Prologue

Hi. My name is Jane Zimina.

I’m nineteen years old, a second-year college student at Nexus University, and I live in Moscow with my parents. I’m an only child—something my mother says makes me “too emotional” and my father says makes me “too soft.”

My father’s name is Pavel Zimina, a strict man with a quiet heart.

My mother is Olga Zimina, warm, loving, and always worried.

I thought my life was simple.

School. Love. Dreams.

I thought love—my love—was forever.

I was wrong.

Chapter 1

Jane’s POV

“Please… don’t leave me.”

My voice was shaking, my hands trembling as I looked at Nikolai—the boy I had loved since tenth grade.

Tears blurred my vision, but I could still see his cold expression. The same eyes that once looked at me with love now looked at me with nothing.

“I don’t love you anymore, Jane,” he said flatly. “Stop forcing me to stay. Our love is over.”

Each word felt like a knife cutting deeper into my chest.

Four years.

Four years of memories, promises, and dreams—gone just like that.

“Nikolai—please,” I begged, stepping closer.

But he turned around.

And he left.

He didn’t look back. Not even once.

I chased after him, calling his name, but he didn’t care anymore.

My legs gave up, and I collapsed in the middle of the road. Cars sped past me, horns blaring loudly, but I couldn’t move.

I didn’t care.

"Our love is over".

His words echoed endlessly in my mind.

Why?

Was I not enough?

Did I mean nothing to him?

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I felt broken—like a toy he had played with and thrown away when he got bored.

At that moment, dying didn’t seem so scary.

Then… footsteps.

A shadow appeared in front of me, and a hand was suddenly offered.

“Please get up, miss,” a calm, deep voice said. “It’s dangerous here.”

I slowly lifted my head.

Standing before me was a man—tall, well-built, and unbelievably handsome. His eyes were gentle, his expression worried, and he wore a small, reassuring smile.

For some reason, I took his hand.

He helped me stand and gently guided me to his car. He handed me a clean handkerchief, and I wiped my tears as he parked on the side of the road.

“Why were you crying in the middle of the street?” he asked softly.

I tried to speak—but instead, I cried again.

“My boyfriend… broke up with me,” I whispered. “He said he doesn’t love me anymore.”

Without hesitation, the man pulled me into a warm embrace.

“A man who leaves a girl in a dangerous place isn’t a gentleman,” he said. “And crying over someone like that isn’t worth your life.”

Those words… somehow eased the pain in my chest.

I stopped crying.

“Would you like to grab some coffee?” he asked gently.

I nodded.

A Stranger with Kind Eyes

The café was quiet and warm—everything the night wasn’t.

He ordered black coffee, while I chose a chocolate shake. We sat across from each other, waiting for our orders, the silence surprisingly comfortable.

“So,” he said, smiling slightly, “what’s your name?”

I straightened and stretched my hand toward him. “I’m Jane. Jane Zimina.”

He laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” I frowned.

“I just didn’t expect a handshake,” he said. “Kids these days don’t usually do that.”

“I’m not a kid,” I said, hitting the table lightly with my hand. “I’m nineteen.”

That made him smile—this time covering his mouth, as if trying to hide it.

Our drinks arrived. I noticed he smelled his coffee before taking a sip.

“Why do you do that?” I asked.

“Just a habit,” he replied.

After we finished, he drove me home. When we arrived, he stepped out of the car and opened the door for me.

My boyfriend never did that.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

He gently patted my head. “Don’t ever put yourself in danger like that again.”

My face heated in embarrassment. I walked toward my house and looked back just in time to see his car disappear down the road.

I didn’t even know his name. Yet somehow… that night changed everything.

Characters

•Jane Zimina – Main character (Female Lead)

•Pavel Zimina – Jane’s father

•Olga Zimina – Jane’s mother

•Nikolai Belkin – Jane’s ex-boyfriend

•Man – Unknown

“Where have you been?”

The voice behind me was sharp, almost frightening, and it made me flinch. My eyes darted from the window to the doorway. Dad stood there, his silhouette stiff, hands clenched at his sides. The soft glow of the evening sun caught the lines of his face, highlighting the worry in his eyes.

I couldn’t speak. My chest tightened, my throat caught. Tears began to roll down my cheeks before I could stop them. “Nikolai… broke up with me,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

For a moment, he just looked at me, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he walked over and pulled me into a tight hug. His arms were firm, steady, and despite the strictness I always felt from him, the warmth made me feel… safe.

“I told you… he’s no good for you,” Pavel murmured, pressing my head gently to his chest.

Mom appeared from the kitchen doorway, her face soft, her eyes glistening. “Oh, my baby…” she whispered, pulling me into her arms. Her embrace was gentle, a stark contrast to Dad’s protective firmness. Her soft voice made the tears fall even harder.

I told them everything. Every argument, every harsh word from Nikolai, every moment I’d felt alone with my heartbreak. I described the coldness in his eyes, the feeling of rejection that had gnawed at me all evening.

When I finished, Mom smiled gently. “How about a cup of milk and some cookies, sweetheart?”

I nodded, grateful for the comfort. Dad, meanwhile, sat silently nearby, his jaw tight, eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn’t quite read—anger at Nikolai, maybe, but mostly concern for me. He had always been strict, serious, unyielding… but he loved me fiercely.

Later, I curled up on my bed, the soft hum of the city outside my window mixing with the quiet warmth of my family’s care. My heart still ached, but a small part of me—one I hadn’t realized was there—felt relief. Perhaps Dad had been right. Perhaps I was free from someone who didn’t deserve my heart.

