Our Love 1

Chapter 1
BLE
The night was draped in shadows, with only the soft lapping of the lake breaking the silence. Dim streetlights cast a hazy glow on the water, turning each ripple into a glimmering wave of silver and blue, as if the stars themselves had decided to dip into the lake for a late-night swim.
The once bustling lakeside was now empty, leaving Seraphina Johnson standing alone by the shore, her silhouette stark against the moonlit backdrop. The chill of the evening air wrapped around her like a shroud, yet the flutter of hope warmed her heart as she waited for Richard Morgan.
Nearly an hour had slipped by, each minute stretching into eternity. Every few minutes, her hand would absentmindedly reach for her phone, as if time might miraculously change. Just as she was about to check it again, headlights flashed in the distance, sweeping along the winding road that bordered the lake.
‘Finally, it’s him, she thought, a sigh of relief escaping her lips, blending with the night air.
Seraphina walked toward the road, her heart skipping a beat as the car came to a slow, deliberate stop. Even the darkness couldn’t dull the unmistakable shine of the Bentley, It was Richard’s car-he always drove it. But when the door opened, her stomach twisted with confusion. The figure stepping out wasn’t Richard.
Instead, a middle-aged woman emerged, stylish and poised, exuding an air of sophistication and youthfulness that defied her years. It was Heather Morgan. Her high heels clicked sharply against the pavement, and her perfectly manicured hand smoothed out the expensive fabric of her coat.
She radiated the kind of confidence and aloofness that came with wealth, her every movement dripping with elegance. The frigid look on her stunningly beautiful face was like winter’s frost, and her eyes were locked on Seraphina with a sharp, condescending glare as she walked over.
“You must be Seraphina, right?” Heather’s voice cut through the night, clipped and cold.
Caught off guard, Seraphina hesitated for a moment before nodding politely. “Yes, ma’am. And you are?”
Heather’s lips twisted into a disdainful smile, completely ignoring the question. “Is it a thing now for pretty girls to sit around daydreaming about becoming a rich man’s wife! Climbing that social ladder, huh?” Her words dripped with sarcasm, each one a jab meant to sting.
Seraphina felt the heat rise to her cheeks, but she said nothing. She had a sinking feeling that she already knew who Heather was. “May I ask if you are Richard’s mother?” she asked, trying to maintain some semblance of respect.
Heather’s eyes narrowed, scanning Seraphina from head to toe with obvious disapproval. “Richie’s not coming,” she said, her voice dripping with smugness. “Let me give you some advice, honey. A pretty face can get you a few things, sure. But don’t overestimate yourself. Do you even know who my son is?”
Seraphina swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very small under Heather’s icy stare. She didn’t know much about Richard’s family-only that he bore his mother’s last name and came from a mysterious and powerful lineage.
“Good,” Heather continued, her tone dripping with condescension. “It’s better that way. I wouldn’t want you to feel inferior.” With that, she reached into her designer handbag, pulled out a debit card, and held it out to Seraphina with two perfectly manicured fingers.
“Take this. It’s not that you deserve it, mind you. It’s just a small token of my son’s worth, Heather scoffed, a mocking lilt in her voice.
Before Seraphina could react, Heather let the card slip from her fingers. It fell at Seraphina’s feet, glinting in the dim light.
“Password is six ones. Remember it. And stay away from my son or I’ll make sure you regret it.” Heather’s warning was as sharp as a blade before she turned on her heels and strutted back to the car, her departure as abrupt asher arrival.
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Chapter 1
For a moment, Seraphina stood there, staring at the card on the ground. Her mind was racing, a whirl of thoughts and emotions battling for control. After a moment, she bent down and picked it up,
Holding the small card in her hand, she turned it over, examining it from every angle. The cool surface felt heavy in her hand, like it was mocking her. This little piece of plastic held money-probably more than she had ever seen in her life. And right now, money was exactly what she needed most.
But then, with a swifi, decisive snap, Seraphina broke the card in two. The pieces fell from her hand like shattered dreams, landing in the sand at her feet. Tears she had been holding back slipped down her cheeks, one after another.
Richard had been pursuing her relentlessly. He was the quintessential tall, handsome heir, the kind of guy who turned heads the moment he walked into a room. With his chiseled jawline and effortless charm, he seemed to have it all. The girls at school were green with envy, whispering about how lucky Seraphina was to have such an extraordinary guy vying for her
attention.
But as the SATs approached, Seraphina was laser-focused on her studies, her books and notes scattered around her like a fortress of determination. She knew that her future hinged on these tests, and the distractions of young love were luxuries she simply couldn’t afford, which was why she had politely turned down his advances.
But now, her world had been turned upside down. Her father, George Johnson, had fallen gravely ill. He needed a kidney transplant, and the surgery would cost anywhere from a hundred to two hundred thousand dollars.
For her financially strained family, that figure felt like a crushing weight looming over them. It was a burden too heavy to bear, an impossible sum that felt utterly unreachable. No matter how she looked at it, there was simply no way to gather that kind of money.
Richard was the only wealthy person 3 that he might lend her the money,
knew, and she had asked him to meet her tonight, hoping-no, praying
Just moments ago, Heather had cruelly stated that the money on the card was merely a small token of her son’s worth. The insult still stung, but Seraphina couldn’t shake the thought that whatever was on that card was likely enough to cover her father’s surgery, and then some.
