Unspoken Desire JenLisa AU

Prologue

I am alone.

Loneliness wraps around my soul, swallowing me, burying me ten feet deep. I have all the riches anyone could desire-luxury bags, rare jewelry, clothes tailored to fit only me. I've traveled the world, collecting things and memories. But none of it fills this hollow space inside me.

Years ago, I was abandoned. My biological parents left me because we were poor, and I was frail and sickly. It didn't take long for me to realize I was adopted. The parents who took me in were Koreans, but they are from New Zealand. They raised me, taught me things, and loved me as their own. But everything shattered when they died in a car accident on my sixteenth birthday-planning some surprise for me. I blamed myself for their deaths.

They left me their fortune-a house, properties, real estate. All of it mine, which only fueled resentment among their relatives. But who cared about them?

I took that inheritance and multiplied it, building an empire until I became the woman I am today.

A loud crack echoed in my ears, as if my bones themselves were splintering. My throat felt as though it was closing up, a vice clamping tighter and tighter around my neck, cutting off my air. Panic flared in my chest, and I could feel my heartbeat weakening, each pulse struggling against the crushing force.

A searing, unbearable pain shot down my spine, bringing tears to my eyes as I gasped, desperate for a breath, but my lungs wouldn't fill. I clawed at his hands, my nails digging into flesh, but he didn't relent. His grip only tightened, and I could see nothing beyond his blank, merciless stare.

"Please..." I choked out, my voice barely a whisper, a plea slipping through my cracked lips. I wanted to scream, to thrash, to push him away with whatever strength I had left. My vision blurred as darkness began to creep in at the edges.

All I wanted was to be free, to feel the pain stop, to escape from the nightmare that held me in its iron grip. But his hands only grew steadier, his fingers digging in like claws.

I jolted awake, gasping. I stumbled into the bathroom, splashing water on my face, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. My sleeping pills didn't help anymore; the nightmares chased me night after night. The clock on my nightstand read 2:00 a.m. With a sigh, I threw on my running clothes, earbuds, and a watch, deciding to go for a jog by the beach.

The salty breeze sent a chill across my skin as I started jogging along the beach path. It was quiet and peaceful, just what I needed. Until I came across five drunken men blocking my path. They looked at me with a hunger that made my skin crawl.

I sighed, muttering, "Of course, I should've known there'd be creeps out here at this hour."

One of them stepped forward, reeking of alcohol. I instinctively wrinkled my nose, and they didn't take kindly to it.

"Oh, what's wrong? Too good to look at us?" he sneered, taking hold of my wrist.

Panic surged through me. My heart pounded as I tried to steady my breathing. I thought about pressing the SOS button on my watch, but one of them snatched it off before I could.

"What are you looking at?" I shouted, attempting to sound braver than I felt.

They laughed, and two of them grabbed my arms, bringing their faces uncomfortably close.

I yelled and tried to pull away, but their grips were too strong. My mind raced with ironic thoughts-I had always imagined dying alone but beautiful, not like this. I shut my eyes, preparing for the worst.

Suddenly, headlights flooded the area, blinding all of us. A powerful engine revved, and I squinted to see a motorcycle pulling up nearby. The stranger on the bike dismounted, exuding an aura that radiated confidence. This gives me an opportunity to let go from their hold and run towards the stranger.

"Hey! Are you okay?" Her voice was calm but commanding. Her hand gently rested her jacket on my shoulder, and the touch soothed my frazzled nerves.

Before I could respond, she turned toward the men. "Hey, how's it going?" she asked them nonchalantly, but her stance was protective.

One of the men smirked. "This your girlfriend?"

She chuckled. "Yep. We had a little argument, and she went for a run to cool off. Let's not make a scene; I'm a friend of Bam. You know him?"

The men exchanged wary glances, then handed my watch back to her. One muttered, "Didn't know you knew Bam. Sorry about the misunderstanding."

As they scurried away, I finally exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath.

She handed me my watch, laughing softly when she noticed my trembling hands. "Here you go."

"It's not funny!" I muttered, rolling my eyes, though my hands shook too much for me to be genuinely annoyed.

Raising her hands in a mock surrender, she smiled. "Sorry, didn't mean to laugh. But seriously, who jogs at 2 a.m.? You know it's not safe."

I sighed, returning her jacket with a quick, "Thank you." I turned to run again, but she stopped me, her hand firm but gentle on my arm.

"I'll drive you home. It's not safe for you out here alone."

I was about to refuse when I heard distant laughter-those men, coming back. Without hesitation, I climbed onto the back of her motorcycle.

The wind chilled me as we rode, but I felt a sense of safety I hadn't felt in a long time. My hands trembled, and she gently took one of them, guiding it to rest around her waist.

"You can hold on," she said softly. "I won't let you fall."