EMBERS OF RESISTANCE

e. The land was abundant with vineyards, herbs, and fruit-bearing trees, all of which contributed to the prized wines produced by the Luan family's small

Edgar and Mike, and their younger daughter, Stella, w

was, by all appe

friends to the backbreaking work of the vineyards. His natural charisma often got him what he wanted, but he harbored a hidden bitterness toward Mike, whose diligent nature had earned him th

f winemaking. His devotion to the estate's future set him apart, earning him the subtle nod of his father's approval. Though he was only a few minut

. Always the mediator between Edgar and Mike, she cherished her family deeply and, despite her dreams of adventure, was rooted firmly in the land she loved. She s

ked. In his eyes, the family business was his birthright, a legacy that should have been destined for the eldest son. Every moment Mike

under a tree, idly tossing pebbles into the nearby pond. Wiping his hands on

ds all the help he can get. Why don't you come

k with sarcasm. "Just like he appreciates all the time he spends with you. Spare me, Mike

ay calm. "I don't think I'm better than you, Edg

. "The only 'family' Dad cares about is you.

is father's preference, began to harbor deep resentment. It wasn't just about the attention Mike received was about the growing realization that he, Edgar, might

YEARS

the siblings' bonds remained, but the tensions simmering between Edgar and Mike became more volatile. Stella, now a teena

ccident that ch

ious daughter. They planned to be back by nightfall, and Mike had wanted to join them, but Mr. Luan asked him to stay back to help Edgar with the e

ver, had o

that evening, their world crashing down around them. Their parents and beloved sister, Stella, were gone in an instant, leaving a void that could never be filled. The esta

felt that he should have been with them that day. Edgar, however, harbored a different

face the loss, but grief man

ne. The guilt gnawed at him. "I should've been with them," he

't been such a golden child, Dad would've

nly stare back in silence, unable to reconcile the

n the more conservative Scovia, Uncle Elias had been estranged from the family for years due to his differences with their father. Despite his estrangement from the family due to differences with Mr. Luan, Elias stepped

ias's attempts to support him, spiraling further into reckle

gar's rage erupted once more upon hearing their father's will, which entrusted the legacy of the vineyard to Mike. It was

t night, staring at the ceiling of his roo

ce was venomous, his fists clenched at hi

ke replied, struggling to keep calm. "We're b

seen me as an equal. You think I don't see how D

to take anything

spilling out. "You took everything from me. Dad's respect, his trust,

rustration. "But I can't undo what happened. We

isted smile on his face. "No, Mike.

reason. "This isn't about deserving anything,

as the brothers drifted further apart. Mike, determined to honor his father's legacy, knew that healing the family was

s Mike carried with him. He roamed the campus with the quiet confidence of someone who had lived

his future as the head of the family business. Bravia, with its sprawling parks and prestigious institutions, offered an escape

en he

t the late afternoon light, and when she looked up, her ocean-blue eyes met Mike's. In that sing

out her. Her blue eyes peeked up from her book for a second, glancing at the commotion of stud

ling flustered, but something about the way she lo

Something about her drew him in like a magnet. His heart raced, but he ma

g onto his emerald ones. She smiled, the kind of smile that warmed eve

se they were, though the bench could have eas

, seemingly amused that

ke replied, nodding.

prise, clearly not expecting Mike t

ard of it." His charm was effortless, but there was something genuine in h

ng her lips. "I wouldn't have pegged

Mike shot back, his emerald

So, what brings you here? Aside from analyzing my reading c

r a moment, gathe

things, and then..." He paused, looking directly at her

er giving way to something more meaningful, more real. She didn't look away, and for a moment, i

quietly, her voice b

eart was racing. "Yeah, we

, her gaze lingering o

didn't need to be filled with words. It was as if they were both waiting

he quiet. "What's a guy like you doing here on a

ng the world might be a bit much, but I'm her

figure out how the human mind works...

ened. "That's p

t's fascinating. People are complicated, you know? There

hers. "Yeah, I can see that. I'm s

ething comforting about it. Something safe. "So, you said you're study

mean, yeah, that's the plan. My family has this vineyard back ho

y asked, picking up on the su

to... I just don't know if it's me, you know? There's a lot of family history tied up i

zed. "I get it. Expectations can be heavy. It's ha

is expression softeni

nd of silence that felt full of unspoken things as if they bo

said suddenly, realizing they

oment, the contact sent a jolt through him. It was as if something had c

ou're into psychology, maybe you can explain wh

inkling with amusement. "I'm not sure

," Mike said, his tone tea

holding his gaze a litt

years. Mike found himself opening up in ways he hadn't expected, and Stacy, too, shared more than she usually would with a stranger. There

glow over the campus, Mike glanced at his watch and sighed.

small pang of disappointment.

o her. "Hey, um... would you maybe want to grab coffee someti

kipping a beat. "I think I

oyish charm on full displ

this was the beginning of something special-something that went beyond textbooks and expectations. And for the fir

if his life had just shifted in a way he couldn't quite explain. Meeting Stacy hadn

m feel light as if the weight he carried on