Chapter 1

Kaylee just needs to print her manuscript before submitting it to her editor; it has been three years since she ran away from her parents’ house and now, she is already a famous romantic-comedy author by the name Lee Ann. She does not want to be identified in public as she is still hiding from her parents. Fortunately, her publisher understands her and lets her do what she wants.

She’s about to go out from her favourite coffee shop but she suddenly froze from where she is standing as her gaze meet a pair of chocolate-coloured eyes sternly staring at her.

“Lohan…” She mumbles as she approaches him as fast as she could and hugs him tight. “I miss you…” It has been three years since she last saw him and he is more handsome than before.

“If you miss me, why did you run away? Why did you cut ties from us? Why did you hide from us? Why, Kaylee?” Lohan asks in a cold tone.

“Lohan?” She slowly releases him and flinch as soon as she saw his cold and emotionless eyes staring at her.

“How could you do that, Kaylee?” Lohan asks, his voice is full of resentment. “Why did you leave without saying a thing?”

“I…I don’t want to get married.” She answers making Lohan shock. “I heard from my father that I was set to marry the person they arranged for me, but I don’t want that, Lohan.” She said firmly, “I want to marry the person I love.” She added making Lohan clench his fist.

“You… You could have just…” Lohan sighs. “That is not important for now.” He said as he looks at her with cold eyes. “You need to go and see your parents now.”

“Why? Is the wedding still in effect?” She scoffs. “If that’s what you are going to say then tell them that I will not go back until they dissolve that marriage agreement!” She said and turns her back.

“You need to go and see your father who is lying in the hospital bed.” Lohan said making her stop. “He is in a comatose state.” He added making her heart heavy.

“Comatose?” She mumbles in shock. “Wh-what happened? When did he…?” She asks, worried.

“A week ago, he had a stroke and until now he is still unconscious.” Lohan answers, and her tears started to fall.

“Oh god! Lohan, I put up with them for three years… I hid from them and now…” She can’t finish what she’s saying, and Lohan hugs her to comfort her as she cries hard on his arms.

“Everything will be alright; your dad will definitely wake up. That is why I am here because they’ve been wanting to see you all these times, Kaye.” He softly said as he caresses her head.

Kaye… that’s what he used to call her, and every time he calls her that, she feels that she’s somewhat especial in him.

“They know?”

“Yes, but they wanted to not let you know that is why they asked your landlady to look after you. They want to ensure your safety, Kaye.” Lohan answers making her feel more guilty. “And they are always happy with your achievements and success you have right now.” He added making her heart ache. “That is why, we should go now to see your parents.” Lohan said in a soft, soothing voice while drying her tears.

“Yes…” She agrees. “But can we just drop by to my editor to submit my manuscript? It will be just really quick.”

“Okay.” Lohan said as he slides his arm unto her waist to support her as she’s being unstable upon the news of her father. He carefully guides her to his car and asks the address of the publishing company.

“I understand your situation, Kaylee.” Sydney Lopez, her editor said. “We can communicate through messages and calls, and you can just e-mail me the manuscript in the future.”

“Thank you so much, Sydney.” Kaylee said in relief, she’s really fortunate to have an understanding editor.

“You’re welcome.” Sydney smiles. “By the way, we will review your manuscript first then I’ll message you for necessary revision.”

“Thank you so much, Sydney! You don’t know how much it means to me.” Kaylee said in delight.

“Family comes first, right?” Sydney smiles.

“Yes.” Kaylee faintly smiles. “I will go ahead then. Thank you again.”

IT is already night when they arrived at the hospital and Lohan guided her to the ICU, where her father is. Kaylee can’t control her tears anymore when they entered the room as she saw her father lying in the hospital bed with many devices attached to him. Her mother is talking to his father while crying.

“Mommy…” She softly mumbles for her mother to feel their presence. Her mother is surprise to see her but she hugs her tight. “I’m so sorry, mommy…” she apologizes repeatedly.

“It is okay, sweetheart, what is important is that you’re here now.” Her mother said, smiling and hugs her again. “Thank you, Lohan for bringing Kaylee back.” She glances at Lohan. “And about the—”

“Let’s talk about that some other time, Auntie. What is important now is for Uncle to regain consciousness.” Lohan said. Kaylee didn’t ask anything as she believes that it has nothing to do with her and her father’s health is more important for now. “Why don’t you go home and rest for now?” He suggested. “I will take care of Uncle for the night.”

“No, Lohan. I am pretty sure that both of you are tired from the trip, so you two should go home and take a rest.”

“No, mom, it is you who should be going home, I can clearly see that you’re exhausted.” Kaylee said. “Don’t worry about me and go home.”

“But—”

“No, buts mom, you need to rest!” Kaylee said sternly.

“I will drive you home, auntie.” Lohan presented.

“No need, Lohan. Bennie and Liza are already on their way to bring clothes and food.” Her mother said, pertaining to their family driver and their ‘mayordoma’.

After a while the couple came in and they were so happy to see Kaylee after three long years. They talked for a while before they head home leaving Kaylee and Lohan alone.

Kaylee slowly approaches her father who is unconscious and sighs. “Dad, I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything.” Kaylee said. Lohan is seating on the couch watching her. “I am not saying that it is your fault but it was your sudden decision that made me leave the house. You already know that I already love someone and yet you…” she heaves out another sigh and tightly holds her father’s hand.

KAYLEE is quietly listening to her mother and Lohan’s parents talking about the important case her father handled before he suffered from a stroke.

“Kaylee, can you do us a favour?” Odette, Lohan’s mother asks. “Can you apply at MJ restaurant as a waitress to keep an eye on Amber Santiago?”

“Huh? Why me?” She asks, her eyes trembling in shock.

“It is because she doesn’t know you, sweetie. And all of these is for her own safety. We’ve been looking for her for a long time after she sell all of their properties.” Her mother answers.

“There is something important that she must know but we can’t tell her yet as your father is now in this state.” Odette said.

“I…I don’t get it, what happened?” Kaylee asks.

“Amber needs to sell all of their properties to pay her father’s debt. Now, me and your father decided to buy all of it because we know that it is important to her. Now, we decided to tell her the truth but your father suddenly had an attack.” Timothy explains. “So now, we decided to have someone to look after her—someone who she doesn’t know, and we decided that you are perfect for it since you’ve never meet each other.”

“You don’t have to worry about anything, Kaye, my friend owns the restaurant so you will surely be accepted.” Lohan seriously said. “I hope you can agree, Kaye, Amber is important to all of us that is why we are doing this.” Lohan added and it made her heart feels like it is cut by a knife.

She clearly knows who is Amber Santiago, she’s her godfather’s child, and she once were jealous of her closeness to Lohan, and it seems that even after a few years, she’s still the reason why she’s having her heart broken.

“Is that why you decided to come and get me?” She softly mumbles.

“Are you saying something, sweetie?” Her mother asks.

“Ah, nothing…” Kaylee said. “Is Amber really that important?” She asks while looking at Lohan.

“Yes.” It was Odette who answers.

Kaylee takes a deep breathe before answering, “I understand. I will befriend her.”

“Oh! Thank you, Kaylee!” Odette hugs her tightly in delight. “You’re doing us a big favour; we will not forget about it.”

“Thank you, Kaylee.” Timothy said before glancing to Lohan, “I know that you’ve been waiting for years but we will talk about the wedding once the problem is solved.”

“I understand, dad.” Lohan answers. “What’s important is that she’s near me.”

Kaylee wants to storm out of the room and cry her eyes out but she tried to compose herself. Her heart is really broken; Lohan, the only man she loves is now getting to married. She could only love him but he could never be hers and it hurts….