stairs to greet the guest.
As she descended, her eyes fell upon her mother engaged in conversation with their neighbor, easily recognizable by her slightly hunched posture. The visitor's presence felt like an unwelcome gust of wind, about to hit her serenity.
"Oh, Aunt Elizabeth! Come, come! Please have a seat. It has been such a long time since we last saw you,"
Jane exclaimed, her voice carrying a hint of forced enthusiasm that masked her true emotions.
'Still not as fake as the smile on my mother's face,'
her subconscious mind whispered. She had grown accustomed to this facade with time.
"Oh, my dear child! Yes, it's been ages. I went to visit my daughter. You know, her husband works for a prestigious company, Not to show off, but his earning is quite envious ..."
The aunt continued to chatter away, her words flowing continuously as always, their significance fading into the background as Jane's attention drifted away.
Jane's gaze wandered towards the window. She saw with curious eyes observing the twigs that danced upon the wind. For a brief moment, peace and serenity washed over her, providing a temporary escape.
"...And that reminds me of Jane. Such an unlucky girl. Mrs. White, why don't you marry her off to a religious young man? She is already of age. Why spend more on her education? A mere waste of time and money..."
The aunt's words pierced through Jane's thoughts, snapping her back to the present, like an icy blade cutting through the warmth of a summer day.
She smiled meekly, her eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability hidden beneath the facade. The weight of societal expectations, judgment, and doubts engulfed her at every moment, yet she refused to let them control her anymore.
"Would you like to have some coffee? I've prepared some snacks as well. Jane, could you please make coffee for us?"
her mother interjected, attempting to change the subject. Jane nodded silently, accepting the mom's order. After almost two more hours she found her way back upstairs.
Returning to her seat near the desk, Jane found it difficult to regain her earlier focus. The aunt's parting words lingered in her mind, intertwining with her own insecurities, a relentless loop of self-doubt and bitter past playing on repeat.
" Why don't you marry her off to a religious young man?"
" Waste of time and money."
The weight of her dreams felt heavier, as always threatening to crush her spirit, but deep within her newly found resilience burned.
"No, I am strong,"
Jane whispered, her voice barely audible, as if confiding in the shadows.
"I won't let my past define me. I will rise above them. I'll leave this town behind within two months, and go to the city. I have to fight for my dreams."
The determination in her eyes grew, casting aside the shadows of doubt that had plagued her for the whole evening.
"Hopefully, by this time next year, I'll be in a better place."
She vowed, making a silent promise to herself and the stars that peeked through her window, offering a glimmer of hope in the night sky.
In a bustling nightclub, New York,
A man in his late 20s stood tall and resolute, commanding the attention of all who laid eyes upon him. With chiseled features and a strong jawline, he possessed the kind of striking handsomeness that could captivate hearts with a single glance. His jet black locks, cascading in sleek waves, framed a face that exuded an air of strength and magnetism.
Dressed in a white shirt that complimented his impressive physique, Adrian Alan Johnson had an air of self-assurance and authority. His broad shoulders and commanding presence drew attention from all across the room. While his dark intense eyes held a depth that left others intrigued.
"Hey, bro! Look at that stunning blonde! She's got some curves, man! Have a look," Samuel exclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Why are you talking like this? Have you had too many drinks?" Adrian raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
"I'm not drunk, bro! You're clueless! Just look at her!" Samuel insisted, urging Adrian to turn his gaze.
Adrian shifted his attention to the dance floor and caught sight of a gorgeous blonde swaying her hips gracefully to the rhythm of the music. Her body-hugging black dress hugged her curves, accentuating her beauty, while her vibrant red lipstick added a touch of boldness to her alluring complexion.
"Told ya? But she won't give in to your advances. Stop gawking," Samuel snorted.
"Really, Sam? Are you challenging me? You should have known better. No one says no to Adrian." Adrian let out a chuckle, his eyes glimmering with self pride.
Samuel pondered for a moment,
"Alright. But you have only tonight to get her into your bed. Agreed?" He asked, hesitatingly.
