thought I had found the perfect man, the one who made me believe in love again. But when his true intentions came to light, everything changed. What I discovered destroyed not only my dreams, but also the future I had imagined with him.
People always say that money solves all problems. But I never believed it. For me, the greatest wealth was to love and be loved, but at 29 I had not yet experienced that happiness.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Until recently, my family was quite rich, and although I only used my parents’ money while I was studying and didn’t take a penny from them after graduating, people kept telling me how lucky I was.
He had always known the value of money. My grandmother had come out of poverty and had taught me to value every penny.
But he always told me that money was not the most important thing in life. I took that lesson very seriously, but my father didn’t seem to have understood it.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
When his business began to go bankrupt, he collapsed, fell into depression and thought his life was over.
That was his choice, and although I tried to encourage him, he was not interested in listening.
At the same time, I firmly decided to find love, but no matter how hard I tried or how many dates I had, nothing worked.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
I was almost ready to give up. Maybe I wasn’t meant to be happy, maybe I would be alone forever. Then, one day, I met him.
I had gone out to eat at the cafeteria near my office, a routine I followed every day. But that day, I saw it.
A man in an elegant suit that seemed like the whole world belonged to him. I turned away quickly, realizing that I had been looking at him for too long, but he didn’t even notice.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
I had gotten used to that, all my life I had been a discreet and unnoticed girl.
But then something happened that I didn’t expect. While I was sitting at my table waiting for my order, the same man approached carelessly and sat at my table.
I was speechless, not knowing how to react. Why would someone like him sit next to someone like me?
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Can I help you with something?” I stammered, surprised.
“I saw such a beautiful woman sitting here and I couldn’t help but join her,” he said, holding out his hand to me. “Drake”.
“Caroline,” I said, offering her my hand to shake it. But instead, he took her gently and kissed her.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Nice to meet you, Caroline. Do you mind if I sit here?” Drake asked.
We talked throughout my lunch break. Drake turned out to be a businessman, but I didn’t really care.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
He was a true gentleman, intelligent and considerate. It seemed to me that time had stopped and I didn’t even realize how my break had ended. I looked at the clock and exclaimed.
“Oh, no, I have to go,” I said.
“Okay, it’s been a pleasure to meet you,” Drake said.
“I say the same,” and I ran out of the cafeteria.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
When I was almost back in my office, I realized that I hadn’t given Drake my number.
I turned around quickly and ran back to the cafeteria, but when I arrived, it was already gone.
I felt like crying right there, maybe I really wasn’t meant to be happy.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
That night, I was heading home, completely dejected. I cursed the world for my bad luck.
Outside the house, Sam was watering the roses. He was our gardener and I knew him since childhood, since his father had worked for us before.
“You look down,” Sam said, looking at me.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Why doesn’t anyone notice me? And when they do, they disappear,” I said.
“I’ve always noticed you, and I’m still here,” Sam replied.
“Yes, but it’s different,” I replied, heading inside.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I was about to go to my room when I heard voices coming from the living room, so I decided to look out. When I entered, I was frozen. There, sitting with my father, was he.
“Drake?” I asked, surprised.
“Caroline!” Drake replied, just as surprised.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“Do I have business to deal with your… father?” Drake suggested, and I nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask for your number, but you left very quickly.”
“I realized too late, and when I came back, you were already gone,” I said.
“Well, I won’t make that mistake again. Do you want to have a date with me?” Drake asked.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“Yes, of course,” I replied.
That weekend, Drake took me to the most romantic date of my life. He prepared a dinner for two on the roof of a building, overlooking the whole city.
He gave me a huge bouquet of roses and hired musicians. We talked until late at night, and then Drake took me home and gave me a soft goodbye kiss.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
That’s how our relationship began. Three months passed like in a fairy tale.
I felt like a real princess, and Drake literally carried me in his arms. One day, he picked me up and blindfolded me.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Surprise,” Drake replied.
He carefully sat me in the car and we went somewhere. I had no idea where we were going until I heard the sound of the ocean.
Drake helped me get out of the car, and when I felt the sand under my feet, I realized that we were on the beach.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
He removed the blindfold and saw a table prepared for dinner, candles everywhere and a huge bouquet of flowers on the table.
