CHAPTER 8

As I sat on the pedestrian seat, tears streaming down my face, I felt like I was falling apart. I had never felt so alone and vulnerable in my life.

The whole family, no one stood. No one has ever shown me love since I was born. I'm really connected to them by blood, or I'm adopted. Why the hate from everyone.

Just as I was starting to compose myself, I heard the sound of a car stopping behind me. I turned to see a sleek black sedan pulling up to the curb.

The window rolled down, and Julian's handsome face appeared. "Alex, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I quickly wiped away my tears, feeling embarrassed and exposed. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, trying to play it cool.

But Julian wasn't buying it. He got out of the car and walked over to me, his eyes locked on mine. "You're not fine," he said gently. "What's going on?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. But there was something about Julian's kind and genuine expression that put me at ease.

"I just had a fight with my father," I said, my voice shaking. "He's...he's not a very nice person. He's always bad to me."

Julian's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm so sorry, Alex," he said. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. Julian sat down beside me on the pedestrian seat, and I poured out my heart to him, telling him everything about my father and our toxic relationship.

As I talked, Julian listened intently, his eyes never leaving mine. He didn't judge me or try to offer solutions. He just listened, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly heard.

When I finished talking, Julian put a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You're not alone, Alex," he said. "I'm here for you. If you want to take revenge on anyone that hurts you. I, Julian, will be your weapon."

I felt a surge of gratitude towards him, and for a moment, I forgot about all my troubles. All I could think about was the kindness and compassion in Julian's eyes.

"Why are you trying to help me? This is the second time you are seeing me"

Julian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm helping you because you seem like someone who could use a friend right now," he said. "And I have to admit, I'm intrigued by you. You're not like anyone I've met before."

He paused, studying me for a moment. "Plus, I have to admit that I'm a little drawn to your fire and spirit," he said, his voice low and husky. "You're not afraid to speak your mind and stand up for yourself, even when it's hard. That takes a lot of courage, and I admire that."

I felt a flutter in my chest as I met Julian's gaze. No one had ever said anything like that to me before, and I wasn't sure how to respond.

But before I could say anything, Julian stood up and held out his hand. "Come on," he said. "Let me take you somewhere and get your mind off things. You can tell me more about what's going on, and I'll do my best to listen and offer some advice."

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But there was something about Julian's kind and genuine smile that put me at ease. So I took his hand, and let him lead me away from my troubles, at least for a little while.

As we walked, Julian asked me more about my father and our conversation. I told him about how my father had always prioritized the company over our family, and how it felt like he was more interested in protecting the company's reputation than in supporting me.

Julian listened attentively, his expression growing more and more concerned. When I finished talking, he put a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry you're going through this, Alex," he said. "No one deserves to be treated like that, especially not by their own family."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I met Julian's gaze. It was clear that he genuinely cared about what I was going through, and that meant more to me than I could say.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the cool evening air and the sound of birds chirping in the trees. Eventually, Julian spoke up again.

"Hey, I know this might seem like a weird question, but have you eaten dinner yet?" he asked.

I shook my head, realizing that I had forgotten all about food amid my emotional turmoil.

Julian smiled. "Great," he said. "I know just the place to take you. Best food in town, and a great view to boot."

He led me to a small, cozy restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. The sign above the door read "Bella Vita," and the aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering sauces wafted out into the street, making my stomach growl with hunger.

Julian opened the door and gestured for me to enter. "Welcome to my favorite restaurant," he said, smiling. "I think you're going to love it here."

As we stepped inside, I felt a sense of wonder and excitement. The restaurant was warm and inviting, with soft music playing in the background and candles flickering on every table.

Julian led me to a cozy table by the window, and we spent the next few hours enjoying a delicious meal and getting to know each other better.

As the night wore on, I found myself feeling more and more at ease in Julian's presence. He was easy to talk to, and he seemed to genuinely care about what I had to say.

But as the evening drew to a close, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Julian's story than he was letting on. He seemed to be hiding something, and I couldn't help but wonder what it might be.

As we finished our meal and prepared to leave, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. I had been having such a great time with Julian, and I didn't want the night to end.

But as we stepped outside into the cool evening air, Julian turned to me and smiled. "I'm not ready for the night to end yet," he said. "Would you like to take a walk with me?"

I nodded eagerly, and Julian offered me his arm. We strolled through the quiet streets, enjoying the peacefulness of the night.

As we walked, Julian told me more about himself. He talked about his childhood, his family, and his passions. I listened intently, fascinated by his stories and insights.

But even as I enjoyed Julian's company, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was still hiding something from me. I caught glimpses of a deeper sadness in his eyes, a sense of pain and loss that he didn't want to talk about.

I wanted to ask him about it, to push him to open up and share his secrets with me. But something held me back. Maybe it was fear of rejection, or maybe it was just a sense of respect for his boundaries.

Whatever the reason, I decided to let it go for now. Instead, I focused on enjoying the moment, on savoring the beauty of the night and the pleasure of Julian's company.

As we turned a corner, I caught sight of a beautiful park in the distance. The moon was shining down on the grass, casting a silver glow over the entire scene.

Julian followed my gaze and smiled. "Let's go take a look," he said, offering me his arm again.

I took it, and we strolled into the park together. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of crickets provided a soothing background hum.

It was a magical moment, one that I would never forget. And as I looked up at Julian, I felt a sense of wonder and excitement. Who was this man, really? And what secrets was he hiding behind those piercing blue eyes?