Chapter 2: A Life Torn by Memories

The morning light barely penetrated the cracked windows of Jenny’s small room. The city outside was alive, bustling with its usual noise and haste, but in her corner of the world, the silence was suffocating. She sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the faded walls, wondering how much longer she could endure the quiet despair that clung to every corner of her life. Her eyes wandered to the window, where the sun tried to pierce the fog, much like the brief moments of hope that occasionally flickered in her heart, only to be crushed by reality.

Jenny’s life had never been easy. Since her parents died in a car accident when she was just eight years old, she had been thrown into the harsh world of survival. Her aunt had taken her in, but not out of love. It was out of obligation, and it was clear from the start that Jenny was not a welcomed addition to the family. Her aunt, a woman with no warmth in her heart, treated her like an outsider, an unwanted burden. The constant criticism, the harsh words, and the neglect shaped Jenny into someone who learned to keep her distance, both physically and emotionally.

The only person in her aunt's house who had ever shown her any kindness was Salma, her aunt’s daughter. Salma was the one person who didn’t look at Jenny with disdain. She didn’t berate her or make her feel like she was inferior. Salma had always been kind, offering Jenny the rare comfort of a kind word or a shared moment of laughter. But Salma was a quiet person too, always watching from the sidelines, never fully engaging with the rest of the family. Jenny often wondered if Salma, too, felt the same sense of being trapped in a life that didn’t offer any hope.

At fifteen, Jenny was already accustomed to the rhythm of her life. She spent most of her days working at the local café, where the hours seemed to stretch on forever. The café wasn’t much—just a small, worn-out establishment on the corner of a busy street—but it was the only place she had. It paid her just enough to cover her basic needs, although the money was always tight. Jenny had learned to live with little, always making do with what she had, never asking for more, never expecting more. She had no choice.

But there was always a dream in the back of her mind—a dream that perhaps someday, she might escape. Someday, she might leave this place behind and find something better. Something that wasn’t filled with pain and struggle. But dreams, Jenny had learned, were fragile things, easily shattered by the weight of reality.

As she got ready for work that morning, she couldn’t shake the strange encounter from the day before. The man who had walked into the café, Marcus, had stayed on her mind long after he left. His presence had unsettled her. There was something about him that was both magnetic and terrifying. She had heard the rumors, of course. Everyone in the city had. Marcus was the leader of one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the area. He was ruthless, cold, and calculating. No one dared to cross him.

So why had he come to see her? Why had he singled her out? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She tried to push the thought out of her mind, but it lingered like a shadow, haunting her every step.

That afternoon, as Jenny wiped down the counter in the café, she heard the familiar sound of the door opening. She didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Her body tensed instinctively, and her breath caught in her throat. Marcus had returned.

He was dressed in his usual sharp suit, his posture straight and commanding. He moved through the café like he owned it, his eyes scanning the room with a predatory gleam. Jenny tried to ignore the pounding in her chest as she focused on the task at hand. But she couldn’t escape him. Not now.

He walked up to the counter, his eyes locking with hers. For a moment, there was silence between them, a tension that hung in the air, thick and palpable. Jenny’s hands shook slightly as she placed a cup of coffee in front of him. She met his gaze, trying to maintain her composure, but her heart was racing.

“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” she said, her voice steady but guarded. She had no idea why he was here, but she was certain it wasn’t just for coffee.

Marcus smiled, his lips curling into a half-smirk that sent a chill down her spine. “I don’t think you understand, Jenny,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “I didn’t come here by chance. I came here for you.”

Jenny swallowed hard, her stomach twisting in knots. “For me?” she repeated, trying to make sense of his words. “Why?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned in closer, his gaze intense. “Because you’re more than just another face in the crowd. There’s something about you… something that intrigues me.”

Jenny felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. She wanted to pull away, to step back, but she was rooted to the spot, unable to escape the magnetic pull of his presence.

“I don’t know what you want from me,” she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. “I’m just an ordinary girl. I’m not involved in your world.”

Marcus chuckled softly, a sound that was both amused and unsettling. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about me wanting something from you. It’s about you being a part of something bigger than you could ever imagine.”

Jenny’s heart raced, and she could feel the blood rush to her face. She had no idea what he was talking about, but she could sense that whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

“I don’t want anything to do with your world,” she said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay calm. “Please, leave me alone.”

But Marcus didn’t budge. He stood there, his gaze never leaving hers, as if measuring her every word, every reaction. There was no fear in him, no hesitation. He was a man used to getting what he wanted, and right now, he wanted her.

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that, Jenny,” he said, his voice softer now, almost soothing. “You don’t get to walk away from this. Not now. Not after everything I’ve seen in you.”

Jenny took a step back, her breath shallow, her mind racing. What was he talking about? She didn’t want to be a part of his world. She didn’t belong in the dangerous, violent life he led. She was just a girl trying to survive, trying to make it through each day.

But Marcus wasn’t the kind of man who took no for an answer. His gaze softened slightly, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—something that wasn’t just cold calculation. There was a sadness there, buried beneath the surface. And for a moment, Jenny wondered if perhaps he wasn’t as invincible as he seemed.

“I don’t have a choice, do I?” she whispered, the words slipping from her lips before she could stop them.

Marcus looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “No. You don’t.”

As he turned and walked out of the café, Jenny stood there, stunned, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no idea what was coming, but she knew one thing for sure—her life was about to change forever.

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