chapter 1

...LET ME GIVE A INTRODUCTION FIRST.....

...There are two main characters in here...

The male lead—undeniably the most handsome, enigmatic man you'll ever lay eyes on. Cold as ice on the outside, he rarely lets anyone glimpse what lies beneath. He poured his soul into the company, working day and night until it stood at the top of the world. And now? He’s the CEO. But his success came at a price. Behind that sharp gaze lies a past shrouded in mystery—fragmented memories from a childhood he can't quite recall, a darkness that still lingers in the corners of his mind.

The female lead—yes, that’s me—is a soft-hearted girl with a quiet strength. Life hasn’t been a fairytale for her either. Growing up in a middle-class family with three overprotective brothers wasn’t easy, but the love of her father made everything feel lighter. He would get her whatever she needed—even things she never asked for. Though she's pretty, she's not one for the spotlight. Parties? Not her scene. Raised in a deeply religious household, her life came with a list of restrictions: no late nights, no trips with friends, and plenty more that you’ll uncover as the story unfolds.

So… let’s begin this journey!

I’m Sara Lance. Not a topper, not a failure just somewhere in the middle, floating between dreams and deadlines. Music is my escape; it’s the one thing that understands me when words fail. After battling through the grueling tides of medical exams, I finally made it I passed. It wasn’t a first-try miracle like some, but I held on, and that’s what matters.

I took admission in a medical college far from my hometown. Coming from a place where minds are often closed and traditions run deep, it felt like stepping into another world. But I adjusted. I endured. I grew. Just when I started to find my rhythm and focus on building my career, life being the unpredictable teacher it is pulled me back.

My father was hospitalized. A heart disease, serious enough to shake our entire family. I rushed home. Thankfully, the doctors managed to stabilize him. But just as we took a breath of relief, my mother fell ill perhaps from the stress, or maybe from silently holding the weight of everything on her shoulders for so long. I was scared, exhausted, and constantly worrying. But giving up? Not an option.

I have three brothers. Adam, the eldest, is in his final year of college, currently hunting for jobs but emotionally distant. He rarely involves himself in family matters, and to be honest, I stopped expecting him to. Then there’s Jamie, my twin—a year younger in spirit, though we were born together. He’s in second year of engineering college. Unlike Adam, Jamie steps up for our parents whenever he can. Waseem, the youngest, is still in school innocent, full of questions, and mostly lost in his own little world. He’s too young to carry burdens, and I pray he never has to.

My brothers, like most guys their age, are obsessed with games and surprise, their obsession rubbed off on me. I now game more than I chat, pose for selfies, or chase social media trends like most girls in my circle. Sometimes I wonder if I’m weird for preferring fantasy quests over filters, but honestly? I love this quirky side of me. It feels… freeing.

Right now, my life is a balancing act ,studies, family, and an ongoing attempt to not crash under pressure. But I believe I’ve got this. Trouble will come, sure, but I’ll find my way through.

Sometimes I wish life was like the movies simple, glittery, carefree. Where people ace exams after pulling one all-nighter, and everything magically falls into place. But that’s not my reality. I had to return to college because semester exams are knocking, and this time, I want to be ready.

I’ve been burning the midnight oil in the library with friends. Group studies are amazing… if we actually study, that is. And oh, the mnemonics I make wild, ridiculous, borderline inappropriate! If anyone overheard them, they'd probably think I’ve lost it. But hey, if it helps me remember, then it works, right?

One evening, we were heading back from the library, the air heavy with the scent of upcoming rain. My legs felt like jelly from hours of studying, and honestly, I was too drained to even think about walking another step.

“We’re going to grab some snacks, come with us!” my friend insisted.

“No, just go. I’ll wait here,” I said, plopping down on a low wall. “I can’t walk any longer.”

Monisha turned to me, half stern, half concerned. “Okay, but don’t go anywhere. We’ll be right back.”

As they disappeared around the corner, I suddenly remembered—I needed notebooks. Mine were filled to the last page. I groaned at my forgetfulness. How typical… refusing to walk, yet here I am, walking alone like a complete idiot.

I spotted a small stationery shop nearby and went in. The soft glow of the lights and the quiet hum of the ceiling fan greeted me. I picked out a few notebooks, paid for them, and just as I stepped toward the exit—I noticed the rain.

It wasn’t a drizzle. It was a full-on, curtain-of-water kind of rain.

So, I lingered. I wandered through the aisles, pretending to be interested in the new arrivals, but nothing caught my eye. The designs were too loud for my taste. Bored, I turned back toward the front desk and noticed a basket full of chocolates sweet salvation.

I grabbed a few, paid again, and unwrapped one with a little too much enthusiasm. The sugary sweetness melted on my tongue as I gazed out the glass door. The rain danced like silver threads under the streetlight, and cars passed by with glowing headlights.

That’s when I saw him.

A man tall, lean, and moving fast cutting through the rain like a shadow. His features were blurred by the downpour, his silhouette haunting under the stormy sky. I couldn’t explain it, but I stood there frozen, watching him like he was part of some dream I wasn’t supposed to wake from.

And then— bam.

The next thing I knew, we collided. My notebooks flew out of my hands, and I staggered backward.

“What the hell? Are you blind?!” the man snapped, his voice sharp as broken glass. “Idiot! Stupid girl!”

My mouth fell open in shock, the chocolate half-melted on my tongue. The world around me blurred for a second not from the rain, but from the rush of adrenaline and embarrassment. I blinked, stunned, staring up at the man whose anger burned hotter than the storm.

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