Aria’s POV.
The soft hum of the taxi engine filled the air as I gazed out the window at the streets of London, my heart caught between nervousness and hope. The city was alive, a vibrant blend of towering modern buildings interspersed with ancient structures that seemed to hum with history. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was stepping into a completely new world. This was my chance to leave the chaos behind, to start fresh in a place where no one knew my name or my past.
Glancing over at Daniel, who sat beside me in the car, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude. He had been my rock these past few days, going above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of-my enrollment at the university, my housing, even the small details I wouldn’t have known to think about. He had made the impossible seem effortless, and I couldn’t thank him enough.
“We’re almost there,” Daniel said, his voice smooth and calm, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I nodded, clutching my bag tightly in my lap. The idea of starting over in a city as big and bustling as London was exhilarating, but it also terrified me. Could I really leave my past behind? Could I truly rebuild my life from the ground up after everything I had been through? The questions swirled in my mind, but I pushed them aside. I had to try-there was no going back now.
When the taxi pulled up in front of the apartment building, I stepped out and stared up at the tall brick structure. It was charming, with ivy climbing up its weathered facade and large windows that overlooked the busy street below. It wasn’t grand or luxurious, but it had a warmth to it that instantly made me feel at ease. This was my new home-my first step toward independence.
Daniel grabbed my suitcase from the trunk and smiled warmly at me. “Come on. Let’s get you settled.”
—
The apartment was small but cozy, with a modest living room, a kitchenette, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The walls were painted a soft cream color, and the large windows let in plenty of natural light, giving the space a bright and airy feel. As I walked through each room, I could already picture myself here-studying late into the night, sketching new designs, and maybe, just maybe, finding a sense of peace for the first time in what felt like forever.
“This is amazing,” I said softly, running my fingers over the smooth countertop in the kitchen.
Daniel set my suitcase down in the living room and turned to face me, his expression warm but serious. “I’m glad you like it. I wanted to make sure you had a place where you could feel safe.”
That one word-*safe*-hit me harder than I expected. It was such a simple concept, but it carried so much weight. I hadn’t felt truly safe in months-not in Zander’s pack, not in the dorms after the divorce, not even in my own skin. But standing here, in this little apartment, I felt a glimmer of something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Thank you, Daniel,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for everything you’ve done.”
“You don’t have to repay me,” he said firmly, stepping closer. His voice was steady, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made my chest tighten. “I told you before-I just want to see you happy.”
His words made me look away, unable to hold his gaze for too long. The sincerity in his voice was overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure how to process it.
“Well,” Daniel said after a moment, clapping his hands together and breaking the tension. “We’ve got some work to do. This place is nice, but it could use some personal touches. What do you say we head out and pick up some furniture and anything else you need?”
I smiled at him, feeling a small flicker of excitement for the first time in what felt like weeks. “That sounds perfect.”
—
The afternoon turned into a whirlwind of activity. Daniel took me to several stores around London, helping me pick out furniture, decorations, and all the little things that would make the apartment feel like my own.
At first, I felt self-conscious about letting him pay for everything. But every time I hesitated, he would give me a reassuring smile and say, “Don’t worry about it. This is my way of helping you start over.”
It was hard to argue with that, and eventually, I let myself relax.
By the time we reached the last store, I was starting to feel more comfortable. I had picked out a comfortable couch, a small dining table, a bed frame, and even some decorative items to brighten up the space.
As I wandered through the store, browsing throw pillows and rugs, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see a young man, probably around my age, standing there with a friendly smile.
“Excuse me,” he said, his accent thick and charming. “I just wanted to say you have a great eye for design. That color palette you’ve got going on is fantastic.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. “Oh, thank you,” I said, smiling politely.
“Are you an artist?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.
“Not exactly,” I replied, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m studying fashion design.”
“That explains it,” he said with an easy grin. “You’ve got the look of someone creative. I’m Max, by the way.”
Before I could respond, I felt a presence behind me, and a hand gently rested on my shoulder.
“Aria,” Daniel said, his voice smooth but firm. “Are you ready to check out?”
I turned to see him standing close, his expression calm but his eyes sharp as they flicked to Max.
“Oh, is this your boyfriend?” Max asked, raising an eyebrow.
Daniel didn’t flinch. Instead, he stepped closer, his hand sliding from my shoulder to my wrist, holding it protectively. “I’m Daniel,” he said, his voice steady but carrying an edge I couldn’t quite place.
I looked between the two of them, feeling the tension in the air. “Um, Max was just complimenting my choices,” I said quickly, trying to diffuse the situation.
“Was he?” Daniel said, his tone cool. “Well, Aria has excellent taste. But we should get going-we have a lot to do.”
Max held up his hands in mock surrender. “Of course. It was nice meeting you, Aria.”
As Max walked away, I turned to Daniel, raising an eyebrow. “What was that about?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, his expression innocent.
“You didn’t have to scare him off like that,” I said, crossing my arms.
Daniel shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I wasn’t scaring him off. I was just making sure he wasn’t bothering you.”
“He wasn’t bothering me,” I said with a roll of my eyes.
Daniel’s smile faded slightly, and he stepped closer, his eyes locking with mine. “I don’t like the idea of anyone taking advantage of you, Aria. You’ve been through enough.”
His words made my breath hitch, and I felt a strange warmth spread through me. There was something about the way he looked at me-protective, almost possessive-that made me feel both comforted and uneasy.
“I can handle myself, you know,” I said softly, my voice trembling slightly.
“I know you can,” he said, his tone gentle. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t look out for you.”
He was still holding my wrist, his hand warm against my skin. For a moment, I thought about pulling away, but something stopped me.
“Thank you,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel smiled, his expression softening. “Always.”
—
By the time we returned to the apartment, it was late, and I was exhausted. The delivery truck had already dropped off the furniture, and Daniel helped me assemble the bed frame and set up the couch.
“You really didn’t have to do all this,” I said as we finished putting the dining table together.
“I wanted to,” he said simply, wiping his hands on his jeans. “You deserve a fresh start, Aria, and I’m glad I can help you make that happen.”
I sat down on the couch, looking around the apartment. It already felt more like home, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“This… this is perfect,” I said softly.
Daniel sat down beside me, leaning back against the cushions. “I’m glad you think so.”
For a while, we sat in comfortable silence, the only sound the faint hum of the city outside.
“Daniel,” I said after a moment, turning to look at him. “Why are you doing all of this for me? I mean, I know you said you wanted to help, but… why me?”
He turned his head to meet my gaze, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to answer.
“Because I see something in you,” he said finally, his voice low. “You’ve been through so much, but you haven’t let it break you. You’re stronger than you realize, Aria. And I want to help you see that.”
His words made my chest tighten, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes.
“I don’t feel strong,” I admitted, my voice trembling.
“You are,” he said firmly, reaching out to take my hands in his. His grip was warm, steady, and I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me.
For a moment, I let myself believe him.
Maybe, just maybe, I could rebuild my life.
And maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t as broken as I thought.