Adrian woke to the faint scent of rain still lingering in the air. The storm had passed, but its presence remained in the damp earth, the rhythmic dripping from the eaves, and the heavy clouds that still clung to the sky. He blinked against the morning light filtering through the small window, his body tense from a restless night.He had barely slept.It wasn’t the storm that had kept him awake—it was her.The way her presence had settled in his mind, refusing to fade. The way she had spoken to him last night, soft but sure. And worst of all, the way she had reached for him, her fingers brushing his own, offering warmth without expectation.And he had let her.Adrian sat up, running a hand through his hair. The fire in the hearth had burned low, its embers glowing faintly. Across the room, she was moving about, going through her morning routine with an easy familiarity, as if nothing had changed.But he had changed.He wasn’t sure how, or even when it had happened, but something was s
Adrian sat outside long after the sun had disappeared behind the dense forest. The wind carried the damp scent of earth and pine, and the distant hoot of an owl echoed through the trees. The storm had passed, but the cold air remained, wrapping around him like an unshakable shadow.He should go inside. The warmth of the fire, the comfort of the small cottage—it was all there, just a few steps away. But something kept him rooted to the wooden porch, his thoughts too heavy to let him move.Hearing his name from a stranger’s lips after all these years had felt like a blade pressing against an old wound. He had buried his past so deeply that he had almost convinced himself it no longer existed. But now, it was clawing its way back to the surface, threatening to pull him under.The traveler was gone, but his words lingered."You look familiar… Adrian Laurent?"Adrian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.He had left that name behind. He had le
Adrian Lancaster had everything a man could desire—wealth, power, and an undeniable charm that made people turn their heads the moment he entered a room. Women admired him, men envied him, and the world seemed to bend at his feet. Wherever he went, he was treated like a king, adored for his breathtaking beauty and the effortless confidence he carried.Tonight was no different. The grand ballroom of the Lancaster estate was alive with music and chatter, glittering under the golden chandeliers. His fiancée, Seraphina Vale, clung to his arm, dressed in a stunning sapphire gown that complemented her delicate features. “You truly are the most handsome man I’ve ever seen,” she whispered against his ear, her lips curling into a smile.Adrian smirked, reveling in the way her eyes glowed with admiration. “And you, my love, are the most exquisite woman in this room.”They were perfect together—at least, that’s what the world believed. People often spoke of them as the ideal couple, envying thei
The night stretched endlessly before him.Adrian trudged forward, his body battered by exhaustion, his legs barely holding him upright. His once-pristine clothing, tailored to perfection in a life that now seemed like a distant dream, hung off his frame in ragged pieces. Dirt clung to his boots, his breath came out in ragged gasps, and his skin burned with fever.But the worst part wasn’t the pain—it was the silence.The absence of voices that once called his name with love. The emptiness left by the people who should have stood by him but instead turned their backs the moment his body changed.He remembered the whispers that followed him through the grand halls of his estate, the way his father’s expression hardened when the first darkened veins appeared along his jaw."You have brought shame to this family, Adrian."His mother had been no better. She wouldn’t even look at him.But Seraphina—her betrayal cut the deepest.The woman he had once loved, the one he had planned to build a
Adrian’s eyes fluttered open, met with the dim glow of a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. The room was small, warm, and unfamiliar. A wooden shelf lined with old books and handmade trinkets rested against the far wall, and the scent of herbs and freshly cut wood lingered in the air. A soft blanket was draped over him, the fabric rough but comforting. For a moment, he panicked, his mind racing to remember where he was.Then it hit him—he had collapsed, and she had brought him here.His fingers curled into the blanket as he sat up, his body aching with resistance. He was still weak, the fever from his worsening condition making his limbs feel like lead. His gaze shifted toward the small window, where faint morning light streamed in. Outside, he saw her—the girl who had taken him in—moving about in the yard, tending to the animals. She didn’t glance his way, didn’t hover like others might have.He should leave. He needed to leave.But his body wasn’t ready.Adrian clenched his ja
Adrian awoke to the faint sound of birds chirping outside. Sunlight filtered through the small window, casting a soft golden glow across the modest wooden room. The warmth of the morning was comforting, but as soon as Adrian shifted to sit up, a familiar unease settled over him.He was still here.His fingers curled into the blanket as his eyes wandered around the room. The small wooden shelves, the dried herbs hanging near the window, the neat stacks of books—everything about this place felt untouched by cruelty. Yet, that didn’t mean it was safe.For years, he had learned that kindness often came with a price. No one ever helped him out of pure goodwill. The moment people saw what he had become, they flinched, their pity twisting into revulsion. He had no reason to believe that she would be any different.Still, there was something unsettling about the way she treated him.He had expected fear. Expected distance.Instead, she had given him warmth. A bed. Food. Care.Adrian ran a han
