The Man

I stopped at a café and ordered a bowl of chicken noodles. From across the room, a small family caught my attention. A father, a mother, and their daughter were enjoying a warm conversation over lunch. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I quickly wiped them away as the waiter arrived with my order.

"Thank you." My forced smile vanished as soon as the waiter left. My hands trembled as I lifted the chopsticks for the first bite.

"Daddy, try my noodle soup! It's so delicious! Mmm, yummy!"

"Alright, honey. I'll try your soup, but you have to eat all the meat, okay? Be a strong, smart girl. Daddy is proud of you~"

I whispered to myself, ignore it, you're just here to eat, but my eyes kept glancing at the father gently stroking his daughter's hair while the mother smiled and captured the moment with her phone.

The chopsticks in my hands trembled even more. I felt too weak to eat. I decided to sit still, allowing my tears to fall freely. I cried silently, hiding behind the steam from my noodle bowl.

Dad, why have you changed? Why do you hate me now?

My father was once a great man, kind and loving, but now he's my enemy. Miranda, the blonde, and her greedy daughter, Emily, are the problem, but how do I get my revenge? Here I am, struggling just to find a place to stay and a meal to eat. I really am a spoiled girl.

Thud! The sound of a beer glass hitting my table startled me. I looked up to see a middle-aged man with a large frame grinning at me, making me frown. Who are you?

"Hey, pretty lady, mind if I join you?"

His gaze was unsettling. I pulled my bowl closer, searching for another empty table. I didn't want to deal with a stranger, so it was better to avoid him.

As I stood to leave, the man grabbed my arm, causing me to drop my bowl.

Crash! The bowl shattered, and the hot soup splashed onto my heels. "Ah!" I winced at the burning sensation in my toes.

"Miss!" Two waiters rushed over to help, quickly dousing my foot with cold water. "Are you alright, miss?"

My whole body trembled with fear, especially as the man continued to stare at me. "Hey, miss, don't overreact. I was just being friendly. Do you think I'm a criminal or something? You're so arrogant."

"Sir, if you want to have fun, go to an entertainment venue. This is a place for dining, not for harassing women! You're disturbing our customers, and I will call the police!" The café manager intervened, offering me some relief. "Miss, please sit down. I'll get some medicine and replace your noodles. Don't worry, I'll handle this man."

"You don't need to handle me. I'll leave. Damn arrogant girl, so annoying!" The man left, cursing under his breath. Even though he was gone, I was still shaking with fear.

"Miss, here's the medicine, and here are your noodles. Please, eat. I promise no one will bother you." The waiter tried to calm me, but my appetite was gone. I was truly terrified of life outside my home.

Nineteen years in a luxurious mansion with all the amenities, always accompanied by my father or Adrian wherever I went. Now, alone in this unfamiliar world, all my courage seemed to vanish.

My anxiety and fear surged again when someone handed me a business card.

"Lucia Anderson?"

Gulp! I swallowed hard. Another middle-aged man? I lowered my head, trembling. Not just shaking, now my whole body was shivering. I was utterly scared and uncomfortable outside. I wanted to go home.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Han. I would like to request your time, miss, if you could~~~"

I couldn't understand what he was saying. The world was spinning so fast, making my stomach churn with nausea. I wanted to vomit, but my stomach muscles were weak. Moments later, I remembered nothing.

"Miss!!"

~~~~~

A young woman lay in a hospital bed. Evan glanced at her bandaged foot, her hand connected to an IV, her skin pale.

"Han, what did you do to her? I asked you to investigate, not to terrorize her like this!" Evan's hand quickly grabbed Han's collar, his face contorted with anger.

"Calm down, boss! I didn't harm her. I found her at a noodle café. She was already weak and unconscious when I arrived."

"Damn it, check that café. Check all the footage. Find out what happened, why she fainted there. Something bad must have happened."

"Boss, she's here now, getting treated by expert doctors. She's in a safe place. Shouldn't we focus on~~~"

"Since when did you start arguing with me, Han?"

Han fell silent. Evan's words and glare were enough to jolt him. That glare seemed to say, 'I can find a hundred Hans who won't argue with me.'

"Alright, boss. I'll take care of it. By the way, I noticed a burn on her foot. You should pay attention to that because it could turn into an open wound and might leave a scar."

Evan's eyes shifted to the bandage on Lucia's left foot. He moved closer, gingerly touching the bandage. "Something burned you here?" he whispered, pressing his hand against his chest. Something burned inside him too. Evan clutched his chest, feeling a sudden, overwhelming pain that left him momentarily paralyzed.

"Boss, are you okay?" Han asked, concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine. Go now!"

Although hesitant, Han left the room.

Evan continued to stare at Lucia's injured foot. "Miss, what happened to you after that night? Do you remember me? Why did you leave that room without a word? I've been looking for you!"

Evan's gaze slowly traveled from her foot to her pale face, her delicate lips, her sharp nose, her long lashes, and her thick hair spread out like a dark, shimmering sea across the pillow. "That night was so unforgettable that it makes my heart ache every time I think of it. Do you know, it was the first time I felt a woman's touch and I~" Evan pressed his chest again, grimacing in pain.

"And it~ it hurt me but also~ gave me joy~" His voice was barely audible, almost a whisper. Evan bowed his head, clutching his chest. The pain was so intense that his hand fell on Lucia's, unable to bear the agony until he finally collapsed, unconscious on the floor.