"Please leave," I said firmly.

"Just let me explain," he pleaded, stepping closer, but I held my hand up to stop him.

"No. I don’t even know who you are or how long you've been following me. I left my home to find peace, and I can't afford to get caught up in your mess."

"But just hear me out," he insisted.

"Hear what? That you hurt people for fun, that you're involved in illegal trafficking? And God knows how many brutal crimes you do each minute . But I'm not scared of you. If you want to shoot me, go ahead. But don't think I'll ever be your partner."

His head dropped as he whispered, "If you ever need anything from me..."

"I don't need anything from you." I led him to the door, pushing him towards the exit. "Take this cake with you. I don't owe anyone anything."

He hesitated at the door, staring at the cake in his hands, then back at me. "You're really not afraid of me, are you?"

I crossed my arms, my eyes cold. "I’ve seen worse. Fear is a luxury I can't afford anymore."

He gave a bitter smile, his voice low. "You’re different... most people would be begging by now."

"Well, I’m not most people," I shot back. "Now, leave before I regret giving you that cake."

He took a step outside, then paused, turning back to face me. "This isn’t over, you know. You can’t run forever. I’ll be watching, and when you’re ready to listen, I’ll be here."

I clenched my fists. "I’m done listening to lies and manipulation. Don’t come back."

With that, he nodded slightly, almost in respect, and walked away into the shadows.

I closed the door, leaning against it, my heart racing but my mind set.

For now, I was free. But I little did I knew this wasn’t the last time I’d see him.

As soon as he left, I collapsed against the door, clutching my chest as the tears came.

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Maybe I overreacted, but I had to. It was the only way.

I know he made me feel things I’ve never felt before, the kind of pleasure that consumed me completely.

But I can't live in a world where violence and death are constant. I'm just not ready to be part of that darkness.

A sharp, impatient knock rattled the door, cutting through the sound of my quiet sobs.

"I know he’s already gone, but what the hell are you doing in there, crying by yourself?" Kylie’s voice rang through the other side, dripping with her usual blend of concern and sarcasm.

"Wait, let me guess-are you fingering yourself because he didn’t satisfy you? Though, to be honest, he did look like the type of guy who’d leave you more than satisfied."

I groaned, wiping my tear-streaked face. Leave it to Kylie to make a joke at the worst possible time.

"If you don’t open this door in the next three seconds," she threatened, her voice rising, "I’m breaking it down. And you know I will."

Memories of her doing just that flashed through my mind. Last time, I had been too deep into my music with headphones on and didn't hear her at the door.

She had actually smashed it open just to check if I was okay. No way was I letting her break another one.

I hurried to the door and swung it open, just in time to see her hand raised, fingers curled into a fist, ready to strike. Her eyes flickered with surprise as she froze mid-motion.

"About time," she muttered, dropping her hand, though the moment she saw my tear-stained cheeks, her playful expression instantly darkened. Her smile vanished, replaced by fury.

"You’ve got to be kidding me. Is this because of him?" she spat, stepping into the room like she was ready for a fight.

"Oh no, if that asshole made you cry, I swear I’ll track him down and make him regret ever meeting you." she asked, her voice sharp with anger.

She started to turn away, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight hug, burying my face in her shoulder.

"Don't," I whispered, my voice shaky. "It's not what you think. Please... just stay with me."

She froze for a moment, then slowly wrapped her arms around me, her anger melting into concern.

"I hate seeing you like this my ayluu baby ," she murmured, stroking my hair. "You deserve so much better. Tell me what happened."

I pulled back slightly, wiping my eyes. "He didn't hurt me... not physically, anyway. But it feels like... everything's falling apart."

She cupped my face in her hands, forcing me to meet her gaze. "Listen to me. No man, no matter how important he seems, is worth your tears. You’re stronger than this, and I’ll be damned if I let you go through it alone."

I nodded, the weight in my chest easing just a little. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Well," she said with a teasing smile, "for starters, you’d probably still be crying behind a locked door."

We both laughed softly, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel so alone.

Once the tears had finally stopped, I sat Kylie down and told her everything,every painful, awkward, and confusing detail. The more I talked, the more her expression changed, her eyes growing wider like I’d just sprouted horns or confessed to a crime.

When I finished, she sat in stunned silence for a moment before breaking into a wicked grin. "Well, congratulations on losing your virginity to the hottest man alive. Seriously, you lucky bitch! My first time was with a guy whose dick was softer than a marshmallow, and trust me, it wasn’t the kind you’d want melting in your mouth."

