Ryder slowed his bike as he passed the playground, his gaze drawn to her.
The little girl soared back and forth on the swing, her pigtails streaming behind her while her tiny hands clutched the chains with determined grip.
Close by, her grandmother – or so it seemed – sat with a soft, knowing smile, her eyes never leaving the child's face.
Ryder, eleven years old, slowed to a halt.
Something in the playground had caught his eye. He climbed off, letting the bike rest against the curb, and began walking toward the swings.
Thea, sensing someone approaching, instinctively stepped behind her grandmother, seeking the safety of her presence.
"Hello." The word slipped out before Ryder could overthink it.
He stood rooted in front of them, a smile softening his face as the little girl tilted her head, pigtails catching the light.
"Say hello,to him...dear..." her grandmother encouraged.
She peeked out from behind her grandmother, her big eyes shyly meeting Ryder's.
"Hello." she whispered softly.
He crouched and picked up a small chain bracelet from the ground before holding it out to her.
"Here," he said softly. "I think this is yours."
She glanced up, surprise flickering across her face. "Oh… I didn't even realize it was gone."
Stepped out from behind her grandmother. Keeping her gaze on Ryder, she murmured, "Thank you… I'm Alethea..."
"Alethea—I'm Ryder,Nice to meet you.." he said softly, his smile tentative.
Looking straight into Ryder's eyes,she hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"W-will you be my friend then?" she stammered, her voice soft and brimming with hope.
She shifted closer, waiting for his answer.
"Hmm..."
Alethea squealed with delight, bouncing up and down. "Grandma, look! I made a new friend!" Her grandmother's eyes twinkled as she glanced at her granddaughter ,"Yes,my dear..."
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From then on, Ryder and Alethea—though he quickly began calling her Thea just like her grandma—became the closest of friends.
The more time Ryder spent with Thea, the more he understood the depth of her past.
She had lost her parents when she was just a little girl, and her grandmother's love and devotion had been her guiding light ever since.
Despite being four years apart in age, they understood each other remarkably well, and their bond grew closer every day.
From the very start, Ryder's mother treated Thea like family. Her compassion and steady warmth gave Thea a feeling of belonging she had never known before.
With a global corporate empire, the Thompson family amassed an immense fortune.
The mansion's grandeur spoke for itself: polished marble floors, radiant chandeliers, and artwork adorning every corner—a reflection of a life steeped in luxury.
With the Thompson fortune resting in his future, Ryder's parents focused every effort on preparing him for the responsibilities that would one day be his.
She understood that their friendship was a constant,standing side by side through the highs and lows of growing up.
One peaceful afternoon near the riverbank, they spread a blanket and opened the picnic basket his mother had packed—sandwiches stacked neatly, fruit glistening, cookies carefully wrapped.
Side by side beneath the open sky, they watched the clouds roll by.
Ryder spoke quietly, "Thea, have you ever thought about what you'll be when you grow up?"
"Hmm...Art, of course! It's fun and colorful. I like to draw and paint, and I wanna be an artist who makes beautiful things!"
"Mm.. One day, I'm sure you'll be a fantastic artist." Thea grinned and flushed, feeling uplifted and inspired .
After their picnic was over,from his pocket, Ryder produced a small, elegantly wrapped package. "I have something for you."
Resting inside was a silver bracelet.Tiny engravings of stars dotted its band, and a single teardrop-shaped charm hung at the center, catching the light with every subtle movement.
"Oh, Ryder, it's beautiful!"
"It's yours.." he said simply.
"Ryder, I can't take this…"
"You can. It's only a small gift—for a friend who means a lot."
Their friendship was priceless and something they would always value.
Ryder looked at her, his heart full of love and protectiveness, and his eyes gleamed.
She had always been like his little sister, and the idea of someone abusing her made him feel revolted.
His family loved her as if she was one of them, and they felt the same way. But there was also a deep grief in Thea's eyes, a longing for the parental affection she had not had as a child.
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This is a fictional piece. All names, characters, companies, locations, events, and incidents in this book, unless otherwise noted, are either imaginary or the result of the author's imagination. Any likeness to real people, living or dead, or to real things is entirely coincidental.