Who is he?

Peter watched as Nora disappeared into the building.

He then got into his car, his expression was unreadable, his eyes fixed on the spot where she had vanished.

After a few moments, a slow, almost sinister smile spread across his face. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, as he just smiled to himself.

He picked his phone up and called his assistant Peculiar "Hello sir" she said, I need you to look up on someone I will send you the details.

He hang up and sent out the details to his assistant.

Finally, he started the car, the engine purring to life, and drove off into the night, leaving behind only the faint echoes of his presence.

Nora closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she tried to calm her racing heart.

Trying to shake off the feeling of his eyes staring at her.

The encounter with Alex, as he had introduced himself left her unsettled. The way he had stared at her, the way he had pulled her close... it was all too intense, too unnerving.

His handsome appearance made it impossible to shake him from her thoughts.

She was about to head to her room when a voice cut through the silence, sharp and mocking. "Who is he?"

Nora stiffened, recognizing the voice of her stepsister Vanessa even before she turned around. Vanessa stood in the dimly lit hallway, arms crossed over her chest, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

She leaned casually against the wall, her posture exuding a confidence that Nora had never been able to match.

"None of your business," Nora muttered, turning away and heading toward her room.

The last thing she wanted was to engage in another one of Vanessa's cruel conversations.

But Vanessa wasn't done. She trailed after Nora, her voice laced with venom. "Oh, come on, Nora.

We both know there's no way a man like that is here for you.

Who is he? Some old fat man? Maybe a loser who pities you? I mean, look at you. Who would ever be interested in someone with such an ugly and pitiful face?

Nora's hand tightened on the doorknob as she tried to block out Vanessa's words. She could feel the familiar sting of tears threatening to well up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to give her stepsister the satisfaction.

Vanessa continued, her tone dripping with mockery. I know he's just another old man trying to feel good about himself by helping a charity case like you.

But let's be real, Nora. He could never be like my Rick.

The mention of Rick Donald, the hotel manager who had made Nora's life miserable in so many ways, who was entirely under Vanessa's spell.

Nora's pace quickened as she hurried toward her room trying to ignore Vanessa.

Vanessa's voice trailed behind her, still sharp, still taunting, but Nora reached her room and quickly shut the door behind her, twisting the lock with a shaking hand.

Once inside, she leaned against the door, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.

She closed her eyes, trying to push back the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Hmmm," she breathed out a sigh of relief, her body sagging against the door.

The silence was a comfort, a barrier between her and the outside world a world where Vanessa's cruelty reigned unchecked, where her father's indifference cut deeper than any insult.

Nora's room was her sanctuary, a small space where she could momentarily escape the harsh realities of her life.

She moved to the window, pulling back the curtain just enough to peer outside. The street was empty, the only movement coming from the flickering streetlights. There was no sign of Alex car, no indication that he had been there at all.

She search for him curiosity with her eyes across the street.

Who was he, really? And why did he seem so intent on helping her? She had been wary of him at first, but there was something about the way he had looked at her, the way he had spoken to her, that made her feel safe.

It was an odd feeling, one she wasn't accustomed to, and it left her feeling more confused than ever.

But I love the feeling and I think I like him she smiled to himself sheepishly.

Nora sighed, letting the curtain fall back into place. She needed to focus, to figure out what her next steps would be.

Her mother was still in the hospital, her condition uncertain.

Vanessa was as vicious as ever, and her father's loyalty seemed irrevocably aligned with his mistress and her daughter.

Vanessa's words echoed in her mind, but this time they didn't sting as much. They were just words, after all. And Nora knew that the only power they had over her was the power she allowed them to have.

She glanced at her phone, wondering if she should call Michelle or Nelly, her only friends who had stuck by her through everything.

But then she decided against it. Tonight, she needed to be alone and to gather her thoughts.

The silence of the room was soothing, and as she lay down on her bed, Nora allowed herself to relax only only for a moment.

Then she went into the bathroom to clean up. After her shower she lay down in her bed with mixed feelings.

She decided to play a song from her phone to enlighten her mood and help her fall asleep.

She thought about his handsome face and when he pulled her in so close to his face that she felt like kissing him at that moment but he broke the silence before her face could get close.

He only only told me his name she thought, I don't even have his number nor his social Media account.

I just hope he got home safely and she also prayed that our paths would cross again.

She muttered as she finally drifted off to sleep.