Chapter 1 An Accident

Venice City Street, Italy. 10 p.m.

“Are you nervous?” Michael took her hand, kissed it, and smiled.

Claire bit her lower lip. She had never felt this nervous in her life. “What if he doesn’t like me?”

Michael chuckled, “I’ll freak out if he likes you,” he smiled then kissed the back of her hand again, “he can’t like you, Claire. It’s only me.” He srictly speaking.

Claire swallowed a smile. In her life, she had never found a man as cute as Michael. She was lucky—fortunate to have Michael as her fiancé, and they were getting married soon. In her head already imagined how their lives after marriage. Waking up next to Michael when she first opened her eyes is every woman’s dream in the world.

Michael now looks so dazzling in the dark blue shirt he is wearing. Shiny short black hair frames his face which has a distinctive brown skin that is so exotic. The sharp nose and strong jaw emphasize his appearance, which looks perfect as if he is a special sculpture that the creator likes most.

Claire did not know what good deeds she had done, so God gave her such a perfect fiancé. With Michael, everything feels so easy. As if they were made to be together.

“Could you show me his photo? Or his name? I don’t want to look stupid the first time I meet my future brother-in-law!” Claire complained while pursing her lips.

Michael chuckled softly. He reached out to brush Claire’s blonde hair, which she deliberately let loose. “No,” Michael shook his head, “I wanted to surprise you.”

Claire scowled in annoyance, “Cheating!”

“What’s cheating? I purposely planned a surprise for the two of you.” Michael shrugged, “I think he’d be surprised to see you too,” he muttered in a low voice.

Claire frowned, “Why should he be surprised? Is it because he knows my status?”

“Status?” Michael raised an eyebrow, “Which status do you mean? What is your status as my future wife?”

Claire swallowed a smile. She reached out to hit Michael on the shoulder, “I’m mad at you!”

“No, don’t be mad.” Michael groaned. He released one of his hands from the steering wheel and then tried to persuade Claire, who was now facing the window while crossing her arms in front of her chest, “I am right, am I? You are my future wife, right?” he teased.

Claire’s cheeks heated up instantly. She was sure that her face must be blushing by now.

“He won’t mind your status. Even he had known for a long time that I was going to marry you.” Michael attempted to provide an explanation.

“What if he disagrees when he finds out that you’re getting married to your family’s adopted daughter? Haven’t there been a lot of people talking about our wedding plans?” Claire turned around, instantly forgetting her anger. The topic of their wedding plans is still a sensitive subject of discussion among the public, especially with the popularity of the Williams family as one of the most famous families in the United States.

“Who cares what they talk about, Claire? I will marry you, not them, nor my brother. So even if he disagrees with our wedding plans, I don’t think that would change anything. After all, didn’t Mommy and Daddy ever mind? Instead, they were very happy when they heard about our wedding plans.”

The long explanation given by Michael made Claire’s heart warm. All the fear and worry that shackled her heart instantly disappeared when she heard his conviction.

Right. Her decision was right when she accepted the proposal that Michael gave. Michael not only loved her but also put herself above all.

“Mommy and Daddy don’t mind, but your brother may have objections to my status.” She shrugged.

In the past years, when she was seven years old, Michael’s parents came to an orphanage where she lived. Since childhood, Claire did not know her parents. She did not know her origins and identity. However, the Williams family gave her a new identity. They took care of her, giving their surname after her name. They paid for her schooling and sent her to a hostel abroad so she could study well.

As far as she could remember, when she was still living in the Williams family’s house, there was only Michael. She never knew that Michael had a brother.

And here they were, in a white Bugatti Centodieci, traveling at moderate speed. Splitting the road in the city of Venice with a blue sky that is so bright.

“No, he won’t mind,” Michael shook his head calmly, “I know my brother well. So far, we haven’t seen each other that often. We haven’t even talked together often, but I know he will always understand what I want.” Michael spoke solemnly.

Claire was mesmerized by Michael’s mesmerizing gaze. He was perfect, making Claire again thank God because she had the opportunity to live with Michael.

“Is there still a long way to go?” Claire glanced at the surrounding road.

