CHAPTER ONE

REBECCA

"Thank you."

I said to the man who helped me lay my suitcase in the boot of the taxi taking me to my father's estate.

Walking around to the side of the taxi, I pulled the door open before smoothly stepping inside. Getting comfortable, I sledded on my seatbelt and took off my sunglasses, slipping them into my bag. The driver slammed the door shut before putting on his seatbelt and starting the car.

"Beautiful morning, isn't it?" The driver, a pot-bellied man with a beard that seemed to need a whole lot of grooming, asked as the taxi roared to life, causing a little shock to the car before it moved forward.

"Indeed it is," I replied before sitting back and relaxing on the seat.

He shot me a friendly grin through the rearview mirror before turning away from the airport.

I took a deep breath, thinking back to when I was five. Orlando has changed quite a bit since then.

I came back for my sister's wedding, and once it was done, I'd have to fly back to New York to handle my restaurant business, seeing as I didn't want my Mom to get overwhelmed with everything.

"You don't look like you're from around here?" The taxi driver asked, glancing at me from his rear-view mirror.

I gave a small smile. "I am, but I moved away a few years ago."

"Oh, why? Orlando's a beautiful place." The taxi driver grinned.

"I can see that." I returned the smile politely. Ignoring his question about the 'why?'

I looked through the window, and indeed, Orlando was a wonderful place, But also busy. My mind drifted back to my faint memory of my father's estate. The small cottage stood a few feet from the main house, the beautiful garden peaked out just by the side, and the abandoned fountain was gracefully surrounded by beautiful carpet grass. I wonder if anything has changed? How would my dad react after seeing me?

Worry settled heavily against my chest. My Dad and I weren't exactly the best of buddies.

Sixteen years ago, my parents went through a heartbreaking divorce, and my dad begged me to stay with him and my sister, but I couldn't leave my mom at a time like that, so I decided to stay with my mom.

Mom was heartbroken for some time, but soon, she got over it. The only thing was, she never dated. She and I managed the restaurant business; I tried to convince her to come with me, but she said, and I quote. "Someone's got to manage the business. You go, give April my best wishes." I knew my mom was scared that April wouldn't want her there, but I knew April would be glad to have the whole family at the wedding.

The taxi started to jerk forward, pulling me out of my trance, "Is everything okay?" I asked the taxi driver.

"Err, not really; the car's about to break down." The man gave a nervous laugh.

Dodging several honking cars, the driver frantically moved towards the outside lane before parking the car in front of a busy shop; the street was still active, with people walking here and there and lining up in front of a food truck just beside a flower shop. "Is it serious?" I asked him.

"Not really, I'll check it out, and then we'll be outta here in no time." The man assured, opening the door slowly, nearly hitting several people walking by.

I gave a small sigh, then relaxed back on my seat. I looked through the window, scanning the environment. The bright sandy blonde ponytails of a beautiful little girl playing with flowers caught my eye. I looked up at the store sign, Flowers From the heart; the wind blew, scattering small petals, whipping the little girl's hair around her face, and a small smile played on my lips.

The sight was beautiful, I could see her mom smiling down at her, but she was soon distracted by a customer who came for some flowers.

I continued to watch the small girl who reminded me of me. I loved flowers; sixteen years ago, my dad made a garden for April and me. Back then, April was seven but took care of me whenever mom decided to leave the house. We were close. When April contacted me a few weeks ago, I was glad she invited me since we barely spoke. She also asked me to convince mom to be available. Well, we all know how that played out-

A group of gray-suited men walked into my field of view, blocking the little girl. As they walked past the flower shop, I saw the one in a black suit push over the little girl. I continued watching, furious that the man hadn't even looked down. I checked back to see the little girl crying, her mom tending her bleeding knee.

What a rude guy!

I noticed how people parted ways with him to go through.

Before I knew it, I was getting out of the taxi; if no one bothered to put that rude man in his place, I should!

"Hey!" I yelled, my wedge heels hitting the ground faster and faster as I tried to catch up with him and his minions, "Hey!!!" People gasped as they realized I was going after the rude man!

I groaned in annoyance, increasing my pace, and finally, I caught up to him and pushed him from his broad back, making him jerk forward, and his men turned to me with angry stares as if they wanted to attack. I have to admit, it scared me, but I stood my ground.

I noticed how people shook their heads in pity for me. But why?

"Leave it." The so-called deaf rude man said as he turned around slowly, taking off his sunglasses and handing them over to one of his minions. I raised my brows at him and was about to lash out when I caught sight of his entire face; I clenched my teeth hard to stop my jaw from dropping. His eyes, dark, stern, and sharp, made me want to curl up in one corner; his well-defined cheekbones seemed to give his face a glow you'd only find when you stare at baby-faced models, and his full brows were furrowed in what I could easily interpret as irritation. His lips, this stranger's full lips, were pressed in a thin line, but they managed to lure me into this intense trance that I never thought I, Rebecca Lewis, could ever fall into.