Richard drove around the city, frantically searching for Kristin. The thought of Lewis being with her terrified him more than the idea of dying. He kept calling her until he saw her lying unconscious in the middle of the road. The heavy rain had made the streets nearly deserted. "Firefly," he mumbled, quickly getting out of the car. He rushed to her, gently cradling her head in his arm. "Firefly," he called again, trying to wake her, but she remained unconscious. Richard carried her back to his home, unsure of what to do next. She was shivering even while unconscious. He knew she needed to be out of her wet clothes, but he was unsure how to handle undressing a woman. He had never done it before, and with Luke already gone, he was alone in this task. Despite his hesitation, Richard summoned the courage and carefully removed her wet clothes. He couldn’t help but admire her body. Though she had grown up on a farm, her skin was still as white as snow. "Stop it, Richard," he scold
Kristin’s jaw dropped in shock as Richard revealed the identity of the malicious woman who had made his life so difficult. “The wicked woman was your mom?” she asked, unable to believe her ears. “Yes, she was my very own mother.” “Why would she do something so heartless to you?” Kristin asked, her voice filled with concern. Richard shook his head. To this day, he still couldn’t understand why his mother had treated him with such hatred. “I have no idea, Firefly. She never gave me a definite reason for her cruelty.” “And your dad? Did you know anything about him?” “I don’t know who he is. Maybe he’s the reason my mom hated me so much. I never called her 'mom' because she didn’t treat me like her son. She was just so cruel.” Kristin wiped the tears from his face and offered him a comforting smile. “You’ve been through so much, and you’re incredibly strong for enduring all that torment.” “Do you finally understand why I hate women and despise having my secrets exposed? I
Kristin kept crying silently as her flight documents were being processed. The processing was expedited because Richard ensured it. "You will be back home as soon as the flight papers are ready," Richard said, sitting beside her and holding her hand. "Thank you so much, Mr. Grouchy," she hiccuped through her tears. "Stop crying, Firefly. I’m sure your dad will be fine, okay?" He wiped her tears, but they continued to fall. "I love my dad so much, and I can’t stop crying until I see him. I don’t want to lose my dad. I still want him to be with me," Kristin cried out. Richard hugged her, patting her gently. "He’s going to be fine. You just have to stay positive." A few minutes later, her flight was ready, and Kristin was set to leave. The plane would land at an airport in a nearby city, and she would take a bus to her hometown of Glenwood. "Keep me posted about your dad’s condition," Richard said. Kristin nodded, wiping her tears. "Take this, in case you need to spend mo
Kristin went numb instantly, words couldn't form in her mouth. She was still staring at Richard, shocked that he had traveled all the way from Las Vegas to see her. "Who is at the door?" Gladys asked, noticing Kristin’s delay in returning to the dining table. Kristin closed the door, trying to conceal her surprise. "I thought it was Justo. Why didn’t he come inside with you?" Gladys continued. Kristin swallowed hard. "Can I step out for a few minutes?" she asked. "In the middle of dinner? You’re acting strange. Are you alright?" Gladys inquired. "I’m fine, Mom. Just give me five minutes, and I’ll be back," Kristin assured her. She rushed outside, taking Richard by the hand and leading him to a secluded spot where they wouldn’t be easily seen. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Are you not happy to see me?" Richard replied with a question of his own. "It’s not that I’m not happy to see you. I’m just surprised. You’re the last person I expected to see here in Gle
Voices from outside woke Richard from his sleep. As usual, he hadn't slept until it was 6 a.m. The voices from outside were so loud that he had to get up from bed. He went outside and, standing by the door, he saw a group of farmers talking to Kristin and her mom. It was easy for him to tell they were farmers because Kristin once told him how farmers in Glenwood dress. Richard listened to them even though he didn’t clearly understand what they were saying. It had to do with farming, and such topics were rarely discussed in Las Vegas. "Oh my goodness!" a woman gasped when she saw Richard standing by the door. Her hands pointed at Richard, causing the others to turn and look at him. The farmers gasped as if they had never seen a handsome man before. Yes, they had never seen a man as handsome as Richard in their entire lives in Glenwood. "Who is he? "He is so handsome and tall!" "Did Kristin bring a boyfriend home?" "Your boyfriend is so handsome, Kristin!" "I k
Kristin quickly took Richard outside the house while Justo remained inside. "What are you thinking, Mr. Grouchy? You don’t know how to hunt, so why did you accept the challenge?" Kristin asked, worry etched on her face. Hunting wasn’t child’s play, and she was concerned for Richard. "You said you only had one friend, so why did you lie?" Richard retorted, his voice laced with irritation. He hated that Kristin had known Justo for so long. "I didn’t lie to you, Mr. Grouchy. Romina is the only friend I have." "What about him?" Richard asked, his tone sharp. "I don’t consider Justo a friend; I see him as a brother. Justo acts crazy sometimes, and you shouldn’t let his words get to you," Kristin explained. "I don’t care, Firefly. I’m going to do it," Richard declared stubbornly. "Don’t be foolish. You’re going to get injured!" Kristin warned. "You think I’m a weakling?" Richard asked, his displeasure evident in his voice. Kristin quickly shook her head. "I don’t consider you a we