He took me by the hand and sat me at the table. We spent a lovely evening, talking about everything and nothing.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Look at the sky,” Drake said.
I looked up and saw a plane circling over us.
“Do you think I’ve never seen a plane?” I asked with a smile.
“You just have to look,” Drake said.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
Suddenly, the plane began to write something in the sky. At first I didn’t understand what it was, but soon the message became clear: “Do you want to marry me?”
I exclaimed shocked, and when I turned to look at Drake, I was already on my knees, with a ring in my hand. He opened his mouth to say something, but I didn’t give him the opportunity.
“Yes! Yes! And yes!”, I shouted.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Drake put the ring on my finger, got up and kissed me.
“I love you,” Drake said.
“I love you too,” I replied.
We spent some more time on the beach and then Drake took me home.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
I kissed him goodbye and got out of the car. I went up the way to the house, happy and admiring my ring,
“Wow, you look resplendent,” Sam said, and I hadn’t even noticed him at first.
I showed him the ring with joy. “I’m mating!” I exclaimed.
“Oh… congratulations,” Sam said, but his face showed no joy.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“Is something wrong?” I asked him.
“I just remembered your grandmother’s words: beware of powerful men,” Sam said.
“What’s all this about?” I asked, frustrated.
“I’m just worried about you,” Sam replied.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m happy,” I said, and entered.
One night, Drake visited us. My father had already accepted him as a son, and they were discussing plans to merge their companies and save my father’s business from bankruptcy.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Pexels
When it was time for dinner, I went to look for Drake, who was talking on the phone. I gently opened the door of the room and was about to enter when Drake’s words stopped me and I decided to listen secretly.
“Of course, she has no idea,” Drake said. “Everything is going as planned. She’s a complete idiot with rose-colored glasses, and her father is just as stupid. He thinks the company will stay with him, but as soon as we get married, I’ll stay with the company and throw it aside as if it were garbage.”
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Then he paused, listening to the person on the other side of the line.
“I’m telling you that you wouldn’t believe how well things are going. Her father even suggested that I go out with his daughter. He sold it to me as if it were an object. I don’t care about her. What matters is the money,” Drake said.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
My eyes filled with tears, but I told myself not to cry. I couldn’t believe that two of the people I trusted the most could be so cruel to me. I immediately went to my father’s office and broke in without calling.
“Did you sell me Drake?!”, I shouted.
“What? Honey, where does this come from?” my father asked.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“I know everything. I know you offered Drake to go out with me to become your partner,” I shouted.
“I thiked you liked Drake. We would both have benefited,” my father said.
“Are you making fun of me?! I’m not something that can be sold!” I shouted.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“What’s going on here? Is everything okay?” Drake asked, entering the office when he heard the screams.
“Don’t be good! I heard it all! I know you’re using me,” I shouted.
Drake sneered. “It’s been the best three months of your life, you said it yourself. I don’t understand what you’re complaining about,” he said.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“Are you serious? You were just playing with me!”, I shouted.
“Caroline, it’s just business, nothing personal,” Drake said.
“How can you say that? Don’t you have a conscience?” I asked him.
“Yes, but it’s quiet when I look at my bank account,” Drake said.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“You’re an idiot! How could I be so blind?” I shouted.
“Caroline, I’m sure we can find a peaceful solution to this,” my father said.
“A peaceful solution? How’s the truth? Drake was also going to cheat on you. I didn’t want to help you, I wanted to stay with your company after we get married,” I shouted.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
“What? Drake, is it true?” my father asked, shocked.
“Listen, we can discuss everything diplomatically,” Drake said.
“Dissuse it yourselves. I’m sick of both of them,” I said, leaving the office.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Sora
As soon as I left, I couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears. Sam approached with a worried face.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
“It’s horrible, I’m an idiot. Drake was lying to me all the time and I was so stupid to think that I had finally found love. It seems that I don’t deserve to be loved,” I sobbed.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Everyone deserves love, especially you. You are one of the most wonderful people I know,” Sam said, unexpectedly taking a rose out of his back and offering it to me.
I smiled. “Thank you,” I said.
“Anything just to see your smile,” Sam said.
He was right, he deserved love. And maybe my love was much closer than I thought, I thought as I looked Sam in the eyes.
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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