accelerated, leaving the dust of her old life behind. Her gaze was fixed straight ahead, a steely determination in her eyes. She refused to let a single tear fall, refusing to give Xavie

her thoughts. She turned to face him, her eyes meeting his piercing gaze. Gasping in surprise, she couldn't take her eyes off him. Something about him drew her in, a magnetic pull she couldn't resist. "Um, I'm fine, thank you," Della replied cautiously, looking away, but her voice betrayed a hint of vulnerability. The stranger's lips curved into a knowing smile, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Are you sure about that?" he questioned, his tone laced with mystery. Della hesitated, unsure how to respond to this mysterious stranger who seemed to see through her defences. Before she could reply, the stranger reached out a hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her. Della's breath caught in her throat as he gently brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, his touch surprisingly tender. "Let me help you," he offered, his gaze unwavering. Della's heart raced with uncertainty, torn between caution and curiosity. There was something about this stranger that intrigued her, a sense of possibility and intrigue that she couldn't ignore. Unable to find her tongue, Della nodded in agreement. The stranger flashed her a captivating smile before taking the fuel nozzle from her hand, his touch igniting a spark within her. As he refuelled her car with practised ease, Della watched him with fascination. As the fuel pump clicked off, signalling that the tank was complete, the stranger turned to face Della again. In the glow of the petrol station lights, his features were cast in shadows, adding to his air of mystery. "Thank you," Della murmured gratefully, her voice barely above a whisper. The stranger's smile widened, revealing a glimmer of warmth beneath his enigmatic exterior. "It was my pleasure," he replied cryptically, his words tinged with intrigue. Before Della could probe further, he stepped back into his car and gave her a wink as he roared off. Della was stunned by his random act of kindness and went to pay for her fuel. And she picked up some munchies and a couple of water bottles since she had left packhouse with barely anything. As she climbed back into her car, she gazed at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Della's mind was abuzz with questions and thoughts. Who was the stranger? What had drawn him to her in that moment of vulnerability? She started the engine and shook her head in amusement. Suddenly, her phone vibrating in her purse jolted her back to reality. She fished it out and saw a text message from Xavier, the man who had shattered her heart into a million pieces, the man she was driving away from at that very moment. The message read, "Della, please, let's talk. I know I messed up, but I love you. We can work through this. Please don't shut me out." Della's hands trembled as she