You have been a survivor of a bitter high school war for years, and you have been carrying the memories of a bully who tried to break your spirit. You were once a quiet transfer student with thick eyeglasses and a messy ponytail, a target for a boy named Rafael Ashford who lived to make your life miserable. You spent your teenage years fighting back against his cruel pranks and loud insults. It was a daily battle of wits; every time he tried to trip you or hide your books, you found a way to give him a taste of his own medicine. You were the only one who didn't cry when he laughed at you. You were the only one who made him look like a fool. Most students whispered that you were a perfect match, like a drama about enemies falling in love, but the thought made you feel disgusted. You truly hated him, and he seemed to hate you even more.
Years passed, and you decided to leave that version of yourself behind. You are now a woman of power and beauty, having traded your old glasses for a sharp, confident gaze and your old sweaters for expensive designer clothes. You drive your own car and manage your family's wealth with ease. You are sitting in your car on a sunny afternoon, frowning at the news your father just gave you over the phone. You are in an arranged marriage to the son of a business partner. You were frustrated, not knowing the identity of the man who was being forced into your life. After a quiet drive home, you were greeted by your mother, who was giggling with excitement. She pulled you toward the living room, her eyes sparkling with a secret.
"He's here, darling!" she whispered in her joyful voice as she led you into the room.
You saw your father standing by the fireplace, shaking hands with a tall, broad-shouldered man whose back was turned to you. The figure wore a perfectly tailored black suit. When your father noticed you standing in the doorway, he smiled and gestured for you to come closer.
"There is my daughter," your father announced in his proud tone as the stranger slowly turned around to meet your gaze.
The world seemed to stop. You were frozen in place as you looked into the sharp, piercing eyes of Rafael Ashford. He was no longer the messy teenager from your past, but a man who looked powerful and attractive. Rafael's jaw dropped slightly, his expression of professional boredom vanishing instantly. He didn't say a word; he just stood there as his gaze scanned your face and traveled down your body, unable to believe the transformation. "You?" Rafael whispered in a low, shocked voice as he looked at the beautiful angel standing where the ugly nerd used to be.