The night was deep and quiet, the kind of silence that stretched endlessly, swallowing every sound. The faint crackling of the fire in the other room was the only noise Adrian could hear. Sleep refused to come, leaving him trapped in the hollow space between exhaustion and restless thought.He turned his head slightly, catching sight of the dim glow seeping through the doorway. His body still ached from weakness, but something in him stirred with curiosity.Slowly, he pushed the blanket aside and got up, careful not to make a sound. When he stepped into the small living area, he saw her sitting near the fire, her hands idly threading a piece of fabric. Her head was tilted downward, her expression peaceful as she worked, and from her lips, a soft hum carried through the air.It wasn’t a song he recognized, but there was something soothing about it. It reminded him of something distant—something warm.She must have sensed his presence because she looked up, her eyes meeting his. She did
The days in the village followed a slow, predictable rhythm—sunrise bringing the scent of damp earth and the quiet hum of life, dusk settling in with the whisper of cool winds and the glow of the fire. It was a rhythm Adrian had never known, a life so different from the one he had left behind.And yet, with each passing day, something inside him shifted. The isolation he had once embraced like armor was beginning to feel… different. Not suffocating, not unbearable—just different.And it all started with her.Adrian woke up to the scent of something warm drifting through the air. For a moment, he forgot where he was. The wooden walls, the soft flickering of candlelight—it was a stark contrast to the cold, sterile world he had abandoned.He pushed himself up, feeling the familiar ache in his limbs. His body was still recovering, but it was stronger now, steadier.Through the open doorway, he spotted her near the fireplace, stirring a pot of something that sent a rich aroma through the s
Adrian sat outside long after the sun had disappeared behind the dense forest. The wind carried the damp scent of earth and pine, and the distant hoot of an owl echoed through the trees. The storm had passed, but the cold air remained, wrapping around him like an unshakable shadow.He should go inside. The warmth of the fire, the comfort of the small cottage—it was all there, just a few steps away. But something kept him rooted to the wooden porch, his thoughts too heavy to let him move.Hearing his name from a stranger’s lips after all these years had felt like a blade pressing against an old wound. He had buried his past so deeply that he had almost convinced himself it no longer existed. But now, it was clawing its way back to the surface, threatening to pull him under.The traveler was gone, but his words lingered."You look familiar… Adrian Laurent?"Adrian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.He had left that name behind. He had le
Adrian woke to the faint scent of rain still lingering in the air. The storm had passed, but its presence remained in the damp earth, the rhythmic dripping from the eaves, and the heavy clouds that still clung to the sky. He blinked against the morning light filtering through the small window, his body tense from a restless night.He had barely slept.It wasn’t the storm that had kept him awake—it was her.The way her presence had settled in his mind, refusing to fade. The way she had spoken to him last night, soft but sure. And worst of all, the way she had reached for him, her fingers brushing his own, offering warmth without expectation.And he had let her.Adrian sat up, running a hand through his hair. The fire in the hearth had burned low, its embers glowing faintly. Across the room, she was moving about, going through her morning routine with an easy familiarity, as if nothing had changed.But he had changed.He wasn’t sure how, or even when it had happened, but something was s
Adrian woke before dawn, his body heavy with exhaustion, yet his mind wouldn’t let him rest. His thoughts had been a tangled mess ever since last night. Since her. Since those words that refused to leave his head."I won’t wait forever."It was a simple sentence, spoken with quiet patience rather than anger. And yet, it shook him more than anything else.She was giving him a choice.To stay.To let her in.To trust that she wouldn’t leave like everyone else had.And that terrified him.Because he didn’t know if he could.The sun had barely begun its ascent when Adrian stepped outside, the air crisp with the lingering chill of the night. He welcomed it, letting the cold sink into his skin, hoping it would drive away the storm inside him.It didn’t.He forced himself into work, focusing on meaningless tasks—fixing the broken fence, repairing the stable doors, feeding the animals. Anything to keep his hands busy. Anything to keep his mind from wandering back to her.But it was impossible
