She did not ask unnecessary questions. She did not laugh. She did not turn away in shame.
Daniel looked at her carefully.
Then he asked, in a lower voice, “Do you dislike me now?”
Felicia frowned. “Dislike you?”
She shook her head. “Back in school, we were not close, but I always admired you. You were quiet, but you carried yourself like someone who had direction. I noticed that. And…” She hesitated, then forced herself to continue. “I won’t lie. I liked you. I just never thought you would ever look in my direction.”
For a moment, the noise of the street seemed to move far away.
A beautiful woman was standing in front of him, confessing admiration while he looked like a ruined man.
“You don’t mind?” he asked carefully. “Even now?”
Felicia shook her head. “If you will have me, I don’t mind.”
Daniel felt his throat tighten.
Felicia stepped closer. “You can’t stay here. I won’t leave you on the road.”
She reached for his hand and held it.
Some women standing nearby laughed loudly on purpose.
“That girl is beautiful,” one of them said, staring at Felicia. “But her eyes are not good. She chose a beggar.”
Felicia turned to them calmly, still holding Daniel’s hand.
“So what if he is a beggar?” she asked. “I like him.”
The women blinked.
Felicia continued, “Life can happen to anyone. It doesn’t mean they deserve to be mocked. Some of you are one bad day away from sitting where he sat, so be careful how you laugh at people.”
Their laughter weakened.
“We’re getting married soon,” Felicia added, firm and fearless.
Then she walked Daniel away.
Daniel looked down at the hand holding his, and for the first time in a long time, he felt something close to disbelief.
How will I repay this woman? he wondered.
Felicia took him to her apartment. It was small but warm, clean, and peaceful. Daniel stood in the living room as if afraid to disturb anything.
“Sit,” she said gently. “You’re not a stranger here.”
She brought him a towel and slippers. “Go and bathe. I’ll buy you clothes.”
Daniel looked at her. “You’ll buy me clothes?”
“Yes,” she said simply. “You can’t stay in those clothes.”
She left before he could refuse.
The moment the door shut, Daniel’s expression sharpened. He took out a phone that did not match the image of a beggar and made a call.
“It’s me,” he said.
His team answered at once.
“I want a crystal crown purchased abroad—the best. I want a legendary diamond gift. And I want one of our properties under the Asia portfolio transferred into Felicia Ademi’s name.”
The person on the other end fell silent from shock, then answered carefully, “Understood, chairman.”
Daniel’s mind drifted briefly to Jessica—the ex-girlfriend who had once loved the comfort around him, but disappeared the moment she thought his life was collapsing. She had not stayed to fight beside him. She had not even stayed to ask questions.
Now Felicia had done the opposite.
She had stood by a man she thought was a beggar.
