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Juliette Moreau and Luc Chevalier lead very different lives in Monte Carlo-she tends a charming flower boutique while he commands a powerful finance empire. Yet both endure toxic relationships that drain their spirits. As fate would have it, one rainy afternoon, their paths cross on a crowded, damp street. In a single instant, their eyes meet, shattering all they knew about desire and love. Haunted by that fleeting encounter, Juliette and Luc find themselves yearning for the stranger who ignited their deepest desires-who they instinctively feel could be their true match. They wish that moment under the rain could become more than a memory-secretly wishing to escape the relationships that suffocate them. Can they ever break free from the chains of their toxic relationships? Will their secret longings materialize? Read to find out what happens when strangers wish.
Chapter 1 The La Fleur de Rêve
The La Fleur de Rêve boutique doorbell jingled as Juliette entered the shop. Her arms were fully occupied with stems and wrapping paper.
She kicked the door shut with her heel, struggling to steady the heavy stems against her chest.
"Claire?" Juliette called out as she shuffled toward the countertop near the window. She leaned in awkwardly, gently dropping the stems on the pale marble surface. And breathed relievedly as her arms regained their freedom.
She must have carried them for about ten minutes. The delivery truck broke down two streets away. And she couldn't wait, needing to tend to them before they wilted.
A few sprigs tumbled to the floor from the countertop. And so she stooped and carefully gathered them. While straightening, she pushed a separated hair strand behind her ear and put the stems back on the work table.
"Claire?" she called again, louder this time.
"In the back!" came the reply.
Juliette grabbed a napkin to clean her palms. She then dropped onto a stool that she pulled from under the counter and let out a breath. Her legs were stiff from the unexpected trek.
Her gaze shifted to the window, but her thoughts drifted toward Antoine. "C'mon, Jules, you worry too much. Yes, I'm taking too many risks. But it's for us. I'm doing it for us. You should understand this." She remembered his tone. It was familiar and coaxing.
He was gambling away her earnings. This was something Juliette couldn't understand.
He always made it sound like tending flowers was bogus.
She dropped her gaze to her hands, admiring the faint green smudges from the stems she was working on. At least... this was real.
Antoine's attitude weighed on her mind. She wondered how long she'd be able to sustain him.
When was the last time Antoine showed any concern about her boutique? Or cared how the business was surviving while funding his frivolous gambling escapades?
The backroom door swung open, and Claire emerged, carrying a crate of tulip bulbs against her hip.
"Did Madame Lefevre come by for the peony arrangement?" Juliette asked as she started sorting the stems.
"She called," Claire said, lifting the crate onto a counter. "She wants to change the color scheme. Again."
"Again? That's the third time this week."
"Blush pink peonies seem too predictable. I would like coral. Or something more lively." Claire smirked.
"The gala is in two days, Claire. How does she expect us to source them and have them ready in so short a period?"
"She expects us to do magic," Claire said, tossing a tulip bulb into another crate. "I told her we'll see what we can do by tomorrow, without making any promises."
"Okay." Juliette mentally started rearranging her tomorrow's schedule to fit in the sudden change.
"I wish she would pay more. But you know how Madame Lefevre always complains about being overbilled. This is doing twice the work for the same price."
Claire laughed. "Customers and their hassles. They'll never change."
"Did you hear about Madame Rousseau?"
Juliette raised a curious brow. "What happened to her?"
Claire leaned toward her like she was sharing some hot secret meant for her ears only. "She caught her husband sneaking out of the Bon Soleil guest house with some fille de joie."
Juliette burst into laughter. "What did you say..."
"I heard she gave him the embarrassment of his life, and when he ran off, she chased him down the street, cursing. She promised the girl that she would find and deal with her."
They laughed uncontrollably. Then Juliette said, "Claire, you're such a gossip. Shame on you for disrupting my work this morning."
"Look who's talking." Claire retorted. "Someone passing would think you're a saint when it comes to gossiping."
"I am," Juliette replied softly, smiling.
"Well, you can't worry yourself to death over Madame Lefevre's peony arrangement," Claire shrugged.
Just then, the doorbell tinkled as a smartly dressed man with a demanding air walked in. Claire hurried over to welcome him with her usual bright smile.
Juliette returned to the stems, feeling a little better. She started cutting to prepare them for the cooler.
"I didn't order this. Didn't you hear me?" The man said aggressively, his voice crisp and authoritative.
Juliette looked up without fully lifting her head. The man stood majestically. He wore a dark brown suit with pinstripes. The fitting was all too perfect. And yet, his temper... was something.
Claire composed herself and smiled. "I'm sorry, Monsieur, but your order was for seasonal blooms. Ranunculus are in short supply this time of the year."
The man shouted, "I don't care!"
Juliette put down the shears and was about to intervene. The man was full of himself. He never wanted to understand the situation. He was annoying.
On second thought, she trusted Claire to deal with the situation.
"Okay, Monsieur, I'll check for ranunculus specifically. But they may not be available today." Claire remained composed. But Juliette could tell she was nervous.
The man looked at her, unsatisfied. He then tapped his feet on the floor, irritatingly. Claire stood stiff, unflinching.
"Make sure you get me ranunculus." He said, with an arrogant countenance that suggested, "Or else..."
He turned and stormed out of the shop.
"What a jerk!" Claire sighed.
"Another happy customer?" Juliette chimed in.
Claire laughed. "Yes, it was."
Juliette appraised the stalk she just pruned. "You handled it fine."
Claire wasn't satisfied with the feedback. "Next time, do something."
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