CHAPTER TWO
Isabella's POV
I stumbled upon the cozy cottage while browsing online listings. After contacting a local agent, I arranged a viewing and soon found myself standing in front of the charming little house, surrounded by lush greenery. There were several other cottages around but for a moment, I wondered if people were living here.
Making the least of the noise was enough to disrupt the peace of this place. As I unpacked my loads, I saw a middle-aged man coming out of his cottage to take a stroll down the street. It gave me hope that people were actually living here. They were just quiet.
The quietness triggered the inspiration to sit and write another novel but I hadn't gotten over the illegal accusations made by Nadia. I pushed open the creaky wooden doors and I saw how disorganized the cottage was. The last person who lived here must be very disorganized.
"This place is going to bore the hell out of me," I said to myself and sighed frustratedly. I sat on one of the wooden chairs as my eyes scanned this whole place. It was a comfortable place to live in, if it's only one person, though.
Loud music started to play suddenly and my heart skipped a beat. I rushed outside to see that it was my car. The music stopped as soon as I came out of the cottage. I hurried to check if I was playing a song earlier but nope. As I rested on the chair after pulling the door open, I felt the sudden urge to stay in the car and take a nap. The journey was exhausting.
Living in this peaceful environment would be much better than living with people who didn't even give a fuck about me. Even though I might live the rest of my life in solitude, it's much preferable.
As evening fell, I decided to explore my town a bit. I hopped in my car, cranked up the music, and set off to make the most of the drive. Just five minutes in, I spotted a charming coffee shop on the corner and gave a nod of approval. It seemed like a perfect spot to visit whenever I needed some company.
I continued driving for about an hour, enjoying the sights until darkness began to settle in.
Unfortunately, I realized there were no gas stations nearby, and my Camry was running low on fuel. I watched other cars zoom past as the wind picked up. This wasn't my first time here, but I couldn't help but wonder if I was being foolish for driving around aimlessly for so long.
I quickly jumped out to see if I could get my car going again. A quick check of the fuel gauge confirmed my fears—it was nearly empty.
However, I felt a wave of relief when I discovered a jerry can filled with petrol in the trunk. I couldn't recall putting it there, but it was just what I needed at that moment.
After trying to start the car, I realized it was futile, and the wind was picking up even more. Then, the rain began to fall, making it hard to see anything ahead. If it weren't for the headlights and sounds of passing cars, I might have thought I was completely alone.
A sudden realization hit me: I had a flat tire. Thankfully, I was somewhat prepared, as I had a spare in the trunk, but I wasn't sure how to change it. I pulled out my phone, but the rain quickly blurred the screen, making it impossible to make any calls. Looking back, I was met with the overwhelming darkness of the night.
The rain showed no signs of letting up, and I couldn't shake the feeling that my stepmother and stepsister, along with my father, had somehow cursed me as I left. I returned to my car, trying to shield myself from the cold, when I noticed a truck that had passed earlier now reversing and parking beside the road.
A figure descended quickly and rushed over to me. Just as I was about to call for help, I caught a glimpse of him. He was a striking young man with captivating grey eyes and brown hair that shimmered in the rain. I found myself lost in thought, admiring his features. It felt unusual to encounter someone so remarkable in this town.
"I'll take care of the flat tire," he said, prompting me to open the trunk, which I did. Then it struck me—how did he know I had a flat tire? How did he know there was a spare in the trunk?
"Thank you so much for your help, sir. I really appreciate it," I managed to say through the downpour, wiping the raindrops from my forehead. Before I could even step out of the car, he had already changed the tire and was ready to leave. I was left speechless. How could someone be so skilled to accomplish that in under a minute?
"I'm Noah. That's my name," he introduced himself as he climbed into his truck and sped away. I stood there for a few moments, contemplating whether this was a dream or a dream come true. A stranger had truly come to my rescue.
I exhaled deeply, catching a whiff of his cologne before getting back into my Camry. His face lingered in my mind, and I felt a sense of gratitude hearing his name—Noah, the man who had saved me.
Turning around, I made my way home, already soaked and shivering like a fish out of water. I parked the Camry right in front of my cozy cottage. Just before entering, I paused to ponder.
"Isn't that Noah's truck?" I wondered. His cottage was quite close to mine, and while I was tempted to confirm if it was indeed his vehicle as a way to thank him, I held back.
I was freezing. Once my device stopped malfunctioning from the water, I checked for missed calls—none. I could have perished on the road, and no one would have known.
I sank onto my cozy bed, but sleep eluded me. It felt as though someone was watching me intently. I glanced out the window and noticed Noah's windows. They were widely opened.
A wave of panic washed over me, and I couldn't get him off my mind. Did he recognize me before coming to my rescue? Why did he open his windows tonight? Since I arrived, the windows were always shut. I took a deep breath and waited to see if he will show up and wave to me.