Chapter 2 The Mask We Wear

The morning sun peeked over the horizon with a soft blush, lighting up the sky like a painting washed in pastels. But for Lea, the world was still aching and cold.

She groaned slightly as she turned in bed, the sharp pain in her neck reminding her that last night hadn't just been a bad dream. Her fingers reached up to touch the collar of the neck brace now hugging her like an annoying friend.

"Perfect," she mumbled, dragging herself up.

The hospital visit last night had been unplanned, prompted only by the nagging headache and strange stiffness in her neck after she'd gotten home. She'd brushed it off at first. It was just a bump, a fender bender. Nothing serious. Or so she thought.

Apparently, her body had other plans.

The doctor had told her she was lucky it hadn't been worse. A mild fracture, he said, which could heal on its own with rest and support. So now here she was, trying to look dignified in a neck corset, and failing miserably.

The door creaked open.

Her mother, Maria, stood in the doorway, a tray of food in her hands and concern written across her features.

"What happened to you, my dear?" Maria asked, setting the tray down and rushing to her daughter's side.

"It's nothing, Mum. Just a scratch-" Lea started.

Maria gave her the look - the one that had made her confess to stealing cookies at age nine.

"A scratch?" Maria echoed, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to the brace. "This... is not a scratch. This is medical equipment for injured people. This is serious."

Lea gave her mother a sheepish smile. "Okay, okay, I admit. It's more than a scratch. But no bones sticking out, so it's not that serious."

Maria's voice trembled slightly. "I just don't want anything to happen to my little girl."

"I'm not a little girl anymore," Lea said gently. "I'm twenty-eight, remember?"

"To me, you'll always be the baby I carried through sleepless nights."

Lea laughed. "And yet I'm still the one comforting you. Look at us - switching roles. But don't worry, we're Christians, remember? God won't let anything happen to us."

Maria nodded, tears prickling her eyes. "Amen to that."

"Now come nurse me," Lea teased.

"I should be handing you off to a husband for that. My back isn't getting any younger."

"Mum!" Lea laughed.

"What? It's true."

Lea raised her hand in surrender. "Okay, okay. But not today. Can we save the 'where is your husband' conversation for another time?"

"Alright," Maria sighed. "Only because you're injured."

She began gently massaging Lea's shoulders. At the first touch, Lea yelped.

"Ow! Never again in Jesus' name!"

"Amen!" they both chorused, laughter echoing through the small house.

Meanwhile, across the city in the heart of Napa Valley - where mansions sprawled across acres and the air tasted like money - Jake Jackson paced his living room like a lion in a cage.

Though the night had ended hours ago, the image of the woman from the accident had not faded. If anything, it had taken root in his mind.

Brown hair, wide black eyes, a voice that snapped like a whip and still managed to sound sweet.

He rubbed his temple. "What is wrong with me?"

Mark had long since left for the office, probably charming investors and manipulating numbers. But Jake couldn't concentrate on anything. He wandered aimlessly from room to room.

The Jackson mansion was a masterpiece of design - gold-plated accents, marble floors, and handcrafted mahogany railings. It was the kind of house people photographed for magazines but never really lived in.

Jake found himself in the circular parlor again, its vaulted ceiling making him feel small for once. He sank into one of the leather chairs and stared at the crackling fireplace. His mind kept drifting back to her. She had left without giving her name. Why hadn't he asked?

He sighed and stood up again, making his way toward the kitchen.

There, humming softly, was Alice - one of their housekeepers. In her early twenties, she was a soft-spoken beauty with delicate features and kind eyes. She wore her jet-black hair in a neat bun and always kept her uniform pristine.

"Good morning, Sir," she greeted politely.

"Good morning, Alice. Sleep well?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir. And you?"

Jake leaned against the marble counter. "I... saw someone in my dreams."

"Oh?" Alice asked, her curiosity piqued.

"She was beautiful. And fierce. I think I might be going crazy."

"Do you know her name?"

Jake shook his head. "I forgot to ask."

Alice chuckled gently. "Well, if she's meant for you, I'm sure you'll see her again."

Jake didn't respond. He just nodded slowly, uncertain whether fate worked that way. Still, part of him hoped it did.

Back at home, Lea lay on the couch, flipping through her phone. As if on cue, the memory of "Mr. I'll Take Care of the Bills" resurfaced.

She rolled her eyes. "I didn't even ask for his name. What a shame. First guy to ever flirt with me and he looked like a damn Calvin Klein model."

A flash of a smile crossed her lips. For a moment, she let herself imagine what it might've been like if they'd met under different circumstances.

Her phone buzzed.

"Boss Calling"

She hesitated, then answered.

"Good morning, Sir," she said politely.

"Lea," Michael's gruff voice barked. "About the vehicle - you don't need to worry about taking it to repair."

"Oh?"

"I'll handle it personally. My wife is using the car now. Also... you'll be using public transport from now on."

Lea bit her lip. "Yes, Sir."

He hung up.

She sighed deeply. "Goodbye, hope of seeing hot stranger again. Guess it wasn't meant to be."

The words echoed in her head: "I'm a man of action."

She chuckled softly. He was - if a little cocky.

She walked over to the window and dropped to her knees, placing her shawl over her head.

"Dear Father in Heaven," she whispered, "thank you for yesterday, today, and forever. I ask you... please send me a husband of your choice. You know what's best for me. I trust you. In Jesus' name, amen."

Peace washed over her as she stood up again and got to work - cleaning, dusting, humming quietly.

A few hours later, her phone rang again.

Linda calling...

She grinned and picked it up. "Hey babe!"

"Lea! My love! How are you?"

"I'm fine. It's been a while!"

"I heard about the accident from my mom. Are you okay?"

Lea smiled softly. "Just a little injury. I'm wearing a corset brace like a medieval princess."

Linda laughed. "I need to see you. In person."

"You mean FaceTime?"

"No, I mean physically. It's been three years since we saw each other."

Lea's eyes widened. "Linda... what's going on?"

"You always see through me," Linda groaned. "Fine. My mom freaked out after hearing from yours. She's given me a curfew like I'm fifteen again. I need an escape. She'll let me out only if I say I'm going to your place."

Lea laughed. "You're welcome anytime. You know that. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too."

They talked for several more minutes - about work, memories, and all the silly things friends share when they finally reconnect after too long.

As they hung up, Lea felt something warm in her chest.

Hope.

That evening, in a downtown café just off the gym route, Mark and Jake sipped post-workout smoothies. A soft love song played in the background.

🎵 "There's a pain in my heart and it won't go away... And I know I'm falling deep, I need you here with me..." 🎵

Mark smirked. "It's not a love song. It's about heartbreak."

Jake shrugged. "So? Same thing."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "So? Who's the girl?"

"There's no girl," Jake lied.

Mark leaned in. "So why do you look like a man who just lost everything?"

Jake gave a crooked smile. "It's nothing. Just a crush. A one-sided one."

"Well," Mark said, standing up. "You might be in luck."

Jake frowned. "Why are we even here?"

Mark looked at the door. "Wait for it..."

The bell on the door chimed.

Jake turned. His heart skipped.

She walked in - head high, hair down, lips slightly parted in confusion.

Mark waved her over.

"Hey!" he called out.

Lea froze.

Jake stood.

And just like that - the universe spun a little differently.