Chapter 1
Aveline Brightwood woke up feeling a rush of adrenaline after spending a passionate night with Cedric. As she was filled with the thoughts of continuing their relationship, she decided it was time to swap more personal details with him. "How old are you?" Aveline asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. Cedric hesitated, fidgeting nervously. “Uh, I’m… I’m eighteen.” Aveline’s heart sank. Eighteen? For a moment, she felt a wave of panic wash over her. This couldn’t be right—she thought he looked so much older, so mature. Feeling a mix of alarm and bewilderment, she quickly turned to leave. But just as she was about to make her escape, Cedric's quick reflexes caught her by the wrist. His expression morphed into one of hurt and confusion. “Wait! Just because you took my virginity doesn’t mean you want to leave me, does it?” A shocked silence hung in the air for a brief moment, before Aveline felt her cheeks flush. What had she just gotten herself into? She hadn’t expected this whirlwind of emotions and complications. Suddenly, everything felt so much more intense, and her heart raced with uncertainty. The carefree summer romance she thought she was diving into had just flipped into something much more serious.
Chapter 2
"You're capable, well-off, and highly educated—" Aveline Brightwood impatiently cut off the man in front of her, "What I'm asking about is why you're breaking up with me." Sir Geoffrey awkwardly forced a smile, "What I'm trying to say is, the problem isn't you, it's me." Oh, please. If Sir Geoffrey dared to pin the breakup on Aveline, Grandma Elspeth would be throwing her iced Americano right in his face. She struggled to maintain her composure, trying to joke, "So, have you found a new girlfriend yet?" Seeing her seemingly magnanimous demeanor, Sir Geoffrey visibly relaxed, his smile becoming more genuine. "Yes, you remember her—it's Elena Fairchild, from the front desk." "She's pretty," Aveline replied flatly. "No, she's not as pretty as you. How could she be?" Sir Geoffrey's gaze finally caught hers, reflecting the sadness one would expect from a breakup. Aveline was genuinely beautiful. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her skin was a flawless porcelain, and her large, captivating eyes conveyed the innocence of youth mixed with a womanly allure. This unique combination made her irresistibly attractive to men and inadvertently made them feel immense pressure—there were always men vying for her attention. "Is her personality charming?" Aveline continued probing. Sir Geoffrey nodded, "I guess so. She's soft and delicate, always leaning on me—nothing like you. You're too strong-willed, never act needy, and you handle everything on your own. You never showed a hint of vulnerability, which made it feel more like I had a business partner than a girlfriend." Aveline knew exactly what he meant. He had lamented multiple times about her strength, wishing she could soften up a bit, but she simply couldn’t change who she was. "Right, so you just fell out of love and decided to break up." She looked directly at Sir Geoffrey. Under her steady gaze, Sir Geoffrey felt the weight of his decision. She always had this effect on him, making him feel overwhelmed and utterly unworthy of her. He answered without hesitation, "Yes." His brave, martyr-like expression was almost ridiculous, but Aveline felt no amusement. With a bitter tone, she said, "Fine." Further conversation would lead nowhere good. She stood up to leave, but Sir Geoffrey called after her, "Aveline, let’s part on good terms and stay friends, okay?" Aveline didn’t respond, walking away without a backward glance. "Parting on good terms" was just a lie; she wanted nothing more than to grab Sir Geoffrey by the collar and slap him a few times. As she reached Market Square, she remembered she had dressed formally today for a client meeting and that her high heels made it impossible to drive. Normally, she could ask Sir Geoffrey for a ride, but now she was left to take the subway home. The evening rush hour was winding down, with fewer people around. Aveline entered the bathroom to use some makeup remover wipes and finally let herself cry. Afterward, she splashed cold water on her eyes and emerged from the bathroom, looking completely composed—no signs of the tears she had just shed. The subway wasn't crowded, so Aveline found a spacious area to stand. At her stop, people shuffled on and off, with someone brushing up against her back. Feeling uncomfortable, she stepped forward, glancing back to see a pair of dusty shoes standing too close to her. As the subway doors closed and the train lurched forward, the man swayed toward her. Frowning, she sidestepped a few steps and changed to another spot.
