Chapter 4 Three

Zev basked in the warm sunshine as she settled into the comfortable chair beneath the sprawling branches of the cassia fistula tree. She felt a sense of peace and tranquility in her garden, where she often retreated to read and study.

The garden was a magical place, bursting with a colorful array of flowers and plants, including the delicate petals of petunias, the vibrant hues of Drummond and Orientale, the cheerful California poppy, and Zev's personal favorites, the stunning florist carnation and the fragrant sweet william.

The scent of the flowers wafted gently on the breeze, and Zev felt grateful for this tranquil oasis that she had created in her backyard.

Zev's garden was more than just a collection of plants and flowers - it was a sacred space where she felt like a goddess. Whenever she felt bored or idle, she would retreat to her garden and lose herself in the pages of her favorite novels.

The garden seemed to have a magical quality that made it easy for her to absorb every word on the page as if the plants themselves were imparting their wisdom to her.

Despite living in the modern age, Zev was a woman of simple pleasures. She cherished her books and music albums and spent most of her free time indulging in these passions. Her garden was a natural extension of her love for the written word, and she had no regrets about choosing it as her sanctuary.

The idea of creating this haven had come from her friend Collen, who had recommended the spot after returning from a trip to Spain. Zev was grateful for the suggestion, and it had proven to be the perfect place for her to recharge and find peace amidst the chaos of everyday life.

As Zev reclined in her garden, she reached for her cell phone and began to play some music. The melodic strains of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" filled the air, and Zev couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her.

But as the music played on, Zev's thoughts began to drift, and her mind wandered back to a recent encounter with Reese. They had crossed paths just a few days ago, and Zev couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him from somewhere.

It was strange that he couldn't seem to recognize her, given that they had worked together to rescue him from danger while on a cruise with her dad, a coast guard in Spain.

Zev couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness as she pondered the situation. She wondered if Reese had been drunk or disoriented at the time of their rescue, or if there was some other reason why he had failed to recognize her. The uncertainty of it all left her feeling unsettled, and she found herself lost in thought as the music played on.

As Zev's father left them stranded on the seashore, she found herself drawn to him and impulsively kissed him. The moment their lips met, she knew there was something special between them.

She couldn't help but think about the concept of love at first sight, which she had only ever heard about in fairytales.

However, at that moment, she felt like she was living a real-life fairytale, just like Romeo and Juliet. The chaos that surrounded them only made their connection feel more intense, and her heart was filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension about what was to come.

She is captivated by Reese's exceptional writing abilities and has become an avid fan of his novels. It seems as though everyone is familiar with Reese, as he is constantly featured in magazines and discussed on various news programs.

His name is ubiquitous, appearing in countless news outlets, both digital and print. Despite his fame, Reese remains incredibly grounded and humble, refusing to let his success go to his head.

His down-to-earth demeanor is a refreshing change from the typical arrogance that often accompanies such widespread notoriety.

The young woman understood the root of his intense emotions from two years ago, as well as his decision to succumb to his depression.

She recognized that he was a shattered and broken man and that his life was littered with lessons and hardships. It was a stark contrast to the science fiction and mystery-thriller novels he used to write, as he had now become a tragic novelist.

She couldn't help but reflect on how pain and experience can fundamentally alter a person's trajectory in life, and how they can emerge from those trials a completely different individual.

The dynamics of human relationships can be complex and often unpredictable. In the case of Zev, her attraction towards Reese was initially strong, but as time passed, her feelings for him gradually faded away.

However, just recently, when they met again after a significant amount of time had passed, Zev's heart started pounding uncontrollably, reigniting the question of her true feelings towards Reese.

It is not uncommon for individuals to experience conflicting emotions towards someone they were once involved with intimately.

While it is possible that Zev could have fallen in love with Reese again, it is also plausible that she may have suppressed her feelings for him all along, only to have them resurface at a later time.

The notion of coincidence, which Zev whispered to herself, can be interpreted in various ways. It could be a sign that fate has brought them together once again, or it could simply be a random occurrence with no deeper meaning.

