Chapter 01

Vere works as an employee under his boss. He wanted to ask for a pay raise due to the medical bill for his sick Mother. His boss instead humiliates him and mocks him for asking for a pay raise, and instead lowers his salary and threatens to fire him if he does not accept. 

Due to his Mom being sick, he needed the job and accepted begrudgingly. However, he soon found out that his girlfriend whom he loved dearly was cheating on him with his boss as her sugar daddy. Vere flipped out and tried to attack his boss, only to get thrown out to the streets after getting badly beaten. When he was angry at life for treating him this way, a beautiful lady clad in business dress approached him and told him to marry her.

"Who are you? Vere questioned her with his weak voice.

Vere gently opened his eyes after hearing a woman's voice say, "Hey, wake up." The world around him was blurry at first, but slowly, his surroundings came into focus. He found himself lying on a park bench, the harsh streetlights casting an eerie glow on the pavement.

Vere's voice was weak as he mustered the energy to speak, "Who are you?"

The woman crouched down beside him; her eyes filled with compassion. "My name is Mira," she replied, her voice soft and reassuring. "I couldn't help but notice your despair, and I wanted to offer you a way out of this situation. I have a proposition for you, May I know your name? “Vere," he answered.

Vere's brow furrowed in confusion and skepticism. "A proposition? What kind of proposition?"

Mira smiled gently, her eyes revealing a depth of understanding that took Vere by surprise. "I've been watching you, Vere, and I see a man who has been dealt an unfair hand by life. You've faced rejection, betrayal, and hardship, but you still have the fire to fight. I admire that."

Vere's heart was heavy with skepticism and bitterness, but a glimmer of curiosity began to stir within him. "What do you want from me?"

Mira leaned in closer, her words measured and deliberate. "I want to marry you, Vere. I want to offer you a chance at a new life away from the pain and suffering you've endured. In return, I can provide you with the stability and support you so desperately need."

Vere's mind raced with conflicting emotions. He had been burned before, and trust didn't come easily to him anymore. Yet there was something about Mira's sincerity that tugged at his heart. He thought of his ailing mother and the desperate situation he had found himself in, and he realized that he had nothing left to lose.

With a nod, Vere accepted Mira's proposition. It was a leap of faith into the unknown, a chance at a fresh start he hadn't dared to dream of until now. As they stood up together, Vere felt a glimmer of hope rekindling within him, and for the first time in a long while, he dared to believe that life might have something better in store for him.

Mira extended her hand to help him up, and together they stood on the dimly lit street. Vere's body still ached from the beating he had received earlier, but the pain seemed somehow more bearable in the presence of this enigmatic woman.

"I'll take you to your house so you may consider my proposal of marriage," Mira stated calmly.

Vere furrowed his brow, his skepticism unabated. "What do you really intend to do? Why are you going to get married right away?"

Mira sighed softly, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that Vere couldn't quite decipher. "It's a long story, Vere. But the truth is, I want to marry soon because I believe in second chances. I believe in taking control of one's destiny, and I believe in offering help when it's needed most."

Vere's guarded demeanor began to soften as he listened to Mira's words. He had spent so long resenting the world and its cruelty that the idea of someone genuinely wanting to help him seemed almost foreign. Yet he couldn't deny the genuine compassion he saw in her eyes.

They arrived where Vere lived. Mira parks her car on the side of the road. As they walked toward Vere's small, humble apartment, Mira shared snippets of her own life. She spoke of her own hardships and the challenges she had overcome. Her story was one of resilience and determination, and Vere found himself beginning to believe that perhaps there was a purpose to this chance encounter.

Arriving at his apartment, Vere hesitated before unlocking the door. He turned to Mira; his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. "I need some time to think about this, Mira. This is all so sudden."

When you're ready, give me a call."

Vere closed the door behind him and stood in the dimly lit entryway, still trying to process the unexpected encounter with Mira. He had isolated himself for so long that the prospect of reconnecting with someone from his past felt like a distant dream. But Mira's offer had ignited a spark of hope in his heart, one he thought had long since extinguished.

He walked over to the window and looked out at the city skyline, its twinkling lights a stark contrast to the darkness he had been mired in. The streets below were alive with the hustle and bustle of people going about their lives, and Vere couldn't help but wonder if he could ever find his place in this world again.

Over the next few days, Vere found himself constantly replaying his conversation with Mira in his mind. He had always admired her strength and determination, and her unwavering support now was both heartening and intimidating. The lifeline she had offered him was tempting, but it also came with the daunting task of confronting his past and the demons that had haunted him for so long.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Vere picked up his phone and dialed Mira's number. He had spent hours contemplating his decision, weighing the risks against the potential rewards. The phone rang, and with each passing second, his heart pounded louder in his chest. He almost hung up, but then Mira's voice broke through the silence.

"Hello?" she said, her voice warm and welcoming.

"Mira, it's Vere," he replied, his voice shaky with nerves.

"Vere!" There was a hint of excitement in her tone. "I'm so glad you called. How have you been?"

The words tumbled out of Vere's mouth, a mixture of relief and anxiety. He told her about his struggles, his regrets, and the weight of the past that had been dragging him down. Mira listened intently, offering words of comfort and understanding.

"Vere," she said when he finished, "I can't promise that this journey will be easy, but I can promise you won't be alone. We'll face your demons together, one step at a time maybe we can discuss more better we meet in a cafe, what do you think?" "Okay deal, tomorrow," Vere answered.

And in the next day...