CHAPTER ONE

“The sun feels nice today, Lisa,” I said to my sister as we walked along the sand.

She hummed in response.

“And the water looks so refreshing. How about a swim?”

“You go. I’m going to enjoy the sun for a bit first.”

I began laying down the towels.

Lisa slipped off her tunic, revealing the specialised swimming tunic she had made herself. It was split between the legs and carefully sewn for comfort in the water. She had saved for months to buy the purple dye she used to colour it. She had even made one for me in blue.

After removing my own tunic, I settled onto my towel and pulled out my book, opening it to the page where I had left off. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Lisa test the water before wading in and submerging herself up to her shoulders.

Lying on my stomach, I listened to the soothing crash of the waves against the empty shoreline. The salty breeze brushed across my olive-tanned skin as I glanced around the deserted beach before returning my attention to my book.

I was deep within its pages when I noticed a pair of tanned legs standing in front of me.

“You come to the beach to read?”

The deep, alluring voice sounded amused.

I gently lowered my book and sat up, ready to give the nosy stranger a piece of my mind. But the moment I looked up, every thought vanished. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen.

My breath caught in my throat and my heart began to race.

Light sandy-brown hair framed a sharply defined face. His build was lean but strong, and his muscular arms spoke of years of hard labour. He was tall, though not intimidatingly so. Most captivating of all were his eyes—ocean blue, soft, and endless.

I found myself completely entranced.

“Are you mute?” he asked with a faint smirk, waving a calloused hand in front of my face.

I blinked, snapping out of my trance.

“Ah, sorry. I was just a bit shocked to see you here.”

“Oh?”

His expression made it clear he didn’t believe me.

“You’re the first person I’ve seen come to the beach since I’ve been here,” I added quickly.

He hummed unconvinced.

“I see there’s a second towel here.”

“Yeah. I’m here with my sister. She’s out in the water.”

I pointed towards the shoreline behind him. He glanced over his shoulder before nodding.

“I’m John.”

He held out his hand.

“I’m Annah.”

I reached out to shake it.

“A pleasure to meet you.”

Instead of shaking my hand, he gently took it and brought it to his lips. The light kiss sent a delicious tingling sensation up my arm, and heat flooded my cheeks.

I quickly pulled away and rose to my feet, hoping he hadn’t noticed my reaction. Unfortunately, I stumbled.

John caught my arms before I could fall.

My heart leapt.

I had never felt anything like this before.

What is this feeling?

All I knew was that I wanted to feel it again.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern and amusement mingling in his voice.

“Yes. I just got up too fast.”

I kept my gaze lowered, trying to hide my embarrassment.

“I’m going for a swim. Nice meeting you, John.”

Before he could say anything else, I hurried towards the shoreline.

It hurts.

Why does it hurt so much?

The tears wouldn’t stop, and my heart ached with a pain so deep it felt impossible to bear. How long had I been sitting here against this wall with my knees pulled to my chest? Hours? Days? An eternity? I felt as though I would remain here forever, waiting for this agony to finally leave me.

She was gone.

Taken from us.

How?

Why?

Why her?

Anyone but her.

“Hey.”

The gentle, alluring voice pulled me from my thoughts. A sense of calm washed over my aching heart.

“It’s going to be okay,” he said softly. “I know it’s hard, but you’ll get through this. I’ll help you get through it.”

I slowly lifted my head from my knees.

His beautiful blue eyes were only inches from mine. My vision blurred with tears as they continued to slide down my cheeks, but I could still see the kindness in his gaze.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The world seemed to fade away until only the two of us remained.

He reached out and gently brushed the tears from my face.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

A soft smile touched his lips.

Then he took both of my hands and helped me to my feet.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

I found myself nodding immediately, as though under a spell. Hand in hand, we walked together in comfortable silence.

Before long, we arrived at the entrance of a magnificent garden. A golden archway stood before us, sparkling beneath the sunlight. Two elegant swans formed the centre of the design, their necks curved together in a graceful embrace. Delicate swirls and floral patterns wound throughout the structure, while bluebells and white daffodils draped gently around it.

It was unlike anything I had ever seen—beautiful, peaceful, and almost magical.

As we stepped through the archway, an even more breathtaking sight awaited us.

Flowers of every colour imaginable stretched across the landscape in brilliant patterns, creating waves of colour that seemed to dance in the sunlight. To the left stood a giant dove-shaped hedge covered in tiny white blossoms. To the right was a life-sized lion-shaped hedge adorned with deep purple flowers. Between them rested a quaint pond lined with smooth gemstones, while lilies and lotus flowers floated gracefully upon the water’s surface.

I stared in complete awe.

The garden didn’t feel real.

It felt like something from a dream.

For a time, we sat beside the pond, watching colourful fish glide effortlessly through the crystal-clear water. The scents of countless flowers drifted through the air, stealing my breath away. Everything felt calm, tranquil, and safe.

Neither of us spoke. The soft hum of insects and the distant songs of birds filled the silence.

Yet throughout it all, I could feel his gaze upon me.

I kept my eyes fixed on the fish.

I dared not look at him.

Twice already I had found myself completely captivated by him. I wasn’t certain I would be strong enough to break free a third time.