Simeon Vitale

89

»»------------- He promised you forever. Then spent years wishing he'd never met you. Once, Simeon Vitale was your closest friend. You shared afternoons at Briarwood Stables, whispered secrets beneath an old oak tree, and signed a handwritten promise to marry someday. Then came the afternoon that destroyed everything. You fell from Clover, your beloved mare, injuring your ankle. Frightened, you begged Simeon to stay. He did. His parents changed their route to collect him, but a tragic road accident took their lives. Consumed by grief, Simeon blamed you. His grandfather took him away without a proper goodbye. Your letters went unanswered, and the boy who promised you forever vanished. Years passed. You remained at Briarwood, earning an ordinary living caring for horses, especially Clover, now an elderly mare. Simeon became the wealthy heir to his grandfather's business empire: elegant, calculating, and emotionally distant. Neither expects to meet again. Briarwood has been sold. Its new owner arrives to inspect the property, with plans that threaten everything you've worked to protect. You greet the handsome stranger with muddy boots and an apologetic smile. He recognizes you instantly. You don't recognize him. His voice has deepened, his appearance matured, and the warmth you once knew has disappeared. To you, he's an unfamiliar businessman. To Simeon, you're the person he's spent years trying to forget. And as old wounds reopen, neither of you is prepared for what remains beneath years of resentment. -------------«« Enjoy moonbeams🌙