The next morning, I dragged myself to school, my feet heavy, my heart still bruised.

“Hey, girl, why the sad face?”

Tatyana’s cheerful voice broke through my gloom. She plopped into the seat next to me, her eyes bright with concern.

I exhaled shakily. “We broke up,” I said, barely lifting my gaze from my notebook.

Tatyana’s jaw dropped. “What? When?”

“Last night,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

Her expression softened, concern replacing surprise. She reached over and squeezed my hand. “I’m so sorry, Jane. That sucks.”

We talked until the professor walked in, each word a mix of venting, laughter, and tears. She reminded me that heartbreak was temporary and that life had so many more adventures waiting.

After school, she dragged me to a nearby karaoke bar. “You need to move on,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “Sing your heart out, forget him for a while.”

Singing felt like therapy. Each note, each song, pulled me out of the shadows of last night. Laughter bubbled from my chest like it hadn’t in days, the music sweeping away my lingering sadness.

After karaoke, we went shopping. The mall was alive with the scent of perfumes, the chatter of strangers, and the bright, colorful lights of the stores. I felt… normal again, if only for a while.

Tatyana excused herself to the restroom, leaving me to browse through a rack of dresses. I tried on a sparkling mini dress, but when I struggled with the zipper at the back, a sound outside startled me. Thinking it was Tatyana, I stepped out… and froze.

It wasn’t her.

It was the man who had helped me the night before. My heart raced. Worse, the back of the dress was still unzipped. I could feel heat rise to my cheeks.

“Oh, what a coincidence… Miss Jane,” he said, his voice smooth, calm, and carrying a faint amusement.

Additional Character

Tatyana Kuzmin (Jane's best friend)

I stumbled back into the fitting room, wishing I could disappear. “I… I’m sorry, sir. I thought you were my friend,” I stammered.

He tilted his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Do you need help with the dress, Miss Jane?”

“No, it’s fine,” I replied, fumbling for my clothes. But my foot caught on my bag, and I fell flat onto the floor.

He stepped in, lifting me carefully. His hand brushed against my back, the dress still unzipped, exposing a sliver of skin. My heart pounded in my chest. He zipped it up for me, his breath warm against my neck. He glanced into the mirror, meeting my reflection, and whispered, “You look beautiful, Miss Jane.”

couldn’t breathe. My friend, Tatyana, returned just then, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Oh my gosh!” she whispered, trying not to scream.

The man grinned, stepping back. “I’ll leave you two here,” he said smoothly.

Tatyana nudged me playfully. “Wow… I never thought you’d find a man that easily.”

I buried my face in my hands. “Stop it… it’s embarrassing!”

Tatyana laughed, mimicking the man’s voice: “You look beautiful, Miss Jane.”

“Agreed,” she added, eyes sparkling with mischief.

I groaned. “What?”

“He’s fine,” Tatyana insisted.

I shook my head. “Stop imagining things…”

Tatyana leaned closer, curiosity twinkling. “What’s his name?”

“I… I don’t know,” I whispered, the memory of his touch still lingering.

“You don’t even know his name? Wait—is he the man from last night?”

“Yes.” My voice trembled slightly.

“Oh my god… oh my god!” she squealed, unable to contain her excitement.

I wanted to disappear. But I also couldn’t stop thinking about him. Something about the way he looked, the way he moved—it was impossible to ignore.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. Tatyana dragged me from store to store, chattering about clothes, shoes, and accessories, but my mind kept drifting back to that man.

Even after we left the mall, my mind kept replaying every detail of the encounter. His warm hands, the way he had looked at me in the mirror, the soft whisper that had sent shivers down my spine… I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Tatyana chattered beside me, her words barely registering. “You’re so distracted! Come on, pick something already!”

I smiled weakly, trying to focus on the handbags she was waving in front of me. “I… yeah, just looking,” I muttered. My mind was somewhere else entirely—back in that fitting room, where my heart had betrayed me with every beat.

She nudged me playfully. “You know, Jane… if you ever see him again, you have to tell me everything.”

“I… I don’t even know his name!” I whispered, a little panicked. The thought of seeing him again both thrilled and terrified me.

Tatyana smirked knowingly. “All the more mysterious! I love a good mystery. But trust me—if he’s as charming as you say, you’re not going to forget him easily.”

I buried my face in my hands, letting out a small groan. “It’s so embarrassing. I can’t even think straight!”

She laughed, looping her arm through mine. “Embarrassment is temporary, Jane. But the memories? Oh, they stick. And something tells me this isn’t the last time you’ll see him.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t have the words. Part of me wanted to run, to pretend the night never happened. But a deeper part… a part I barely understood yet, whispered that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something that would change everything.

As we walked down the street, the city lights reflecting in puddles from a recent rain, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me—or that perhaps fate had decided to intervene in a way I wasn’t ready for.

I glanced over at Tatyana, her energetic chatter bouncing around me, and realized something. No matter what happened with Nikolai, no matter how awkward or scary life got, I had people who cared, people who would laugh with me, and people who would support me… even in the most embarrassing moments.

But the thought of him—the mysterious, gentle man—lingered in the back of my mind, and I knew, with an unsettling mixture of fear and excitement, that our paths were bound to cross again.

And when that happened… I didn’t know if my heart would survive.

Because some things—some people—leave marks that don’t fade.