Chapter 5

Waking up at what I thought was 8:30 a.m., a wave of defeat washed over me. Why couldn’t I manage to rise early? It seemed like one simple goal I couldn’t accomplish. Preparing for the consequences of my laziness, I pulled myself out of bed to start the day. As I made my way downstairs, I noticed the house was unusually quiet—he wasn’t home.

“Where could he be?” I wondered aloud.

I was heading to the kitchen when a small note pinned to the wall caught my eye. I quickly moved closer to read it:

I’m going for a walk.

Be back soon.

Wear that dress.

Confused, I turned my head and spotted a short red gown hanging nearby.

My eyebrows shot up. Seriously? This dress was practically designed to expose my cleavage. “What does he think I am, some kind of…?” I rolled my eyes. It was ridiculous. Why did I even own such extravagant dresses if I couldn’t wear them anywhere?

After a quick shower, I slipped into the dress. It fit like a glove, hugging every curve. With chores to finish and breakfast to prepare, I made my way to the kitchen. It wasn’t until I glanced at the clock that I realized it wasn’t 8:30 a.m. after all—it was 6:30 a.m.

“Huh,” I murmured to myself, a small smile forming. “Looks like I woke up early for once.”

With some unexpected time to relax, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through Instagram, pausing to like a cute post of Camila and Shawn. My heart fluttered; they were one of my favorite couples.

Moments later, the sound of his car pulling into the driveway broke my reverie. I rushed to dish out the food I had prepared. He entered the kitchen, clapping his hands lightly to get my attention.

“I see you woke up early today,” he remarked, his eyes lingering briefly on my outfit. “By the way, you look nice in that dress.”

Heat crept up my neck. “Thank you,” I mumbled, trying to suppress the blush creeping across my cheeks.

A few minutes later, he reappeared from the bathroom—shirtless. Was this some kind of joke? My eyes betrayed me, wandering across his toned physique. My throat went dry.

“Breakfast is served,” I managed to whisper.

He nodded but paused before sitting down. “I’d like to say something, if you don’t mind.”

I blinked, swallowing nervously. “Go ahead.”

“I’m really sorry for crossing the line yesterday,” he began, his voice soft but firm. “I don’t know what came over me… You looked so—” He stopped himself, his jaw tightening. “I mean, I want us to keep things professional.”

The words stung more than I expected. “Of course,” I said quickly, plastering on a polite smile to mask the pang of disappointment.

Wanting to change the subject, I asked, “Have you ever had a girlfriend?”

The question seemed to catch him off guard. He stiffened, his gaze flickering toward mine. “I have,” he admitted. “We’re not together anymore, obviously. And you?”

Relieved he didn’t seem upset by the question, I nodded. “I had one… back in high school. Let’s just say he wasn’t exactly a great guy.”

He chuckled lightly. “High school relationships—they’re always messy.”

“What’s so funny about them?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“They’re pointless,” he replied. “Most of the time, they’re just a distraction.”

I rolled my eyes. “You sound way too mature for your age. And for the record, we’re only two years apart. You don’t have to treat me like a child.”

The mood shifted. He turned toward me, his expression serious. “I wasn’t angry,” he said, his tone lightening again. “But you should’ve seen your face just now. You looked terrified!”

Laughter bubbled up between us, breaking the tension. Emboldened, I asked one last question. “Why do you live alone?”

The smile vanished from his face. His shoulders stiffened, and his gaze dropped to the table. “They’re dead,” he said bluntly.

The silence that followed was heavy. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, wishing I hadn’t pried.

He waved it off. “Anyway, the food was great,” he said, standing up. “I have to go now.”

I hesitated. “Actually, I need to pick up a few personal items. Could you take me to the store?”

He agreed, and within minutes, we were on our way. At the shopping center, he waited outside while I browsed. I grabbed a few essentials—underwear, sanitary pads, and a hoodie—when someone tapped my shoulder.

A man with curly black hair and brown eyes stood there, smiling. “Hi. I’m Ryan. Nice to meet you.”

The interaction was awkward but harmless at first. Until he started pushing for my number, his tone turning insistent. When I tried to walk away, he grabbed my wrist, his grip tight.

“Let me go!” I cried, panic rising in my chest.

Before I could react further, a familiar voice boomed behind me. “What’s going on here?”

Relief flooded me as he stepped between us, his expression dark. Without hesitation, he swung his fist, connecting with Ryan’s face.

“How dare you touch her!” he growled.

Ryan stammered an apology, backing away, but it wasn’t enough. Security arrived soon after, and Ryan was escorted out for harassment.

Back in the car, the adrenaline wore off, leaving me shaky and tearful. He handed me a tissue, his concern evident.

“You’re safe now,” he murmured.

And for the first time that day, I truly believed him.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***