A confident smirk formed on Adrian's lips,
"Challenge accepted. But if you lose, which I'm certain you will, you have to go on a date with Lisa." His voice mischievous.
"What? No way! Why her? She's too clingy!" Samuel whined.
" Are you so certain of your defeat that you're already complaining ?" Adrian laughed heartily, a sense of triumph in his voice.
An exasperated sigh escaped Samuel's lips.
"Alright, alright. It's a deal. But if you fail, I get to drive your new Lamborghini for an entire week. Samuel tried to negotiate.
"Deal," Adrian replied, downing the remainder of his beer with confidence.
At 3 AM,
Samuel abruptly woke from his slumber to the jarring sound of his phone ringing. Annoyed, he reluctantly answered the call.
"What the fuck do you want at this hour, Addy? Can't you let me sleep?" Samuel groaned.
Adrian chuckled mischievously on the other end.
"Prepare yourself mentally for the date tomorrow, Sam. The deal is sealed. Adrian never loses."
He abruptly ended the call, leaving Samuel to contemplate his fate.
Adrian smirked, glancing at the naked blonde beside him, blissfully asleep.
"I hope she leaves in the morning as I said. Adrian Alan Johnson never does relationships. He's always in control and will always be,"
Adrian thought, slipping back into peaceful slumber.
Unaware that a momentous change was about to take place, that would alter his life, forever.
" Wanna go somewhere else?" The brunette seductress winked at Adrian meaningfully. Adrian smirked before taking a step forward in her direction. Just as things were heating up, someone flashed light directly into his eyes, which startled him awake. Opening his eyes Adrian realized it was the sunlight that pierced through the curtains, invading his eyes. " Who the hell moved the curtains?" He growled in displeasure.Turning around he found Samuel, standing there with a devilish grin."You asshole. Why would you even do that? I swear I'd have killed you if you weren't my best friend," Adrian couldn't hold back the storm of profanities that erupted from his lips, leaving Samuel stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter." Seriously Addy? Even in sleep, you are thinking about girls!"That dream must've been quite intense, huh? Get up. It's already past 9!" Samuel exclaimed, still laughing."So what? It's Sunday. I need to rest. besides, I did a lot of workouts last night." A
As the evening sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, Jane stood near the window, savoring each sip of her warm coffee. Memories of the past month in New York flooded her mind, filling her heart with contentment. She couldn't have asked for a better place to stay than with her Uncle Ross's family. Uncle Ross, Aunt Mary, and little Liam welcomed her with open arms. It had been so long since she last met them. They always made her feel like a cherished part of their family. She always felt their love and care enveloped her, making her feel at ease in their presence. To ensure her comfort, they even arranged a cozy one-bedroom apartment on the floor above theirs. It became her comfort zone within this short period. Her own home, where she could just be herself. As the gentle breeze caressed her face, Jane couldn't help but feel grateful for the warmth and hospitality she had experienced since arriving in the city. As she leaned against the window railing, her thoughts wan
"Isn't the morning a little bit brighter today?" That was the first thing that came into Jane's as she stirred awake in the early morning, a gentle glow filtered through the curtains, casting a warm embrace upon her face. Her mind immediately drifted to Liam, such a little bundle of joy he was! His thoughts alone made Jane an optimistic person. Children are angels. a bunch of hopes to give you peace in this cruel heartless world. Without fail, every day upon returning from her coaching sessions, Jane had to play for at least one hour with Liam. He made her feel happy, dispelling the shadows that had clung to her soul in recent years. She also met Aunt Kathy, twice after that day. There was an undeniable allure in her motherly aura, a comforting essence that tugged at Jane's heartstrings. Jane liked her already. It was Sunday so she didn't have any classes. The promise she had made to Liam and Aunt Mary to go to Central Park loomed ever closer. A bubbling excitement brewed
