"Never be vulnerable." Those were the words Adrian Blackwood’s father left him before his death. Now, as the most powerful billionaire in San Francisco, Adrian has built his life around that rule—untouchable, invincible, and ruthless. But what he doesn’t know is that his survival has never been his own doing. Elena Martinez, a humble cleaning manager, has been secretly saving him from the shadows—again and again. And despite his coldness, despite his sharp tongue, she never stops. He doesn’t know her name. He doesn’t know her face. But every time danger closes in, she’s there, risking everything for a man who sees her as nothing. Yet, something unexpected stirs between them—a connection neither of them understands. But what happens when Adrian discovers the truth? When he realizes the woman he’s overlooked holds the key to his life? Will he embrace th8e only person who has ever truly protected him, or will his pride destroy them both? Because secrets don’t stay buried forever. And when Adrian finally uncovers his hidden savior, it might be too late…
Lihat lebih banyakThe rain poured relentlessly, drenching the empty streets and turning the alleyways into rivers of filth. Elena Martinez pulled her hood tighter, shielding her face as she navigated the darkened path home. The scent of damp earth and rotting garbage mixed with the crisp night air, reminding her of the life she was trapped in. In her arms, she clutched a bag of groceries, the weight of her mother’s medicine heavier than the rest. She was used to walking these streets alone, but tonight, something felt different.
San Francisco loomed in the night, a city of glass and steel carved into the rugged cliffs of the Pacific. A sound cut through the rain—low, rough, and unmistakably desperate. Elena stopped, her heart hammering against her ribs as she strained to listen. The scuffle of feet, the sharp intake of breath, and then a deep, pained grunt. Slowly, she edged toward the alley behind Wales warehouse, her pulse roaring in her ears. What she saw made her breath hitch. A man was pinned against a sleek black car, his expensive suit soaked and clinging to his muscular frame. Two masked figures surrounded him, one gripping his collar while the other pressed a gun into his ribs. Blood trickled from a cut on his temple, painting a stark contrast against his pale skin. Even in the dim light, Elena recognized him instantly. Adrian Blackwood—the billionaire whose name carried more power than the city itself—was fighting for his life. "We warned you, Blackwood," one of the attackers growled, tightening his grip. "Your money can’t save you tonight." Adrian let out a sharp breath, his lips curling into a smirk despite the danger. "Then you should’ve picked an easier target." With sudden force, he drove his knee into the thug’s stomach, breaking free for a moment. But the second man reacted faster, slamming him back against the car with brutal strength. Adrian grunted as his head snapped back, fresh blood mixing with the rain. The gun shifted dangerously close to his heart, and he staggered slightly. "You just don’t know when to quit, do you?" the gunman muttered, cocking the weapon. "Call it a bad habit," Adrian rasped, his voice thick with defiance. Elena clenched her fists, a war raging inside her. She should leave. This wasn’t her fight. But when she saw the gunman’s finger tightening on the trigger, something inside her snapped. She moved. Grabbing a rusted metal rod from the ground, she lunged from the shadows and swung with all her strength. The impact sent the gun flying, clattering loudly against the pavement. The attacker stumbled back with a pained yell, giving Adrian a brief opening. He didn’t waste it. With calculated precision, he drove his fist into the first thug’s jaw, sending him sprawling. The second attacker spun toward Elena, fury flashing in his eyes, but she was already moving. She hurled her grocery bag at his face, tomatoes and onions bursting on impact, blinding him just long enough for Adrian to deliver a knockout blow. "What the hell—" the man barely got the words out before Adrian’s fist connected with his jaw. Sirens wailed in the distance. The remaining thug cursed and stumbled to his feet, dragging his unconscious partner as he vanished into the storm. The fight was over, but Elena’s breath still came in ragged gasps. She could feel Adrian’s piercing gaze searching the darkness, but she couldn’t let him see her. Not now. Adrian took an unsteady step forward, blinking against the rain. "Wait—" Elena turned on her heel, disappearing into the shadows before he could catch a clear glimpse of her. As he swayed, his strength slipping away, she hesitated just for a second. But before she could reach him, headlights sliced through the alley, and another car screeched to a stop. Black-suited men poured out, their voices frantic as they rushed to his side. "Mr. Blackwood!" "Adrian, can you hear me?" Fabian, his personal assistant, knelt beside him, gripping his arm. "Damn it, sir, you’re bleeding all over the place!" Adrian let out a low, frustrated breath. "I’m fine." Fabian gave him a pointed look, his phone already pressed to his ear. "Yeah? Tell that to the ground you’re barely standing on. We need an ambulance at Blackwood Tower. Now." "I don’t need a damn ambulance," Adrian growled, but the moment he shifted, a sharp dizziness punched through his skull. Fabian exhaled heavily. "Sure, and I don’t need a raise. Just stay still for once." But Adrian wasn’t listening. His mind kept rewinding—the strike of the metal rod, the way the gun clattered to the ground, the fleeting figure in the shadows. Who the hell was she? --- Elena didn’t stop running until the alley was a distant memory. Rain dripped from her clothes, her breath coming in sharp bursts as she darted through the maze of streets. She forced herself to move, to push past the image of Adrian bleeding in the rain. She reached home, her fingers shaking as she unlocked the door. The air inside was warm, filled with the familiar scent of old wood and herbal remedies. A weak voice drifted from the bedroom. "Elena?" "I’m here, Mama," she called softly, her voice steadier than she felt. She pulled the medicine from her bag, placing it carefully on the wooden table before her legs gave out beneath her. Her mother coughed lightly. "Did something happen?" Elena hesitated. "Just… the rain. It was bad tonight." She knew better than to worry