six hours

Prologue

The fourteen-year-old me just wanted to say no. I had a choice: to walk away or accept his offer. My mind was running wild with questions. Why would a rich guy like him—tall, with turquoise eyes, fair skin, shiny deep brown hair—want me? A girl with a French accent, short, shabby, with teenage acne and far from perfect eyes. Why would he want me? Me!!

I had no choice but to voice my concerns, and the answer I received to all my questions was just one word: "Love," he said. At that moment, I wanted to burst out laughing. How could two teens fall in love? How could a sixteen-year-old talk about love? This was madness! How could Adonis—a Greek god—want me? But the answer was still the same.

Looking into my eyes and pouring his request into my soul like hot magma on iron, I did what I thought was right. I glanced at the corner of my eye and saw my cousin Ashley mouthing "oui, dire oui," and felt the pressure from everyone in the room bearing down on me, as if I had no choice. I had no choice.

Looking deeply into his eyes, I said the only answer he had been waiting to hear, and the only thing the entire room was waiting to hear: "Yes, I will be your girlfriend."

At that very moment, his eyes lit up, and the room was filled with all kinds of noises. He hugged me and whispered in my ear, "You won't be disappointed with your decision. I will make you the happiest girl. There is no mistake from me." Then he placed a soft peck on my neck.

From there, things escalated so quickly. One moment, I was just a single, lonely girl, and the next, I was in a relationship with a stranger who had my heart. I didn't know that the decision I made would be both a blessing and a curse in the future. I just didn't know...

"You did it, cousine! Tell me something, what made you think so long? You've got yourself a hunk!" Ash said.

"Don't you find me a hunk, babe? I mean, you only see my twin brother, and that's all," Cris said, placing his hand on Ash's waist and tapping me on the back, snapping me out of my thoughts. They both must've noticed my shock, and Ash decided to take me home.

Later...

Ed: Morning, babe! Did you sleep well?

Me: Yeah, I did. You?

Ed: I did, had pretty good dreams as well. 😁

Me: I don't want to know about them, but I forgot to tell you something yesterday.

Ed: What?

Me: Never mind, it's fine. Anyways, I have to go, see you later 😉 Oh, and don't you think calling me "babe" is a little too early?

Ed: 🤔 Nope. Have a great day, BABE.

Jumping to my feet, I heard Tante Marie shouting that we were going to be late for school. Man, I must've slept in! Next time my birthday rolls around, I won't let anyone throw me a party. "Coming, Tante?" Joining my small family for breakfast was always emotional but full of hope. It had been a year since my mom went into a coma, and my dad—the person who left the moment he heard my mom was expecting—well, I don't know him. All I know is I blame him for everything.

"Eat your food, or it'll get cold, Nora," Tante said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "What are you thinking about? If it's your mom, you must know that she will be fine. I'm here for you, always."

She said, placing a fat strip of bacon on my plate and swiping Ash's fresh cookies away.

I looked at her and knew there would always be a place for me in this family. Maybe the fact that I was missing my parents brought me closer to another family. It's like that—if life takes one thing, it gives you something else. That's how it is. This was my life now. I had to accept it.

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 By the way, most of my chapters will include French, so if you can't translate it, I'm here. Leave a comment, and I'll help! 😉

Stay safe, people 💋