Chapter 3 – The First Encounter
1105 Words
20 YEARS LATER
Twenty years had passed since the night Lily Cruz’s life had been torn apart. The little girl who had once hidden in silence was gone. In her place stood Lily Aguas—the most promising young lawyer in town.
Her reputation had followed her long before she ever set foot in New York City. Colleagues whispered about her sharp mind, her ability to dismantle cases piece by piece. Judges admired her composure, her eloquence, and her refusal to be intimidated, even by men twice her age with twice her experience.
But Lily hadn’t come to New York just for the courts.
She wanted a fresh start, a city where the ghosts of Marion couldn’t chase her at every corner and more than that, she wanted to give back. The orphanage she visited that afternoon wasn’t on her official schedule, it was something she had insisted on herself.
Children ran through the gates, laughter echoing across the small playground. Lily stood near the entrance, her black heels clicking against the pavement, her eyes softening as she watched. She remembered her own time in those early homes, the confusion, the coldness of a system that barely noticed her.
“Attorney Aguas?” the headmistress greeted warmly, shaking her hand. “We’re so grateful you came. The children will be thrilled.”
Lily smiled politely. “It’s my pleasure. Places like this… they matter.”
She walked inside, her posture graceful, every inch the professional woman she had grown into. Yet under the surface, there was a heaviness, a memory of being the girl who never spoke.
And then she saw him, a young man so strikingly handsome, with a powerful, sculpted physique, that he seemed to hold the gaze of every girl in the room.
Jasper Sebastian.
At first, he didn’t notice her. He was crouched in the middle of the playground, his sleeves rolled up, tie loose, laughing as three children tugged at his arms. He let one climb on his back while another tried to steal his wristwatch. His laughter was genuine, light, the kind that made people turn their heads.
Something about it caught Lily off guard. Men of his kind— he looked rich, powerful, more like an heir of an empire—rarely allowed themselves to look so human.
He finally looked up. His eyes landed on her immediately, as though the world had dimmed and she was the only one standing in the light. His smile shifted, playful, intrigued.
Leaving the children, he dusted his hands and walked straight toward her.
“You’re new here,” he said, his voice smooth, confident. “And you don’t look like the type to get her shoes dirty.”
Lily raised a brow. “And you don’t look like the type who spends his afternoons in an orphanage.”
He laughed, unfazed by the jab. “Touché.” Extending a hand, he added, “Jasper Sebastian.”
She looked at the hand, then at his face. He was handsome—too handsome for his own good, the kind of man who knew exactly what effect he had on women. Sharp jawline, warm brown eyes, that smile that was both trouble and charm.
“Lily,” she said simply, shaking his hand briefly before pulling back.
“No last name?” he teased.
“You don’t need it.”
He smirked. “Fair enough. So, Lily, are you here to adopt or just steal the kids’ hearts like I do?”
“Neither,” she replied, folding her arms. “well I…..I came to donate to the orphanage, giving back to the community , that sort of thing.” not wanting to reveal her true identity.
“Ah,” Jasper said, tilting his head. “Wow I guess we have something in common though I should’ve guessed. You look gorgeous Miss Lily.”
Lily fought the urge to smile, keeping her expression neutral. He was too smooth. Men like him were dangerous not because they meant harm, but because they made women forget better judgment.
Jasper didn’t seem bothered by her coolness. If anything, it amused him. He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice just enough to sound conspiratorial. “I think you’re hiding something.”
“And what would that be?”
“That you’re secretly enjoying this conversation.”
Lily let out a small laugh despite herself. “Confident, aren’t you?”
“Not confident,” Jasper corrected. “Observant.”
She shook her head, turning her gaze back toward the children. “You don’t even know me.”
“Not yet,” he said, his tone carrying the weight of promise.
For the next half hour, he stayed by her side. They spoke about trivial things at first—the kids, the city, the noise of New York compared to quieter towns. He asked questions easily, as though he wanted to know more than her job, more than the polished version she presented. She answered carefully, measuring every word, but she couldn’t deny she enjoyed the banter.
When she laughed at one of his ridiculous jokes about trying and failing to cook, she immediately regretted it. His smile deepened, like he had won some secret battle.
As they walked back toward the gate, Jasper glanced at her phone in her hand. “Wouldn’t you just give me your number at least?”
Lily slowed her steps, looking at him with that practiced lawyer’s calm. “No.”
He blinked, caught off guard for the first time since they’d met. “No?”
“No,” she repeated, though her lips curved into a small smile.
Jasper studied her, the corner of his mouth twitching. “You’re not serious.”
“Let’s just say I don't give my number to strangers.”
“Do you know how many women beg me for mine?”
“And do you know how many men I’ve said no to?”
He let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “You’re tough.”
“I’m realistic,” Lily corrected. She stepped closer to her car, unlocking the door. “Goodbye, Mr. Sebastian.”
But her smile lingered, betraying her.
As she slid into the driver’s seat, she caught his reflection in the side mirror. He was standing with his hands in his pockets, still watching her, still smiling like a man who wasn’t used to hearing no but wasn’t planning to give up.
And though she drove away, her heart was beating faster than she wanted to admit. For the first time in years, someone actually swept Lily Aguas off her feet.
- Writer
