LOVE BEYOND WEALTH

wealth dictated one's place in the hierarchy. Two lives, set on opposite sides of the spectrum, were bound to never intersect. Yet, in a city of millions, fate had other plans.Eleanor "Ellie" Evans

to a stop. The driver cursed under his breath as the engine died completely, the result of driving through streets that had flooded too quickly. Ellie sat in the backseat, watching as the rain hammered against the windows. Frustrated but not panicked, she pulled out her phone to call for help, only to realize that the storm had knocked out her cell service.After what felt like an eternity, the driver finally turned to Ellie. "I'm sorry, Miss Evans, but it looks like we're going to need a tow. There's a garage not too far from here. It's a long shot, but I can try to get us there. "With no other option, Ellie agreed, and they carefully maneuvered the car through the waterlogged streets. A few blocks away, they found the garage-Reed's Auto, a small, unassuming place tucked between a convenience store and a laundromat. It was nothing like the polished service centers Ellie was used to, but in that moment, it was her only lifeline.Inside the garage, Alex was wrapping up a long day. He had worked on three cars since morning, and his hands were covered in grease. As he looked out at the storm, he wondered if he should close early, but something told him to wait just a little longer. Moments later, the sound of a car pulling up caught his attention. He stepped outside, squinting through the rain to see the sleek town car with its engine smoking.Ellie stepped out of the car, struggling to keep her balance on the slick pavement, her dress clinging to her in the rain. She hadn't expected the mechanic to be a young man around her age. His clothes were worn, his hands stained with oil, but his presence was grounded, as if he belonged to the earth itself. For a moment, they stood there in the downpour, two people from different worlds who had no business meeting each other." Looks like you've had some trouble, "Alex said, breaking the silence, his voice warm despite the cold rain. "You could say that, "Ellie replied, wiping her wet hair out of her face. She wasn't used to being in situations where she had to rely on strangers, but something about Alex's calm demeanor put her at ease." I'll take a look at it, "he said, moving toward the car. "But it's going to take some time. Might need to order a part, and with this sto