Chapter 2

-ZOEY ASHFORD-

My taxi had arrived. I closed the curtains and moved away from the window and where my bags were.

Final glance at the hotel room, I was sure I didn't leave anything behind.

I rolled my luggage out of the room and locked the door behind me. Took the elevator and headed straight to the reception desk to check out and have the keys returned.

Once I was done checking out. I went to my taxi and settled in and we zoomed off, heading straight to the airport.

I have been out of town for sometime now for a writer's event. It was just so important that I couldn't miss it for anything and I have no regrets attending because it created a lot of impact on me.

We reached the airport in no time and I did everything that was required and settled into the plane.

It was time for take off, I fixed my seatbelt and fixed my gaze out the window. My flight was for 45mins and I was so distant that I had no idea we had reached, until it was time for it to land.

As I walked out of the airport, I stopped and took a deep breath. Inhaling the fresh air that I've missed even though it's just for two weeks I'd left for the event.

Yet again, it's all so surprising how time moves so fast. Though, it feels like yesterday but it has already been months since my so-called wedding got cancelled.

Months since my heart felt as if it would rip out of my chest. Since I felt like a worthless bride with no piece of value.

It wasn't so easy for me to heal. I was broken beyond repair. Crushed into tiny crumbs. How I became who I am today is simply a miracle. If I can put it that way.

I have learned to move on. I have, actually.

Put my life back on track and become the best version of myself.

I have nothing to lose.. absolutely nothing.

The past is in the past.. whatever it may be. I have learnt to bury it. But, I sincerely hope we never cross paths.

My supposed groom... The anonymous man I fell in love with. I hope we never cross paths because heaven knows what I would do if I ever get to meet him.

The sudden honk from a car pulled me out of my thoughts, startling me. I gasped loudly when I saw I was about to get hit.

I was walking absentmindedly and didn't realize it at all.

Somehow, I lost balance and fell, spraining my ankle in the process.

"Aww!!" I cried loudly as the pain hit me.

Then I heard the car door closing and then footsteps but I had my mind centered on what had just happened.

"Are you okay?"

I felt a hand on my shoulders followed by a deep and resonant yet surprisingly soft and gentle voice.

I caught his face when I looked up. His chiseled features and piercing eyes which were staring directly at mine.

I could see all these because of how close we were.

"Are you okay?"

I snapped back to consciousness when the pain hit me and I winced slightly.

"Yes.. yes I am"

"It doesn't look like it.." He helped me up, then crouched down and took a look at my sprained ankle.

"You might need to see a doctor. Come, I'll take you". He stood up.

"No.. no, it's fine. I'll just go home and do what I can to ease the pain. It will be gone in no time" I said, holding my luggage.

"I'm sorry this had to happen. My driver was just careless. If you want, I can take you to the hospital now. I don't mind"

"No.." I said almost immediately. "No.. it's fine. really. I was also at fault for walking absentmindedly. Trust me!"

"And then again I ruined your pretty dress.."

I looked down at my dress and that's when I realized how rumpled and dirty it had become.

"It's nothing..." I said.

"I sincerely apologize once again. And I wouldn't mind helping if you'd let me but I won't force you to go to the hospital if you don't want to, I do hope you get yourself some pain relief..."

I was stunned at his concern which felt so unusual. It's so hard to find a stranger who would care so much after almost causing an accident..Others would just curse and drive off as if a life wasn't involved.

Just a nod, I was about to walk away.. No, scratch that.. limp away actually when he caught my arm.

I stared at his hand on mine, then back at him.

"I'm usually not the type who would just go away without atoning for my mistake. For ruining your pretty dress and this accident, why don't I buy you a coffee?.." He let go of my hand, pulled a card from his suit pocket and gave it to me.

"Here's my card. Let's have coffee together some other time.."

Once his card was in my possession, I pulled out my own card and gave it to him as well. He took it without further questions.

There was an upcoming taxi and he immediately flagged it down and helped me get in, instructing the driver to drive carefully.

This was surprisingly nice and.... so hard to believe that considerate men still exist.

And of course, that excludes Wes Martins who is twice as considerate as the stranger I just met.

---

Mariah was staring at me like she had seen a ghost. I waved my hands in front of her to divert her attention.

She wasn't really staring at me, but at my dress which was dirty. I know Mariah... she would probably start bombarding me with questions.

"What? Why are you staring at me that way? Aren't you going to let me in?"

She gave way and I limped in, dragging my luggage behind. As soon as I was in the living room, I stopped and turned around to find her staring at my leg.

"Before you start asking questions... I sprained my ankle at the airport. I was slightly distracted and so, it was fully my fault and that's how I got my dress dirty. And please don't ask me further questions. I'm so tired... I need to rest"

Mariah rolled her eyes at me.

"Aren't you going to see a doctor to get it treated properly?"

"I'll do that myself. Did you prepare lunch? I'm super famished.."

"Go freshen up and come have lunch. Make sure you have that leg of yours properly treated. You have a book signing event for your second aired book tomorrow remember? You can't afford to go limping on one foot" She said jokingly.

With my luggage, I went into my room, quickly had a nice warm bath, changed into something light and stepped out.

Then, I attended to my ankle. I made sure to take a pain relief drug and apply some soothing balm on it.

That would work. It's not a big case anyways.

I can be my own doctor too.

Once I was done, I began to get my clothes arranged back into the wardrobe. As soon as I was almost done, something fell off, making a light sound on the floor.

My eyes landed on it, I leaned down and picked it up.

It was nothing precious... just a tiny piece of metal.. weightless and meaningless.

It was a ring.. The ring I was engaged with.

I didn't throw it away like he asked me to. No.. I did not do that. Not because it held a beautiful memory of mine but because it's the only thing that showed me what it means to be worthless and used.

It's just a symbol of my stupidity and naiveness.

There is nothing to this ring but bad and hurtful memories and that's why I never threw it away but kept it hidden deep down in my closet.

For months, it has remained hidden... Why did it have to fall out now?

My face was neutral... I didn't smile or tear up while staring at the ring... Just void of any emotions.

"Zoey...Come eat before the food gets cold. Don't let my cooking go to waste" Mariah's voice came through.

"Coming.." I responded and headed out, after tossing the ring back to its position.