Cecelia bit her lip, trying to think of a response to give to Luke. She had overheard Lewis on the phone, and that’s how she knew Richard wasn’t in Vegas. She cursed herself a million times for not keeping her mouth shut. "What are you up to, Love?" Luke asked. Cecelia forced a smile and said, "I just guessed, because you have so many files piled up for you." Luke glanced at the stack of files on the table. "Is that why you think Richard isn’t in Vegas?" "I guess so. I’m going to rest now," she said, giving him a brief kiss on the lips before heading to the bedroom. Luke continued with his work, and when he was done, he went to the bedroom and found Cecelia already asleep. "I wonder why she’s so tired. It’s not like she’s working," Luke muttered to himself as he looked at his wife. --- **GLENWOOD** Richard's eyes were fixed on Kristin's as she disinfected his wound. Just as Justo had predicted, she was tending to his injured arm. "You shouldn’t have gone hunting with Justo
"I think I am in love with you," he whispered. Kristin’s heart fluttered and melted like ice. She knew the alcohol was speaking for him, but she couldn’t help falling for his words. "You… are in love… with me?" she stammered. Richard smiled. He looked so cute when he smiled, but she knew it was only temporary, a result of the alcohol. He caressed her face again, and slowly his lips moved closer to hers. Kristin wondered what it would feel like to kiss a billionaire like Richard. As he leaned closer, she closed her eyes, her long natural lashes coming into view. Her heart pounded as she waited for Richard’s lips to meet hers, but just an inch away, Richard’s head fell onto her shoulder. Kristin opened her eyes and found Richard sleeping on her shoulder. She puffed out a breath, figuring out how to take him home. --- Kristin exhaled loudly after she dropped Richard on the bed. "Gosh! He’s heavy," she muttered to herself, stretching her body. She sat beside Richard,
"I think I am in love with you," he whispered. Kristin’s heart fluttered and melted like ice. She knew the alcohol was speaking for him, but she couldn’t help falling for his words. "You… are in love… with me?" she stammered. Richard smiled. He looked so cute when he smiled, but she knew it was only temporary, a result of the alcohol. He caressed her face again, and slowly his lips moved closer to hers. Kristin wondered what it would feel like to kiss a billionaire like Richard. As he leaned closer, she closed her eyes, her long natural lashes coming into view. Her heart pounded as she waited for Richard’s lips to meet hers, but just an inch away, Richard’s head fell onto her shoulder. Kristin opened her eyes and found Richard sleeping on her shoulder. She puffed out a breath, figuring out how to take him home. --- Kristin exhaled loudly after she dropped Richard on the bed. "Gosh! He’s heavy," she muttered to herself, stretching her body. She sat beside Richard,
Cecelia bit her lip, trying to think of a response to give to Luke. She had overheard Lewis on the phone, and that’s how she knew Richard wasn’t in Vegas. She cursed herself a million times for not keeping her mouth shut. "What are you up to, Love?" Luke asked. Cecelia forced a smile and said, "I just guessed, because you have so many files piled up for you." Luke glanced at the stack of files on the table. "Is that why you think Richard isn’t in Vegas?" "I guess so. I’m going to rest now," she said, giving him a brief kiss on the lips before heading to the bedroom. Luke continued with his work, and when he was done, he went to the bedroom and found Cecelia already asleep. "I wonder why she’s so tired. It’s not like she’s working," Luke muttered to himself as he looked at his wife. --- **GLENWOOD** Richard's eyes were fixed on Kristin's as she disinfected his wound. Just as Justo had predicted, she was tending to his injured arm. "You shouldn’t have gone hunting with Justo
Kristin quickly took Richard outside the house while Justo remained inside. "What are you thinking, Mr. Grouchy? You don’t know how to hunt, so why did you accept the challenge?" Kristin asked, worry etched on her face. Hunting wasn’t child’s play, and she was concerned for Richard. "You said you only had one friend, so why did you lie?" Richard retorted, his voice laced with irritation. He hated that Kristin had known Justo for so long. "I didn’t lie to you, Mr. Grouchy. Romina is the only friend I have." "What about him?" Richard asked, his tone sharp. "I don’t consider Justo a friend; I see him as a brother. Justo acts crazy sometimes, and you shouldn’t let his words get to you," Kristin explained. "I don’t care, Firefly. I’m going to do it," Richard declared stubbornly. "Don’t be foolish. You’re going to get injured!" Kristin warned. "You think I’m a weakling?" Richard asked, his displeasure evident in his voice. Kristin quickly shook her head. "I don’t consider you a we
