Written in the Stars

Chapter 2

Joelien Point of View

After being at the doctor’s, she went straight to the front desk to pay and then head back home. The whole waiting and being at the doctor have got her tired and she just wanted to go home.

Once she was there, Joelien fought the urge to collapse on the couch. Instead, she went to the horse stable—the one place where she could truly think.

Thankfully, it was still early, and her ranch hand had only just started his evening rounds.

Ever since she had fallen ill, working on the ranch had become harder. Some days, Joelien could hardly keep up with her chores and had to admit she needed help. It was, in truth, her ex-fiancé’s idea that she hire someone to lend a hand around the place.

And ever since, life had become just a bit easier.

There were still cows to be milked, horses to be exercised, and chickens that needed feeding. The garden, too, always demanded attention.

But with the pain and exhaustion that came and went like waves, even one day could feel like a mountain to climb.

Having help meant she no longer had to worry if every single task didn’t get done.

The horse stable stood at the far end of the ranch, quiet and apart from everything else. It had always been her hideaway—a place where she could clear her head and breathe again.

Joelien pulled open the big wooden door, and as she stepped inside, the familiar scent of hay and horse filled her senses. For the first time that day, she felt a small sense of calm.

It was her hidden place, where she always came when she needed to get away from the world, when everything felt too heavy to hold.

She knew this time of day was the stables still quiet and the horses was still out in the field so it was the only place in the farm where she could hide away.

At the stable’s wooden door, a pile of hay had been stacked up earlier that day. Joelien walked over to it and sat down on the rough, scratchy grass, drawing in a long breath as her eyes drifted toward the wide, open range.

This time of day was always her favorite.

The sun was sinking low, painting the land in soft gold. The last light broke over the earth like a warm, fading promise.

“I thought I’d find you here,” came a familiar voice beside her.

Joelien turned her head slightly, and a small, warm smile touched her lips when she saw Talia Piper. They had been best friends for as long as she could remember, and Talia, along with Maribel, had stood by her through everything, even her painful breakup with Driven.

“You found me,” Joelien said softly.

Talia walked over and settled beside her. For a moment, silence stretched between them, comfortable yet heavy, before Talia finally spoke.

“What did the doctors say?”

Joelien kept her gaze on the golden field in front of her. She drew in a deep breath, steadying herself before she answered.

“Well,” she began quietly, “my anemia has gotten worse… to the point it’s turned into—” She paused and turned to Talia, meeting her friend’s worried brown eyes.

“Iron deficiency anemia,” she finished, voice trembling slightly. “And the doctor thinks the best thing now would be… a blood transfusion.”

The worry deepened in Talia’s eyes. “Oh, Joelien,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Joelien shook her head, but the tears were already burning. She tried so hard to hold them back—to stay strong—but seeing the concern in her best friend’s face broke whatever strength she had left for the day.

In second she began to snob when the tears slipped free, running down her cheeks before she could stop them.

And before she knew it, Talia reached out, pulling her into a tight, steadying embrace.

Joelien sank into the hug, warm and safe. She needed this—needed her friend—now more than ever.

When it get darker Joelien and her friend Talia decide to went inside the house. And since she was not in the mood to cook decide Talia it would be best to get an old good movie for them and snacks and some wine.

So the two of them sunk down on the large blue sofa in the TV room and each one have glass of wine in they hand with bowl of snacks in front of them on the coffee table . Chips , some chocolates and biscuits.

And just to make it good night the two of them decide to watch good old comedy movie together. Joelien was thank full for her friend Talia .

She would not know what she would have done . Her best friend was like sister to for her and support her in many way .

Especially after today visit from the doctor.

That night the two of them snack of the chips and chocolates and drink wine while they sat all cozy under a blanket on the large sofa and watch some old good comedy. When it got more late fell the both of them asleep on the sofa.

Mathew Point of View

He woke up early that morning, long before the sun had warmed New York city, driven by the weight of the flight he needed to catch later that day. He wanted to reach Africa a bit earlier—just enough time to adjust, settle in, and prepare himself for the months ahead.

That thought alone pushed him out of bed. He decide to take earlier shower and got dress for the day.

His suitcase lay open on the neatly made bed, half-packed with the essentials he would need.

Crisp formal shirts, neatly folded long pants, three pairs of polished shoes, underwear, night clothes, and a few casual outfits for the rare off-site days. Mathew himself was already dressed in a fresh, light-blue formal shirt with a black tie and matching black trousers.

The fabric smelled clean, sharp—new day, new beginning.

He walked toward the closet to grab the last few items he needed.

But as he opened the wooden doors, his eyes drifted toward a section he usually avoided. Hanging there were the shirts his ex-fiancée had bought him—luxurious brands, soft fabrics, the kind she insisted he deserved.

She always chose the expensive stuff: Gucci, Prada, all the finest labels.

He always agree with her that he don’t need brand clothes to wear. But to her it all was about the brand you wear and what was in fashion.

A small, familiar pinch tightened in the corner of his heart as his eyes fall on the clothes.

Those shirts weren’t just clothes.

They were pieces of the past—memories stitched into fabric. Moments he was trying so hard to bury. Some had only been worn once or twice, yet every one of them had a story, a reminder of the life he thought he would have.

He swallowed hard.

Without giving himself time to think, Mathew reached up and pulled the first shirt from the hanger. Then another. And another.

