《Innocent Love》


 Chapter First

    Oh my god. Stop staring. Immediately.


    "Stop undressing him with your eyes." Shit! She caught me again, gawking at her brother. But what can I do? He''s mesmerizing. Tall and broad-shouldered, his every movement radiates strength. The flexing muscles beneath his shirt could make any woman weak. His long, dark brown hair is tied back, yet it gleams like silk under the sunlight. I''ve never touched it, but I imagine it''s soft, smoother than anything I''ve ever known. My fingers ache to reach out, to explore every inch of him.


    Not today. Not ever.


    Then, as if sensing my gaze, he pauses. His dark green eyes flick around the room, scanning the windows. My heart skips. Is he looking for me? But no. His attention shifts back to his task, indifferent. Again, he doesn''t see me. Disappointment floods my chest, heavy and familiar.


    He lied. He betrayed.


    "No, I''m just out here for some fresh air," I stammer, avoiding Jessie''s smirk. "Admiring the flowers."


    "Oh, sure," she snorts. "And the handsome bee buzzing around them?" Jessie knows everything. Every glance, every sigh. She sees right through me when it comes to her brother.


    Ronald.


    He''s been the axis of my world for as long as I can remember. Ever since his family came to work for us when I was five, he''s been... everything. That first day, he stood tall beside his mother, his piercing green eyes meeting mine, and my world tilted. His mother, Mrs. Laura, became our head cook, and his father, Mr. Carlo, took care of the garden. But Ronald... Ronald became my friend. My first friend. Maybe my only real one. His presence felt like a secret just for me.


    Mrs. Laura, though, has always despised me. Her sharp eyes track my every move when I''m near her son. When no one''s around, she scolds him in hushed but vicious tones. Mr. Carlo, on the other hand, is kind. Like a second father. He''d hand me a flower every morning with a warm smile and a "Have a good day, Miss Rose."


    But Ronald? He''s a storm. An irresistible, overwhelming force. I''ve seen the way other girls throw themselves at him. The looks they give, the whispers that follow him wherever he goes. It drives me mad. But deep down, I know¡ªor I hope¡ªthat he''s mine. Different social classes be damned. Love doesn''t care about wealth or status. It sees the heart and soul, ready to bleed for its truth.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Shit, you''re overthinking again," Jessie teases, jerking her chin toward the gate. Two girls in skimpy outfits are ogling Ronald. I''d claw their eyes out if I could. But instead, I say nothing, gripping the edge of the bench.


    "You should tell him, you know," Jessie prods.


    "Tell him what? And who''s ''him''?" My heart leaps into my throat at the sound of his voice. Ronald is standing right behind us. How long has he been there? My cheeks burn as I realize I''ve been caught again.


    "Tell you that she''s in love with you," Jessie blurts out, grinning like the devil. My stomach plummets. Oh no. No, no, no.


    "Jessie, can you..." Ronald''s voice trails off as Jessie winks and saunters away, leaving us alone. His footsteps draw closer, and I freeze. My palms are clammy, my heart pounding. His warmth radiates behind me, the scent of him¡ªearthy and intoxicating¡ªfilling my senses.


    "My little Rosee," he murmurs. The nickname¡ªRosee Posee¡ªpulls me back to childhood memories of him teasing me mercilessly. He''d tug my hair, make me cry, then hand me chocolate to make up for it. He was my protector, my tormentor, my everything.


    I''ve spent years longing for him, enduring the pain of watching him with other girls, knowing he''d never be mine. But now, as he''s so close, the ache intensifies.


    "I''m here to invite you to my birthday party," I say, thrusting the invitation toward him without turning around. If I face him, he''ll see the tears threatening to fall.


    "Eighteen," he muses, his voice low. "You''re all grown up."


    "Like you forgot." My voice is sharp, a defense against the vulnerability threatening to overwhelm me.


    "Rose..."


    "Please don''t," I whisper. "It''s my birthday. Let it be a happy day." But before I can move away, he grips my arm gently, turning me to face him. His green eyes burn into mine, and I''m lost.


    "Tell me we''re the same," he pleads. "That this is just a misunderstanding. I''m yours, Rosee. Always have been."


    Liar.


    "Misunderstanding?" I laugh bitterly. "I saw you with her."


    "And I saw you with him." His voice is a whisper, his lips so close to mine that I can feel his breath. My resolve wavers, but before I can respond, a sharp voice cuts through the air.


    "What the hell is going on here?" Mrs. Laura''s fury shatters the moment. Ronald steps back, guilt shadowing his face. Her glare pierces me, filled with venom.


    "Miss Rose, your mother is looking for you," she snaps. "And I''ve told you to stay away from my son. Stop throwing yourself at him."


    Her words slice through me, but Ronald says nothing. He''s silent, a puppet in her hands. My chest tightens as I realize, yet again, that he''ll never stand up for me. For us.


    I pull my arm free from his grip, stepping away. His silence is louder than any words.


    Some battles aren''t worth fighting. And some loves are too broken to mend.

 Chapter Two

    "Mom!"