Voices from outside woke Richard from his sleep. As usual, he hadn't slept until it was 6 a.m. The voices from outside were so loud that he had to get up from bed. He went outside and, standing by the door, he saw a group of farmers talking to Kristin and her mom. It was easy for him to tell they were farmers because Kristin once told him how farmers in Glenwood dress. Richard listened to them even though he didn’t clearly understand what they were saying. It had to do with farming, and such topics were rarely discussed in Las Vegas. "Oh my goodness!" a woman gasped when she saw Richard standing by the door. Her hands pointed at Richard, causing the others to turn and look at him. The farmers gasped as if they had never seen a handsome man before. Yes, they had never seen a man as handsome as Richard in their entire lives in Glenwood. "Who is he? "He is so handsome and tall!" "Did Kristin bring a boyfriend home?" "Your boyfriend is so handsome, Kristin!" "I k
Kristin went numb instantly, words couldn't form in her mouth. She was still staring at Richard, shocked that he had traveled all the way from Las Vegas to see her. "Who is at the door?" Gladys asked, noticing Kristin’s delay in returning to the dining table. Kristin closed the door, trying to conceal her surprise. "I thought it was Justo. Why didn’t he come inside with you?" Gladys continued. Kristin swallowed hard. "Can I step out for a few minutes?" she asked. "In the middle of dinner? You’re acting strange. Are you alright?" Gladys inquired. "I’m fine, Mom. Just give me five minutes, and I’ll be back," Kristin assured her. She rushed outside, taking Richard by the hand and leading him to a secluded spot where they wouldn’t be easily seen. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Are you not happy to see me?" Richard replied with a question of his own. "It’s not that I’m not happy to see you. I’m just surprised. You’re the last person I expected to see here in Gle
Kristin kept crying silently as her flight documents were being processed. The processing was expedited because Richard ensured it. "You will be back home as soon as the flight papers are ready," Richard said, sitting beside her and holding her hand. "Thank you so much, Mr. Grouchy," she hiccuped through her tears. "Stop crying, Firefly. I’m sure your dad will be fine, okay?" He wiped her tears, but they continued to fall. "I love my dad so much, and I can’t stop crying until I see him. I don’t want to lose my dad. I still want him to be with me," Kristin cried out. Richard hugged her, patting her gently. "He’s going to be fine. You just have to stay positive." A few minutes later, her flight was ready, and Kristin was set to leave. The plane would land at an airport in a nearby city, and she would take a bus to her hometown of Glenwood. "Keep me posted about your dad’s condition," Richard said. Kristin nodded, wiping her tears. "Take this, in case you need to spend mo
Kristin’s jaw dropped in shock as Richard revealed the identity of the malicious woman who had made his life so difficult. “The wicked woman was your mom?” she asked, unable to believe her ears. “Yes, she was my very own mother.” “Why would she do something so heartless to you?” Kristin asked, her voice filled with concern. Richard shook his head. To this day, he still couldn’t understand why his mother had treated him with such hatred. “I have no idea, Firefly. She never gave me a definite reason for her cruelty.” “And your dad? Did you know anything about him?” “I don’t know who he is. Maybe he’s the reason my mom hated me so much. I never called her 'mom' because she didn’t treat me like her son. She was just so cruel.” Kristin wiped the tears from his face and offered him a comforting smile. “You’ve been through so much, and you’re incredibly strong for enduring all that torment.” “Do you finally understand why I hate women and despise having my secrets exposed? I
Richard drove around the city, frantically searching for Kristin. The thought of Lewis being with her terrified him more than the idea of dying. He kept calling her until he saw her lying unconscious in the middle of the road. The heavy rain had made the streets nearly deserted. "Firefly," he mumbled, quickly getting out of the car. He rushed to her, gently cradling her head in his arm. "Firefly," he called again, trying to wake her, but she remained unconscious. Richard carried her back to his home, unsure of what to do next. She was shivering even while unconscious. He knew she needed to be out of her wet clothes, but he was unsure how to handle undressing a woman. He had never done it before, and with Luke already gone, he was alone in this task. Despite his hesitation, Richard summoned the courage and carefully removed her wet clothes. He couldn’t help but admire her body. Though she had grown up on a farm, her skin was still as white as snow. "Stop it, Richard," he scold
Kristin walked through the rain, unsure of where to go. She was still new in Vegas, and the only people she knew were Richard and Luke. She thought about asking Luke for help but stopped when she remembered he was married. She had never met Luke’s wife before and didn’t know how she would react to seeing her. Feeling helpless and homeless, Kristin wandered through the downpour, tears streaming down her face. Her clothes were soaked, her hair clung to her face, and the rain mingled with her tears, washing them away. It broke her heart that Richard had pushed her out of the house in the dead of night. She knew he had a hot temper, but she never imagined he would go so far as to drive her out into the rain. "Where will I go from here?" Kristin wondered, her tears falling faster as regret washed over her. She wished she hadn’t brought up the topic, but it was too late now. Here she was, alone in a rainy city. Kristin eventually found refuge under the small awning of a kiosk. Sh