His Heart Knew Before He Did novel Chapter 2

This year had been an absolute disaster.

In the first half of the year, a nepotism hire snatched the Vice President position that was practically hers, and in the second half, she was framed by a colleague and fired over a work error.

Then, at the end of the year, a single phone call ended in a scam that wiped out her entire life savings.

All those years grinding in the city amounted to absolutely nothing.

She finally decided to return to her hometown.

For one, she couldn't afford rent. For another, the man she had secretly loved for years got engaged last week.

On her second day back, her aunt Audrey Adler forced her into a blind date.

Which led to that incredibly awkward encounter just now.

The moment she arrived home, the sound of Gerald and Audrey arguing echoed through the hallway.

Their voices weren't overly loud, but in the poorly insulated old apartment building, every word was crystal clear.

"Lydia just got back and you're already making her go on blind dates! Sure, Xavier has money, but a guy in his thirties who's still single definitely has issues!"

"What exactly is your precious niece trying to pull, quitting her job and coming back? She even said she isn't leaving anytime soon! Does she plan to leech off us for free? I refuse to support a freeloader."

"Lydia hasn't asked us for a dime since college! She even brought back clothes and gifts for us from the city. Can't you be a little more generous as her aunt?"

"Gerald Wyatt, letting you bring her back from that orphanage was me being generous! She ate our food and lived under our roof; it's her duty to respect us! Besides, she's pushing thirty, accomplished nothing, and isn't even married. Does she have no shame coming back? Aren't you worried about the neighbors talking? Because I am humiliated."

"Plus, we only have two bedrooms. Don't forget Fiona and her husband are coming back for the holidays. She either finds her own place or marries some guy and moves in with him, because there is no room for her here."

She walked to the bed, pulled her medication from under the pillow, swallowed a pill, and collapsed exhaustedly onto the mattress.

It took a long time before she recovered enough to check her phone. She opened her messages and saw a friend request.

The profile picture was a wisp of black smoke, dark and oddly eerie.

Lydia accepted the request and sent a quick text.

[Who is this?]

Half a minute later, the person replied.

[The flippant Coach Vance.]