The fridge was always a bit bare, never stocked with those delicious treats she craved. The walls were in, missing those little decorations that brought warmth, and the curtains? Definitely not her style....

Shawn shut his eyes, trying to block out the image of Allison wrapped up with that guy. Were they together right now? The ache in his chest was so sharp, so real. He had considered all sorts of scenarios beforeing here, but never this-Allison being with someone else. They say a romance ends twice: first when you break up, and then when you see her with someone else. Turns out, it''s painfully true.

The next morning greeted them with a crisp, clear sky. Allison had ns with Joshua, so after waking up, she enjoyed a simple breakfast before getting ready. She chose a vintage ck velvet dress with long sleeves, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her bold red lipstick was the perfect match for the dress, entuating her striking features. Her look was captivating,manding attention effortlessly.

Joshua''s sleek, ck Range Rover was parked downstairs. Allison spotted him leaning casually against the car, chatting on the phone. As soon as he saw her, his face lit up. He quickly wrapped up the call, shing her a smile. “You look amazing today,” he said, appreciating her look.

Allison returned his smile as she slid into the passenger seat. “So, where are we off to?” she asked, buckling

her seatbelt.

"You''ll see soon enough,” he teased.

Today, Joshua was behind the wheel himself, no driver in sight. They drove through the bustling city, watching as the towering buildings melted away, reced by the calm countryside. The t ins around Oak Lake were stunning, stretching out under a brilliantly blue sky. Fields of golden wheat rolled by, dotted with farmers at work.

As they passed a few quaint country homes, Allison noticed the bare fruit trees in the yards, their leaves long gone. She cracked her window open halfway, letting the cool breeze bring in a hint ofvender that was both refreshing and calming.

"Ah, this is the life," she sighed, closing her eyes to savor thevender-scented air.

Joshua kept his focus on the road. "We''re almost there."

After another twenty minutes on a winding country road, they pulled up in front of a charming three-story farmhouse.

"We''re here," Joshua announced, cutting the engine and turning to look at Allison.

She gave him a surprised look. "Where exactly is ''here''?"

Joshua''s lips curved into a yful smile. “Why don''t you step out and see?"

As they got out, the house''s owner came over to greet them. He looked a bit puzzled at first, but when he saw Joshua, his face broke into a grin. “Mr. Fisher! What brings you here?” he asked, offering Joshua a cigarette.

Allison recognized the brand-Marlboro. She didn''t smoke, but she''d seen it plenty of times in stores, usually priced reasonably.

She watched, intrigued, as Joshua epted the cigarette, and the man, who seemed to be in his forties, lit it for him. The man seemed a bit apologetic. "Sorry, Mr. Fisher, I didn''t know you wereing by today. I don''t have any fancy cigars, just these."

Allison found it all quite interesting, watching Joshua smoke such an everyday brand. It seemed like Joshua was no stranger to this ce.

“And who might this be?” the man asked, turning his gaze to Allison.

"Ms. Allison," Joshua replied with ease.

14:00

The man''s eyes widened with excitement. "Ms. Allison, you''vee!" he eximed. "Mom! Mom... Ms. Allison is here!" he called into the house, his voice full of enthusiasm.

Allison nced at Joshua, her eyes filled with questions. How did this family know her?