Dedication

Dedication

© 2026 Eso. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief quotations used in reviews or articles.

This book is dedicated to me. Before you proceed with reading, I just want to say:

The female lead, Dylanne Hayes, is clinically diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, just like I am. She is an African American, plus-sized woman, 5’5 in height, with chubby cheeks, heavy on top and below. After the accident that killed her parents at age 14, she has been in and out of foster homes. Her brother became blind from the incident. She only became friends with Kim at age 14, when the accident happened and she moved in with her aunt – who couldn’t fend for both her and her brother – so they were placed in foster care.

For now, her brother is staying with his foster family, who treat him well, while Dylanne lives alone. The foster agency hasn’t granted her custody yet.

The male lead, Kai Reed, is a workaholic and is like an onion. The more the story progresses, the more every layer of him is revealed. So I ask that you not judge him from the first chapter, because both of them experience character growth. He is dark haired, tatted, 6'7 tall and a very kind person.

I hope you love my story. Every comment will be appreciated, and I will give my best to every character you see here because some scenes are drawn from my real life.

Kim is a very important part of the story and I hope you all get to enjoy her character and how amazing she is.

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Prologue

***Dylanne (Five Years Ago).

I dashed right into Kim's room, breath caught in my throat as I searched, my eyes darting around. Kim ran in behind me, her eyes full of concern as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

"What's wrong, Dylly?" He wasn't here either.

I walked right to the mirror, a birthday cap on my head while tears rolled down my cheeks. Suddenly, the pink dress and makeup Kim had done for me felt futile. I fell to my knees, squeezing the stupid letter in my hands.

"Dyl?" Kim asked, concern lacing her voice. How would she know when I hadn't even told her? When I'd lied to her that her brother and I had hooked up over the summer?

It would break her, for sure. Worse, she wouldn't talk to me again.

"I hate to see you this way. It's your birthday, and we've just started the party. You can tell me anything, you know that, right?"

After a few silent beats, I dragged my hand across my face, smearing my makeup, mascara touching my lips.

"I just think I need to be alone, please," I said, my voice breaking completely.

"Okay," she said. She crouched down, placed a tiny kiss on my forehead, and walked out the door.

I couldn't even look at my face in the mirror. My hands shook as I opened the letter. My eyes glanced at the words: 'Not meant for you. I know you would hate me after you read this'.

I shouted, throwing the silly paper away. We were supposed to be dating—he'd promised. The plan was to tell everyone we were now a couple, not for him to leave me to cross the continent after promising—

Was I just some other project, like the other girls he'd been with? God, I'm so stupid for thinking he would want me. After I foolishly begged him to consider me as an option.

I didn't know when I fell to the floor, knees tucked under my legs as I rocked back and forth, sobbing loudly.

Fuck. I hate you, Kai Reed.