Something Like Gold

Chapter 15

As the days passed, Julius continued to show interest in Ria, but she kept her distance, unsure of whether she could trust him. And though she remained friendly with Julia, the tension between them grew. Ria could see that Julia’s jealousy was simmering just beneath the surface.

Once again, Ria found herself in a situation where her past and her present seemed to collide. She had come to this village to find peace, but it seemed that even here, love and trust were hard to find.

Then came the afternoon that changed everything.

It was a bright, bustling day, and the local market was alive with activity. Children were playing, running around, and laughing as the villagers went about their day. Ria had just finished her shift at the supermarket and was walking down the road, her thoughts wandering. She noticed a group of boys playing football nearby, their game spilling onto the street.

Before she could react, the ball soared through the air, heading straight for her. Just as she braced herself, a man rushed toward her, intending to push her out of the ball’s path. But in his rush, he ended up swaying her right into his arms.

For a moment, everything stopped.

Ria found herself pressed against his chest, and when she looked up, her breath caught in her throat.Ria found herself pressed against his chest and when she looked up, her breath caught in her throat. The man who had caught her was tall, dark-skinned, and incredibly well-built. His handsome face was framed with deep concern, but there was a kindness in his eyes that made her heart race. They stood frozen, their eyes locked as though the world around them had disappeared.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice deep and gentle, his arms still around her.

Ria, her heart pounding, nodded slowly. “I think so,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man smiled, his face softening as he released her. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to catch you like that, but I didn’t want you to get hit.”

Ria, still slightly dazed from the encounter, smiled back. “Thank you. I didn’t see the ball coming.”

After a brief pause, the man extended his hand. “I’m Adam, by the way.”

“Ria,” she replied, shaking his hand, her pulse still racing.

As she walked home later that day, Ria couldn’t stop thinking about Adam. There was something about the way he had swooped in to help her, something about the kindness in his eyes that made her feel at ease. She didn’t know much about him, but something told her she would be seeing him again.

And she was right.

Over the next few weeks, Ria and Adam began crossing paths more often. Whether by coincidence or fate, they quickly fell into a comfortable routine of talking whenever they ran into each other. Adam told her that he was a construction worker, and like many men in the village, he worked hard to make ends meet. He wasn’t wealthy, but that didn’t matter to Ria. He had a warm heart, and in his presence, Emily felt safe and happy.

Before she knew it, Ria found herself looking forward to every moment she spent with Adam. They took long walks around the village, talked by the river, and shared stories about their lives. With Adam, Ria felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time—a spark of happiness, a sense of peace.

Tony’s betrayal no longer haunted her thoughts. In fact, she barely remembered him at all. Adam was different, and Ria cherished every second they spent together.

But while Ria’s feelings for Adam deepened, Julius, the wealthiest man in the village, was growing increasingly jealous. Julius had been pursuing Ria for weeks, and he believed that he should be the one she chose. With his four-bedroom bungalow, his wealth, and his status in the village, Julius had always assumed that Ria would come around to seeing him as the best option.

But now, with Adam in the picture, Julius’s confidence was shaken.

Determined to win Ria over, Julius decided to enlist the help of Julia—Ria’s friend and colleague at the supermarket. Julia, who had once harbored feelings for Julius herself, had hoped that he might eventually choose her. But seeing his growing obsession with Ria had left her bitter and envious.

One afternoon, Julius pulled Julia aside in a quiet corner of the supermarket.

“Julia,” he began, lowering his voice. “I need your help with something.”

Julia looked at him curiously. “What do you need help with?”

“It’s Ria,” Julius said, frustration creeping into his tone. “She’s spending too much time with that construction worker, Adam. You know I’m the better match for her. She needs to realize that. I need you to convince her.”

Julia felt a pang of jealousy at Julius’s words. She had always hoped that he would choose her, but now he was asking her to help him win over Ria. Despite her envy, she nodded, forcing a smile.

“I’ll talk to her.”

That evening, after work, Julia approached Ria as they were cleaning up the supermarket.

“Ria,” Julia began, trying to sound casual, “I’ve noticed something, and I think it’s time we talk about it.”

Ria looked up, sensing a serious conversation coming. “What’s on your mind?”

Julia hesitated for a moment, then continued. “It’s Julius. You know he’s been interested in you for a while now. He’s got everything—a big house, money, and status. Don’t you think you should consider him? He’s the best option for you.”

Ria sighed, feeling a familiar discomfort rise in her chest. “Julia, I don’t feel anything for Julius. I’m not interested in him.”

Julia frowned, clearly frustrated. “But why not? Most of the girls in this village would kill to have a man like Julius interested in them. He’s rich, Ria. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything if you were with him.”

Ria paused, sensing a deeper question in Julia’s words. She had always been careful not to reveal too much about her past, but now it seemed that Julia had picked up on something.

“Rich?” Ria repeated, narrowing her eyes. “What do you mean, Julia?”

Julia shrugged, her frustration growing. “You act like you’ve had money your whole life or something. Like you don’t care that Julius is wealthy. Most people in this village would jump at the chance to be with him.”

Ria’s heart raced as she realized Julia had no idea about her past. She was tempted to reveal everything about her life as a wealthy heiress—about why she had left her old life behind. But instead, she chose to keep her secret, at least for now.

“I don’t care about money, Julia,” Ria said firmly. “I’ve learned that wealth doesn’t bring happiness. What I care about is how I feel when I’m with someone. And when I’m with Adam, I feel something real.”

Julia let out a short, mocking laugh. “So you’d rather be with Adam? A broke construction worker? You could have Julius, who owns the biggest house in the village, and instead you’re falling for someone who barely has anything?”

Ria’s expression hardened. “Yes. I would rather be with Adam. He makes me happy, Julia. And I’m not interested in Julius or his money. If the village girls want him, they can have him.”