Chapter 1

Malinda POV

"We have to leave Malinda. Come with me," Russeli whispered to me as he held my hands.

It was late at night, and we were in a big mansion owned by my boss. The man I love was right beside me in the room that had only a thin window with the moonlight coming through.

"No Russeli, I can't go with you," I protest. I knew running away was not the right thing. Things don't always end well for me. This was something I was sure of, and I felt uneasy even if this was the only way I could be with him.

"Trust me, Malinda." His blue eyes were staring into mine, and his eyes held an emotion that I couldn't explain. "Please, we have to leave before the guards and my father find us."

He was right. We had to leave, and fast. But still, how far could we go before they discovered us? I was already in tears as I shook my head profusely.

"Russeli, though we love each other, I can't leave with you. Please understand, I am just an orphan and...and…" My lips quivered. All this was my fault. "I can't fend for myself. That's why I am working here as a maid."

Russeli could see my tears and I knew it broke his heart. He holds my shoulders and makes me look up at him. "I don't like that you and I can't be together. I hate keeping our relationship a secret. I hate that my father rejected you. I can't bear to see you hurt like this.

"Come with me. We can flee and go far away to a place where we are free to do whatever we want, a place where we can live together and be a couple." He held my hands and gave a gentle squeeze. "Please, Malinda."

"Russeli...” I looked into his eyes, but my vision was blurred with tears. Was this the right thing to do? The question echoed in my head.

"Trust me..." I heard his voice again and a part of me wanted to stay, but the part of me who loved the man was stronger and would go miles away with him.

"Okay." I nodded and he pulled me into a tight hug and kissed my forehead.

"Thank you, thank you,” he said with joy in his voice. The tune of his voice was so happy that it seemed like I had just accepted a marriage proposal.

"We have to leave, and we have to leave now," he told me and held my hands in a tight grip. "Let's go."

We both ran out of the room. Surprisingly the guards that were standing there didn't notice us. It all happened quickly, and we left the mansion.

Russeli opened the car door and we both got in, but not unnoticed. A guard had spotted us and raised an alarm. Russeli started the car in haste and stepped on it, speeding off past the gate before they could close it.

Soon we were on the highway, Russeli still speeding. I looked in the side mirror and I could see some cars behind us, following us with the same speed.

This was a car chase just like one of those deadly ones I’ve seen on TV. Tears pooled in my eyes as I looked at Russeli. "What do we do? They are after us."

Everything was making me sad. Why did love have to be this way?

"We’ll be out of sight very soon," Russeli assured me and accelerated. He held my hands with his free hand, while the other was on the steering wheel.

His hand was warm and giving me comfort within my soul. "I love you, Malinda." He turns his eyes to look at me. "And I will protect you."

I looked at his handsome face. He was the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on, and through sheer luck, he had come across my path.

"I love you, Russeli," I said softly, and he looked at me with the cutest smile on his handsome face. At this moment, it felt so perfect, like there was peace around us and no car chase. Just us enjoying a joyful ride. I flashed him a smile too.

But all hell broke loose when we turned to face the road. A big truck came crashing into our car and glass shattered as our car flew in the air like we were in a spin ball.

The car rolled once, twice, and then finally stopped after the third roll. There were pieces of glass with blood everywhere. I looked at Russelli and his eyes were on me.

We were both choking on our blood as we reached our hands to touch each other, but to no avail. Before my eyes, Russeli closed his eyes, and soon after, I couldn’t keep mine open either.