The billionaires forgotten promise

Chapter 1: The Life She Was Given The morning sun had barely risen over Seaside City when Annalise Rose Darlington stepped through the gates of her college. She adjusted the strap of her backpack and hurried toward the lecture hall. She was already five minutes late. “Annalise!” She stopped. A familiar voice came from behind her. She turned and saw her best friend, Mia, running toward her. “Why are you always running?” Mia asked breathlessly. Annalise laughed. “Because some of us actually have responsibilities.” Mia rolled her eyes. “You mean your delivery job?” “Exactly.” They walked into the lecture hall together. Annalise took her usual seat near the window and pulled out her notebook. College was the one place where she could forget everything else. She wasn’t the girl whose parents had died. She wasn’t the girl whose inheritance was controlled by other people. She wasn’t the niece living under someone else’s roof. Here, she was simply Annalise. A student. A young woman trying to build a future for herself. Her parents had always wanted her to become independent. Her mother had been a brilliant doctor. Her father had been equally respected. They had died years ago while trying to save a young girl named Raina. Annalise barely remembered that day. But she remembered her mother’s smile. She remembered her father’s voice. And she remembered the promise they had made to her. “Always be kind, Annalise.” She carried those words everywhere. Unfortunately, kindness had never protected her from the people who were supposed to love her. ⸻ After her lecture, Annalise checked her phone. She had three missed calls. All from Aunt Viana. Her smile disappeared. She called back. “Hello, Auntie.” “Where are you?” “At school.” “Don’t stay there too long.” Annalise frowned. “I have another lecture.” “You can miss it.” “I can’t.” There was a pause. “Your uncle wants you home.” “I’ll come after work.” Viana’s voice became colder. “You always have an excuse.” Annalise swallowed. “I’m working because I need the money.” “You don’t need money.” Annalise almost laughed. Of course she needed money. But she knew better than to argue. “I’ll be home later.” She ended the call. Mia looked at her. “Everything okay?” Annalise forced a smile. “Yeah.” But it wasn’t. ⸻ That evening, Annalise changed into her delivery uniform. She climbed onto her scooter and checked her first order. A restaurant. One pizza. One luxury hotel. She smiled faintly. “Just another delivery.” She had no idea that this particular delivery would change her life forever. Because somewhere inside that hotel was a man she had never met. A man whose name was known throughout Seaside City. Darius Holton. And before the night ended, their lives would become connected in a way neither of them could ever have imagined.