Manhattan is always busy with thousands of vehicles passing by, but Venice is a beautiful, relaxing city. Classic buildings stand along the road, blue sky with a pleasant breeze, and dozens of tourists walk along the shoulder of the road. It felt like Claire wanted to spend more time in this town.

“Nearly there,” Michael smiled briefly.

Claire looked back at the surrounding road. Her eyes were spoiled by the beautiful scenery of the old buildings built along the way.

At first, they passed through the city, but slowly the scenery changed to hills and vast forests. The blue sky turned into a dark sky studded with stars. The road around them was getting quieter as if they were deliberately moving away from residential areas.

Claire almost closed her eyes from falling asleep but opened them wide again when she saw a shocking light flashing from the opposite direction.

“Shit!” Michael cursed under his breath, trying to turn the wheel to avoid the car. However, his move was too late. The car they were riding in was unable to escape. They lose control. The car hit the road divider and rolled uncontrollably. Hit right into the back of the truck loaded with a long iron.

There was a loud sound of glass shattering. The long iron broke their car window, barged in, and stabbed Michael right into his chest.

Claire screamed in fear, she tried to grab Michael’s hand who was sitting beside her, but a shock made her hand fail to reach him.

The glass shards scratched her face, leaving a painful sting. However, her injuries pale in comparison to Michael’s. His chest was bleeding, and his mouth was also bleeding.

Claire screamed even more hysterically, especially when she saw smoke coming out of the engine of the car they were traveling in.

As if the accident was not enough, suddenly, a black car was speeding from behind. The car hit right to the left.

Claire was almost thrown forward while the metal was embedded deeper in Michael’s chest. Pierced right into his heart.

The blue shirt that Michael was wearing was torn violently, with blood flowing non-stop.

Claire’s body was bleeding. Her legs were numb from being crushed by the wrecked car body, and her skin was covered with shattered glass.

“Michael!” Claire screamed hysterically. She unbuckled her seat belt, ignoring her face and hands, which were scratched by the broken glass. She wanted to approach Michael and save him.

However, her body could not move. The front of the car also crushed her feet. She was helpless, unable to help Michael, who was in pain.

Michael’s eyes were almost closed. He looked helpless in his condition.

No one dared to help her, let alone help Michael who was covered in blood.

Things got even more chaotic when the sound of thunder shouted at each other. Raindrops started to fall. As if they were crying along with Claire’s roar.

“Michael!” She tried to move her body, ensuring that Michael was still breathing.

Less than five minutes later, the sound of an ambulance siren and a police car approaching was heard.

“Michael, hold on,” Claire muttered in a trembling voice.

Claire saw several people get down to pull her body up slowly. When the part of the car that was pressing on her leg was lifted, the position of Michael’s leg was getting squeezed.

Claire had heard Michael whimpering in pain. He still had his eyes closed with blood smeared on his body. His lips parted slightly, then coughed and spat out blood.

“Help him!” Claire screamed hysterically, pleading with the officers who were trying to pull her out.

Several people started to approach Mikael and discussed helping him.

“His leg was crushed by the car. The iron would go right through his heart if we pulled it.”

“How about cutting the iron first?”

“Impossible at a time like this. He will lose a lot of blood. If it’s too late, then we won’t be able to save him.”

Claire vaguely heard the talk of the people around her.

The rain was getting heavier, along with the lightning that shouted at each other.

Her body lay helpless beside the ambulance after he was pulled out of the car. A doctor came closer to her, asking him to use an oxygen cylinder in her nose.

Claire closed her eyes slowly. Remembering the many beautiful things in her life since she knew Michael.

The happiness they had was gone in an instant. All the beautiful plans they had laid out just fell apart.

“We lost the heartbeat!” Someone screamed, trying to find a pulse in Michael’s hand.

Claire heard all of that clearly.

Her head is empty. She couldn’t think of anything. For a moment, Claire wished she had died in the accident too.

***

While everyone was busy helping with the accident, far behind them, someone was filming the incident while smiling sinisterly.

“I got you, Mikael Williams,” he muttered quietly.