Chapter 3
A few seconds later, a man surprisingly followed her. Aveline Brightwood turned around to see a rather ordinary-looking middle-aged man sliding through the crowd with a briefcase in hand. He glanced back at her with a confused expression, as if he didn't quite understand her presence. She took a few more steps to the side, landing herself in the bustling entrance of the subway station, surrounded by a throng of people, making it hard to move. From the reflection in the subway window, Aveline noticed the man pushing through the crowd, making his way toward her again. With every second that passed, he drew closer. The crush of people in front of her prevented any chance of stepping aside. Then, unexpectedly, she caught a whiff of a clean, refreshing scent nearby, dispelling thoughts of discomfort from the crowd. When she lifted her gaze toward the window’s reflection, she saw the figure of a young man in a white T-shirt standing between her and the stranger. Cedric stood close to her, yet managed to maintain a respectful distance despite the crowd. She watched as he gripped the overhead rail to keep himself steady against the swaying of the subway. Aveline was only as tall as his shoulder, so she needed to tilt her head back to glimpse his profile. His jawline was sharp and clean, his nose straight, and his features were strikingly handsome, his skin clear and fair. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly with each tilt of his head. Aveline wanted to thank him, but seeing his earbuds in place, she opted to stay silent. After a few stops, she noticed that the lecherous man had finally exited, but Cedric remained by her side, shielding her from the crowd. Though people jostled against him, he never pressed against her. Before long, their station arrived, and Aveline slipped out with the current of passengers. Once outside The Iron Gate Station, she wasn't ready to return home just yet. Instead, she decided to stop by The Local Merchant, a convenience store next door, to grab a few cans of beer and head to Riverbank Haven for a drink. As she stepped into The Local Merchant and grabbed a few beers from the cooler, she rounded a corner and, much to her surprise, saw Cedric again. He was at the checkout, busy paying. Without a second thought, Aveline rushed over, pulling out her phone to scan her payment code and nodded at the cashier, “Let’s settle up.” She turned to Cedric and smiled, “Thanks for earlier. I really appreciate it.” * Forty minutes earlier… Lucas Windrider pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly typed a message to his best friend. 【abcdWindriderfg: OMG. I just saw my goddess on the subway!】 【Lord of the Skies: Who?】 【abcdWindriderfg: Remember the incredible beauty I mentioned spotting on the subway a few summers ago? It’s her!】 【Lord of the Skies: Dude, do you always exaggerate like this?】 Lucas Windrider rolled his eyes at Tobias Gale's response, holding his phone up discreetly to catch a side profile shot of Aveline. Yet another moment worth remembering secured. Just last summer, during his sophomore year, he had no smartphone to capture her image, and he had regretted missing out on keeping that memory alive. After that, his chances of stumbling upon her again seemed slim; Tobias had told him with so many people in the city, he might never see her again, which left him feeling quite blue. He still remembered the first time he had spotted her. She wore a professional outfit, her jet-black hair framing her face and cascading over her shoulders, accentuated by the faintest blush on her lips. The way she tilted her head made it clear she was both graceful and innocent. It felt like a bolt had struck his heart, and he could hardly contain his racing pulse, clutching at his chest to keep from letting anyone hear his excitement.
Chapter 4
Back in the day, when his friends would shout excitedly at the starlet, calling her "Oldie," "My girlfriend is so beautiful," and "Goddess," he always rolled his eyes, inevitably facing a barrage of teasing for lacking appreciation. Of course he understood beauty. Starlets were undeniably stunning, but they never made his heart flutter. To him, they were just a collection of features—eyes were eyes, noses were noses. That changed the first time he laid eyes on Aveline Brightwood. She didn’t even notice him, yet he suddenly found himself unsure of how to stand, consumed with thoughts about whether his outfit or haircut was appropriate. Even when her gaze swept past him, he would panic and turn away. Despite being a proud person, he found himself blushing faster than he ever thought possible, feeling as if he were about to burst into flames. As she stepped off the train and walked by him, he froze, internally screaming: Help! Oh my God, she’s coming over! Wow, she looks even better up close! Am I losing my mind? I’m just like those creeps you read about in manga, aren’t I? Please, no! I’m not a perv; I'm not a creep! After that initial meeting, whenever he took the subway to meet his friend Tobias Gale, he made sure to dress nicely, sporting a fresh haircut from his dad's barbershop, hoping for another chance encounter with her. Although he only saw her twice after that, he was satisfied and thrilled. By the third time she got off at the same stop, he was managing to keep his composure. “Wow, go me!” he thought proudly to himself. But then reality hit. He was starting his senior year of high school and was too busy to ride the subway and chance upon her again. Even during the winter break, he hadn’t run into her once. God knows how heartbroken he felt; it was as if he’d experienced a breakup. Then, by some miracle, a whole year later, he had the chance to meet her again. This time, Aveline looked even more stunning. Lucas Windrider discreetly set a sneaky photo of her as his wallpaper and couldn't help stealing glances at her. She looked exhausted walking in those heels. Poor thing, why isn’t anyone giving her their seat? Oh wait—what’s that guy doing trying to get too close to her? Lucas was furious watching Aveline struggle to dodge the man; he felt a surge of protectiveness, wanting nothing more than to tackle the guy to the ground. Forcing through the crowd, he lunged past the man and elbowed him hard, then positioned himself beside Aveline, glaring at the guy with all the intensity he could muster. The man had been ready to lash out, but once he caught sight of Lucas's youthful, strong frame, he thought better of it. Standing beside Aveline, Lucas managed to create a small bubble of space for her amid the swarm of passengers. Inside, he was beaming with happiness. He’d not only captured a photo of her but was now standing so close; life couldn’t get better than this. He felt light-headed with joy, his mind not registering the moment as he found himself following Aveline off the train. Upon exiting the station, reality struck him like a ton of bricks. With a resigned sigh, he wandered over to The Local Merchant, hoping an ice cream bar would help shake off the daze. Just as he pulled out his phone to pay, before he could unlock it, a melodic voice caught his attention: “Hey, thanks for your help back there!” He instinctively turned to his left, and there was his goddess standing just inches away, smiling at him. In that moment, amidst his internal fireworks of joy, Lucas Windrider felt like his entire world had bloomed into a riot of color. But then he glanced down at Aveline Brightwood cradling four cans of beer and felt utterly out of place, holding a silly popsicle in his hands. He stood there, lost for words, as Aveline finished her purchase and strolled away with her beers, leaving him in a daze of confusion.
