The Girl They Don't know

Chapter one

The Stranger in Riverside

The bell above the café door chimed softly as Lila Hart wiped down the counter. Riverside was a small town where everyone knew everyone, so she immediately noticed the stranger who walked in. He looked completely out of place in his expensive suit and polished shoes. His confident stride and serious expression made him stand out among the town's familiar faces.

He stopped at the counter and glanced at the menu. "Coffee," he said.

Lila raised an eyebrow. "That's very specific."

The stranger looked unimpressed. "Black."

"Well, that's slightly better."

For a moment, they stared at each other. Neither seemed willing to back down, they stared at each other for two minutes before they could look away. The stranger looked annoyed by her attitude, while Lila found his arrogance impossible to ignore.

After serving his coffee, she expected him to leave her alone, but she could still feel his gaze following her around the café. Something about him irritated her, yet she couldn't stop thinking about him.

As he finally stood to leave, their eyes met once more. Neither knew it then, but this brief encounter was only the beginning. The stranger's arrival in Riverside was about to change Lila's life forever.