Lina Chen's world crumbles when a tragic accident steals away her first love, Maximus, leaving her alone-pregnant and heartbroken. Determined to honor their love, she chooses to keep their child, Aiden, as a lasting memory of their bond. Forced into a loveless marriage to save her family's failing business, Lina finds solace only in Aiden and her growing career as an investigative reporter. Five years later, her husband's infidelity leads to a bitter divorce. Lina is ready to move on, focusing on her son and her career-until a mysterious new CEO captures her attention. Assigned to cover a story on the country's most elusive business tycoon, Damian Zhen, Lina uncovers shocking links to her past that send her reeling. Could this man be connected to the love she thought she lost forever?
Chapter 1 An Accident That Changed Everything
The car moved at a steady pace, its engine rattling as it cruised down the highway. The sky was pitch black, with no moon or stars in sight-the only light came from the faint glow of the headlights, shining through the darkness. Behind the wheel sat a young man with shoulder-length jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, dressed in an oversized black hoodie and jeans. His hands were clasped tightly on the wheel, his knuckles white against the steering, though he adjusted slightly every few seconds.
Beside him, a young woman with light brown hair tied into a ponytail and wide light brown eyes scrolled through her phone. She wore a cream oversized shirt and black skinny jeans, she looked relaxed.
Maximus glanced at her, his expression softening momentarily as he smiled. But almost as soon as the smile appeared, a faint wince flickered across his face, his hand rising to press against his temple as if in pain. He quickly masked it, his grip on the wheel tightening again. Beside him, Lina remained lost in her phone, oblivious.
Another glance. He couldn't help it. She was there, so close, yet something inside him felt miles away. This time, she seemed to feel his stare. She turned off her phone and chuckled softly, breaking the silence.
"Why do you keep looking at me? I can literally feel your gaze, Maxie... it's creepy."
Maximus forced a grin, but there was a brief pause, his voice lower than usual. "You're beautiful, Lina. I couldn't help but stare."
She rolled her eyes, playfully dismissing his compliment. "Tell me something new. All boyfriends say that to their girlfriends... I'm not impressed," she teased, returning to her phone.
Her light teasing failed to mask the faint knot of unease growing in her stomach. Something was off. She glanced back at Maximus, narrowing her eyes. His usual warmth was there in his words, but something in his posture was rigid and strained. His grip on the wheel was too tight, and there was a subtle twitch at the corner of his lips.
'What's going on with him?' She suppressed a sigh, turning her attention back to her phone, but the unease lingered.
Suddenly, a loud horn shattered the stillness of the night, jolting Lina out of her thoughts. Her head snapped up, eyes wide in alarm as she saw the glaring lights of a huge truck driving toward them, honking wildly. Panic surged through her veins as her mind screamed that something was wrong-very wrong.
"Maxie... Maxie, there's a truck coming!" Her voice rose, but Maximus remained disturbingly still. His eyes were wide open, staring straight ahead, but he wasn't reacting. It was as if he were locked in place.
"Maxie!" she screamed, grabbing his shoulder and shaking him violently. "Move! Can't you hear me?!"
His body remained stiff, his knuckles frozen around the wheel like a statue. Her heart raced, her pulse hammering in her ears. She turned toward the road. The truck was hurtling closer, the blinding headlights swallowing them in their glare.
In a desperate effort, Lina lunged toward the wheel, yanking it hard to the left. The tires screeched against the road, the car swerving violently. The truck whizzed past them, missing by inches, but the force of the swerve sent the car careening into the metal railings.
Time seemed to slow as the sound of metal grinding against metal screeched through the night. The car's body crumpled as it slammed into the railings, the force of the impact rattling Lina's bones. Her head smashed into the steering wheel, pain bursting behind her eyes like fireworks. Maximus's body jerked to the side, his head slamming into the window with a sickening crack.
The railings buckled, and the car lurched forward. Lina barely registered what was happening before the world tilted. The car fell over the edge, crashing down into the freezing, dark waters below.
The sound was deafening-glass shattered, metal bent, and the water roared as it rushed in. Lina gasped, the icy water knocking the breath from her lungs as it surged through the broken windows, soaking her instantly.
"Maxie!" she cried out, her voice muffled by the cold water. She turned to him, her heart sinking. Maximus was slumped against the window, blood trickling from a deep cut on his forehead. His breathing was shallow, weak, his chest rising and falling in painful, labored bursts.
Lina's hands shook as she fumbled with her seatbelt, unbuckling it with trembling fingers. She was soaked, her body numb from the freezing water, but she forced herself to move. She had to help him. She leaned over, shaking Maximus by the shoulders.
"Maxie, darling! wake up! Please, you have to wake up!" Her voice cracked as she shook him harder, but he didn't stir. His eyes were half-open, glazed over, as if he were trapped in some terrible dream.
Why hadn't he reacted? Why hadn't he swerved when the truck was coming? Why was he acting like this? None of it made sense, and the questions only increased the panic in Lina's chest.
The water had reached her waist now, numbing her legs, and it was still rising fast. The car was sinking deeper into the water. Her breaths came in short, sharp gasps as she reached for Maximus's seatbelt. She tugged at it, but it wouldn't budge. Her vision blurred with tears of frustration.
"I'm not leaving you, Maxie," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I can't... I won't."
But the water kept rising, swallowing her chest, her shoulders. Her fingers clawed at the belt, but her strength was fading, her body growing heavier as the water filled her lungs.
Her final thoughts blurred into a haze as darkness closed in. 'Maxie... please... wake up.'
And then, She lost consciousness as darkness consumed her.
Chapter 1 An Accident That Changed Everything
20/11/2024
Chapter 2 A Love Broken To Pieces
20/11/2024
Chapter 3 Five years later
20/11/2024
Chapter 4 Love Broken Piece Slowly Coming Together
20/11/2024
Chapter 5 The Man On Stage
20/11/2024
Chapter 6 Lina, Go back to him
20/11/2024
Chapter 7 Zenith Hotel
20/11/2024
Chapter 8 Aiden Got Into A Fight.
20/11/2024
Chapter 9 Zenith's New Employee
20/11/2024