Layla never imagined that her life in the big city would change so quickly. Used to the hustle and bustle of busy streets and high-rise buildings, she now found herself surrounded by vast plantations and a different lifestyle. But what she didn't expect was to meet Aiden Caccini, the man who would change the course of her life forever. Aiden was an enigmatic and mysterious man, with eyes that seemed to see into Layla's soul. She felt inexplicably drawn to him, even though she knew their relationship would be complicated. After all, he was a wealthy and influential farmer in the city, while she was just a young girl lost in an unknown place. It wouldn't be easy for them to live together; they both had their secrets and past traumas that prevented them from giving themselves completely to each other. But fate had other plans and, little by little, they grew closer and discovered that, despite their differences, there was something special uniting them. Between the challenges of living with her new family and the hidden dangers in Aiden's life, Layla would have to decide if she was willing to face everything to live this forbidden love. Aiden would have to choose between protecting his empire and risking everything for the love of a young woman who touched his life uniquely and intensely. Together, they would face obstacles and challenges that would test the strength of this unlikely love. But in the end, they would discover that when two souls meet and recognize each other, nothing can separate them. And that true love can overcome any adversity, even if it means defying social conventions and the darkest secrets of the past.

Chapter 1 1. Prologue

- POV LAYLA

Mom always made it clear to me that things were easier before she left.

But unfortunately, the disease took over her lungs and took her away from us, leaving my father alone with two girls to raise.

I don't want to be selfish and think that fate hates us. It took me a few years to get over how much I missed her, and I still do, only now with less intensity.

It wasn't easy not having someone to tell about my first time menstruating, but my father was a warrior, he was and still is interested in my opinion and that of my sister.

Except for now, when he says we're going to move to some fucking place in Texas called Braston City, come on. Who the hell puts a name like that on a city?

From what Mali has researched, the city has no network coverage, so that's what's going to happen to us in a nutshell.

We'll be leaving civilization and going back to cave times, but I understand my father, he worked hard to give us a good future and financial stability, the problem was that the company he worked for went bankrupt and everyone lost money, including him.

So either we move to Texas or we join the homeless.

I'm not a very social person, and that doesn't bother me so much, but Maria Luiza has been having a fit of hysterics since my father announced our departure.

Which happens to be today.

But there's someone who's quite happy about it, my snake of a stepmother, a hot model, who unfortunately fell out of favor with my father.

At first, she was sweet and gentle, but it was only after she won him over that she showed her true face, to me and my sister of course.

"MARIA LUIZA COLLINS! COME ON!" I shout and hear her sigh as she drags her suitcase and closes the door to her room.

"Why does the world hate me? What did I do wrong in my last life to pay for it in this one? Why does living without Wi-Fi drive me crazy just imagining it?"

"There are books we can read," I suggest, and we look at each other and smile.

"You're a good joker as if I'm interested in reading, I like going out, living life."

"And I love our father above all these things, so I suggest you shut your mouth and support him, we don't even know what the city is like, we don't have the right to complain on a full stomach."

"You're such a goody-goody that you make me dizzy... hold me... hold me, I'm going to fall," she says, putting her hand to her chest, pretending to faint.

Ordinary.

"Stop being silly and get your bags into the car... Dad's waiting."

"And what are you still doing here?"

"Waiting for you, I can't stand being in the same place as that snake for long."

"Then let's go before she poisons our father even more." She says, pulling her suitcase and I follow her.

(...)

"Dad, we're going to have our place, aren't we?" Maria asks and Antonela smiles, making fun of her.

"Darling, we're not going to live in an apartment, because the city doesn't have buildings, but we're going to stay in a beautiful house given to us by Mr. Caccini, my boss."

"And what's he like?" she asks.

"They say he's authoritarian, but he works within the law."

"No, I want to know if he's handsome."

"Maria Luiza! He's in his thirties, he's not for you, girl." Dad scolds her and she smiles.

We're already at the airport, waiting for the driver from the farm to pick us up, but I start to think he's coming by camel.

After a few more minutes and listening to my father list reasons why neither I nor Maria Luiza should get involved with anyone in this town, the driver arrived in a silver pickup truck.

Great! A pick-up truck is quite comfortable, at least it had four seats.

My father and the driver went in the front, while Mali, Antonela, and I went in the back.

She went between the two of us and to avoid confusion, we turned our faces away and stared at the vegetation the whole way.

The town wasn't bad by any means, but it was still strange not to see a coffee shop nearby, nor a restaurant.

But there are bars, and in thirty minutes I've already seen three.

When we approached a huge house, I thought we'd be staying there, but the driver mentioned that it belonged to Caccini, so we saw the sign at the entrance "Coming to Caccini Vill".

And our house was next door to his. When the man parked, Maria got down too quickly and it took me a few seconds to believe what I was seeing.

"I feel like I'm in colonial times," she said and I laughed.

"the house is beautiful." Antonela comments.

"I agree," I say, and I think it's the first time in my life that I've done that.

My father smiled happily, and we waited for the driver to give him the keys and we went inside.

The entrance to the house is beautiful, despite the old style, such as the wooden doors and windows and the burnt yellow walls, and with lots of plants on the façade, it looks very much like a house in the interior of the United States.

Nothing a good coat of paint couldn't solve.

But what enchanted me was the inside of the house, the newly bought furniture, the varnished floor, and the whole kitchen to myself.

"I like the house," I confess and Dad kisses my head, his phone rings and he asks to be excused and goes out onto the balcony.

Luiza approaches and I smile at her frown, she loves the place but she's playing hard to get.

"You agreed with the snake, where's the sisters' union?"

"It still exists, confess it, you loved the place," I say and she smiles without showing her teeth.

"You know what, I'm going to find my room, and I hope yours is awful."

"Go on, you child." I joke and watch her walk up the stairs. Antonella looks up at me from the sofa and smiles, and I smile back.

Things wouldn't be easy, but for my father's sake, I'm more than prepared.