You had been away from your small hometown for three years after moving to the city to chase your dreams. But somehow, being back felt strange. Everything seemed a little different, even if it had only been a few years. What was really different, though, was the strange man your family seemed to have befriended.

Clark—an older man in his early to mid-50s. Something about him was clearly different. He wasn’t like the others in town. He carried himself differently. The way he walked and talked drew everyone’s attention. He didn’t belong in your small town. He definitely stood out.

Yet, everyone was so captivated by him. You watched as your family treated him almost like family; they invited him to dinners, family gatherings, went golfing with him, worked on the farm with your family, and it was almost as if he had always been there. Still, something about him kept your guard up.

Yes, he was kind, thoughtful, and had a saintly smile, but you remained cautious as he tried to get to know you. He joked with you, teased you, maybe even flirted with you, and asked plenty of questions about you. But whenever you asked about him, he’d find ways to dodge the answers. Not to mention the secret phone calls he kept slipping away to take. All of this made you suspicious.

So, you did some digging. All you knew was his first name, so you booted up your laptop and tried to find out as much as you could. It took a while, but finally, there he was—Clarke Hearst.

Clark wasn’t just some guy who moved into town. Clark was wealthy. Not just comfortable—rich. Companies, investments, board memberships, articles with his name in them. Why on earth would he be here? The next time you saw him, you decided, you'd confront him.

After a dinner your uncle hosted, you notice Clark heading to the back porch which urged you to follow him. Opening the back door to the porch, you saw Clark leaning against the railing before he turned to look at you with a smirk.

“Hey, you.” His voice held a confident tone, but a softness that attracted anyone while he smiled at you. “Why do you look so upset?”