I never looked back.The day after we returned from the yacht trip, I deleted Ethan's number. I ignored his texts, his calls, his desperate attempts to understand why I was suddenly shutting him out.Because I had to.Because if I didn't, I would be stuck in an endless cycle of loving a man who would never love me back.For the first time in years, I made a choice that wasn't about Ethan. It was about me.And that was the beginning of everything.
One Year Later – The Woman in the Mirror
I barely recognized myself.The girl in the mirror wasn't the same Jessica who had spent years as Ethan's shadow, waiting for him to notice her.She was different now.Curves toned and defined, a confidence in her posture that hadn't been there before. My once round face had slimmed down, and my deep brown eyes no longer carried the weight of unspoken words and silent heartbreak.This was the woman I had fought to become.It hadn't been easy.The first few months after college had been hell. I had cried myself to sleep more times than I could count. The pain of losing Ethan—not just as the love of my life, but as my best friend—had left a wound so deep, I wasn't sure I would ever heal.But I pushed through.I took my pain and turned it into discipline.Every early morning workout, every night spent studying cybersecurity, every time I ignored the temptation to look at Ethan's social media—it had all led me here.To this moment.Where I was stronger. Smarter. Unstoppable.And tomorrow, I would be leaving for Australia.A new country. A new life. A new Jessica.At the Airport – A New Chapter Begins
"Are you sure about this?" Mom asked, adjusting my jacket as we stood near the departure gate.I smiled, touching her hand gently. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."She sighed, her eyes glistening with emotion. "I'm so proud of you, baby."I hugged her tightly, my heart swelling. This was it. My fresh start.No past holding me back. No unrequited love weighing me down.Just me, my dreams, and an entire world waiting for me.As I boarded the plane, I took a deep breath.Goodbye, Ethan.Hello, Jessica 2.0.Landing in Australia – Meeting the Family
By the time I arrived in Sydney, exhaustion clung to my bones. But as I stepped out of the airport, a woman with a warm smile and familiar eyes waved at me."Aunt Linda?" I called.She grinned, pulling me into a tight hug. "Jessica! Look at you! My God, you're stunning."I laughed. "Jet lagged too.""Well, let's get you home. My boys are excited to meet you."I followed her to the car, smiling. I had spoken to Aunt Linda a few times over the phone, but this was the first time I was meeting her in person. She was my mom's college best friend, and she had insisted that I stay with her until I got settled.Her boys.I vaguely remembered my mom mentioning them. Two sons, one daughter.The younger son, Oliver, was around my age. The youngest, Lily, was just ten years old.But the eldest?I knew very little about him.Other than the fact that he was a self-made billionaire.First Encounter – The Billionaire in the Shadows
The house was huge. Not just big—mansion-level huge.I stepped out of the car, eyes wide. "Aunt Linda, this is… wow."She laughed. "Don't let it intimidate you. It's just home."I followed her inside, where a young boy—Oliver—greeted me with an easy smile. "So you're the famous cousin. Mom hasn't shut up about you."I chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Oliver.""And this," Aunt Linda said, pulling forward a little girl with bouncy curls, "is Lily."The girl beamed at me. "You're really pretty."My heart melted. "So are you, sweetheart."I hugged them both, already feeling more at home than I expected.And then… I felt it.A presence.A shift in the air.I turned—and there he was.Standing at the top of the staircase, watching me.Tall. Broad-shouldered. Powerful.Dressed in a crisp white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his strong forearms. His dark hair was slightly tousled, like he had just run a hand through it in frustration.But it was his eyes that made my breath catch.Sharp. Cold. Intense.Like he was assessing me. Calculating.Like I was an inconvenience.Aunt Linda smiled up at him. "Jessica, this is my eldest—Aiden."Aiden Blackwood.The name alone carried weight. Power. Dominance.He didn't say anything at first. Just stared at me, his jaw tight.I lifted my chin, refusing to shrink under his gaze. "It's nice to meet you."He gave a slow nod. "Likewise."His voice was deep. Commanding. Like a man used to being in control.And just like that, he turned and walked away.No smile. No warmth.Nothing.I exhaled. Well, then.This was going to be interesting.That Night – The Beginning of Something Dangerous
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.Aiden Blackwood.There was something about him.Something dark.Something that made my skin prickle with awareness.And as I drifted off to sleep, I had the strangest feeling…That I had just stepped into a world far more dangerous than I ever imagined.And there was no turning back.