First Accident

As Ella's heart continued to race from the adrenaline and fear of the close encounter with the truck, she felt a strong grip on her right upper arm, pulling her to safety. She stumbled against something solid, her eyes still tightly shut in terror. Her hand instinctively shot into the air, seeking to understand the source of the sudden rescue.

After what felt like an eternity of rapid breathing and disbelief, Ella finally mustered the courage to open her eyes. As she did, she gasped in surprise at the sight before her. She found herself facing a man—a mysterious stranger who had appeared out of nowhere to save her.

Blinking a few more times, Ella took in the sight of her savior—a man with silvery moon-like eyes, peering down at her with an air of nonchalance. Her heart continued to race, but now it was not just from fear; it was also from the sheer intensity of his gaze.

Caught off guard by his piercing eyes, Ella couldn't help but scan his face, feeling a mix of curiosity and embarrassment. "How long are you going to stare?" the man mocked, his voice cool and composed.

"Huh?" Ella stammered, feeling flustered by his remark. His attention was fixed on her emerald eyes, making her feel exposed and vulnerable under his gaze.

"I said, how long are you going to stare?" he repeated, still fixed on her eyes. Ella's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, feeling like she was under a microscope.

Gathering her composure, Ella quickly got to her feet, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. She avoided making eye contact with him, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole situation.

As Ella tried to find the right words to respond, she noticed that the man's attention had shifted to his left upper arm. She followed his gaze and realized that she was still holding onto him tightly. Her embarrassment reached a new level, and she hastily let go of his arm, stepping back nervously.

"Uh, I... I'm sorry," she stuttered awkwardly, trying to explain herself. The man looked at her for a moment, almost as if assessing her, before turning his attention to Tori, the red-haired girl who had accompanied Ella.

Ella's heart continued to pound as she stole a quick glance at him, but he seemed to be unfazed by the whole situation. Instead, he seemed to be waiting for Tori to say something.

Before Ella could respond or muster up the courage to speak again, she heard Tori racing towards her, yelling angrily. "Ella, are you okay? What were you thinking? You could have been seriously hurt!" Tori scolded, her concern evident in her voice.

Ella clenched her hands at her sides, feeling a mix of emotions—gratitude for her friend's protective nature, embarrassment for the scene she had caused, and curiosity about the enigmatic man who had saved her.

As she glanced in his direction once more, she was taken aback to find that he had disappeared, as if he had never been there in the first place. Ella looked around, searching in all directions, but there was no sign of the mysterious stranger.

Her heart still racing, Ella couldn't help but wonder who he was and why he had saved her. Little did she know that this encounter was just the beginning of a journey that would lead her to unravel the secrets of a man whose heart had been consumed by a desire for revenge, and how their destinies would intertwine in ways they could never have foreseen.

"Ella, are you sure you're okay?" Tori asked again, concern evident in her voice. Ella nodded frantically, assuring her friend that she was fine after the harrowing incident.

"Thank God!" Tori exclaimed, pulling Ella into another bear hug. However, the momentary relief was quickly followed by a playful strike to Ella's arm. "What was that for?" Ella groaned, rubbing her arm.

"For showing what a giant dunce you are! Who would run on such a busy street? What if something untoward occurred?" Tori scolded, her worry for her friend turning into frustration at the reckless behavior.

"Thanks to the man that saved you—" Tori began, but Ella's attention was immediately drawn to her friend's next words.

"Wait, where did he go?" Tori questioned, looking around in confusion.

"I was thinking the same," Ella murmured, joining her friend in searching for any sign of the mysterious stranger.

"Did he speak?" Tori asked suddenly, her curiosity piqued.

Ella gave her friend a blank look, not quite understanding what she was getting at. "Huh? How did what go?" she responded, perplexed.

Tori clarified, "I mean, did the man say anything to you?"

"Oh... no," Ella replied, her mind drifting back to the encounter. "He didn't say a word."

Tori stopped for a moment, processing the information. She then gave Ella's shoulder a reassuring pat and said, "It's okay. I can only utter the phrase 'God bless that angel.' Now, let's get going to the NGO."

Ella grinned, appreciating her friend's humor and concern. "You're right. Let's go celebrate with the kids," she agreed.

As Tori went off to park her car, Ella made her way into the bakery with a sense of joy and gratitude. The familiar sound of the entrance door bell rang as she stepped in, greeted warmly by the bakers who knew her well.

"Ella sweetheart, what brings you here?" the woman behind the counter asked with a smile.

Ella's face lit up with excitement as she replied, "I came here to purchase donuts for my babies at the NGO and celebrate my graduation with them."

The bakers were delighted to hear this, knowing how much Ella loved to share her joy and happiness with the less fortunate. Ella chatted with them as they prepared the donuts, and her heart swelled with anticipation for the celebration ahead.

"Oh, goodness, congratulations. That is really admirable and kind of you," the staff at the bakery praised Ella for her thoughtful gesture. "Take some chocolate cheesecakes too for the little angels from us," they suggested, wanting to contribute to Ella's mission of spreading joy.

"There is no need; you are already burdened. Please-" Ella began to protest, not wanting to impose more on the bakery staff. But before she could finish her sentence, the familiar sound of the entrance bell interrupted their exchange.

As the staff turned their attention to the customer who had just entered, Ella's eyes followed suit, and her heart skipped a beat. It was the same man who had saved her life, the mysterious stranger who had appeared like an angel in her moment of peril. He was now standing next to her at the counter, placing an order.

"One iced Americano," he ordered in his deep voice, seemingly unaware of the impact his presence had on Ella and the memories it brought back.

"Ella, darling, it's alright, please take our treat for the children. They will be happy," the lady behind the counter insisted. "We ourselves are too busy to go to the NGO, but you always spend weekends and all your little celebrations with them. So it will be nice if you take our goodies with you."

Defeatedly, Ella gave in to their kindness, feeling touched by their generosity. "Uh, only you all are insisting a lot, so..." she conceded with a smile, grateful for their support.

Meanwhile, the man standing next to her couldn't help but be drawn in by Ella's voice. His eyes widened at the sight of the same redhead he had earlier saved, and he stole a quick glance down at her. Ella noticed him staring at her, but he looked away hastily, seemingly uncomfortable with the sudden attention.

She scowled at his behavior, dismissing it as nothing more than a passing glance. She was too focused on the bakery staff preparing her order to dwell on it further.

As the second woman at the counter presented the man with his order, Ella's treats were also ready. "Ella, dear, here's your order," the woman said, but Ella was momentarily distracted, her gaze fixed on the man who was leaving the bakery.

"Wait," she called out suddenly, feeling a surge of determination. Without second-guessing herself, Ella followed the man, determined to seize this opportunity to thank him properly for his life-saving act and to learn more about the mysterious stranger who had unknowingly captured her curiosity.