Chapter 2 One

NORTH AEGEAN ISLAND, 09.15 AM

The white YACHT is visible from a distance. Splitting the Mediterranean Sea to the Aegean, the ship slowly docked inland. Dozens of men in dapper suits with neatly combed hair glistening in the sunlight ran over. The person they had been waiting for had finally arrived. Ansel sets foot on the wooden pier of his private island, an area of ​​paradise that seems to be created by God for the rich.

The business trip from Italy was carried out to open cooperation with fertiliser entrepreneurs. Grapes and olives, which are prima donna, need fertiliser. Shining Urea Corp provides it. Ansel founded his business empire full of sweat and tears, sometimes involving blood. The sycophants around him have familiar fake smiles on the outside but keep a gun behind his back to kill him. How difficult it is to find loyal people. Ansel doesn't need a benevolent coward. They will save themselves when danger comes.

Ansel's brown eyes scanned the surroundings. Where is he? The woman he loved did not welcome him. No, Ansel Balder held back a complaint because his love relationship is part of a little secret kept tightly.

A man stepped forward from the line. His eyes, which were as blue as the Aegean Sea, were wary. "Mr Balder," he said.

"Alec," replied Ansel. Alec Briseis was only one of the few people he could trust. Ansel knew the debt Alec's life owed him was too great to divulge a secret.

Without saying much, Alec stepped aside, allowing Ansel Balder to step into the black limousine. Rows of personal bodyguards docked to guard their masters. Ansel Balder's safety is a priority. Several years ago, a sniper hired by a business rival targeted their employer. Thus, success is often accompanied by many enemies.

Gliding gracefully, the limousine took Ansel Balder and Alec to the school he had set up for abandoned children. Ansel Balder's childhood was bittersweet. He was beaten by a heroin-addicted father and abandoned by an alcoholic mother. He could only receive an education in a slum school filled with naughty children. Detroit is not a good place to raise children.

Having hated God, Ansel only admitted how much God loved him after simultaneously taking his parents' lives. His father and mother had a big fight and started shooting at each other. Ansel could only crouch while covering his ears in the corner of the living room, shattered by the broken glass. His father was shot by his mother in the forehead after the father had also shot his mother in the heart. They died on the same day.

Little Ansel was taken by social services afterwards. They moved orphanages several times until finally being cared for by the couple Donatello and Lilac Balder. Ansel Balder's real name, John Walters, was changed. Ansel Balder was given a new name, status, a comfortable home, and a high-class education. Donatello and Lilac died when Ansel was 22, inheriting a thriving company. You see, it turns out that many people who are nobody behave better than those with blood ties.

From then on, Ansel swore that no child should suffer the same fate as him. So on this island, Ansel founded schools and orphanages for children from all over the world. The Shining Education Center is home to five hundred underprivileged students. His education is guaranteed up to the high school level. Those who excel are given scholarships up to college and employed in companies after graduation. That's why Ansel is considered an angel.

"Do the teachers know I'm coming today?" Ansel asked Alec.

"Mr. and Mrs. Colleen know. Apart from them, the others don't."

"Mrs Colleen," Ansel snorted softly. When will the woman's last name change to Mrs Balder? Women are creatures that are difficult to understand. This second seemed to love, the next second hate to death. The reasons they want to be cuddled also vary. Some are forced, some are pure love, some are just to satisfy lust.

Thousands of call women were willing to satisfy Ansel, but she only settled on one name worthy of his heart. Call it; Ansel has a strange allegiance. Almost fanatical. Ansel doesn't like easy women. Just being offered a few dollars was easy to get into bed. He needs a loyal and loving woman. In his eyes, only Mrs Colleen meets the criteria above. If only Mr Colleen, her husband, did not have diabetes, Ansel believes Mrs Colleen would not accept his invitation to have an affair.

"Do you have paper?" asked Ansel.

Alec fumbled for his coat. Yesterday's lunch bill hadn't been thrown away. "There's only this," he said.

"Perfect." Ansel scribbled a few words and tucked the paper in his shirt pocket.

The tall iron gate opened. The limousine entered the expansive courtyard. At study times like now, children are busy in class. The crowd will appear shortly at break time. The guards descended first to open the door for Ansel. Alec accompanies Ansel Balder. He walked closest to entering the building. The two of them walked down a hallway lined with brightly coloured linoleum. On either side, colourful wooden shelves are attached to the walls, covered with wallpaper of children's favourite cartoon characters.

Their feet came to a light blue metal door with big letters APOLLO. Ethan Colleen opened the door. Ansel caught the female figure.

Her curly hair was in a high ponytail. She was showing off a smooth neck with a violin tattoo. The woman who always rushes into his dreams dominates his long nights. Currently, in front of him, she is wearing a tight black shirt that prints her athletic solid body. Blue jeans wrapped around her thighs and long legs, and her black ankle boots added a sexy yet strong impression to Rachel Colleen.

The woman turned to the two men at the door. She is currently sitting on the chair of the Steinway grand piano. Behind her, two boys with glasses, she sat holding violins. Meanwhile, one girl in a sleeveless dress and knee-length boots was ready to sing.

Rachel stroked the piano keys, playing the intro to a song. The two boys behind her started to touch their violin bows against the strings of their violins, producing melodic notes. The little girl in boots is singing. Her voice curves beautifully. Why do birds suddenly appear

Every time you are near?

Just like me, they long to be

Close to you

Why do stars fall from the sky?

Every time you walk by?

Just like me, they long to be

Close to you

Captivating Ansel, who heard it. Ethan clutched the trunk in awe at the mini-concert before him while Alec remained flat.

La, close to you

La, close to you

Amanda, the singing girl, ended the song.

"Good Amanda." Ansel claps encouragingly for a girl from Ethiopia. "Thanks, Lok and Rio." Ansel looks at Lok, a 12-year-old boy from Thailand, and Rio, an 11-year-old boy from England, the violinist. The three nodded with a smile.

"Ok, kids, three of you can attend Math class," Rachel ordered them. And they shook hands with Ansel before exiting the door to head for a fun math class without complaining—no grumpy teachers with iron rulers or scary faces.

"Welcome, Mr. Balder," Rachel Colleen greeted. The woman's voice was full of longing.

"Mr Balder, I'm taking the suitcase with toys and books to Miss Mathilda for sorting." Ethan pushed the suitcase out the door, leaving his wife with Ansel.

"How are you, Mrs Colleen?" Ansel shook Rachel's hand.

"Very good."

Rachel was surprised when Ansel's hand didn't let go. The man's brown eyes stared at her intensely.

"Pleased to hear it." Rigid, official, and no-nonsense. That's how people perceive Ansel's remarks. "I have to say hello to another teacher."

"Of course." Rachel breathed a sigh of relief when her hand was released. Something fell from Ansel's hands. The man walked to the door and then out to another class. Rachel picked up the white sheet that had fallen earlier. Restaurant billing paper. There is an inscription,

I'll wait for you at the greenhouse.

Your Ansel Balder.

***