Jaxon was standing there, holding an umbrella over me, face drawn with concern. He didn’t say anything at first, just extending a hand where he held an umbrella.
“Lucia. Come on. Let me take you home.”
Back at the Browns’ estate, everything felt achingly familiar. The courtyard, the smell of the garden after the rain… Even the housekeeper, who’d been there since we were kids.
I couldn’t help but think of the past.
Jaxon’s mother and mine had been best friends since they were young; The kind who swore they'd be in-laws someday.
They’d arranged a childhood engagement between us. But back then, I fought with my mom constantly. And because of that, I pushed away everyone close to her—including little Jaxon and Paula, his mother.
By middle school, I had left for Milan to study art.
Jaxon was sent to the UK for business school.
We went our separate ways. And the next time I saw him?
It was at my mother’s funeral.
I was lost in thought when Paula appeared, holding a steaming cup of ginger tea.
Without a word, she pulled me into a tight embrace, “That boy—Jaxon! He let you get soaked like this, huh? Let Mom give him a piece of my mind.”
“Mom?” I blinked, confused.