Lost and Found In Love (WRITING IN PROGRESS)

Chapter 1

The morning was painted in soft hues of gold and pink as the sun crept higher, brushing the edges of the highway with warmth. It was early enough that the road seemed like it belonged to him alone. No cars, no noise—just the hum of his black sedan slicing through the stillness. To anyone else, it might have felt peaceful, even serene. But for William, it was suffocating.

His phone buzzed against the smooth leather of the passenger seat, the screen lighting up with Lisa's name. He didn't reach for it. He knew what she'd say if he answered, and he didn't have the patience to rehash the same fight. Not today.

"Do you even care about this family anymore?" Lisa's voice had been sharp the night before, cutting through the quiet of their living room. She stood with her arms crossed, her frustration evident in the tight line of her jaw.

"I'm doing this for us," William had snapped, pacing as he loosened his tie. His briefcase rested near the door, already packed for the trip. "This deal could change everything."

"For you, maybe," she countered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Not for us. We're not part of your world anymore, William. I don't even know who you're trying to impress, but it's not me, and it's not Sophie."

He stopped pacing then, the mention of their daughter pulling him up short. But instead of answering, he grabbed his case and headed for the door.

Lisa's parting words hung in the air, even now: "You can't keep running from us forever."

He pressed harder on the accelerator, trying to outrun the memory. The engine purred in response, steady and powerful beneath his hands. His car—a sleek, black masterpiece of engineering—was his one true indulgence. It had carried him to countless meetings, closed deals, and awards ceremonies, but never home. Not really.

The road stretched endlessly ahead, flanked by fields blanketed in early-morning mist. It should have been a calming sight, the kind that reminded people of life's simple pleasures. Instead, it only deepened the gnawing pit in his stomach. The quiet was too loud, the stillness too heavy. He turned on the radio, letting the soft strains of classical music fill the void.

But even that wasn't enough to drown out Lisa's voice.

She didn't understand. She never had. He wasn't working these long hours for himself—it was for them. For their future. Did she think he enjoyed missing Sophie's school recitals? Did she think it didn't gut him to see her drawings of their family, always with a little stick figure labeled "Dad" standing off to the side?

He shook his head and forced his thoughts back to the task ahead. The meeting. That's what mattered now. If he could close this deal, all the sacrifices would be worth it. They'd see that in time.

Up ahead, the road curved slightly, the sun rising higher to his left. He squinted against the glare and flipped the visor down. The clock on the dashboard blinked at him—6:43 a.m. Plenty of time.

He glanced at the passenger seat, where his phone buzzed again. Lisa's name flashed on the screen, followed by a string of notifications. Texts, missed calls, more texts. He clenched his jaw and looked away, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the wheel.

The car's GPS chirped suddenly, announcing a turn ahead in two miles. He adjusted his speed, easing off the gas as the fields gave way to a wooded stretch of highway. Shadows danced across the pavement as the trees swayed gently in the breeze.

And then, out of nowhere, a pair of headlights appeared.

It took him a second too long to realize they were on the wrong side of the road.

"Damn it!" he yelled, jerking the wheel to the right. The car veered sharply, the tires screeching in protest as he fought to regain control. The oncoming vehicle hurtled toward him, its horn blaring—a cacophony of noise and motion that sent adrenaline surging through his veins.