HER DARK PATH

Ordinary morning

Chapter 2

An Ordinary Morning

The shrill sound of the alarm echoed through the apartment.

Nadia reached over, switched it off, and sat up in bed. She remained still for a moment, staring at the pale morning light filtering through her curtains.

Another day had begun.

Another list of responsibilities waited for her.

She tied her long black hair into a ponytail, slipped into a simple hoodie, and quietly stepped out of her room.

The apartment was silent.

Exactly the way she preferred it.

In the kitchen, she began preparing breakfast with practiced ease. While eggs sizzled in the frying pan, she brewed tea and packed two lunch boxes.

She had done this so many times that every movement came naturally.

A few minutes later, she carried a tray into the master bedroom.

Her father was awake, sitting on the edge of the bed with a blanket over his shoulders. Although illness had weakened him, his smile remained as warm as ever.

"Good morning, Dad."

"Good morning, my princess."

She laughed softly.

"I've told you not to call me that."

"And I've told you I'll never stop."

She placed the tray beside him before handing him his medication.

"How did you sleep?"

"Better than yesterday."

"I hope you're telling me the truth."

"I am."

He swallowed his medicine and looked at her with gentle eyes.

"You barely sleep, Nadia."

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

"Because it's true."

He sighed.

"You've carried this family on your shoulders for years."

She smiled, but there was sadness hidden behind it.

"We're family. That's what family does."

Before he could reply, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.

"Nadia!"

Her younger brother rushed into the dining room, struggling to put on his wristwatch while balancing a backpack on one shoulder.

"I'm late!"

"You've been saying that every morning since you started college."

"Because I'm always late."

She handed him a lunch box.

"And you'll stay late if you don't leave now."

He accepted it with a grin.

"You're the best sister in the world."

"I know."

He laughed.

"There she is."

"Who?"

"The real Nadia."

"What does that mean?"

"The one who actually jokes."

She playfully nudged his shoulder.

"Go before you miss your first lecture."

He hugged her tightly.

"Love you."

"I love you too."

Moments later, the front door closed behind him.

Silence settled over the apartment once again.

It didn't last long.

The sound of high heels echoed from outside.

The front door opened.

A woman dressed in an elegant red dress walked in, carrying an expensive handbag.

Without looking at anyone, she placed her sunglasses on the table.

"I'm home."

Nadia greeted her politely.

"Good morning, Mom."

Her mother responded with nothing more than a brief nod.

She poured herself a cup of coffee before checking her reflection in the microwave door.

"I'll be out again tonight."

Neither Nadia nor her father asked where she was going.

They already knew.

Her father quietly looked away.

Nadia simply continued clearing the breakfast dishes.

Some questions had stopped needing answers a long time ago.

By eight o'clock, the university campus was alive with activity.

Students hurried between lecture halls, greeted old friends, and laughed about assignments they hadn't started.

Nadia walked through the main gate carrying only a backpack and a notebook.

She preferred traveling light.

As she crossed the courtyard, familiar faces greeted her.

"Morning, Nadia."

"Good morning."

"Ready for today's test?"

"I hope so."

She smiled politely before continuing toward the Faculty of Business.

Near the entrance stood a small crowd of students.

At the center of it was Ethan.

He leaned against a stone bench with a laptop resting on his knees while two classmates watched the screen in amazement.

"I still don't understand how you fixed it that quickly," one of them said.

"It wasn't difficult," Ethan replied with a smile.

"You call everything 'not difficult.'"

He laughed.

"I've just had a lot of practice."

Nadia walked past the group.

For a brief moment, Ethan looked up.

Their eyes met.

She gave him a polite nod.

He returned it with an easy smile.

They had shared the same department for years.

They knew each other's names.

Occasionally, they exchanged greetings before lectures.

Nothing more.

Neither of them imagined that would soon change.

Just then, a black luxury car pulled up near the faculty building.

The conversations around the courtyard grew quieter.

Vanessa Reed stepped out, dressed with effortless elegance.

She smiled as several students greeted her.

Her eyes searched the crowd until they landed on Ethan.

A warm smile spread across her face.

She started walking toward him.

Without realizing it...

Someone else had already caught Ethan's attention.