She felt that Richard’s “value” wasn’t a small change, after all, and it must be more than a mere two hundred grand.
But she couldn’t accept it. She had even torn it apart with her own hands because she couldn’t live with herself if she actually took it. That money would cost her her dignity, a price that would suffocate her.
Now, standing there with nothing, the weight of her father’s situation pressed down on her, smothering her in a way the night air never could. She had no one else to turn to and no way to borrow the money for the surgery. Desperation wrapped around her like the dark, endless night, pulling her down.
She hugged her frail shoulders tightly and began walking slowly along the lakeside, her steps heavy with the crushing weight of hopelessness, her heart sinking deeper into the darkness that mirrored the sky above.
As she rounded a bend, a blinding light suddenly pierced through the gloom.
and
Seraphina instinctively shielded her eyes, squinting against the glaring high beams of an oncoming car. The headlights cut through the night like blades, leaving her momentarily disoriented. Her elbow brushed against a nearby lamppost, before she could steady herself, her foot slipped. Suddenly, she was falling-
The lakeside, with no guardrails, offered no protection as Seraphina tumbled down the embankment and into the cold, unforgiving lake. The shock of the water hit her like a punch to the gut, dragging her under.
She heard the screech of brakes, a sharp hiss penetrating the silence of the night as the car came to a halt, but by then, was already sinking.
she
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Chapter 1
J
A soft glow from a bedside-lump filled the room, casting long shadows over the luxurious furnishings. The crystal chandelier above sparkled faintly, reflecting the opulence of the space. Seraphina blinked, trying to make sense of her surroundings.
She sat up quickly, the silky sheets slipping off her body as she moved. Her fingers brushed against something delicate- lace. Her breath hitched when she looked down at herself. She was wearing an elegant nightgown trimmed with intricate lace details
“Who changed my clothes? she wondered. The thought set her heart racing. Her mind scrambled to piece together the fragments of her memory.
She remembered she had fallen into the lake, the cold water pulling her under as she kept struggling. She had been sure she was done for, but then-someone had saved her. An arm had wrapped around her, pulling her to safety.
Asp
As the pieces of her memory started falling into place, Seraphina’s eyes widened with sudden realization. So someone saved me? Is this the home of my rescuer? she thought.
She glanced around the extravagant room again. Her eyes landed on a small card resting by the bedside lamp. Picking up the card, she softly read the neat handwriting aloud, “Miss, when you’re awake, please dial this number. Below, there was a phone number.
Next to the card lay a brand-new phone-a replacement for hers, which was now probably at the bottom of the cold, dark lake. She picked up the unfamiliar device, surprised to see that it wasn’t password-protected. She unlocked it with a simple touch and dialed the number on the card.
A deep, polished male voice answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat as she gently said, “H-hello, sir.. I’m awake now”
“Very good. I’ll be right over,” the man replied.
A moment later, there was a soft knock at the door.
“Come in,” Seraphina called, her voice still shaky.
The door opened, and in stepped a man who looked like he had walked right out of a fashion magazine. Dressed in a crisp shirt and tailored trousers, he wore a charming smile that could disarm anyone. He had an air of calm confidence, as if he owned the very ground he walked on.
“Hello, I’m Randy Burton,” he said, his voice smooth as he approached her. “And you must be?”
“Seraphina Johnson,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, still trying to process everything.
Randy’s grin widened, his handsome features almost glowing in the dim light. “Ms. Johnson, how are you feeling? Any discomfort?
Seraphina shook her head. Her body felt fine, surprisingly. I’m okay,
I think.”
“That’s a relief,” Randy said, his voice as warm as his smile. He reached into his pocket and handed her a business card. “Since it’s quite late, we didn’t arrange for a full medical check-up. But if you experience any aftereffects, please feel free to reach out to me. This is my card
Seraphina took the card and glanced at it. Her eyes widened when she saw the title beneath his name: Executive Assistant to the CEO of Vanderbilt Group.
Her heart skipped again. This was a position of immense influence-second only to the CEO himself, with authority that reached far and wide.
Vanderbilt Group wasn’t just any company. It was the company. The Vanderbilt family was the wealthiest in Angoria, and the company stood as the backbone of Echaria’s economy, a formidable force that held significant sway over the entire
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continent.
Ranked among the top fifty on the global wealth list, the Vanderbilt family was synonymous with the highest echelons of society, representing the pinnacle of affluence and prestige.
And Randy, the man standing before her, was the right hand to the CEO, a position that combined status, reputation, and wealth, one of the most sought-after jobs in the country.
“You saved me?” Seraphina asked, her voice faltering slightly as she looked up at him.
Kandy chuckled softly, shaking his head. “No, Ms. Johnson. I’m afraid the one who saved you is Mr. Vanderbilt. I must apologize on his behalf,” Randy added, his tone regretful but still polite. “It was his high beams that caused you to fall into the lake. He feels terribly sorry about it, and I’m here to extend his deepest apologies.”
For a moment, Seraphina was speechless. It was already hard enough to wrap her head around Randy’s prestigious position. Now she was even more shocked that the CEO of Vanderbilt Group, who sat at the very top of the social and economic food chain, had saved her.
She couldn’t help but feel like she had fallen through the cracks of reality, into a world where she had no business being
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