Adrian had spent years convincing himself that he was untouchable, unreachable. That love, warmth, and comfort were luxuries meant for others, never for him. But last night… Last night, she had shattered that belief. And now, in the light of day, he didn’t know how to face it. The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the small cottage window, casting a golden glow over the room. The storm had passed, leaving the air fresh and cool. Everything was quiet, save for the distant chirping of birds greeting the new day. The world had moved on as if nothing had happened, but Adrian knew better. He shifted slightly, the warmth of the blanket wrapping around him as he opened his eyes. The familiar sight of the wooden ceiling met his gaze, but there was something different today—something that sent his heart into a slow, steady ache. Then it hit him. The kiss. His body tensed as the memory surfaced. Her soft lips, the way she had leaned into him, the way her fingers had foun
Adrian had always thought of emotions as a weakness. He had learned the hard way that caring too much, hoping too much, only led to pain. But with her, things were different. She had crept past his walls, little by little, until he no longer knew how to push her away. And that terrified him. Because if he let himself get too close… he wasn’t sure if he would survive losing her. The air was thick with the scent of rain. Heavy clouds rolled across the sky, casting long shadows over the village. Adrian stood near the stable, watching as she carefully brushed one of the horses. “It’s going to rain soon,” he said. She glanced up, offering a small smile. “I know.” She didn’t seem concerned, but Adrian had spent enough time alone to recognize the way the wind shifted before a storm. “You should come inside before it gets worse,” he said. She laughed softly. “Are you worried about me, Adrian?” He frowned. “I just don’t want you getting caught in the rain.” She tilt
For years, Adrian had convinced himself that solitude was the only way to survive. He had been abandoned, betrayed, and cast aside, so he built walls—thick and unyielding. But now, with her, those walls were beginning to crack. And that terrified him. Because if he let himself trust again… what if it all came crashing down? The first light of dawn spilled over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and orange. The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp earth and freshly cut hay. Adrian stood by the wooden fence, watching her as she moved through her morning routine. She was already hard at work, her small hands gathering eggs from the chicken coop. Loose strands of hair framed her face, catching in the gentle morning breeze. There was a quiet ease to her movements, a peaceful rhythm that belonged solely to her. Adrian leaned against the fence, arms crossed over his chest. It had been weeks since he had first arrived here—wounded, angry, lost. And yet
Adrian had spent his life running—from his past, from people, from the fear of being hurt again. But now, something was changing. The walls he had so carefully built were cracking, letting warmth seep through in ways he never expected. And it was all because of her. But how long could he let himself feel this way before the fear swallowed him whole? The morning arrived with a soft golden hue spilling through the windows. The storm from the night before had passed, leaving behind the scent of wet earth and fresh grass. The sound of birds chirping filled the air, the world waking up in quiet harmony. Adrian woke up feeling... strange. For the first time in a long time, his body didn’t feel weighed down by exhaustion or bitterness. His mind, though still tangled with thoughts, was not as loud as it usually was. He sat up in bed, rubbing a hand over his face before shifting his gaze toward the window. The view was pe
Adrian had spent years shielding himself from the world, convincing himself that emotions were nothing more than a burden. But now, as he sat beside her, his fingers still entwined with hers, he realized something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in a long time. Warmth. Not the fleeting warmth of fire or the sun against his skin. But a deeper, quieter warmth—the kind that settled in the heart and refused to let go. And it terrified him. The fire crackled softly, its flickering light casting shifting shadows on the walls. Outside, the rain continued to fall, a rhythmic tapping against the wooden roof. Adrian knew he should pull away. But he didn’t. Her fingers were small against his, yet there was a quiet strength in the way she held on, as if she knew he was on the verge of retreating. “You don’t have to say anything,” she murmured. Her voice was soft, carrying no expectat
Adrian had spent years convincing himself that he didn’t need anyone. That trust was a weakness, and love was nothing more than a cruel illusion. But now, in the quiet moments between him and her, something inside him was shifting. It was terrifying. Because the more time he spent with her, the more he felt himself slipping—his carefully built walls cracking under the weight of her warmth. And he didn’t know how to stop it. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth after the night’s rain. Mist curled over the rolling hills, stretching far beyond the wooden fence that enclosed the small farm. The sky was painted in soft hues of pink and gold, signaling the beginning of a new day. Adrian stood alone on the porch, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was distant, locked onto the horizon where the sun was slowly rising. The world around him felt untouched, peaceful even. But inside his mind, a