her mother with the truth. The memory of the fight played behind her eyes, the adrenaline still humming in her veins. She had saved Adrian Blackwood, and he had no idea who she was. As she collapsed onto her cot, she closed her eyes, but sleep didn’t come easy. Somewhere in the city of San Francisco a billionaire was searching for answers. And somewhere else, the men who had tried to kill him were planning their next move. “What if they come for me?” She thought as she fell asleepAdrian didn’t expect university to feel this new.The place was big, the buildings wide and full of people. Every hallway smelled like paper and strong coffee. He wore his regular jeans and sneakers, trying not to stand out too much. No one knew he was the son of a billionaire—and that was just how he liked it.He was studying Energy and Mineral Resources Management—a course that mixed science and business. They learned about oil, gold, and how to find valuable things deep under the earth. It was hard, but he liked it.He sat in front during classes, always taking notes. Some of his classmates already respected him, not because of who he was, but because he worked hard and asked smart questions.But even with all of that, he still thought about Susan sometimes.He hadn’t seen her since graduation. He didn’t know where she went, or if she still remembered him. Maybe she had moved on. He tried to stop thinking about her, but some people are just hard to forget.One afternoon, after clas
Rafiq, Jonathan, and Susan were standing in the middle of the hallway. Behind them, some students were holding a huge, fancy cake. It looked expensive, and it had bright colors with the words “Welcome Back, Champion!” written in shiny gold icing.Adrian stopped walking and stared. He was shocked—in a good way. Then his eyes landed on Susan. She was smiling a little, her hands behind her back. Something about seeing her there made his heart beat faster.“Thank you! Thank you, all of you!” Adrian said, smiling big.Then he looked right at Susan. Their eyes met, and he held her gaze. She looked down quickly, her cheeks turning pink.“Thank you,” he said again, this time just to her.Classes were put on hold. Music played from someone’s speaker. People laughed, danced, and passed slices of cake around. It felt like a dream.---Days went by, and exams were getting closer. Adrian had something on his mind—Susan.Lately, she had been acting cold. She didn’t wait for him after class. She sto
It was finally time. Adrian sat with his teammates, Luke and Richard, their eyes locked on the other team just a few feet away. The air was thick with tension. No one moved. No one blinked. Even the audience had gone quiet. The announcer stepped up to the mic. “For this final round,” he said, “each team will get their own questions. If you answer all your questions right, you’ll gain the lead. But if you miss any question, you lose points—and your question goes to the other team as a bonus. If both teams get all their questions right, there will be one final question for both of you. First team to answer it wins.” Everyone listened closely. “Right now, both teams are very close in points. So this could go either way. Pay attention and don’t panic.” Adrian nodded slowly, trying to calm the storm in his chest. Luke’s leg bounced nervously. Richard was stiff, focused like a hawk. “Team Solaris, come forward,” the announcer called. Adrian's stomach turned. They wanted the other team
The next question came up on the screen.Before anyone could even breathe, Adrian hit the answer button.“Option C,” he said quickly.The judges blinked, surprised. Nobody had answered that fast since the competition began.The whole room went silent for a moment.“Did he just—?” one of the judges whispered.Luke looked at Adrian with wide eyes. “Bro… are you secretly a robot?”Adrian grinned. “If I am, I need better batteries. These questions are getting harder.”And they were. Each round was tougher than the last. Everyone was thinking harder, breathing faster. Some students looked like they were ready to cry.One by one, teams were knocked out.After about one hour and forty-seven minutes, only four teams were left. Adrian’s team was still in—but just barely. They were now in fourth place. The rest—eleven full teams—were gone.The room felt hotter now. Some students were sweating like they had just run a marathon.Luke wiped his face with his sleeve. “This is crazy.”Richard leaned
As they walked up, Adrian whispered, “Guys… that’s a Fisher equation question. We got this.” The three took their seats. The screen lit up again with the same question. Adrian stared at it. “Alright,” he muttered, grabbing a pencil. “Inflation: 6.2%. Base rate: 4.5%. Real rate = nominal - inflation, right?” Luke nodded, already writing: “That gives us -1.7%. Negative real interest.” Richard added, “That discourages saving, encourages borrowing. Short-term boom, long-term… risky.” Adrian looked up at the clock. Still 18 seconds left. He turned to the judges. “We’re ready.” The room grew quiet. Adrian leaned forward and answered, breaking down the calculation clearly, then linking it to expected consumer trends. He sat back. There was a short pause… then a soft ding. The screen flashed green. Correct. A wave of applause followed. The judges gave approving nods. As the team walked off the stage, Adrian leaned toward Richard. “You still owe me lunch for the last one.” Richa
The hall felt tense. Everyone sat quietly, eyes locked on the stage where three students faced a glowing screen. In front of them was a smaller monitor only they could see, and behind them, a huge screen showed the same thing for the crowd. Before the contest started, the rules had been explained. If a team can’t answer their question and another team gets it right, the team that answers will earn one extra chance if they run out of time later. It was a smart way to keep things fair—and exciting. Right now, it was the Japanese team’s turn. They sat stiffly, eyes focused, fingers tapping the table nervously. The question on the screen was tough. Adrian Scholl sat with his team, waiting. He should’ve been thinking about the competition. But instead, his mind wandered—to home. To San Francisco. To Susan. He didn’t even hear their names being called. “Adrian,” someone whispered urgently. Still nothing. “ADRIAN!” a voice said louder. A quick tap on his shoulder snapped him b
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