Chapter 1 A Chance meeting

The city bustled around Tarlea as she navigated the streets with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. At 22, she moved here to pursue her dream of becoming a renowned artist. This was her fresh start, a canvas waiting to be painted with the colours of her ambitions.

One crisp autumn afternoon, Tarlea decided to explore a nearby neighbourhood. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee lured her into a quaint café named "Artistry Brew." The cozy atmosphere and the sound of soft jazz music playing in the background instantly made her feel at home.

As Tarlea approached the counter to place her order, her eyes met those of a man sitting at a corner table. His dishevelled appearance and the heavy weight of sadness in his eyes struck her. She couldn't help but feel an inexplicable connection, a shared sense of vulnerability.

Josh, a 30-year-old software engineer, sat hunched over a book, trying to lose himself in its pages. Depression had become an unwelcome companion in his life, casting a perpetual shadow over his thoughts. The café had become a refuge, a place where he could attempt to escape the relentless grip of his condition, even if only momentarily.

Their eyes met for a brief, fleeting moment, and a silent understanding passed between them. Tarlea felt a strong urge to approach this stranger, whose eyes told a story she yearned to understand. She ordered her coffee and, instead of heading to an empty seat, she walked over to Josh's table.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked with a friendly smile.

Startled but not unwelcoming, Josh hesitated before nodding. "Sure, go ahead."

They began with small talk, Tarlea sharing her excitement about her new life in the city, while Josh, in a reserved manner, talked about his job in the software industry. Despite the initial awkwardness, their conversation flowed naturally, transitioning from the weather to books and art.

Tarlea's enthusiasm for art ignited a spark in Josh. He mentioned his fascination with classic literature and how it sometimes served as his refuge from the darkness of depression. She listened attentively, empathizing with his struggle.

As the hours passed and the café started to fill with the evening crowd, it became clear that their chance meeting was not just a coincidence. Tarlea's vibrant energy began to lift the heavy weight that had settled over Josh, if only temporarily.

By the time the evening sun painted the café in warm hues, they realized they had spent hours talking and laughing as if they had known each other for years. As they parted ways that night, Josh couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that had been absent for too long, while Tarlea walked away with a newfound sense of purpose – not just in her art but in her connection with the mysterious man she had met by chance. Their lives were about to intertwine in ways neither of them could have imagined.

You'll also like

Rising From Ashes: The Heiress They Tried To Erase

Sarene Vosgerchian

4.8

Maia grew up a pampered heiress-until the real daughter returned and framed her, sending Maia to prison with help from her fiancé and family. Four years later, free and married to Chris, a notorious outcast, everyone assumed Maia was finished. They soon discovered she was secretly a famed jeweler, elite hacker, celebrity chef, and top game designer. As her former family begged for help, Chris smiled calmly. "Honey, let's go home." Only then did Maia realize her "useless" husband was a legendary tycoon who'd adored her from the start.

My Luna Became An Alpha After I Rejected Her

infanta123

4.7

My Luna became an alpha after I rejected her : she was my Luna. I rejected her. Now she's stronger than ever and she has my son. Amelia's world shattered the day her daughter died-and her mate, Alpha Aiden of the Red Moon Pack, divorced her to reunite with his ex-girlfriend. Cast out, disgraced, and accused of poisoning her own child, Amelia was stripped of her title and driven from her pack. The next morning, her lifeless body was found at the border.They all believed she was dead.But she wasn't. Far from the ashes of betrayal, Amelia rebuilt herself-rising from rejection and ruin to become the first female Alpha of Velaris, the most powerful and respected pack in the realm. She also carried a secret Aiden never discovered:She was pregnant-with his son.Years later, fate brings them face to face once more. A deadly disease is spreading through the packs, and the only one who can stop it is the renowned doctor they thought had died. When Aiden sees the boy at her side-his eyes, his blood-he realizes the truth.He didn't just lose his Luna. He destroyed the mother of his child.And now, she's everything he's not-stronger, wiser, untouchable. Will she heal the pack that betrayed her?Will she ever let him near her heart again?Or is his punishment simply living with the consequences?

Addicted To The Genius Lady With A Thousand Faces

Ocean Blue

4.8

She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"

The Unwanted Bride Becomes The City's Queen

Breeze

5.0

I was the spare daughter of the Vitiello crime family, born solely to provide organs for my golden sister, Isabella. Four years ago, under the codename "Seven," I nursed Dante Moretti, the Don of Chicago, back to health in a safe house. I was the one who held him in the dark. But Isabella stole my name, my credit, and the man I loved. Now, Dante looked at me with nothing but cold disgust, believing her lies. When a neon sign crashed down on the street, Dante used his body to shield Isabella, leaving me to be crushed under twisted steel. While Isabella sat in a VIP suite crying over a scratch, I lay broken, listening to my parents discuss if my kidneys were still viable for harvest. The final straw came at their engagement gala. When Dante saw me wearing the lava stone bracelet I had worn in the safe house, he accused me of stealing it from Isabella. He ordered my father to punish me. I took fifty lashes to my back while Dante covered Isabella's eyes, protecting her from the ugly truth. That night, the love in my heart finally died. On the morning of their wedding, I handed Dante a gift box containing a cassette tape—the only proof that I was Seven. Then, I signed the papers disowning my family, threw my phone out the car window, and boarded a one-way flight to Sydney. By the time Dante listens to that tape and realizes he married a monster, I will be thousands of miles away, never to return.

The Almighty Alpha Wins Back His Rejected Mate

Rianon Fisk

4.8

Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission-carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!

Unmasking My Shunned Wife: She Hid A Thousand Identities

Eada Lodge

4.6

Abandoned as a child and orphaned by murder, Kathryn swore she'd reclaim every shred of her stolen birthright. When she returned, society called her an unpolished love-child, scoffing that Evan had lost his mind to marry her. Only Evan knew the truth: the quiet woman he cradled like porcelain hid secrets enough to set the city trembling. She doubled as a legendary healer, an elusive hacker, and the royal court's favorite perfumer. At meetings, the directors groaned at the lovey-dovey couple, "Does she really have to be here?" Evan shrugged. "Happy wife, happy life." Soon her masks fell, and those who sneered bowed in awe.

The Love No One Expected

Contents