He grabbed a large black bag from the bottom of the closet and tossed them in one by one. It was time—past time—to clean out his wardrobe and let the last pieces of her go.

It has being months that his ex have moved out and it was time to let go of the clothes she have bought him back then.

Because what she had done… still burned , even if it was has being month ago when he have found her .

Cheating on him with one of his closest friends. In their house. In their bedroom. In their bed. If he hadn’t come home early that day, he would have walked blindly into a life built on lies.

A deep sorrow settled in his chest as he continued clearing the closet. Trousers she had bought. Shoes she insisted he needed. Every piece of clothing that still carried her presence. He tossed them all into the bag—slowly, methodically—until nothing of her remained.

Only then did he let himself exhale.

When he got each piece of her out . When he was done he walked over to his bed side and sunk down on the soft bed .

He have to replace the bed too when he found her cheating on him in their bed. He could not kept the bed . It was cold remind of what she have done to him.

With deep breath draw in he picked up his office formal black pointy shoes and began to pull one by one on his feet.

When he was done he grab the last view things what he needed then close his suit case and then headed with his suite case to the kitchen in front of his pent house.

As he enter the penthouse was he meet with warm aroma of fresh fried eggs with bacon and toast in the air and fresh brew coffee.

A warm smile form his lips when he knew his butler was here already busy preparing breakfast.

“ Good Morning MR “ greeted Phil the butler from the stove busy frying bacon.

Mathew walked over to the table and put down the suit case and then greeted his butler.

“ Good morning Phil “

Thank full for Phil was he grateful for all the help around the penthouse. Ever since Kaylee his Ex have walked out , the big pent house have begun like a ghost .

Some of the furniture was missing , his ex-took her furniture and Mathew haven’t got the courage to full up the penthouse again.

Phil stood by him when he was down at the dumps and could not ate or sleep .

“ So when would your flight be departed “ Asked Phil while placing the fresh fried bacon in side plate . Mathew walked over to the kitchen counted and sat down on one of the wooden chair. In minute Phil place a table mat in front of him with fork and knife then a plate with toast and eggs and bacon .

Mathew smile when he saw the plate and then looked over to Phil and say “ Thank you”

The butler nod then move over to the coffee machine .

AS Mathew picked up his knife and fork he say “ MY flight is at eleven this morning and I would be away for view weeks . “

The first thing he do is cutting in to his eggs and bacon and take big bite out of it . The kitchen full with silent as Phil prepare the coffee and Mathew ate his breakfast. After while Mathew hear Phil asked him.

“ Would you be okay in strange land like Africa Sir “

Mathew frown as his gaze shift to the butler who place a mug in front of him with fresh warm coffee.

“ I am familiar with the country “ say Mathew casual and dig in to his food again “ I have friend down at the country and would love to visit him again “

The butler nod and then smile from his lips “ Well then I think he would be please to see you again “ say Phil .

Mathew took big piece of his bacon and place it in his mouth. He could not wait to she his old friend again . He have some places in mind what he want to visit down at Africa . Some of his favorite food places what make the best food ever.

After he ate his breakfast he say good bye to Phil and tell him he would be calling in at night to check on him. He would be back in view weeks . By that time was his yellow cap outside the penthouse and it was time to go .

With excited in his heart he got in to the cap and went off to the airport.

As the new adventure awaits for him.

Driven Point OF View

As the morning sun broke through the bedroom window, its warmth stirred Driven from his deep sleep with soft buzz coming from the room Television. He stretched slightly and turned—only to find his wife, Briar, already awake.

Their little one, Michaela, rested on her mother’s lap, cuddled up in the blankets while the TV played softly in the background.

Driven pushed himself upright, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Look who’s finally awake,” Briar teased gently, her smile warm.

He gave her a small, tired smile in return—but before he could say anything, Michaela’s face lit up. With a delighted squeal, she scrambled out of her mother’s lap and threw herself at him.

“Daddy! You’re awake!” she chirped.

Driven chuckled at her excitement.

Nothing warmed his heart more than seeing his daughter so happy to see him. Her tiny arms wrapped tightly around his neck as he kissed her cheek.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” he whispered warm to his daughter.

Michaela pulled back just enough to look at him with those big, adorable blue eyes. “Daddy, can we get some breakfast, please?” she asked, her little voice sweet and growing clearer each day. She had only recently started speaking more, and every new word melted him.

He watch how his daughter grow from a baby to the adorable little girl is the most precious thing in life ever. He loved his daughter so much.

Driven glanced at Briar, who was smiling knowingly. “Well, you heard her,” she chuckled. “The little one is a bit hungry.”

When it came to his daughter, he would do anything. She was the reason he had married Braire in the first place.

When Briar told him she was expecting, after only one night stand, it had shocked him—back then, he had just got married to Joelien

Ending that marriage hadn’t been easy, but once Michaela existed, he felt he had no other choice but to step into the role of a father and marry the woman carrying his child. It was not his best point of year to get married twice and lost a child that same year.

He was complete numb at his marriage that day and the words “I love” felted like knife in his chest when he say it to his wife when he felt like he don’t mean it.

He looked down at Michaela as she gave him her irresistible puppy-eyed smile. He couldn’t help but smile warmly back.

But his daughter mean everything to him , she was the one who got to lived along his other two he have lost.

“Okay,” he said softly. “Let’s get some breakfast.”

With that, he scooped her into his arms, rose from the bed, and headed toward the kitchen—his daughter giggling happily against his shoulder.