ONE

“Hello, Julia? Where are you?”

“Papa, I’m on my way home. You don’t have to worry, okay?”

“Are you sure, dear?”

“Yes, Papa, I am.”

“Okay, dear. Your mom and I are waiting for you. Love you.”

“Love you too, Papa. Bye.” Julia replied before ending the call.

A soft smile spread across Julia’s face as she thought about her father’s constant concern for her. Ever since she was little, she had always been Daddy’s little girl, and she wanted to keep it that way for as long as she could. If making him happy meant marrying Jeremy Walker—a man she felt nothing for—then so be it. She was willing to sacrifice her own happiness if it meant saving her father’s company from crumbling.

Overhead, the once-bright sky had begun to frown as thick, gray clouds gathered, while the trees swayed restlessly in the strengthening wind. It wasn’t surprising, considering it was spring, a season known for its sudden showers.

Julia silently wished the rain would hold off until she got home. She hated driving during a downpour, and judging by the dark clouds hanging overhead, her wish wasn’t likely to come true. It looked as though the rain could start at any moment, and the thought alone dampened her mood. As if the weather wasn’t enough to ruin her day, her car suddenly sputtered before coming to a complete stop.

“Please… don’t do this now,” she muttered under her breath, gripping the steering wheel as she turned the key in the ignition again. She tried once… then twice… but the engine refused to roar back to life.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Julia reached for her phone and quickly dialed her father’s number. She wanted to let him know what had happened so he could send one of the family chauffeurs to pick her up. She would also need to explain exactly where she was. But as soon as she looked at the screen, her heart sank. There was no signal. The worsening weather had completely disrupted the network.

“Great, just great!” she exclaimed, throwing her head back against the seat in frustration.

Knowing she couldn’t sit there forever, Julia decided to look for help herself instead of waiting and hoping for a miracle. Maybe there was a mechanic or even a small repair shop nearby. She climbed out of the car and glanced around, but the unfamiliar surroundings did little to reassure her. She was on the outskirts of the city, an area she had never been to before. With no better option, she started walking, hoping she would find someone who could help before the rain finally came.

After walking for a while, the skies finally opened up, and rain came pouring down in sheets. Within seconds, Julia was soaked to the skin. She looked back in the direction she had come from, but her car was already too far away. Going back now would only leave her completely drenched, yet continuing forward felt just as uncertain.

Her eyes landed on a house a short distance away. It was the only shelter in sight.

She hesitated for a few moments, weighing her options before finally deciding to take her chances. Pulling her jacket closer around herself, she ran toward the house as fast as she could. Once she reached the front porch, she knocked on the door several times, anxiously waiting for someone to answer.

Nothing.

A deafening clap of thunder suddenly echoed through the air, making Julia flinch. Startled, she grabbed the doorknob on instinct. To her surprise, the door wasn’t locked. Without thinking, she hurried inside to escape the storm.

Only after she had caught her breath did she realize what she had done—she had just walked into someone’s house uninvited, guilt creeping into her chest.

Her gaze slowly wandered around the living room. It was spacious, modern, and tastefully furnished. A large couch sat opposite an LED television mounted on the wall, with a sleek glass coffee table between them. A fireplace rested beneath the television, flanked by occasional tables with matching lamps on either side. A loveseat and two armchairs completed the cozy seating area, making the room feel both elegant and inviting.

What caught Julia’s attention the most, however, were the framed nature photographs decorating the walls. Towering mountains, peaceful lakes, lush forests, and colorful sunsets filled the room with a quiet sense of serenity.

This person sure has a thing for nature, Julia thought, unable to tear her eyes away from the beautiful photographs.

“Who’s there?” a voice suddenly called out.

Julia froze.

The unfamiliar voice startled her, yet at the same time, an unexpected shiver ran down her spine. She couldn’t explain why the sound of a stranger’s voice had such an effect on her. It was deep and masculine, laced with a refined English accent that somehow made it even more captivating.

She slowly turned toward the source of the voice, and the sight before her stole her breath.

Standing a few feet away was an incredibly handsome man. He had light brown hair, thick eyebrows, a sharp nose, well-defined lips, and neatly trimmed stubble that suited him perfectly. But more than anything else, it was his strikingly bright blue eyes that captivated her. They were so vivid and mesmerizing that she felt as though she could lose herself in them forever. Standing at around six-foot-one, with a commanding yet effortless presence, he looked almost unreal. Julia would have called him a Greek god, but with that unmistakable English accent, she decided he was more like a charming prince who had somehow stepped out of a fairy tale.

“Who is it?... Tyler, is that you?” the man asked, pulling Julia out of her daze.

His question made her blink in confusion. She was standing only a few feet away from him, so why would he think she was someone else?

The chill from her rain-soaked clothes sent another shiver through her body, reminding her that she was still freezing. Taking a steadying breath, she gathered enough courage to finally speak.

“I… I’m sorry for barging into your house like this,” Julia began nervously. “My car broke down on my way home, and then it started raining. I looked around for somewhere to take shelter and saw your house. I knocked several times, but no one answered, so…” She lowered her gaze, guilt washing over her. “I’m really sorry for coming in without your permission.”

She was still hopelessly distracted by those striking blue eyes, so much so that she almost forgot where she was.

“Who are you?” he asked calmly.

“Oh!” Julia quickly snapped out of her thoughts. “Pardon my manners. I’m Julia Williams.”

She took a few steps toward him and held out her hand with a polite smile, expecting him to shake it.