The leaves on the tree were vibrant and spread their glory like warriors in the spring morning, having risen successfully after the winter. The weather felt serene, capable of calming anyone's mind, except one.Adrian found himself in a contrasting situation with nature. Counting down, "201... 202... 203..." he put his weight on his elbow, bending down to the floor, inhaling as he descended, and exhaling as he returned to the starting position, contracting his abs. Sweat glistened over his tanned, ripped body, and his mind raced at a speed of 100 miles per hour as he counted the number of push-ups.A certain pair of honey eyes had been running through his mind since last week, and he didn't know how to make it calm down. He would have thought that the girl was just his mere imagination, only if he hadn't seen her taking a cab with that kid coming out of the park.He felt irritated with himself for allowing his mind to obsess over a girl he had seen for a few minutes, who might not e
" Jane, you? Please come inside, Where are your manners, Addy? Won't you even tell guests to come inside?"Hearing his mom Adrian came back to his senses. Guest! He had no idea they were about to have a guest. That's too this particular girl! Was he missing something! "Hello auntie! Aunt Mary sent me to give you this. I should come later probably. " " Don't even think about that. Come inside" Kathy dragged her inside without even letting her finish. ' Jane!' So her name is Jane! Hmm, Nice name." Adrian thought in his mind.Whispering her name from his mouth gave him an odd type of satisfaction! Even made it sound better, at least to him. "What am I even thinking? Maybe I really need some food." He murmured.Adrian followed them gradually. He had a lot of unanswered questions in his mind which needed to be answered." Everyone, this is Jane. She is my friend Mary's relative."' Kathy started introducing her to everyone. Suddenly all of the eyes were on her. Everyone was extremely
Jane smiled to herself, remembering all of their kind words as she entered her room. After coming to the city, she had met so many kind people. She felt that it was a misconception that the people living in a big city had small hearts. Until now, she hadn't met anyone like that. Though she was not a person to be intimidated easily, it was their kind behavior towards her that made her feel something.Throughout her 21 years of life, she had hardly met anyone kind and genuine to her. But her new friends, Uncle, Aunt Mary, Aunt Kathy's whole family, they had all been so good!Now, thinking about her family, she felt a little bit uncomfortable seeing her grumpy son. The way he had constantly looked at her as if he would throw her out of his house if he had gotten the chance. The food was so good, but she couldn't even have her breakfast peacefully. His constant gaze had made her nervous. No wonder when he complimented her dish, she was surprised at first. Maybe he had said it out of for
"SORRY ".She still didn't understand what this was all about. "Sorry about what?" She asked, surprised."Can you come to this side? Just for a minute?" Without even giving a chance to her he excused both of them from their friends and took her to a side the time holding her hand into his strong grip."So in the morning...." he started reasoning out of his act. "Can you please leave my hand? It's kinda uncomfortable" Stopping him Jane spoke out."Oh! I am extremely sorry, I haven't even realized" Adrian tried to show how this was unintentional even though all the time he was well aware that he was holding her hand. Holding her hand wasn't necessary in the first place he could've just told her to stop listening to him but his mind decided against it, and there's no way he regretted his decision, as soon as he touched her hand he felt a jolt of spark he hadn't felt before. Her hand was soft, warm, perfectly fitting into his large rough ones. But a wave of disappointment hit him wh
Standing near the office Adrian looked at his wristwatch to realize he was ten minutes earlier. Satisfied with himself he entered the office straightening his posture and with a cold face. The lady in reception was just sitting back lazily. She jolted up immediately seeing him entering the office.He wasn't the boss, yet. But everybody knew this company belonged to his family so he would be the future owner of the company. Although he maintained a friendly gesture with the staff, when it came to working he was extremely professional." Good morning sir ". The lady tried to sound calm as much as possible. " Morning" Adrian gave the shortest reply out of formality and she immediately knew he was in a bad mood. Not only today, but for the last few days." God bless the people who would be the first one to face his wrath!"Shrugging her shoulder she sat back on her chair to start working.Adrian, as usual feeling annoyed with himself, entered the elevator and pressed his floor button. F