Chapter 1
Marie
The first thing I noticed about Ashridge was how quiet it was.
Not peaceful.
Not comforting.
Just... quiet.
The kind of quiet that made every footstep sound too loud and every passing glance feel personal.
I tightened my grip on the handle of my suitcase as I stood outside the train station.
Rain drizzled from the grey London sky, soaking through the sleeves of my coat.
Perfect.
A fresh start deserved miserable weather.
At least that's what I told myself.
The truth was that nothing about this felt like a fresh start.
Fresh starts were exciting.
Hopeful.
This felt like running.
Again.
My phone vibrated inside my pocket.
I didn't need to look.
There was only one person who still called me.
I pulled it out anyway.
Dr. Price.
A sigh escaped me.
I answered.
"Please tell me you're not standing in the rain pretending your life is a sad movie."
A laugh slipped from my lips before I could stop it.
"No promises."
"I'll take that as a yes."
I adjusted my suitcase.
"I'm here."
"And?"
"And it's small."
"That's not an answer."
I glanced around.
A flower shop.
A bakery.
A handful of brick buildings.
People walking without rushing.
Without looking over their shoulders.
Without fear.
"It looks safe."
The words left my mouth quietly.
Dr. Price didn't respond immediately.
When she finally spoke, her voice was gentle.
"You deserve safe, Marie."
My throat tightened.
Safe.
What a strange word.
For three years, safety had felt like a fantasy.
A story other people got to live.
Not me.
"I should go."
"Call me tonight."
"I will."
"You better."
I smiled.
Then hung up.
The moment the call ended, reality returned.
I was alone.
Completely alone.
No friends.
No family.
No backup plan.
Just a suitcase and a town full of strangers.
Exactly what I wanted.
Exactly what terrified me.
I started walking.
The map on my phone showed my rental apartment was only fifteen minutes away.
Simple.
Easy.
Nothing could go wrong.
Which was precisely when disaster struck.
My shoe slipped against the wet pavement.
I stumbled forward.
Straight into someone.
A very solid someone.
My suitcase tipped over.
The contents exploded everywhere.
Clothes.
Books.
Toiletries.
A packet of painkillers.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Heat rushed to my face.
"Oh my God."
I dropped to my knees.
"I'm so sorry."
A pair of expensive black shoes entered my vision.
Then a hand.
Large.
Steady.
Waiting.
I stared at it for a moment before looking up.
And forgot how to breathe.
The man standing above me looked like trouble.
Not the obvious kind.
Not tattoos and prison records.
Worse.
The kind hidden behind a perfectly tailored black coat and a face too attractive for its own good.
Dark hair.
Sharp jaw.
Cold eyes.
The sort of man every sensible woman avoided.
His gaze met mine.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then he crouched down and started gathering my books.
Without a word.
I blinked.
"Uh..."
One corner of his mouth twitched.
"You dropped these."
His voice was deep.
Smooth.
Dangerously calm.
"I noticed."
The words escaped before I could stop them.
To my horror, amusement flashed briefly in his eyes.
Great.
Now he probably thought I was insane.
He handed me the books.
Our fingers brushed.
Something strange tightened in my chest.
Not attraction.
Definitely not attraction.
I refused to be that predictable.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
I stood quickly.
Too quickly.
My balance betrayed me.
Again.
His hand closed around my elbow before I could fall.
Firm.
Warm.
Steady.
My entire body froze.
The reaction was instant.
Violent.
A flash of memory.
A hand grabbing too hard.
A voice raised in anger.
Pain.
Fear.
The world tilted.
Immediately, the stranger released me.
As if he'd sensed it.
As if he'd seen the panic.
"I'm sorry."
The apology caught me off guard.
Most people didn't notice.
He had.
"I'm fine."
A lie.
A terrible one.
But it was all I had.
For a moment, he studied me.
Not rudely.
Not suspiciously.
Just... carefully.
Then he nodded.
"Welcome to Ashridge."
I frowned.
"How do you know I'm new?"
His eyes flicked to my suitcase.
"The luggage."
Fair.
I felt stupid.
Again.
"Right."
A silence stretched between us.
Awkward.
Uncomfortable.
The kind that made me want to flee.
Thankfully, he stepped back.
Giving me space.
"Good luck with the move."
And just like that, he walked away.
No flirting.
No lingering.
No asking for my number.
Nothing.
I watched him disappear into the crowd.
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
Not disappointment.
Not relief.
Something in between.
Shaking it off, I grabbed my suitcase and continued toward my apartment.
Completely unaware that fifty yards away, Ethan Moretti had stopped walking.
And for the first time in years, found himself looking back.
At me.
