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(Raya’s POV) "Are you ever going to tell me where we're going?" I ask Kaan, feeling a mix of curiosity and slight frustration. We've been in the car for a couple of hours now, and despite my attempts to figure out our destination, I remain clueless. "I told you already. Out of town. I'm tired of the city," he responds, his tone slightly evasive. A mischievous smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he glances at me before looking back to his cell phone, enjoying the suspense he's created. I can't help but roll my eyes, sensing that he's purposefully being vague. "I get that, but where exactly are we going?" I persist, desperate to uncover the mystery destination. "You'll see," he replies playfully. "Just trust me, will you? I promise, it's going to be worth the wait." I let out a sigh, a mixture of exasperation and anticipation. As much as I want to extract the information from him, there's a part of me that appreciates the element of surprise. There's something exhilarating abou
(Raya’s POV)“Where did you get that pea-brained idea?” He asks, sounding unimpressed.I wince internally. Well, now that I think about it, it is rather stupid and it goes against everything I currently know about Kaan. Oh gosh, how can I admit I was insecure enough to let myself be influenced—poisoned by Miss Westley’s words this morning? But do I claim the pea-brained idea as my own? That seems even worse.“It has been…suggested that I might embarrass you by…being myself,” I answer lamely.He stares at me for a bit, probably processing that. “Hiraya, if I wanted to be with someone jaded and all that, it would have been Miss Westley sitting there in your place. And you know I’d rather pull out my own nails one by one than be with her. She’s one of the reasons I’m willing to pay ten million dollars, remember? I don’t like her kind of people.”How could I have forgotten? I sigh, feeling deflated, and nod. “Sorry…I guess…I’m not as tough as I thought I was, letting her get to me like
(Raya’s POV) "You know that overwhelming sensation that you feel when you're in a very high place and it feels like gravity is pulling you down?" He asks, sounding amused. I clutch at him tighter, not caring if it’s making him feel uncomfortable. "You mean fear of heights? Yes, I am overly familiar with it. In fact, I am feeling it right now and I hate it! I hate you! You promised me nothing bad will happen!" I should have known we would end up doing something like this. Should have anticipated that he would not feel content with simple sightseeing and walking around. There were so many signs, albeit subtle ones. I actually enjoyed everything yesterday. But now that I think about it, it’s more like being tricked into falling in love with the whole place so that I would be comfortable enough to go with him everywhere. All of it was so lovely, so safe and easy. He made me feel like a princess, being toured by my very own prince up in that magnificent train station up in the moun
(Raya’s POV)“Raya? Hiraya, can you hear me?”I groan, feeling every muscle in my body rebelling against me. Everything hurts. My head, above all else. And it’s cold. So very cold.“Hiraya, wake up… my god, you’re burning up… Just a second, I’ll be right back.”I can hear Kaan’s voice but it sounds as if he’s at the other end of the tunnel. Where is he going? Gods, even frowning hurts. What is wrong with me?I know we're still at the hotel we're staying at in Grindelwald. That much I know, I don't really remember flying back to the U.S. already. What is going on? The room is starting to spin…As I struggle to regain my senses, I manage to open my eyes slightly without feeling like somebody used a pair of cymbals to smack me in the head. The room around me comes into focus, and I see Kaan rushing back, holding a damp-looking towel in his hand, likely soaked in cold water. His eyes are filled with concern as he kneels beside me. I try to lift my hand to touch my forehead, but it feels h
(Raya’s POV)“I'm sorry, what?"I laugh. "I'm just kidding. You were supposed to laugh."He frowns. "How is that funny?"I clear my throat awkwardly. "Uhm, because…you know…it's a silly request. It's outlandish. Unthinkable. Did you hear me right? Five million dollars. In cash. It's absurd. It was a—" I stop mid-sentence, feeling my cheeks burn. "Oh god, you can't actually give it to me, can you?"He purses his lips. "Well, it would be a bit more complicated than a bank transfer and I would need to pull a lot of strings and do a lot of explaining about why it has to be cash, but it's not impossible. I'm just wondering how you plan to hold all that money while we're here and why you need it all of a sudden—"I wince, thinking how mercenary it must have sounded. "I was kidding, Kaan. I swear. It was supposed to be funny. I just wanted you to smile a little. You were supposed to tell me ‘Don’t be absurd, Raya. I don’t carry around that much change in my pocket.’ And I was going to answer
(Hiraya POV)“I want more, Hiraya.”I stare at him, trying to understand what he means. More? More what?“I…I don’t follow.”He raises an eyebrow. “Don’t you, really?”I lower my eyes to stare at my soup, feeling more confused than ever. This is becoming more and more complicated. Too good to be true, actually.I look back at the time I wished on that star the night I met Kaan.What exactly did I wish for back then? I blink several times as I struggle to remember…"Dearest star, I'm not asking for much, just a little respite from all the bad luck… I need a big break! The good kind of break, like winning the lottery or…landing a dream job or something. I promise to work really hard and to donate a small percentage of my earnings to the poor too if that will sweeten the pot…”F*ck, I did promise that…could that be why it worked? Wait, did it even really work? Is he seriously considering making me his real girlfriend and we’ll live happily ever after? I can hear the deafening alarms in
(Raya’s POV) “...I have no one else to save me…from you.” Kaan seems to consider my words and says nothing for a while. And then he sighs. “There you are again, assuming I would hurt you.” There’s a little bit of hurt in his voice and I close my eyes, swallowing painfully. “Oh, Kaan…it’s not—” “I will say this for the last time. I care about you…and I will never willingly hurt you. And if I ever do unwittingly, I will make amends… or die trying.” I scoff, even though I’m melting inside quicker than butter in a heated pan. “Oh, don't be so melodramatic. I am no one—” Kaan reaches out to hold my chin, gently compelling me to face him. “Open your eyes, Hiraya. Look at me.” I do what he says, almost sobbing at what I see. Vulnerability. And something even more dangerous and thrilling. It can’t be. It’s too soon. What reason does he have to feel the same way I do? I close my eyes again. “Don’t look at me like that.” “Why not? Last time I checked, honesty is still a virtue.” He
(Raya’s POV)“Miss Raya, Mr Walton would like to know if you feel well enough to tackle the contract tonight after dinner or if you would like to wait until tomorrow or the next day.”I look at Elijah who is currently holding his phone, reading Kaan’s messages.Really? He could not ask her himself? It feels like he’s more and more distant. “I thought we’re supposed to have dinner together?” I ask, frowning.“I was about to tell you that he apologizes but something unexpected came up and he will be coming in late. He is accompanying his parents to an engagement today and they might not make it back in time for dinner.”“Oh. Okay, I understand.” I sigh, thinking why prolong the inevitable? Might as well get it done and over with. “No, I’m fine. We can do this tonight. Tell him I’ll be waiting.”“Very good, Miss. If you’ll excuse me, I have a few errands to run. Please enjoy your lunch and I will see you before dinner.” I look out of the window, my appetite gone, not that I have much to