A Heart without love
669 Words
The morning sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Ashford Tower, where Arin sat at the head of a long conference table. Around him, executives presented reports worth millions of dollars.
"The East Coast investment has increased by twelve percent."
"Our technology division exceeded expectations."
"The charity foundation has received international recognition."
One by one, they spoke, but Arin barely heard them.
His thoughts drifted back to the dinner with his parents.
Three months.
In three months, he would marry a woman he barely knew.
When the meeting ended, the directors congratulated him on another successful quarter. Arin smiled politely, shook their hands, and watched them leave.
Daniel remained behind.
"You don't look happy."
"I'm not."
"You've built one of the greatest companies in the world."
"And yet," Arin replied, "I feel like my life has already been planned by someone else."
Daniel hesitated before speaking.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Arin looked out the window.
"I don't think so."
---
Across the city, life was very different.
Kaisha lived in a small apartment with her grandmother. The walls were old, and the furniture had seen better days, but the tiny home was always filled with laughter.
Unlike many people her age, Kaisha never complained about what she didn't have.
Instead, she focused on helping others.
Every morning, she volunteered at a community center where children from struggling families came to study, play, and dream of brighter futures.
"Miss Kaisha!" a little boy shouted as she entered.
"You promised to teach me how to paint today."
She laughed.
"And I always keep my promises."
The children surrounded her, each eager to show their drawings and stories.
Watching them smile reminded Kaisha that happiness wasn't measured by money.
It was measured by kindness.
---
That afternoon, Arin visited one of his company's charity projects. Cameras flashed as reporters followed him.
He greeted staff members, shook hands, and answered questions.
Everything felt rehearsed.
Everything except one moment.
Near the playground, he noticed a young woman kneeling beside a little girl who had fallen while running.
Instead of calling for help, the woman gently cleaned the child's scraped knee, smiled, and told her a funny story until the tears disappeared.
The little girl burst into laughter.
Arin couldn't take his eyes off the scene.
"Who is she?" he quietly asked one of the organizers.
"That's Kaisha."
"Does she work here?"
"No."
"She's a volunteer."
"A volunteer?"
The organizer nodded.
"She comes almost every day. She refuses to accept any payment."
Arin watched as Kaisha helped another child tie his shoelaces before joining a group of children reading beneath a large oak tree.
There was no audience.
No cameras.
No applause.
She simply cared.
For the first time in years, Arin felt something he couldn't explain.
Not love.
Not yet.
But curiosity.
As he prepared to leave, Kaisha walked past him carrying a stack of books.
She wasn't looking where she was going.
Neither was he.
The books slipped from her hands and scattered across the walkway.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed.
Without thinking, Arin knelt beside her and began gathering the books.
"I'm so sorry," he said.
Kaisha looked up.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
His deep brown eyes reflected surprise.
Her warm hazel eyes held quiet confidence.
"Thank you," she said with a gentle smile.
"You're welcome."
She accepted the books, smiled once more, and walked away without another word.
No excitement.
No request for a photograph.
No attempt to learn his name.
She didn't even seem to recognize one of the richest men in the kingdom.
Arin stood there, watching her disappear among the children.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Interesting," he whispered.
Far behind him, Daniel noticed the expression.
He had never seen Arin smile like that before.
And somewhere inside Arin's heart, a tiny seed had just been planted.
Neither of them knew it yet...
But this accidental meeting was only the beginning of a love that would soon challenge every promise ever made.
- Writer
