The Billionaire's Forgotten promise

Rain poured relentlessly over Ashwood City, turning the streets into rivers of mud. Twelve-year-old Lena Brooks clutched a paper bag tightly against her chest as she hurried through the market. Inside the bag were two small loaves of bread. They were all she could afford after spending the last of her mother's money. Her father had died six months earlier in a factory accident, leaving behind debts instead of savings. Since then, every meal had become a miracle. "Lena!" the baker shouted from behind his stall. "Tell your mother I'll let you pay next week." She smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Collins." As she turned into a narrow alley to shorten the walk home, she froze. Someone was sitting against the brick wall. A boy. About fifteen years old. His clothes were soaked by the rain. His hands were bruised. There was dried blood at the corner of his mouth. He looked as though he hadn't eaten in days. Their eyes met. For a long moment, neither spoke. Then his stomach growled loudly. Lena looked down at the bread in her hands. She knew what it meant. If she gave it away, her mother and little brother would have almost nothing for dinner. If she walked away... This stranger might not survive the night. She closed her eyes for a second. Then she stepped forward. Without saying a word, she tore one loaf in half and held it out. The boy stared at her. "I can't take that." "You need it more than I do." "You don't even know me." Lena smiled. "My father always said kindness doesn't need introductions." The boy slowly accepted the bread. His hands trembled. He ate as though every bite was keeping him alive. Lena sat beside him under the broken awning. "What's your name?" He hesitated. "Nathan." "I'm Lena." Silence settled between them. For the first time in days, Nathan felt safe. "My parents are gone," he admitted quietly. "I have nowhere to go." Lena's heart tightened. She reached into the paper bag again. There was only one loaf left. She split it in half. "Take this too." "No." "I'm serious." "But your family—" "We'll manage." Nathan looked at her as though he couldn't believe someone could be this kind. People had ignored him. Some had chased him away. Others had stolen what little he had. Yet this girl... ...who clearly had almost nothing... ...was giving him everything. "Lena." "Yes?" "If I ever become someone important..." She laughed softly. "You already are." He shook his head. "No." He looked directly into her eyes. "I promise you this." "One day..." "I'll come back." "And when I do..." "I'll change your life." Lena smiled. "I don't need anything." "Maybe not." "But I do." He removed a worn silver coin from his pocket. It had a tiny wolf engraved on one side. He pressed it into her hand. "Keep this." "So I'll know it's really you?" Nathan nodded. "No matter how many years pass..." "I'll find you." Lightning flashed across the sky. Moments later, a black luxury car stopped at the end of the alley. Two men in expensive suits rushed toward Nathan. "There you are!" "We've been searching everywhere." Nathan stood. He looked back at Lena one last time. "I won't forget." Then he disappeared into the waiting car. Lena watched until the taillights vanished into the rain. She slipped the silver coin into her pocket. She had no idea... ...that the hungry boy she had fed was the missing heir to one of the richest families in the country. Nor did she know... ...that fifteen years later... ...he would return as a billionaire. And he had never forgotten his promise. End of Chapter 1 By Jasmine