Regardless, the fact that Zev's heart was racing upon seeing Reese suggests that there may be more to their relationship than meets the eye. Only time will reveal the true nature of their connection.

As Zev locked eyes with Reese, she couldn't detect any sign of recognition from him. It became apparent that he didn't remember her, which was not surprising given the amount of time that had passed since they last saw each other. Despite her expectation of his lack of surprise, Zev found herself unable to look away from his gaze.

Their intense eye contact caused her heart to dance in glee with a melody that only she could hear. Perhaps it was the thrill of the unexpected encounter, or maybe it was the memory of their past connection that stirred up her emotions. Whatever the reason, Zev found herself captivated by Reese's gaze, even if he didn't remember her.

It's a love story. Baby, just say 'Yes'.

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of people's lives. However, Zev was surprised to find that Reese, the person she had just met, was not active on any of these platforms. As she searched for his name on the internet, no social media accounts associated with him came up.

Zev found herself wondering if it was appropriate to ask for his number and contact him directly. She questioned whether her actions were right or wrong, or if she was being too persistent.

It was clear that Reese's lack of social media presence was intentional. He seemed to prefer a more traditional approach to communication, perhaps through email or other means. This simplicity was a refreshing change from the constant barrage of digital noise that many people experience these days.

If the person in question is exclusively using email, she may seek out one of his employees to obtain his email address. However, if she discovers that the person has installed dating apps on his iPhone, she may feel a sense of frivolity or lack of seriousness about the situation.

If she crosses this line and infringes on his privacy, he may take legal action against her, potentially resulting in jail time.

It is unlikely that the billionaire would take any action against the woman if he knew she possessed something worth billions.

She has often fantasized about being the wife of Reese-a billionaire whom she admires, but she has come to terms with the fact that it is just a fantasy.

As a med-student from a hardworking family, she is aware that she is not the typical type of person that a billionaire would choose to marry.

However, she questions whether there are certain criteria for marrying a wealthy man. If wealth is the main factor, then she knows that she does not meet that standard, and therefore, someone like Zev would not be considered.

The name Medel is associated with a prominent family in Spain. Although they are not of pure Spanish descent and were not born into royalty, the Medel family is well-off and owns a globally recognized automobile company with branches located throughout Asia and the Western world.

She happened to come across the name 'Reese Medel' on his credit card inside his wallet, which she discovered while he was unconscious and being rushed to the hospital.

She had to open his wallet inside his expensive leather sling bag and look for identification and info about the young man so she could answer the nurse's questions. She pulled out ATM cards and his government ID.

His name is quite long. She just remembered his first and last name. Besides what is good about having a long name with almost a hundred letters? Creativity? Uniqueness? She imagined how struggled Reese wrote his name when he was in primary grades. She bet he cried every time his teacher asked him to write his name on five long sheets of paper back to back.

She was forced to lie the other day when Reese asked her how she knew his name, instead of telling the truth she just cited the novel Reese had written. Maybe that was a valid reason because his name is written there in the book.

Zev had a clear purpose for being there, and it wasn't to mend Reese's wounded heart. He knew that only Reese could heal the pain in his chest caused by his broken heart.

However, Zev did offer herself some words of comfort, assuring Reese that when he met the perfect woman, she will return the expensive thing that she hid.

Despite her commitment to moving on from her feelings for Reese, she found it difficult to completely erase them from her heart. It seemed impossible for Reese to reciprocate her love, even if it was just a small fraction of what she felt for him. Nonetheless, she remained determined to let go of her feelings for him and focus on finding happiness elsewhere.

She smiled slightly, and bitterly. She had to look away to control her tears from dripping. She loves Reese. But she needs to give up her feelings. She loved him even before. But it will be vague and impossible.

She doesn't want to daydream. But she wanted Reese to meet a sensible woman. A woman that loves him, the way a woman loves a man. Because she felt sorry for his bitter experiences in life.

He wasn't a failure, it's the destiny of love that always dropped him and he shattered.

