Prologue

To tell the truth... I've never stopped to think about what my future would be like exactly, whether I would be working in something cool, building a family, or having a successful career. Not that I was someone without dreams, plans, or goals. What I mean is that, unlike other people who wished to focus exclusively on themselves, I wasn't like that. On the contrary, what I most desired was to be able to give a comfortable life to my mother and my two younger sisters. Since my parents separated, the four of us have gone through great financial difficulties, to the point of having to leave London and move to my mother's home country. I confess that leaving the life I had in England in my adolescence was a very difficult decision for me because starting in a new place completely different from what I was used to was a very strong reality shock. But I had no choice. Either I moved to Brazil or I would have to live with my father, who unfortunately was not a faithful man, even though he had been an excellent father to both daughters. However, he was not the kind of husband that other women with a frustrated relationship could envy because he was equally a frustration. And as much as I loved him with all my heart, I would never accept living under the same roof as the woman who destroyed my parents' marriage. So, at the age of thirteen, I accompanied my mother to her home country. As she was not British, she had only moved to London because of my father. The only choice she had was to return to where her entire family was and that undoubtedly would help her in whatever was necessary, something that wouldn't happen if she stayed in London. At first, I reluctantly accepted my mother's decision, but today I understand that change was necessary for her, and I don't regret agreeing to it.

But of course, just a change of country wouldn't completely change our lives. We still had scars from what we had lived in England, especially my mother, who cried hidden in the back of the small house where we lived every night because she was full of debts and household expenses that she couldn't cover every month. And as much as there was help from the family, it wasn't enough because they didn't have much themselves and the little they had had to meet their own needs. Seeing her in that desperate state filled my heart with pain, and all because she decided to leave with a man to a completely different country from hers, instead of focusing on her own professional career. However, I don't judge her. Some people end up being blind to love for others and doing things that they may regret someday, but I would be different. As much as my main focus was to give a comfortable life to my family, I still nurtured the dream of having a successful career in the artistic field. Of course, if I couldn't make it, it wouldn't be a problem. What I most desired was to live in a reality where I could financially help my mother. And having that idea in my head, I didn't think twice about doing it. Maybe I had made a hasty decision because I didn't calculate the weight of the consequences that would come when trying my luck in another country. But I was so tired of all the turbulence and complications over the years since my parents' separation that any fresh start wouldn't affect me so much.

I decided to move to Los Angeles as soon as I turned eighteen. It was not easy, on the contrary, I had to work very hard to finally save enough money. I worked for months and in three different shifts, until I got enough money for the airfare and to support myself during the time I didn't have a job. But I confess that the reality in Los Angeles was painful. I couldn't get a job right away, which made me want to give up, even though I moved there without any expectations of returning. But my desire to do what I could to help my family gave me strength and encouraged me not to go back home defeated, so I persisted. Until a miracle happened. When I least expected it, a job opportunity as a domestic worker in the home of a middle-aged man came up. The salary was not exactly what I expected, but at that moment I couldn't demand much, at least it would be enough to help my family a little at first, then I would look for some other part-time job.

Years passed, and I continued working in the same house. And not to brag, but I think I ended up becoming very dear to Mr. Scott's family. Maybe it was because of the years I worked there, but all I know is that they increased my salary by a very good amount, even giving me the chance to pay for a scholarship to an Arts college. Everything was going perfectly well and the chances of continuing like that were immense. At least that's what I thought. But like a large and sharp spear, piercing my chest, Mr. Scott's eldest son returned home after years. I never thought someone like him could awaken things in me that I repressed for a long time, especially after promising myself that I would not let any man awaken feelings in me until I could achieve my life goal. But he, with his incredibly beautiful and sexy physique, with his magnificent personality and fair character, moved my ground and I had nowhere to run, but to face him. Joshua owned one of the largest cosmetic companies in London and because he had very little time available, he ended up going years without visiting his parents, probably much more than the years I had been working for Mr. Scott, so I had never seen him in my life, I had only heard about him a few times in conversations between Mr. and Mrs. Scott, but nothing else. And after meeting him in an unusual way the first time we met, I could swear that my relationship with Mr. Scott's eldest son would be embarrassing, especially when I found out that he had a reputation as a womanizer. He was a man who was not within my reach, and based on his reputation, he would only take advantage of me, so everything I felt when I met him had to be suppressed within me, especially considering the fact that he was the son of the couple I worked for. I would never commit the madness of getting involved with my boss's son... Well, that's what I thought. Accepting to work for Joshua was where my world turned upside down, and from the moment I became his secretary, I saw my life change completely, to the point where I felt like I was in heaven countless times with him, but... I still don't know if I should believe in "happily ever after".