ACCALIA'S POVAs we reached the edge of the village, I turned to look back one last time, committing the sight of Arinthia to memory. "Goodbye, Arinthia," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the gentle rustle of the wind. "Thank you for everything."A familiar rumble filled the air, drawing our attention towards the dusty road leading into Arinthia. Through the morning mist emerged Kito, his rugged pickup truck bouncing along the uneven terrain.Kito emerged from the driver's seat, his usually jovial expression tinged with sadness. "Hey there, folks," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I heard you were leaving, so I thought I'd come by and offer you a ride to the bus stop."My heart swelled with gratitude at his kindness. "Thank you, Kito," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "That means a lot to us."Don nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting the same gratitude. "Yeah, thanks, Kito," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "We really appreciate it."Kito waved off o
ACCALIA'S POVWe climbed into the of the truck, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving behind another dear friend. Kito had always been there for us, offering his help and support whenever we needed it, and the thought of saying goodbye to him was almost too much to bear.As we settled into the worn leather seats of Kito's truck, a heavy silence hung in the air, punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine. I glanced out the window, watching as the familiar sights of Arinthia faded into the distance, my heart aching with the weight of farewell.The ride to the bus stop was a somber one, the only sound the steady hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle from one of us. Kito tried to lighten the mood with some of his trademark jokes, but even he seemed to be struggling to find his usual cheerfulness.As we neared the bus stop, Kito pulled over and turned off the engine, the silence that followed almost deafening in its intensity. "Well, this is it," he
ACCALIA'S POVDon wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close as he felt my body tremble with suppressed sobs. "It's okay, Accalia," he whispered, his voice gentle yet filled with unspoken sorrow. "We'll be alright."But the dam had already broken, and I could no longer hold back the flood of emotions that surged within me. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I buried my face in Don's chest, my heart aching with the pain of leaving behind everything I had ever known."It's just... so hard," I choked out between sobs, my voice muffled against Don's shirt. "Saying goodbye to everyone, to everything..."Don held me tighter, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know, Accalia," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But this isn't goodbye forever. We'll come back someday, I promise."His words offered little solace in the face of our imminent departure, but I clung to them nonetheless, finding comfort in the warmth of his embrace. Together, we sat down on the worn wooden b
ACCALIA'S POVDon squeezed my hand reassuringly, his gaze filled with unwavering determination. "We can do this, Accalia," he said, his voice steady despite the tremble in his hands. "Together, we can face anything."With a heavy heart, I nodded in agreement, drawing strength from Don's unwavering faith in our future. As we boarded the bus and took our seats, I cast one last glance back at the village of Arinthia, its familiar streets now fading into the distance.And as the bus pulled away, carrying us towards an uncertain future, I knew that it was time to go back to my old life.As the bus journeyed towards the city, the landscape outside morphed from rolling hills to towering skyscrapers, a stark contrast to the quaint charm of Arinthia. With each passing mile, my heart grew heavier, the uncertainty of our future weighing heavily upon me.But as we finally arrived at our destination and stepped off the bus, a sense of anticipation tingled in the air. For the first time in what fel
ACCALIA POV)"You will marry him next week!"I felt the last wall of hope in my heart crumble down. I stared at my father with teary face, my eyes had long turned red and I tried desperately to sniffle and breathe at the same time."Father how can you ask me to marry him? You know very well what he tried to do to me !" I cried out desperately, hoping inside of me that my father would hear me out and change his mind."That was all in the past, let's forget about it. He is now a changed man."I used the back of my hand to wipe my running nose. I could not believe that my father would do something like this."How can you say that, you know very well what he tried to do Father!"Something flickered in my father's eyes, the emotion in his eyes were raw. It showed real pain but he was adamant on not working with the emotion."Accalia! You will do as you are told!"My father's voice thundered through the whole room, I flinched in fear, not fear of his anger but fear of what was to come with
(DON'S POV)Don Donato was a name synonymous with power and dominance in the corporate world and I sure as hell ruled my imaginary kingdom from the very pinnacle of my sleek skyscraper company, Donato Enterprises. I was blessed with piercing blue eyes that could cut through any steel, a jawline that was carved to perfection with a demeanor that left no room for compromise or incompetence, I would always command respect and fear in equal in the business worldI was seated in my lavishly luxurious office, I leaned back in my chair with my fingers steepled beneath my sharp chin. My phone repeatedly buzzed uncontrollably with messages and calls, but I paid them no mind or attention. The world outside the floor-to-ceiling windows seemed insignificant compared to the empire I had built from the ground. Donato Enterprises was my own kingdom and I was its unrelenting ruler.My assistant, Jennifer, timidly entered the room and her eyes were wide with apprehension. "Mr. Donato, the quarterly re
(ACCALIA'S POV)The club's intoxicating rhythm moved through the air and it was creating an atmosphere that was charged with immense desires. The handsome stranger's presence in front of me felt like a magnetic force, like it was drawing me closer as though we were two opposing poles.With the effects of alcohol still in my head, it seemed to somehow lend me a very reckless confidence, I leaned in closer to the handsome stranger. His gaze were penetrating and unwavering and held mine in a heated embrace that left me breathless, it was almost like we were in a staring competition. The unspoken connection between us sizzled like electricity. The handsome stranger was the definition of perfection, how could a man be so handsome? He skin was smooth and so clear, he had strong jawline and dark blue eyes set deep into his face like a gemstone. His hair was thick and black and fell on his forehead with an ease that showed his rough exterior and it suited him, his hair was styled perfectly
(DON'S POV)As I looked into Accalia's eyes, her words hung between us and it was heavy with desperation and desire. It was clear that she was really in a predicament, probably a very big and deep one but what struck me most was how intensely drunk she appeared to be. The alcohol had blurred the edges of her world and it left her vulnerable and adrift. Anything could happen to her if she mingled in the crowd or stepped outside anyone. I took a good look at her, she looked fragile like she would break at the slightest touch. She looked nothing more than twenty, she was wearing nothing but a yellow dress that fell below her knees and showed off her beautiful legs. Her hair golden hair fell freely around her shoulders in waves and her little makeup perfectly blended with her pale skin making her appear like an angel, as if God had made up some sort of beauty serum for her. She was a beauty, truly, and there was something intoxicating about her beauty even if I felt my mind begin to wan