I snorted, trying to hold back a laugh, but she wasn’t done.

"And on top of that, you’re telling me he’s a rich mafia boss? Girl, what kind of movie is your life? Because I’m over here salivating just thinking about his b… you know."

She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, but I shot her a look that could have melted glass. "Kylie!" I hissed, but I couldn't help cracking a smile.

She just raised her hands in defense, though her grin never faltered. "Hey, don’t blame me! You brought this up! I’m just trying to process how you went from shy little you to the lead in some mafia romance novel. You do realize how insane this sounds, right?"

I groaned and threw a pillow at her. "Trust me, I know. It’s like something straight out of a bad fanfic, except it's my life."

She caught the pillow and leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Okay, but real talk, did he do the whole ‘dangerous bad boy’ routine? You know, the brooding look, the dark stare that says ‘I’m deadly but I’ll protect you’? Please tell me he did that."

I rolled my eyes, laughing despite myself. "I mean… yeah, kind of. It’s like he can switch between being this intense, serious guy to someone who’s actually sweet when he’s not busy being all… mafia."

Kylie’s jaw dropped dramatically. "Oh, my God. I can’t believe you actually said mafia. You’re in deep, girl. But tell me,how was he, you know, in bed?"

My cheeks flushed instantly. "Kylie, no! I am not giving you details about that."

She pouted like a child denied candy. "Come on! I’m living through you at this point. Please, just a little hint? Was it amazing? Did he have those rippling abs? A tattoo, maybe?"

I covered my face, absolutely mortified but laughing too hard to stop. "Okay, okay! Yes, it was… good. Really good. But I’m not telling you anything else!"

She clapped her hands together, looking like she’d just won the lottery. "I knew it! Lucky girl gets the mafia prince and the perfect night well it was a day for you . But I swear, if you don’t turn this into a book one day, I’m going to be so mad."

I leaned back, letting out a long breath. "You say that, but it’s not all fun and games, Kylie. This is real life. And I don’t even know where things stand with him. He’s dangerous, and everything is so complicated now."

Her playful expression softened as she leaned in, her tone serious for the first time in the conversation. "I get it, babe. But just know that no matter how complicated it gets, you’ve got me. I’ll help you through this mafia mess, one crazy detail at a time. And hey, if it all goes south, we’ll run away together. "

I smiled, shaking my head at her. "You’d really run away with me?"

"Please, like I’d let you go through all this drama alone. Besides, I’ve always wanted to be an outlaw. I’ll get the convertible, and we’ll drive off into the sunset. No mafia prince necessary."

We both burst into laughter again, the heaviness of the day lifting,if only for a little while.

"But you know, babe, he’s different with the world and completely different with you," Kylie said, her tone shifting to something more serious.

I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms across my chest. "What do you mean? ."

She shook her head, her eyes steady on mine. "No, I’m not joking. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. It’s not just casual. It’s… different."

I sighed, still skeptical. "And how exactly does he look at me?"

Kylie smirked but kept her voice soft. "He looks at you like he never wants to look at anyone else. Like you’re the only person who exists for him."

I furrowed my brow, but she continued, her gaze thoughtful. "Before you showed up, I was over here fangirling like crazy he’s hot, rich, powerful. I tried everything to get his attention, but he didn’t even glance my way. And the one time he did, it was all business, no warmth. But the second you walked into the room, everything changed."

I stared at her, feeling the familiar tightening in my chest. "What do you mean, changed?"

Kylie leaned forward, eyes gleaming with certainty. "When he saw you, his entire demeanor softened. It was like the weight of the world fell off his shoulders. I swear, it was as if he’d been waiting for you to show up. He looks at you like you’re his entire world, like he’s ready to give everything up just to be near you. You rule him, babe. And I think… you’re his whole universe now."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. I didn’t know what to say. Could that really be true? Could I, in all my messy, complicated life, have somehow become the center of his world?

I wanted to brush it off as nonsense, but deep down, a small part of me wondered,what if Kylie was right?

A FEW YEARS LATER

A few years have passed, and life has taken unexpected turns. I’ve managed to open several branches of my bakery all over NYC, and to my surprise, business is booming.

Each location is thriving, but the most exciting development is the one that’s about to unfold,I’m moving to Manhattan.

The main branch, my biggest project yet, is set to open there, and it’s going to be a whole new chapter for me.

You’re probably wondering what happened to the original bakery out in the countryside, the one where it all started. And what about Kylie? Well, let me fill you in.

