A slender woman stood just inside, her large brown eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment before sweeping down over him, then slowly back up. A subtle flush that colored her cheeks, a faint bloom of rosiness beneath pale skin, though she gave no sign of recognizing him. She was lovely, with a quiet elegance that stirred something deep within him—an unexpected pull he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Her presence made the air feel charged. There was something about the way she stood, poised yet soft, her gaze calm and unreadable. He found himself captivated, hoping for a flicker of acknowledgment that should have come, something in her expression to suggest she knew who he was. Everyone did, after all. But her features remained still, composed, as if he were nothing more than a stranger.

Jack couldn’t help but let his eyes linger on her, drawn in by her delicacy, the way that soft flush still dusted her cheeks. For a second, he imagined reaching out, just to see if the warmth in her face matched the heat in his chest. There was a quiet magnetism about her that made him feel strangely exposed, as though she had glimpsed something about him he hadn’t even revealed to himself.

But she didn’t speak, and the moment stretched. She remained where she was, holding onto the older man by her side. The silence was thick, almost intimate, yet cold at the same time. She gave nothing away, and Jack, searching her eyes for some sign, felt a sting of disappointment—then embarrassment, sharp and hot, as though he’d been caught hoping for too much.

His stomach tightened as she moved past him, an elderly man in tow, not a word spoken, not a glance spared. Jack’s chest burned, a mix of longing and confusion, the brush of her indifference heavier than he expected. He stood frozen, wondering how she could look so lovely and yet make him feel like he didn’t exist at all.

He watched them walk down the driveway, out onto the road, and stop. He saw how gracious and cheerful she was talking with the old man. The man replied to her with fewer words, which must have been laborious for him, but Jack couldn't hear what they were talking about.

Jack stood on the sidewalk, his eyes following the red taxi as it pulled up to the curb. She helped the man into the back seat and closed the door. She leaned into the open passenger side window and pulled out money from the back of her fitted jeans. She handed it to the driver and took a few steps back, waving at the old man until the vehicle disappeared down the road.

Turning about like some military personnel she walked back toward Jack, her boots crunching in the dirt. "So... You’re still standing there?" she said. Her arms folded across her chest when she got to him. “Why?” He saw a hint of a smile on her lips, but he couldn't trust his instincts. Was she amused or secretly mocking him?

Jack pushed the negative comments aside. "I need to talk to you...to someone," he said, trying to sound patient. "I guess I need help."

"You ‘guess’?" The smile on her face now seemed amused and directed towards him. Jack was sure of it. "You were pretty quiet earlier for someone who needs help."

Jack didn't care for this woman with her large eyes and wide, smiling mouth. "Well, your expression didn't exactly invite conversation."

"My expression?" Her smile disappeared and her expression morphed into wariness, and Jack sensed he had struck a nerve.

"You stood there and looked at me like I was vermin, ma'am," he said, relishing in her discomfort. "I simply wished to make a humble request, yet you walked right past me without a second glance. Is this how your town welcomes guests?" He could practically taste the bitterness in his words, mirroring the taste of the dusty streets and unwelcoming atmosphere of the town.

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Her expression turned cold and she stepped closer to speak in a threatening tone. "Lily Corner is a town of kind and respectable people. We are not afraid of proud individuals like you who come here under the pretense of seeking humility, thinking we would be poor and submissive. The irony is that your behavior reflects poorly on your character, Sir!" She practically snapped at Jack's nose by the time she finished her statement.

But her words only served to further ignite his temper; he refused to be intimidated.

"My Character?!” Jack bit back “How dare you group me with some imagined people who you think are below you?” he took a short breath in exasperation “Don't you know who I am?" Jack regretted his last sentence as soon as it left his mouth, and he couldn't help but resent her for provoking him to say it.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sarah's brown eyes narrowed into sharp slits. Jack felt a wave of regret and fear wash over him, but he couldn't back away now. He could see the anger boiling in her expression, but there was also something else that he couldn't quite pinpoint.

Sarah's proximity only intensified this conflicted feeling inside Jack. Her scent filled his senses, a blend of freshness and nature that made him want to stay close instead of retreating. It reminded him of a freshly cut field or the promise of rain on a dry day. But there was also an underlying hint of something more complex.

He felt his anger melting. It was just not logical but instead of fighting Jack found himself wanting to ask for a hug or even a friendly clasping of hands. The conflicting emotions warred inside him, making him question whether he should bolster his grudge.

Jack wished she would get angrier at that moment. He could see it now, her getting closer to him—an attempt at intimidation—and breathing down his neck. Her breath would smell so sweet.

"Do not dare to call us inhospitable," Sarah said, still holding on to her anger. "If you’re going to keep insulting us this way, you would be better off to just get back in your car and go back to whatever hole you came from. Lily Corner and her people will not have you."

Her rejection on behalf of herself and the whole town was enough to relight the embers of his anger.

"I’m sure the entire town does not hang on your every word, Miss. I don’t need you."

She had a response ready. "Yet, here you are, standing here and asking for my help."

"I am not asking for help from you!" Jack could feel the anger coursing through his body as he spoke. "I came in here hoping to speak with the man in charge, someone who could understand me and handle my request with respect and efficiency. Just one man to another, without all this whining!"

Jack's anger peaked with each word, and he finally took a step forward. Sarah flinched backward in alarm, and he barely picked up the small gasp she let out in the heat of the moment. He could feel the distortion of his face and the baring of his fangs that came in intense moments of anger like this.

His breath came and went quickly as he loomed over her, while she stared up at him with wide eyes. It was a blessing that she was an ordinary human and couldn't see the truth of his face at that moment.

However, there was nothing. Her expression didn't show fear, exactly. It was more of a quick gasp when he lunged towards her. After that, her eyes remained widened, but not in terror. Instead, they held an intriguing curiosity. He couldn't make sense of it. If the situation weren't so serious, he might have thought she found his outburst amusing. He had a feeling she was about to burst into laughter at any moment.

But there was no hidden grin on her face. Instead, she stared intently at him as if studying him. He was grateful that she couldn't see the rage within him and was only seeing a handsome man. It brought him some relief to know that she was unaware of the monster lurking inside him. Feeling ashamed of his outburst, Jack took a step back. He didn't want her to see him in that state.

"I... I am sorry," he said, swallowing his pride. "I shouldn't have lost my temper."

She carefully surveyed before responding. "You should leave your pretenses at the door. It doesn't matter who you are."