Lily Carter and Adrian Blake stared at each other in disbelief.
Out of all the people in Kingswood…
It had to be him.
Lily recovered first. Her shock quickly turned into anger.
"You!" she exclaimed. "How dare you stand there like nothing happened?"
Adrian frowned slightly, confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Lily gestured angrily toward him.
"That video you released! Do you have any idea what happened because of you?"
Adrian's expression hardened.
The broken mirror of his car caught his attention instead.
"You crashed into my car," he said coldly.
"That's not the point!" Lily snapped. "Because of you, my life was ruined. Before doing something like that, you should think about how your actions affect other people!"
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"If that's the case," he replied sharply, "then stop interfering in my life."
For a moment they simply stared at each other.
Then Adrian's voice became colder.
"It looks like you have a plan to get money out of me."
Lily's eyes widened with outrage.
"Not everything in the world is about money!" she said angrily. "And I don't want a single penny from you."
Adrian studied her carefully.
"You arrive in Kingswood the same day I do," he said slowly. "And the first thing you do is crash into my car."
His gaze was sharp.
"I know girls like you."
The words hit Lily like an insult.
Adrian had met many women who admired his wealth and status. In his world, money defined everything.
And Lily Carter clearly had none of it.
Adrian glanced again at the scratch on his car.
"Do you even know how much this damage costs?" he asked calmly.
Lily folded her arms.
"How much?"
"Twenty-five thousand."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Adrian noticed.
"Don't even have that much money?" he said mockingly.
Then he pulled out a few notes from his wallet.
But he didn't simply hand them to her.
Instead, he grabbed Lily's hand, turned her palm upward, and slapped the money into it.
"Fix the mirror on your scooter," he said casually.
He stepped back toward his car.
"And if there's any money left… buy a ticket back to Riverton."
Adrian's expression showed clear satisfaction.
He thought he had won.
But Lily's voice stopped him.
"I'll return your money."
Adrian turned slowly.
"Words about pride are very cheap," he replied coolly. "Money is expensive."
His eyes held a strange spark.
"You're here… and I'm here."
He smirked slightly.
"We'll see."
Then he drove away.
But what Adrian didn't say aloud was that he had just ensured one thing—
Lily Carter would have to meet him again.
Later that evening, Adrian's car entered the grand gates of the Blake family mansion.
The house, known as Greenwood Manor, was large, elegant, and full of life.
Inside, the family was preparing for a small prayer ceremony.
The first person seen bustling around the living room was Marina Blake, Adrian's dramatic aunt.
Her bright bangles clinked as she walked, her makeup perfectly applied, her colorful outfit shining under the lights.
"Hello, hi, bye-bye!" she greeted loudly as she entered the room.
Her husband, MichaelBlake, followed behind her with a tired smile.
Michael was calm and gentle, often balancing Marina's dramatic personality.
At the center of the household was Grandmother Eleanor Blake.
She sat proudly in a large chair, giving instructions to the servants while searching for her beloved pet goat, Daisy.
"Where has Daisy gone now?" she demanded loudly.
The house buzzed with activity.
Then Adrian walked in with his cousin Aaron Blake.
The moment Adrian stepped inside, the camera of life seemed to pause.
The house was warm, elegant, and bright.
Yet Adrian still carried the quiet intensity that followed him everywhere.
Just then his phone rang.
It was his sister, Angela Blake.
"Are you coming home for the prayer?" she asked.
Adrian paused before answering.
"On the way… I got stuck somewhere."
He didn't mention Lily.
He didn't want Angela to worry.
And somehow, even after meeting her only three times, Lily had already become a secret he kept to himself.
"Everything okay?" Angela asked gently.
Adrian looked down briefly.
"Yes," he replied quietly. "Everything is fine."
But what exactly was fine?
That he had seen Lily again?
That she wasn't completely ruined by the scandal he created?
Or that he had created a reason for her to meet him again?
Even Adrian wasn't sure.
Aaron noticed the scratch on Adrian's car.
"That's strange," he said. "You usually drive carefully."
Adrian shrugged.
"It doesn't matter how carefully I drive," he replied. "I can't control how other people drive."
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"A girl from the other day?" he asked curiously.
Adrian's eyes shifted slightly.
"Yes… that girl."
He quickly changed the subject and walked away.
Aaron watched him leave, amused.
"Who is this girl?" he murmured to himself.
"She's dented Adrian Blake's mind more than his car."
Later, Adrian greeted his grandmother.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Adrian opened his mouth to speak… then stopped.
Small talk had never been his strength.
Finally he asked,
"How was your trip?"
Grandmother Eleanor watched him thoughtfully.
"You move through life too quickly," she said calmly. "When you move that fast, everything except yourself becomes blurred."
Adrian frowned.
"I see everything clearly."
She shook her head.
"You're looking in the wrong direction. Sometimes you must slow down… only then can you understand what is right and what is wrong."
Her words lingered in the air.
Adrian didn't respond.
But they would prove true again and again.
Because Adrian Blake often made decisions in anger—
Only realizing their consequences later.
Meanwhile, across Kingswood, Lily and Emily walked through a busy marketplace.
Lily stared at the note Adrian had forced into her hand earlier.
"I'm keeping this," she declared angrily.
Emily looked confused.
"Why?"
"So I never forget how he insulted me."
Lily clenched the note.
"One day I'm returning this money to him."
Emily laughed softly.
"That man has already stolen your peace of mind."
Lily rolled her eyes.
"That arrogant snake," she muttered.
Just then, someone approached them.
"Lily?"
It was Samuel Morgan again.
He immediately scolded the shopkeeper who had upset Lily moments earlier.
"Do you know how difficult it was to bring her here?" he said seriously. "To make her a guest of this city?"
Lily blinked in surprise.
Samuel smiled kindly.
Then he offered her an umbrella.
"You'll get wet," he said gently.
But Lily shook her head.
"You keep it," she replied. "I already have protection."
She looked upward for a moment.
"My Goddess always protects me."
Samuel simply smiled.
But destiny had already chosen Lily's real protector.
And every time she prayed for help…
Fate would send only one man.
Adrian Blake.