She heaved and minimize the volume of her cell phone. She looked at the wooden circle table in front of her where her favorite books were lying. Later, she suddenly thought of ordering La Ultimo online. She expressed a sigh of relief when her bookseller friend online has a lot of La Ultimo stock.

She felt a sudden jolt when she felt hands cover her eyes. She flinched and asked, "Who's there?" but no response came.

The mystery person then spoke, "Guess who?"

She hesitated for a moment before throwing out a name, "Collen?" and chuckled.

The person removed her hands and exclaimed, "Jerk! I should have disguised my voice better."

She was relieved to see that it was just her friend Collen.

He hugged her and took a seat beside her. "What are you reading?" he asked, glancing at the stack of books on the table.

"Are you here to trying tease me about my reading habits?" Zev smiled.

"Does it even make you sexier?" Collen asked.

Zev laughed and rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Well, I do like to read. And who said I'm trying to be sexier?" she retorted.

"You don't have to try, you already are," Collen replied, making her blush.

"Thanks!"

Collen let out a groan, looking over at her friend who was buried in a book. "What kind of lessons are you getting from that thing?" she asked curiously.

"You'd probably die of boredom if I told you," she replied with a smirk.

"Ah, the words of a true bookworm," she teased.

"Congratulations, you've won the 'Captain Obvious' award yet again," she laughed and playfully slapped Collen's shoulder. She couldn't help but chuckle at Collen's exaggerated reaction as if her light touch had caused Collen great pain.

Zev turned to Collen and asked, "So, what brings you here?"

Collen flipped her long brown hair, fully embracing her inner diva. Collen had always been a bit theatrical, often overacting like an antagonist in a French film.

It wasn't surprising that her every move, from the way she walked to the way she spoke, was filled with exaggeration.

In her mind, she had transformed into Madame Channel, the persona she had created for herself. Collen Coltburn Jacoby was always looking for ways to claim the title of best actress. What a character!

"W-what the," she exclaimed in surprise upon noticing the wedding card in Collen's hand. "Oh my goodness, you're getting married?" she asked with excitement and curiosity.

Collen's eyes lit up as she nodded tearfully and replied, "Yes, I am!"

"Congratulations, that's wonderful news! I'm so happy for you," she exclaimed with a warm smile. As she tried to piece together the details in her mind, she couldn't help but wonder who Collen's fiancé was. To her knowledge, Collen had been single for a while and hadn't mentioned anyone special in her life. It seemed like Collen had found her knight in shining armor after all!

No way. Assuming.

As Collen handed her the wedding invitation card, Zev's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the lengthy and unusual names written on it. The combination of Reese Hughbrett Wallace de Franco Lawther Medel and Nicky Roscoe Pousette seemed like a mismatched pairing.

Zev's mind immediately wandered to her memories of Nicky from high school - she had always been known for her naughty behavior and questionable taste in men. Zev recalled how Nicky had often been spotted hanging out with multiple men at the pub every night.

Zev's heart felt heavy with emotions as she struggled to come to terms with her feelings toward Reese. Whenever she heard or saw his name, her feelings intensified, and she couldn't help but feel trapped in her own emotions.

A voice in her head accused her of being bewitched by Reese and going crazy over him, but Zev couldn't help how she felt.

As she tried to gather her thoughts and calm her nerves, Collen's announcement caught her attention.

"They've only been together for five months, and Reese has already proposed," Collen revealed.

Zev couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness towards Reese's quick proposal, which seemed cheap and rushed in her eyes.

Despite her conflicting feelings, she knew that she couldn't let her emotions get the best of her and needed to find a way to move on from her feelings toward Reese.

She asked herself, "Does this mean that he hasn't gotten to know Nicky well?" It was a strange thought.

Collen noticed her contemplation and spoke up, "You seem deep in thought, Madame."

She decided not to respond.

Collen continued, "Reese may be wise in his choice of partner, but he's not willing to invest in a quality relationship."

"Wise? Reese didn't even take the time to get to know his future wife. He's foolish and cheap," she retorted as she stood up and walked away.

"She's rich and fits in Reese's family, beautiful and-" But Zev was already out of sight.

She's walking away while her heart pounding so hard in her chest.