Chapter 1

Jewel Wright wasn't sure she wanted to be here.

   It was a beautiful evening and she found herself seated on a wooden bench in a secluded park with Evans Edison. 

Jewel had moved from Texas four years ago, she relocated with her mother and her son, they all needed a fresh start. Evans was one of the first people she had met.

They had both met while she was job hunting and he had helped her secure a job.

He had also been very helpful helping her get settled in, but she knew he wasn't being nice for nothing.

Throughout the years, Evans never bothered to hide his feelings for her but she did not feel the same way towards him. 

He had called earlier and pleaded that she go out with him. He said he had good news to share.

It had been more than thirty minutes since they got to the park and he was yet to share the news with her. 

She soon got tired of waiting and asked him "Evans, can you tell me what the good news is?"

"I got a promotion!" He answered.

"That's great! Congratulations." Jewel responded and gave him a hug.

Evans reciprocates the gesture, wrapping his arms around her. However, as the hug lingered on, Jewel subtly tried to untangle herself from Evans' tight grip.

Feeling Jewel's movements, Evans misinterpreted the situation and leaned in, attempting to kiss her.

Jewel, caught off guard by his actions, recoiled, her cheeks flushed with surprise and mild embarrassment. 

The air between them grew thick with awkwardness. 

"I'm so sorry, Evans," Jewel said. "I didn't mean to give you the wrong idea. I was just trying to extricate myself from the hug."

Evans, visibly flustered, nodded quickly. "No, no, it's entirely my fault," he stammered, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "I misread the situation entirely. I'm sorry for overstepping."

Jewel quickly used the interview she had the next day as an excuse to leave.

Evans was a nice man, but the main reason she couldn't bring herself to kiss him was because she was yet to let go of the memory of the last man whose lips she had tasted.

…

The next morning.

   Looking at her reflection in the floor length mirror in her bedroom seemed like a herculean task for Jewel. 

The 5 foot 3 woman staring back at her seemed to be laughing at her, taunting her with words which dampened her self confidence.

She was wearing a knee length skirt and blue shirt, which she tucked in. She wore her 3 inch stilettos, she wanted to give off a professional look, but it seemed her body wasn't cooperating.

The skirt hugged her curves and her stomach wasn't as flat as it used to be, she had a little bulge. Sighing, she contemplated giving up but she knew that wasn't an option.

The voice in her head repeated that she had brought this on herself and she completely agreed.

Her actions as a teenager still haunted her, at age 25 she was financially broke, emotionally drained and a college dropout.

She had to work two jobs to make ends meet, she worked as a cleaner in a 3 star hotel and a waitress at a local bar, both paid the minimum wage.

What she earned was barely enough to cater for her basic necessities. She struggled to take care of herself and her five year old son, Joel.

Life was hard for both of them, but it was especially hard for Jewel, she rarely got to spend time with her son.

She was mostly free at night and most days, her son would already be asleep before she got home. Apart from that, she could barely afford a decent apartment, where they lived was not a place to raise a child.

Thinking back, she almost regretted keeping her pregnancy a secret from the man responsible, she wanted to tell him, but the situation she found herself in made it impossible.

Looking at herself one last time in the mirror, Jewel decided to go. She checked the time and cursed, if she didn't hurry, she would miss her bus and be late for her interview.

Thankfully, schools were on break and her mother had agreed to help watch over her son.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Jewel swung open the apartment door, only to collide with her landlord, Mr Thompson, a stout and stern man with a perpetual frown etched across his face. 

His beady eyes fixated on her like a predator stalking its prey, his thin lips curling into a malicious grin.

"Jewel, isn't it?" Mr Thompson's voice was laced with an insidious undertone. "You are late on your rent, my dear. I'm afraid I can't overlook this any longer."

Panic surged through Jewel's veins as she stammered, "Mr Thompson, I... I don't have the money just yet. I promise I'll pay you as soon as I can. Please, just give me a little more time."

Mr Thompson's grin widened, revealing his yellowed teeth. His eyes roamed over Jewel's trembling figure, and a wicked gleam danced within them. He leaned in closer, invading her personal space with a predatory aura.

His voice lowered to a menacing whisper. "Well, Jewel, my dear, perhaps we can work something out. I am very sure we can come to an agreement that benefits both of us."

Jewel's heart sank as his words dripped with an unmistakable suggestion. The realization of his intentions hit her like a slap in the face.

Disgust washed over her, followed swiftly by a surge of anger. She straightened her back, summoning every ounce of courage within her.

"How dare you!" Jewel's voice trembled, a mixture of repulsion and indignation. "I will not degrade myself in exchange for my rent! This is harassment, and I won't stand for it!"

Without waiting for a response, Jewel swiftly sidestepped Mr Thompson, using every ounce of her strength to push him out of her path. 

Ignoring his sputtered protests, she sprinted down the apartment hallway, her footsteps echoing like a defiant drumbeat.

Her heart still racing, Jewel raced down the stairwell, ignoring the tiredness in her legs. Tears welled up in her eyes.

As Jewel reached the building's entrance, she failed to notice her neighbor, Mrs Henderson, who was standing there, watering her plants with a gentle smile on her face.

Mrs Henderson, a kind-hearted elderly lady, observed Jewel's disheveled appearance and the slightly panicked expression on her face. Concerned, she paused in her task and called out, "Jewel, dear, are you alright?"

Startled, Jewel halted in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. She turned to face her neighbor, her eyes widening with surprise. Mrs Henderson stood there, clutching a watering can in one hand, her face lined with worry.

"Oh, Mrs Henderson," Jewel exclaimed, her voice slightly breathless. "I am so sorry if I startled you. Everything's fine, really."

Mrs Henderson's furrowed brow slowly relaxed, her kind eyes filled with understanding.

She approached Jewel with a reassuring smile, her voice gentle and soothing. "No need to apologize, my dear. I was just worried when I saw you rushing out like that. But I'm glad to hear that everything is alright."

"Thank you, Mrs Henderson," Jewel replied, a genuine warmth filling her voice. "Have a lovely day!"

"You're most welcome, Jewel. Have a wonderful day too!"

With a final wave, Jewel resumed her hurried pace, her steps more measured this time.

Getting to the bus stop, she was glad she made it on time, but as she was about to get into the bus, she heard a sound which made her close her eyes, she couldn't believe it, her skirt had ripped open at the back.

"The day isn't off to a good start" she muttered to herself.

…

As Jewel alighted at her bus stop, her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of how to salvage her fashion mishap. In her absentminded state, she wobbled unsteadily, losing her balance.

In an instant, Jewel's body collided with what she initially thought was an unyielding wall. She instinctively reached out to steady herself, her fingers grazing a solid surface.

To her surprise, a deep baritone voice resonated through the air. "Are you okay ma'am?".

Startled, Jewel turned her gaze upward, meeting the eyes of a tall, broad-shouldered man who had materialized before her.

Time seemed to stand still as their eyes met. The man's eyes were an enchanting shade of sea green, sparkling like the sunlit ocean on a clear summer day. 

Recognition flickered in Jewel's eyes as she realized that she had seen those captivating eyes before. They were etched in her memory.

Memories of the numerous times she had gazed into those eyes resurfaced in her mind.

The enchanting sea green eyes she was staring into were the same eyes of the man whose lips she had last tasted.

It was also the same eyes she had stared into the night she lost her virginity.

"Liam" she whispered.