As for the countryside bakery, it’s no longer just a business,it’s become something much more personal.

I decided to transform it into my private retreat, a cozy farmhouse with a stunning view of the beach. There’s something about that place, the memories, the quiet moments, the laughter, and the tears, that made it impossible to let go.

It’s where I grew, learned, and experienced some of the most special moments of my life. Now, it’s my sanctuary. Whenever the hustle and bustle of the city gets too much, I retreat there to unwind and reconnect with myself.

And then there’s Kylie~my wild, carefree best friend. She’s changed in ways I never could have predicted. Gone is the playful, party-girl version of her that I thought would last forever.

One year, something clicked for her, and it’s like she woke up to a new perspective on life. She’s still fun and vibrant, but there’s a depth to her now that wasn’t there before.

Kylie became more serious, more grounded, and even started her own floral brand.

She’s a force of nature, her floral business blossoming just as beautifully as her personality has. It’s hard to believe, but she’s really found her calling.

We still see each other regularly, though our lives have changed so much.

On weekends, I make a point to head out to her place to catch up, and during the weekdays, she drops by Manhattan to visit me.

It’s our little ritual, a tradition that keeps us connected despite the whirlwind of responsibilities and changes.

Every time she visits, she brings a fresh bouquet of flowers from her shop, filling my apartment with colors and scents that remind me of her wild spirit.

And every time I visit her on the weekends, we sit in her garden, sipping coffee and reminiscing about how far we’ve come.

I smile whenever I think about how our lives have evolved yet stayed intertwined. The girl who once broke doors and made wild jokes is now an entrepreneur, a woman who’s found purpose.

And I, well, I’ve found my own path too, moving from a single bakery to a business empire, all while holding onto the essence of what made it special in the first place.

Life has changed, but in all the best ways.But now, due to some unexpected issues, I’ve had to leave my apartment. It wasn’t an easy decision, but things happen, and life moves on.

Finding a new place has been a nightmare. I’ve been searching for weeks, but nothing felt right. Every house either lacked the charm I was looking for or was way out of my budget. Just when I was about to give up, Kylie came to the rescue, like always.

She told me her relatives own a house in Manhattan, and since they’re living in Spain, the place has been sitting empty for quite some time.

She insisted I move in, saying it would be perfect for me. I hesitated at first, not wanting to impose, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

"It’s better than staying in a hotel or stressing over finding a place," she had said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

And that’s how I ended up here, in this beautiful, spacious house, with Kylie by my side, helping me move in.

The place is far more luxurious than I expected, with high ceilings, polished wooden floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the golden glow of Manhattan’s skyline. It already feels like home.

But when it came time to start unpacking, Kylie suddenly got a call and claimed there was an emergency at her floral shop. She threw me an apologetic smile, promising she’d be back as soon as she could.

And just like that, I was left alone in this big, new house with piles of boxes staring me down.

I sighed, looking around at the sea of cardboard. Great, I thought. It’s just me and this mountain of things to unpack. I could already feel the weight of the task settling on my shoulders.

But then I remembered something Kylie had mentioned earlier, just in passing. My new neighbor had also moved in today.

I didn’t know anything about them yet, but it wouldn’t hurt to be neighborly, right? And I had just the thing to break the ice.

I walked over to the kitchen, where I had unpacked the essentials,my baking supplies.

Within an hour, the house was filled with the warm, sweet aroma of my best-selling cupcakes.

Light, fluffy, and frosted to perfection. They had never failed to win over new customers, so why not use them to charm a new neighbor?

With a smile, I carefully packed a dozen into a box, tied it with a ribbon, and looked at myself in the mirror by the door.

I ran a hand through my hair, straightened my shirt, and grabbed the box of cupcakes.

Taking a deep breath, I headed for the door, ready to introduce myself.

After all, what’s a better way to meet your new neighbor than with freshly baked cupcakes? Maybe this move won’t be so bad after all.

To be honest, this house feels like a mansion, but the one next door? It's an actual mansion~a massive, sprawling estate that makes mine look like a cozy little cottage.

I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous as I stood on their front steps, staring up at the sheer size of it.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves fluttering in my stomach. It's just a neighbor. Be cool.

Composing myself, I knocked twice, but there was no response. Maybe they hadn’t heard me? I knocked again, louder this time, still nothing.

Just as I was about to turn around and give up, I knocked a third time~and that’s when the door creaked open.

But what I saw made my mouth drop open in shock.