Shades of Love: A Love Worth Buying

***Riley’s POV*** “JULIANN!!” I shouted as I ran up to him and pushed him to the ground. Before I knew it, my body was numb and I felt dizzy, I had a migraine, and an excruciating pain in my legs. My vision was blurry, and people started gathering around me. Even though I couldn’t see them clearly, I could still hear what they were saying. “Call an ambulance!! NOW!!” “NO!! There’s no time to waste waiting for an ambulance. Someone, go get a car. There’s a hospital a few meters from here.” “And the bastard ran away!” “Hurry, she’s going to lose consciousness anytime from now.” They were all speaking at the same time, I suddenly found it difficult to breathe, and I started feeling pain in my chest, and before I could understand what was going on… everything went… Blank… ***Earlier that day*** “Guys, look, I got a cookie,” a little boy with dark hair said, swaying the cookie in his friend’s face. They then all ran in the direction of the stand with cookies and cupcakes. As they got near it, they started crying and asking for cookies, too. “Here, guys, calm down… Everybody is going to have a cookie. Come on!” I said, handing each of them a cookie and smiling as their faces instantly lit up. I then watched them eating and smiling at each other, and I tried imagining what it could feel like to have this childhood. “Riley!! Riley!! … Earth to Riley!” I heard Lisa call my name, waking me from my daze… “Uhm-yeah Lisa, you were saying?!” I answered “I was asking… Don’t you think we should start packing already?” She said, rolling her eyes in annoyance since she’s been repeating herself for the past minute now. “Yeah, why not…” I answered, grinning, trying to annoy her more as she made her way to the others to start packing up. ***Back at the Bakery*** I sighed. “Finally!!” I said, placing the last box of utensils from the party on the counter. “Lisa, we’ve got everything right?” I asked Lisa who came in with what I presumed was the last box from the van. “Yeah, there’s nothing left in the van,” she answered, and then she vanished into the kitchen. “Oh my god, I’m exhausted,” I said, making my way to the front of the shop when I saw something strange under one of the tables. I saw a little girl hiding under the table, eating a cookie with a teddy bear in her hand. I’ve never seen such a cute girl in my life. She had caramel skin, beautiful ocean blue eyes, and stunning black and coily hair. Bending over to the table, I waved at her, “Hey princess!” I stretched out my arm for her to take it. “How did you get here? Come on, you are so cute!!” I said as I gestured to her to come near me. “I got into your van from the party. He he,” she said, giggling “MIA!!!” A man came from outside shouting and calling, whom I presumed was the little girl. “Daddy!!” She said as she ran to him and hugged him as he carried her in his arms. *She must be the birthday girl. Since I remember writing Mia on the cake* I thought to myself. The man who just came in had an intimidating physique. He was quite handsome and had hypnotizing grey eyes and a dangerous aura. *Get it together, Riley! You have a fiance for crying out loud* I mentally face palmed myself, reminding me that I already have a fiance. “I finally found you. Don't ever do this to me again! Okay?” He said, rubbing his hand on her back. “Okay, daddy.” She said, moving for him to place her down as she made her way towards me one more time. “Beautiful lady! Why don't you marry my dad and become my mama?! He has a lot of money, you know?? He will buy you many, many things! And he’s very, very… handsome! Hehe,” she said, giggling. “Mia! Don't say things like that! Come on, baby girl. You're embarrassing her.” Her father said with a little bit of embarrassment. “No, it's okay. She is a kid, she doesn't know. I'll just answer her. I told her dad and bent over to talk to her. “Hey princessa! You don't marry for money, okay!! You marry for love. Because you feel in your heart that you want to spend the rest of your life with that person. Okay??!” I said, placing my hand on her chest where her heart is. “Ookayy” She said, and she turned to her dad. “Dad, can we get cupcakes?? Pleaseeee!!” She pleaded with cute puppy eyes. “Okay fine, but after that we are leaving, okay? Daddy still has work to do!” He said as he pick her up. “Please, can I get a dozen cupcakes??” He asked, turning to me. “Uhm hum,” I said and made my way to the kitchen to arrange a box of cupcakes. “There you go,” I said, handing him the box. “How much is that going to make?” He asked. “Oh no, don’t worry, it’s on the house,” I said, smiling at the little girl who had her eyes fixated on the box of cupcakes. “Thank you very much, miss… ?” he was thanking me when he realized he didn’t know my name. I then nervously answered “Oh, uhm, Smith. Riley Smith” Why on earth am I even being nervous. He smiled and nodded. They made their way out of the bakery, and I followed closely behind them, waving at Mia. They got into their car and drove off. I was heading back to the bakery when I spotted Julian talking to someone a little further from the bakery, near the main road. I was about to make my way to him and greet him when I saw a car coming at a high speed in his direction, and he seemed to be unaware of it.. “JULIANN!!” I shouted as I ran up to him and pushed him to the ground. My body was numb, and I felt dizzy. I had a migraine and an excruciating pain in my legs. My vision was blurry, people started gathering around me. Even though I couldn’t see them clearly but I could still hear what they were saying. “Call an ambulance!! NOW!!” “NO!! There’s no time to waste waiting for an ambulance. Someone, go get a car, there’s a hospital a few meters from here.” “And the bastard ran away!” “Hurry, she’s going to lose consciousness anytime from now.” They were all speaking at the same time, I suddenly found it difficult to breathe, and I started feeling pain in my chest, and before I could understand what was going on, everything went Blank…