The shrill beep of Christiana's alarm clock shattered the silence of the early morning. She groaned, pressing her face into the thin pillow, wishing she could steal just five more minutes of sleep.
But there was no time for that. With a sigh, she forced herself up, rubbing the exhaustion from her eyes.
Her small, dimly lit bedroom was as modest as it had always been. The peeling paint on the walls, the tiny wooden desk cluttered with books and papers, and the second-hand laptop that barely functioned were all reminders of her reality. The scent of herbal medicine lingered in the air, a constant reminder of her mother's illness.
Christy stretched her aching muscles, wincing at the stiffness in her back. Working double shifts at the café while juggling college took its toll, but she had no other choice. Bills needed to be paid, her mother's medication wasn't cheap, and Grace depended on her.
She reached for her phone, the cracked screen flickering to life. No good morning messages. No sweet calls. Just another text from Jeff.
Jeff: You forgot to send me that cash. What's up?
Her stomach twisted. She shouldn't be surprised. Lately, all their relationship seemed to be about was him asking for money.
He didn't text her to check in, didn't ask how she was doing, just the usual demands. With a sigh, she ignored the message and shoved the phone into her bag.
Christy quickly dressed in a pair of faded jeans, a plain green t-shirt, and a sweater that had seen better days.
Her reflection in the cracked mirror showed dark circles under her eyes, proof of late-night studying and endless shifts. She sighed, tying her hair into a loose ponytail before heading to the adjacent room.
Grace was still curled up beneath her thin blanket, her small figure rising and falling with every slow breath. Christy hesitated before gently shaking her sister's shoulder.
"Grace, wake up. Come on, wake up," she said softly.
Grace groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. "Just five more minutes…"
Christy huffed. "You said that yesterday."
"No, yesterday I said ten more minutes."
Christy bit back a tired smile. "Come on, I'll make you breakfast."
At the mention of food, Grace peeked out from under the covers. "Pancakes?"
"Toast and eggs."
Grace pouted but finally sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Fine. But one day, I want pancakes."
Christy ruffled her hair. "One day when I have time, okay?"
The two sisters made their way to the small kitchen, where their mother sat at the worn-out dining table. The frail woman smiled warmly, though the fatigue in her eyes was evident.
"Morning, sweetheart," her mother greeted weakly.
Christy forced cheerfulness into her tone. "Morning, Mom."
Her mother's thin fingers clutched a cup of warm tea, the steam rising gently. Christy could see how much weight she had lost, how the illness was slowly draining her strength.
A pang of helplessness hit her chest, but she swallowed it down. She had to stay strong for both of them.
"Did you sleep okay?" Christy asked as she retrieved the bread from the cabinet.
Her mother gave a knowing smile. "You know how it is."
Christy let out a quiet sigh. "Yeah…"
She worked quickly to prepare a simple breakfast, buttering the toast and frying eggs while keeping an eye on the time. Grace ate in half-sleep, her head almost resting on the table.
"Are you coming to pick me up today, or do I have to take the bus?" Grace asked between bites.
Christy hesitated, guilt gnawing at her. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I have to go straight to my shift after my last class."
Grace tried to hide her disappointment, nodding slowly.
"I'll make it up to you," Christy promised, brushing a strand of hair from Grace's face.
Her phone buzzed again on the counter. Jeff. She ignored it.
As she and Grace left, Christy turned back one last time. "Don't forget to take your medication, Mom. I love you."
Her mother's tired smile was warm. "I love you too."
By the time Christy arrived on campus, she was already running late for her business class. She sprinted down the hallway, her bag slung over one shoulder, dodging students left and right.
Just as she reached the lecture hall, the professor's stern voice echoed through the room.
"Miss Christiana, nice of you to join us."
She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, sir. The bus was…"
"Save it." The professor cut her off with a sharp glance. "Take your seat and don't distract us."
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she hurried inside, searching for a seat. Unfortunately, the only empty one was beside him.
Nathan Carter.
Her stomach twisted in irritation. Of all the people…
Nathan was leaning back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. His presence was impossible to ignore.
The faint scent of his expensive cologne lingered in the air. His dark hair was neatly styled, his wristwatch screamed wealth, and his entire aura radiated effortless confidence. He looked like someone who had never faced a real struggle in his life.
"Late again, Christiana?" he mused in a low, teasing voice. "At this rate, you might as well set up a bed in class."
She shot him a glare. "Mind your own business."
Nathan chuckled, tapping his pen against the desk. "Oh, but it is my business when I have to sit next to someone who's always scrambling to catch up."
Christy clenched her jaw. Everyone knew Nathan Carter, son of a business mogul, effortlessly charming, and irritatingly smug. While she was barely affording tuition, he probably had his future secured on a silver platter.
The professor clapped his hands together. "Alright, everyone. We'll be pairing you up for the semester's business project. Your partner will be the person next to you."
Christy's stomach dropped.
No. No. No.
A slow grin spread across Nathan's face. "Well, looks like you're stuck with me, partner."
Before Christy could respond, a familiar voice piped up from behind.
"Oh no, you got Nathan? Good luck surviving that."
Christy turned to see Kate, her best friend, shooting her a playful but sympathetic look.
Kate had been by her side since their first year of college. Unlike Christy, who preferred to keep to herself, Kate was bold, sarcastic, and never afraid to speak her mind.
"I don't need luck," Christy muttered. "I need a miracle."
Nathan placed a hand over his chest mockingly. "Wow, Christy, you wound me. And here I was, thinking we'd make an amazing team."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Don't let him get to you. His ego is bigger than his daddy's company."
Nathan smirked, completely unfazed. "And yet, people still love me."
"Who said people love you?" Kate shot back.
Nathan shrugged. "I don't need you to like me, Kate. It's not like I like you either."
Kate frowned and immediately smacked the back of his head.
Christy exhaled sharply, already dreading the next few months. The last thing she needed was to be paired with someone like Nathan Carter.
Little did she know, this was only the beginning of a complicated, tangled fate between them, one she never could have predicted.
And soon, her entire life would change.