    "Here, my girl." My mom, Mrs. Lilly, is working on my birthday party. She''s a beautiful and stunningly growing woman. We''re very similar in appearance, though not in our thoughts. She hates the Parker family, which means Ronald''s family.


    My mom is an entrepreneur. She loves flowers; that''s why she started a business with her own perfume line. When I was a child, my mind was always curious about flowers, and now I''m thinking of taking one step further in the perfume business. But my dad says, "You need to complete your studies first."


    "Mom, I told you I wanted a simple party, but this is..." There is so much decoration and so many guests. I told my mom I wanted just my friends, but she invited the whole college. She doesn''t like to show off, but this is her way of showing love for me.


    "This is what? Oh, come on, my girl, it''s not a big deal. It''s better for you to take it as a habit because..." Oh, there she goes again, giving me lectures about parties and class society.


    Blah blah.


    "Lilly, you''re talking to walls," my mom stops talking at my dad''s voice. She narrows her eyes on me and raises her brows.


    "Dad, please don''t. And by the way, where''s my gift?" Dad comes forward and kisses my head. His warm smell of love is always pure and blessed.


    "Happy birthday, my little Rosee Posee. This is for you." Oh, my god.


    "Dad, I don''t... I can''t thank you." He gave me my own car. Seriously. My feet start bouncing.


    "Carter, you can''t. She needs to learn."


    "Mom, I know how to drive. Dad already taught me." Mom never knew that Dad gave me secret lessons about the car. Here, she is shocked.


    "Carter, you''re giving her too much." She grabs my car keys, but my dad snatches them back and gives them to me. Without listening to them, I run to where my car is parked. It''s a beautiful BMW.


    "Dad!" I shout with full force, and both look at me.


    "I love you." They both smile, and I know Mom is faking it because, deep down, she loves me.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Later, when night comes, my party is already in full swing. Music, dancing, food, and, of course, drinks. My friends and classmates are here, but Jessie and Ronald haven''t shown up. My eyes are always on the door. There are so many wishes and gifts, and the best gift comes from my friend Annie.


    She is my best friend. Since I started school, she has been by my side, and now we''re in college. She''s like family.


    After saying goodbye to all my friends, I take two plates of cake and send a message to Jessie.


    Me: Cake! I want to eat. (Attach photo)


    Jessie: Hell yes! God, you''re my savior.


    Me: Coming to open your window.


    It''s our secret that, late at night, she comes to my room or I go to hers. Sometimes we study, and sometimes we just talk. Dad knows about me and Jessie. Unlike Mom, he never stops us. But when Ronald is involved, things are different. He''d spend nights in my arms. We''d talk and kiss, but he never took it further. I wanted him, but now there''s nothing between us.


    It''s early winter, and the cold wind gives me shivers. I stumble with the plates while climbing. I knock on her window, and she opens it. But before helping me, she snatches the plates from my hands.


    "Hey, that''s not fair!" But she''s already gone.


    "Help yourself," she whispers aloud. It''s dark in her house; everyone is asleep. Ronald is asleep.


    "You missed my party." She stops eating.


    "You know, Mrs. Laura... I hate her. She tries to control our lives, and she''s doing a great job with Ronald. He''s blind to it." Her anger is plain on her face. Everything about it feels wrong.


    "It''s fine. But I missed you both." While she eats, I sit on her bed and try to call Ronald. He doesn''t pick up. It''s my birthday, and I''m still waiting for a wish from him. Hate or love, he''s my first. But today, he''s not around, and I know he''s gone off somewhere with friends or girls.


    I stop calling and sit there, just waiting. Every second feels heavy. He doesn''t come home. My eyes are on the door, but nothing.


    After leaving Jessie, I walk toward home. Someone grabs my elbow and stops me. I turn, and there he is¡ªRonald. But he''s bleeding. His face is swollen, and blood drips from his mouth.


    "Ron. What happened? You''re... bleeding." He hisses in pain as my hand lands on his cheek. God, he''s bruised and swollen.


    "It''s nothing; just a fight." He steps back, breaking the warmth of my touch.


    "You''re hurt."


    "You''re hurting me more." His words cut deeper than any wound I could see. Watching him kiss someone else, seeing him with other girls, hearing his lies¡ªthose wounds sting worse than this.


    "Here, happy birthday, Rose." He''s never called me just Rose before. It stings.


    "Thank you."


    "I... I saw you from the window. You looked happy without me." Never. Open your eyes, please.


    "Yeah, it''s my birthday, and you know how my mom is..." Before I finish, he grabs my face between his hands and rests his forehead against mine.


    "It hurts, you ignoring me, leaving me alone. Don''t put distance between us. Don''t kill me with your hate." His pain is unbearable.


    "I love you, my Rosee Posee. I can''t live without you. Let''s go somewhere, just you and me. I promise you¡ªno regrets." A single tear falls to the ground. He doesn''t understand; forgetting that night is impossible.


    Suddenly, he collapses to the ground.


    "How dare you touch my daughter with your dirty hands?"