The moonlight was gentle as she sat on the swing, gazing up at the star-filled sky and quietly recalling everything that had happened that day. Earlier that evening, she had told Lara Nash about her feelings for Julian Donovan, and Lara had said that feeling—her heart pounding wildly—was love.
'Love… what a beautiful word.' A shy smile touched her lips at the thought. Suddenly, a faint sound came from nearby. Startled, she leaped from the swing.
"Who? Who's there?"
But then she reconsidered. 'The Shaw Residence is heavily guarded. It's impossible for an outsider to break in.' So, mustering her courage, she cautiously walked over to investigate. To her surprise, she saw a familiar figure stumbling along.
"Julian?"
Surprised, she quickly ran over and steadied the staggering man. The moment she got close, a strong smell of alcohol hit her. It was then she noticed the empty bottle in his hand. When she looked up at his face, she saw it was filled with anguish, and her own heart ached in response.
"Julian, what's wrong? Let me help you back so you can rest!"
"Juliet? Is that you?"
He asked suddenly, stopping to look down at her. In the clear moonlight, she could see the profound sorrow in his eyes. Helpless, she shook her head.
"I'm not…"
But he suddenly pulled her into an embrace, holding her so tightly it was as if he were afraid she would disappear. His grip was so strong she felt her back might break. He just held her like that, murmuring in anguish by her ear.
"Juliet, I've missed you so much. Come back to me. Can we start over?"
The moment he pulled her into his arms, Naomi Shaw's heart had begun to pound wildly. But after hearing his words, a wave of bitterness washed over her. He had only mistaken her for someone else. 'How could fate be so cruel? Just after I'd realized I was in love with him, I had to learn that he already loved someone else so deeply.'
'Juliet…' From the name alone, she could tell the woman he loved must be noble, beautiful, and graceful. Resting against his chest, she lowered her eyes in despair and gently pushed against him with one hand.
"Julian, you have the wrong person. It's me, Naomi!"
But he held her so tightly she couldn't push him away. She had no choice but to rest quietly in his arms. 'If he wants to mistake me for her, then so be it,' she thought, hoping it might calm his turbulent emotions. He suddenly pushed her away and, without warning, lowered his head and kissed her.
Her eyes widened in shock, watching his handsome face draw closer. She felt his cool, trembling, alcohol-laced lips press against her own soft ones, and then her mind went completely blank.
She had never been in a relationship, so she knew nothing about kissing. Her hands could only grip the front of his shirt, her body stiffening as she stood there, letting him do as he pleased. Perhaps because he was the man she liked, she forgot all about resisting or acting reserved in the face of his sudden advance.
His kiss was forceful and fierce. Her lips stung, a fiery pain from the way he sucked on them. The stubble on his chin pricked the tender skin around her mouth, but even this wasn't enough for him. He rudely pried open her tightly clenched teeth—clenched from inexperience—with the tip of his tongue, hooking her timid one to tangle with it endlessly.