Instead, he remained perfectly still.

Heat rushed to her cheeks as embarrassment crept in. Thinking he had ignored her, she awkwardly withdrew her hand and clasped it behind her back.

“I can’t see you,” he said quietly, as though he had sensed exactly what she was thinking.

Julia frowned in confusion.

“I don’t understand…”

“I’m blind.”

His words hit her like a bolt from the blue.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him. How could someone this handsome be blind? Was he serious, or was this some kind of joke?

Wanting to be sure, she cautiously waved a hand in front of his face.

There was no reaction.

His brilliant blue eyes remained fixed in the same direction, never following her movement.

The realization made her heart sink.

“Oh my goodness…” she whispered, guilt instantly replacing her disbelief.

“I… I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy.” She took a small step backward, suddenly feeling as though she had overstayed her welcome. “I think I should leave.”

She had barely reached the door when his voice stopped her.

“Where will you go?” he asked.

Julia turned to look at him.

“You said your car broke down, didn’t you? Besides, it’s still raining, and I don’t think it’ll stop anytime soon.”

His calm, reassuring tone made her hesitate, her hand still resting on the doorknob.

“My name is Craig… Craig Hubert,” he said with a faint smile. “Please, make yourself comfortable. You can stay until the rain stops, and leave whenever you’re ready.”

Julia stared at him in surprise.

She had just walked into his home uninvited, yet instead of asking her to leave, he was offering her a place to stay. She couldn’t believe a complete stranger could be so kind and trusting.

“I’m guessing you must be soaked from the rain?” he asked.

Julia glanced down at her damp clothes before giving a small nod.

“Yes… I am.”

“Come with me,” Craig said. “I’ll get you something dry to wear.”

He turned and started walking, gesturing for her to follow.

Julia trailed quietly behind him, unable to hide her amazement. Despite being blind, Craig moved confidently through the house as though he could see every corner of it. His steps never faltered, and he didn’t once bump into a piece of furniture. It was clear that he knew the layout of his home by heart.

They soon stopped outside a bedroom. Craig opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Julia to enter first before following her inside.

The bedroom was simple yet modern, decorated in an elegant black-and-white theme. A neatly made queen-sized bed occupied the center of the room, flanked by matching bedside tables with hanging lamps suspended above them. Against one wall stood a large black wooden wardrobe, while the rest of the room was kept uncluttered, giving it a calm and welcoming atmosphere.

As Julia quietly took in the room’s tasteful décor, Craig’s voice broke the silence.

“You’ll be staying in this room. Wait here while I get you something dry to change into.”

Julia turned to him, touched by his thoughtfulness.

“Okay. Thank you.”

Craig gave a slight nod before leaving the room.

Left alone, Julia wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep warm. Now that she wasn’t moving, the cold from her rain-soaked clothes seemed even more unbearable, and she couldn’t help hoping Craig would return soon.

A few minutes later, Craig returned to the bedroom with a plain black T-shirt folded neatly in his hands.

“Here,” he said, holding it out in her direction. “You can wear this for now.”

Julia stepped forward and gently took the shirt from him.

“Thank you,” she said softly, offering him a grateful smile that she knew he couldn’t see.

Even now, she still found it difficult to believe that someone as handsome as Craig was blind. It hardly seemed fair. Beneath her surprise, however, another feeling was beginning to grow—curiosity. She wanted to know more about him, about the life he lived, and the experiences that had shaped the gentle man standing before her.

“I’ll leave you to freshen up,” Craig said. “Take your time.”

With that, he quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.

Julia wasted no time peeling off her rain-soaked clothes. The cold had settled deep into her body, and she longed for something warm and dry. She slipped on Craig’s T-shirt, smiling faintly as it draped loosely over her frame. It was large enough to reach halfway down her thighs, but it was soft, comfortable, and carried a subtle scent that she found oddly comforting.

After changing, Julia smoothed out the oversized shirt before stepping out of the bedroom. She made her way toward the living room, hoping to find Craig there.

She still couldn’t explain why she felt so drawn to him.

Was it simply because he was incredibly attractive? Or was it his unexpected kindness despite everything he had been through?

Whatever the reason, she couldn’t deny that meeting Craig Hubert had stirred something inside her.

When Julia returned to the living room, she found Craig sitting comfortably on the couch.

The moment she stepped into the room, Craig turned his head toward her.

Julia paused, momentarily startled. It still amazed her how he always seemed to know exactly where she was.

“I hope the shirt fits,” Craig said with a small smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t have anything else for you to wear.”

Julia looked down at the oversized T-shirt and smiled.

“No, it’s perfect. Thank you.”

She walked over and sat beside him on the couch, leaving a comfortable distance between them.

“I should be the one apologizing,” she said after a brief silence. “I barged into your home without permission, and you’ve done nothing but help me. My car broke down on my way home, and while I was looking for help, the rain started. I’m really sorry for causing you so much trouble.”

Craig let out a soft chuckle, the corners of his lips curling into a warm smile.

“You’re not causing me any trouble,” he assured her. “Honestly, I was expecting someone else. When I heard the door, I thought it was Tyler.”

“Tyler?” Julia repeated curiously.

Craig nodded.

“My best friend. He’s been helping me with just about everything.”

Julia smiled to herself, relieved to know that he wasn’t alone. Knowing someone cared enough to stand by him made her strangely happy.

There was a brief silence before curiosity got the better of her.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking…” she began cautiously. “Do you live here alone?”