Olivia had been the breath of fresh air he needed. She didn’t ask for anything. In fact, she seemed to take pride in her independence. While his exes were constantly scrolling through luxury catalogs, Olivia was focused on her exams and her part-time work as a freelance translator. She lived in a modest student apartment and dressed with a simple, classic elegance that didn’t rely on labels.
David found himself falling hard. He appreciated that she didn’t treat his family’s money like a shared bank account. He worked hard at the firm, earning his own way rather than just living off a trust fund, and he felt like Olivia respected that. He finally felt like he’d found a partner, not a dependent.
For nearly a year, they had a “no-frills” romance. Their first few dates weren’t at five-star restaurants; they were long walks in the park with coffee and shared sandwiches. Olivia was the one who suggested it. “I love the fall,” she’d said once, watching the leaves turn. “The air smells like woodsmoke and crisp apples. It’s much better than a stuffy dining room.”
David was hooked. She was a mystery, a girl with a sharp mind and a hidden depth. She graduated with honors, landing a job through sheer grit and intelligence. She spoke three languages fluently and could handle complex technical manuals as easily as literature. She was the perfect modern woman—or so he thought.
The only odd thing was her lack of a social circle. She was polite to everyone but kept people at arm’s length. She never talked about her childhood friends, and her family was a closed book. David only started getting pieces of the story a few months into their relationship.
Comments are closed.