prologue
863 Words
Prologue
Love was never supposed to happen.
At least, that was what Emily Carter had always believed.
Growing up in the peaceful town of Rosewood, Emily had spent her entire life chasing one dream—to build a future that would make her parents proud. While other girls dreamed of fairy-tale romances and perfect dates, she dreamed of graduating with honors, landing her dream career, and giving her family the life they deserved.
She believed love could wait.
Dreams couldn't.
Every morning she woke up before sunrise, helped her mother around the house, and buried herself in books before school. Her classmates often called her "the quiet genius." Some admired her determination, while others thought she was boring.
Emily didn't mind.
She wasn't trying to impress anyone.
She simply wanted a different future.
Life in Rosewood was simple. The streets were quiet, the neighbors knew one another by name, and nothing exciting ever happened. Every day looked exactly like the one before.
Until one ordinary Tuesday afternoon.
Her phone buzzed while she was studying in the school library.
Unknown Email.
She almost ignored it.
Instead, she opened it.
Her heart stopped.
"Congratulations, Emily Carter.
We are delighted to inform you that you have been awarded a full scholarship to St. Victoria University..."
She read the email once.
Then twice.
Then a third time.
Her hands trembled so badly that her phone nearly slipped onto the floor.
Tears blurred her vision.
Years of sleepless nights...
Years of sacrificing parties...
Years of saying "no" to distractions...
Every sacrifice had finally been worth it.
When she told her parents, her mother burst into tears while her father hugged her tighter than he ever had before.
"You did it," he whispered.
"You really did it."
For the first time in her life, Emily felt like the entire world had opened its doors for her.
She imagined new friends.
New opportunities.
A fresh start where nobody knew her.
She believed university would be the beginning of the happiest chapter of her life.
She couldn't have been more wrong.
Because on the other side of the city...
Someone else was beginning a new chapter too.
His name was Alexander Hayes.
Unlike Emily, Alexander had everything money could buy.
Luxury cars.
A mansion.
Private schools.
Designer clothes.
Powerful parents.
People looked at him and saw perfection.
They didn't see the loneliness hidden behind his cold expression.
His family owned one of the largest business empires in the country. From the day he was born, every step of his life had already been planned.
He wasn't allowed to fail.
He wasn't allowed to choose.
He wasn't even allowed to fall in love.
To the outside world, Alexander Hayes was arrogant, untouchable, and impossible to approach.
The truth was much different.
He had spent years building walls around his heart because everyone who came close wanted something from him.
Money.
Status.
Connections.
No one ever wanted him.
He had stopped believing genuine people still existed.
University wasn't exciting to him.
It was just another place where people would pretend to like him because of his last name.
Little did he know...
Everything was about to change because of one stubborn girl who wasn't afraid to argue with him.
The day finally arrived.
Emily hugged her parents goodbye with tears in her eyes before boarding the bus to the city.
As the familiar streets disappeared behind her, excitement slowly replaced her fear.
"This is it," she whispered to herself.
"My new beginning."
Hours later, she arrived at St. Victoria University.
The campus was breathtaking.
Ancient stone buildings stood proudly beneath the morning sun. Students hurried across the walkways, laughing with friends while carrying books and coffee cups. Everything felt alive.
Emily smiled.
"This is home now."
She had no idea that, only minutes later, her peaceful first day would be turned upside down.
A distracted student bumped into her.
Her books scattered across the pavement.
At the exact same moment, another person reached down to pick them up.
Their hands touched.
Emily looked up.
The boy standing in front of her had dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and an unreadable expression.
Neither of them spoke.
For several long seconds, they simply stared at one another.
Something strange passed between them.
Not love.
Not friendship.
Something neither of them could explain.
Then he stood up, handed her the last book, and said in a cold voice,
"You should watch where you're going."
Emily frowned immediately.
"Excuse me? You walked into me."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Did I?"
Without another word, he walked away.
Emily watched him disappear into the crowd.
"What an arrogant jerk," she muttered.
Behind him, Alexander couldn't explain why he had turned around for one brief second.
The girl was still standing there.
Annoyed.
Stubborn.
Completely unimpressed by him.
For the first time in years...
Someone hadn't cared who Alexander Hayes was.
Neither of them knew it yet.
That single moment would become the beginning of a story filled with laughter, heartbreak, betrayal, impossible choices, painful secrets, and a love that would be tested by fate itself.
Sometimes, destiny doesn't introduce soulmates with a kiss.
Sometimes...
It begins with an argument.
- Writer
