Her mother's friend's son

Prologue

As the Metro train screeched to a halt, Vanessa Milian peered out of the window, her heart sinking at the sight of the dismal weather outside. It was one of those days when the sky seemed to mirror her own somber mood – gray, heavy, and burdened with unshed tears.

With a resigned sigh, she gathered her bag and made her way to the exit, steeling herself for the inevitable onslaught of rain. As she stepped out onto the platform, the heavens opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour that soaked everything in its path.

Vanessa cursed inwardly, realizing she had forgotten her umbrella at home in her rush to catch the train. She glanced around, searching desperately for any semblance of shelter, but the platform offered little refuge from the relentless deluge.

Just as she was about to resign herself to the inevitable drenching, a sleek black BMW appeared on the horizon, cutting through the rain with effortless grace. Vanessa's heart skipped a beat as the car slowed to a stop beside her, and the passenger window rolled down to reveal a familiar face.

"Vanessa!" called out a voice she knew all too well, tinged with concern and warmth.

She blinked in disbelief, hardly daring to believe her luck. It was Justin Milian, her husband, her rock, her constant source of strength and support. Relief flooded through her as she hurried towards the car, her footsteps splashing through puddles as she went.

Without hesitation, Vanessa flung open the door and threw herself into Justin's waiting embrace, the warmth of his arms enveloping her like a protective shield against the storm. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne mingled with the fresh scent of rain.

"Justin, I can't believe you're here," she murmured, her voice muffled against his jacket.

He chuckled softly, pressing a tender kiss to the top of her head. "I couldn't let my beautiful wife get caught in the rain, now could I?"

Vanessa smiled up at him, her heart overflowing with love and gratitude. Despite the chaos of the outside world, she felt safe and secure in Justin's presence, as if nothing could touch them as long as they were together.

With a gentle hand, Justin brushed a stray lock of hair from Vanessa's face, his gaze soft and tender as he looked at her. "Come on, let's go wrap up in a blunket at home and I'll make us each a cup of hot chocolate to warm us up," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

As they drove through the rain-soaked streets, Vanessa couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over her. She stole glances at Justin, marveling at how effortlessly he always seemed to come to her rescue, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.

"Thank you for saving me, Justin," Vanessa said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Justin smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he glanced at her. "It's my pleasure, sweetheart. I'll always be here for you, rain or shine."

Vanessa felt her heart swell with love for this man who had stolen her heart so completely. Despite the passage of time, Justin still had the power to make her heart race with just a smile, just a touch.

As they pulled into their driveway, the rain began to taper off, leaving behind a glistening sheen on the pavement. Vanessa and Justin hurried inside, shedding their wet clothes and reveling in the warmth of their cozy home.

Once they were dry and comfortable, they settled onto the couch, wrapped in a blanket together. Justin reached for Vanessa's hand, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

"I love you, Vanessa," he said, his voice low and tender.

Vanessa's heart skipped a beat at his words, her own feelings echoing his sentiment. "I love you too, Justin," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

And in that moment, as they sat together in the quiet comfort of their home, surrounded by the gentle pitter-patter of rain outside, Vanessa knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be – in the arms of the man she loved more than anything in the world.

And so, as the storm raged on outside, Vanessa and Justin found solace in each other's embrace, their love serving as a beacon of light in the darkness, guiding them through even the stormiest of days.

***

As the weeks turned into months and the months into years, time seemed to slip through Vanessa's fingers like grains of sand. Days blended together in a blur of routine and familiarity, until one morning she awoke with a start, the realization hitting her like a bolt of lightning – she didn't know her husband anymore.

It wasn't that Justin had become a stranger overnight, but rather that he had changed in subtle ways, his once familiar gestures now tinged with a hint of unfamiliarity. His laughter sounded different, his smile no longer reached his eyes, and there was a distance in his gaze that Vanessa couldn't quite decipher.

At first, she brushed off her concerns, attributing Justin's behavior to stress or exhaustion. But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Vanessa couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. She tried to talk to Justin, to bridge the growing divide between them, but he always seemed to evade her questions or brush them off with a distracted smile.

Frustrated and confused, Vanessa found herself retreating into herself, seeking solace in the familiarity of her work. She threw herself into her job with a newfound intensity, staying late at the office more often than not, and sometimes even spending the night to avoid facing the growing rift between her and Justin.

The late nights at work became a refuge of sorts for Vanessa, a sanctuary where she could escape the turmoil of her home life and lose herself in the comforting rhythm of her work. But deep down, she knew that she couldn't keep running forever, that eventually she would have to confront the growing distance between her and Justin, no matter how much it scared her.

And so, as Vanessa found herself caught in the tangled web of uncertainty and doubt, she clung to the hope that somewhere, buried beneath the layers of disappointment and disillusionment, there was still a glimmer of the love that had once bound her and Justin together.