Under the pressure of fate

Destiny has curious ways of weaving its thread into people's lives. Sometimes, it's a subtle whisper that slips through the days unnoticed; other times, it's a thunderclap that shakes everything in its path. For me, it was a memory etched into my skin and soul: a boy with frightened eyes, an improvised hiding place, and the beginning of something that never stopped beating deep in my heart.

I was that girl with a flower-shaped birthmark on my hand, the one who offered him shelter when he needed it most. And he... he never stopped looking for me.

But while I continued with my life, unaware that his memory still held on to me, David Donovan was trapped in a world that never allowed him to choose. From afar, I heard about him through newspaper headlines, through business magazines that praised him as the perfect CEO, the ideal heir. His name was synonymous with success, power, and prestige, but behind that impeccable image was a man cornered by expectations that weren’t his own.

Destiny caught up with me on a night like any other.

I walked out of the café where I worked, ready to walk the same streets as always, with the night breeze brushing against my face and my thoughts drifting between dreams and reality. I didn’t expect him to be there, on the other side of the traffic light, hands gripping the steering wheel of his car, his gaze lost in the void.

I recognized him instantly.

Not because of his fame or the covers I’d seen in store windows, but because there was something in him that was still the same boy I had met so many years ago.

The light turned green, and in an instant that felt eternal, his eyes met mine.

That was when destiny decided to deliver its final blow.

That night was just another, one of those where exhaustion weighed on my shoulders like an impossible burden. My feet ached after so many hours running from one side of the restaurant to the other, smiling at customers who barely saw you as a person. But the worst part wasn’t the job. No, the worst part was coming home to face the same reality as always: my sick mother, the overdue bills, and Eric, my brother, getting into trouble once again.

The cold air hit my face as soon as I stepped out of the restaurant, and I pulled my old jacket tight around me. The streets were quiet, but my mind was chaos. How was I going to pay for mom’s treatment this month? And what would I do with Eric? His promises to change had faded long ago, just like my hope that he ever would.

A roar of an engine interrupted my thoughts. I didn’t pay attention until headlights blinded me. Everything happened in an instant: the screech of tires, the impact on my arm, and before I realized it, the cold ground beneath my body.

The sound of doors opening. Rushed footsteps. A deep voice, tinged with alarm.

– My God! Are you okay?

I blinked, trying to get my bearings, and looked up. A man knelt in front of me. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his blue eyes looked at me with concern… and guilt.

– What the hell were you doing? Trying to kill me? – I snapped, ignoring the burning in my arm as I stood up.

He reached out to help me, but I pushed his hand away. I wasn’t going to let someone who almost ran me over act like a kind gesture could fix everything.

– I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you. Are you hurt? I can take you to the hospital.

Hospital? And who was going to pay for that, him?

– I don’t need anything from you – I replied, brushing dirt off my hands.

He didn’t move. He was still there, staring at me with that guilty expression. He wore simple clothes—dark jeans and a leather jacket—but the car he had arrived in was something else. I didn’t know much about cars, but that one was definitely not average.

Then his gaze dropped to something on my hand. I looked down and saw it: he was staring at my flower-shaped birthmark, bruised from the fall but still intact. His expression changed in a second. First, he frowned, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then, his eyes widened with a strange gleam, a glimpse of wonder I didn’t understand.

– You... – he murmured, like the air had left his lungs – It’s you.

I frowned.

– What?

– I’ve been looking for you.

My body tensed.

– What the hell are you talking about?

He studied me with an intensity that made me nervous, like he was trying to find something in my face.

– Do you really not remember me? – his voice was quiet, almost a restrained plea.

I let out an incredulous laugh.

– Of course I don’t remember you. The only image I have of you is of some idiot who almost ran me over.

His lips pressed together, but he said nothing.

– Let me make it up to you somehow. I can’t leave you like this.

– Make it up to me? Sure, because I’m sure chauffeurs have tons of money to throw around – I snapped sarcastically.

His eyes narrowed slightly, but instead of reacting to my comment, he insisted:

– At least let me take you home. It’s the least I can do.

I huffed, still angry. I didn’t understand why this guy looked at me like I was more than just a stranger. But I was tired, and the idea of walking all the way home with my arm hurting wasn’t very appealing.

– Fine, but don’t talk much – I agreed with a sigh.

Without knowing it, at that moment, I opened the door to destiny.

The ride was uncomfortable. He tried asking questions, but I barely answered. I had no interest in chatting with a stranger who probably just felt guilty. When the car stopped in front of my building, I got out without thanking him.

– Thanks for the ride, Mr. Chauffeur – I muttered sarcastically, more to myself than to him.

I closed the door and walked away without looking back, convinced I’d never see him again.

But something in the air made me hesitate. I didn’t hear the engine start right away. A strange feeling crawled down my spine, like his gaze was still following me.

It didn’t make sense. To me, he was nothing but a stranger.

But to him, I was someone he had never forgotten.