He's the last kind of man she wants to fall for... but the only one she can't resist. Lysander has spent her life building walls around her heart. As a dedicated young nurse, she has no time for heartbreak-not again. But when Nolan Castille, a reckless billionaire with a smoldering smile and a troubled past, becomes a frequent visitor at the hospital, their worlds collide. He's infuriating. He's arrogant. He's everything she should avoid. But behind his charm lies something deeper-something broken. And when she glimpses the pain he hides, staying away becomes impossible. Lysander knows she's playing with fire. Nolan isn't the type to commit, and she isn't the type to settle for less. But the more she tries to resist, the more fate keeps pushing them together. Will she be the one to heal him... or just another scar on his soul?
Chapter 1 Strangers in the Supermarket
Chapter One
Lysander hated grocery shopping. It was an errand she barely had time for, sandwiched between long shifts at the hospital and the few hours of sleep she managed to squeeze in. But here she was, in the middle of a bustling supermarket, hunting down a specific brand of coffee because Sienna had dramatically declared she wouldn't survive another morning without it.
She weaved through the aisles quickly, ignoring the chatter of other shoppers and the faint hum of pop music playing overhead. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly, and the cool air smelled faintly of citrus and freshly baked bread from the nearby bakery section.
Spotting the coffee on the top shelf, Lysander stretched onto the tips of her toes, fingers just grazing the edge of the box. She let out a frustrated sigh. Of course, it had to be out of reach.
Just as she contemplated climbing the lower shelf for better leverage, an arm reached past her, easily grabbing the coffee she'd been struggling with.
She turned sharply, expecting to thank an employee-only to be met with an annoyingly smug expression.
"Having trouble, sweetheart?"
The man holding the coffee was tall, his dark hair slightly tousled in a way that looked effortlessly styled rather than messy. His sharp jawline and piercing green eyes made it impossible not to stare for a second too long.
Lysander quickly shook off the brief moment of distraction. "I'm not your sweetheart," she said, crossing her arms. "And I don't need your help."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Really? Because it looked like you were about to start rock climbing."
"Give me the coffee," she said, ignoring his teasing tone.
Instead of handing it over, he inspected the box, as if deciding whether it was good enough. "Sienna must be picky if she insists on this brand."
Lysander stiffened. "How do you-"
He smirked. "You muttered her name while reaching for it. Either that, or you just really love talking to yourself."
Lysander snatched the coffee from his hand. "Thanks for the unnecessary commentary."
She turned on her heel, eager to put distance between herself and the infuriating stranger, but he fell into step beside her effortlessly.
"So, do I get a name, or should I keep calling you Coffee Girl?"
Lysander exhaled sharply. "You should try calling me nothing."
"Hmm." He shoved his hands into his pockets, as if entirely unbothered by her disinterest. "I like Coffee Girl better."
She stopped abruptly, turning to glare at him. "Look, I don't know what your deal is, but I have places to be, so-"
"You're a nurse, right?"
Her frown deepened. "How do you know that?"
He tapped his temple. "Observant. You've got that exhausted-but-determined look. And," he gestured vaguely at her tote bag, "your hospital ID is kind of sticking out."
Lysander cursed internally and shoved it deeper into her bag.
"Now that we've established I'm perceptive, I think it's only fair you tell me your name."
She exhaled slowly, debating whether to keep ignoring him or just get this conversation over with. Against her better judgment, she muttered, "Lysander."
The smirk returned, like he'd just won something.
"Nolan Castille." He extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Coffee Girl."
Lysander stared at his outstretched hand for a second, then walked away without another word.
She heard him chuckle behind her.
Something told her this wouldn't be the last time she saw him.
Chapter 1 Strangers in the Supermarket
23/03/2025
Chapter 2 The unexpected reunion
23/03/2025
Chapter 3 Why won't he go away
23/03/2025
Chapter 4 Caught in the wrong place
23/03/2025
Chapter 5 A Drive To Nowhere
23/03/2025
Chapter 6 The Morning After
23/03/2025
Chapter 7 A Familiar Face
23/03/2025
Chapter 8 Unfinished Business
23/03/2025
Chapter 9 Unshaken
23/03/2025
Chapter 10 Unfinished Conversations
23/03/2025
Chapter 11 What Does He want
23/03/2025
Chapter 12 Ghosts From The Past
23/03/2025
Chapter 13 A Familiar Stranger
23/03/2025
Chapter 14 Ghosts Of The Past
23/03/2025
Chapter 15 A call from home
23/03/2025
Chapter 16 Homecoming
23/03/2025
Chapter 17 Shadows of the past
23/03/2025
Chapter 18 The Weight Of Home
23/03/2025
Chapter 19 What Next
23/03/2025
Chapter 20 Fractured Edges
23/03/2025
Chapter 21 A Familiar Ache
23/03/2025
Chapter 22 Ghosts Of Us
23/03/2025
Chapter 23 The Weight Of Expectations
23/03/2025
Chapter 24 A Date Doomed From The Start
23/03/2025
Chapter 25 Unspoken Betrayal
23/03/2025
Chapter 26 Unraveled Threads
23/03/2025
Chapter 27 A Game Of Two
24/03/2025
Chapter 28 A Game Worth Playing
24/03/2025
Chapter 29 More Than A Game
25/03/2025
Chapter 30 Collode
25/03/2025
Chapter 31 More trouble
26/03/2025
Chapter 32 Threats
26/03/2025
Chapter 33 The Breaking Point
26/03/2025
Chapter 34 Self Destruction
26/03/2025
Chapter 35 Ghosts Of Yesterday
26/03/2025
Chapter 36 Unfinished Conversations
27/03/2025
Chapter 37 Fading Echoes
27/03/2025
Chapter 38 Do I Really ove her
27/03/2025
Chapter 39 Another Mistake
27/03/2025
Chapter 40 Old Flames, New Doubts
27/03/2025