Chapter 5
Riverbank Haven was a short ten-minute walk from The Iron Gate Station. On the shore, a few people were scattered about. There were couples wrapped up in each other's arms, and families enjoying the cool breeze as they chatted and laughed, their voices carried away by the gentle wind coming off the river. Aveline Brightwood casually chose a spot and laid down her plastic bag, ready to sit when she caught sight of Cedric standing about ten steps away, watching her. When he saw her looking his way, he seemed startled and awkwardly turned his face away. Aveline shrugged it off and comfortably settled down, opening a beer. She gazed at the view across the river, taking a moment to enjoy her drink in peace. After a few moments, she noticed someone else had come to sit next to her. It was Cedric again, holding… two bottles of beer. The sound of the bottles clinking together caught her attention. She remembered he had just bought a popsicle before. Aveline smiled at him and turned her head back, taking another sip of her drink. Meanwhile, she watched as Cedric fumbled to open his beer bottle with his teeth, making her jaw ache just from seeing him struggle. She dug into her bag and pulled out her bottle opener. "Need a hand with that?" Cedric's face turned beet red. So embarrassing. “Sure,” he stammered, realizing just how foolish he was for tossing the popsicle aside to grab those beers. Now, sitting next to Aveline with both bottles in his hands—her tall glass beer bottle and his short, stubby can of beer—he felt utterly out of place. After finally purchasing the beers, he felt a wave of regret wash over him. He had planned to take the subway, but a thought flashed in his mind—the unsettling image of a pervert on the train. What if something happened to Aveline, the goddess sitting next to him? Lately, there had been numerous news reports about women facing harassment. He felt uneasy, clutching the two beers tightly as he moved quick to follow her, determined to make sure she got home safely. If a group of troublemakers showed up, he might not stand a chance, but he could always use the beer bottles as makeshift weapons. When they arrived at Riverbank Haven, Aveline settled on the grass. The wind played with her hair as she stared at the distant lights flickering on the river, her silhouette appearing delicate and lonely. Lucas Windrider took out his phone to message Tobias Gale. “Hey, I’m not playing games tonight. Something came up.” Looking at Aveline, it seemed like she wanted to drink away her worries. That would only make things riskier. He needed to see her home safe; that would ease his restless mind. He stood behind her for a while before he impulsively took a seat beside her. * Aveline opened a beer for Lucas, and he gratefully accepted, the two of them quietly enjoying their drinks in companionable silence. While Aveline had a low tolerance, she managed to keep her thoughts clear and her actions coherent, though she felt them slow down, her worries starting to fade. After finishing her drink, she was about to get up and leave when a bottle of beer was suddenly thrust in front of her. “Want this?” Lucas had barely made a dent in his beer; he still had the other full bottle in his hands. He kept stealing glances at Aveline, and when he noticed her finished drink, he saw the lingering sadness etched on her face. It was clear that drowning her sorrows wasn’t quite doing the trick, so he generously passed his beer over to her. Even though she had a lovely furrowed brow, her smile lit up the area. Aveline stared at the beer bottle in her hands, then broke into a bright grin. “Thank you! It’s always nice to share a drink with someone,” she said, her spirits lifting. “I’m Aveline Brightwood—Aveline like the wood, and Brightwood as in the light.” Aveline Brightwood. What a beautiful name, he thought; it sounded lovely and perfectly suited her, each part resonating with her grace.
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