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Chapter 1 - THE STRANGER IN MY KITCHEN

✿ When Thunder Strikes ✿

Sometimes the good things we do turn out to be the blessings we never saw coming.

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The sky groaned like an angry beast that night.

Thunder rolled, chasing flashes of lightning that clawed across the dark clouds like veins of silver fire. It was close to midnight—11:00 p.m. to be precise—when Harley Davidson sat cross-legged on her bed, her head buried between stacks of notebooks, scribbled equations, and empty snack wrappers.

The room was a mess, but the kind of chaos that felt personal. Her yellow pajamas glowed softly beneath the faint light of her desk lamp, the cotton hugging her curves. Her long brown hair fell in silken waves down her back, brushing her shoulders like whispered secrets, and her transparent round glasses reflected the pale blue glow of her laptop screen.

She yawned, rubbing her eyes. "It's gonna rain cats and dogs tonight," she muttered sleepily, stretching her arms above her head.

Outside, the wind howled through the trees, and the rain began its soft patter—gentle, teasing, almost melodic. But within seconds, the gentle drizzle turned into a furious roar, and lightning tore through the sky with a blinding flash.

Then came the crack.

A bolt of light slammed into the electrical pole beside her building.

The lights went out instantly.

"What the heck!" Harley exclaimed, heart jumping into her throat. Darkness swallowed the room, and for a moment, the only sound she could hear was her own breathing and the rhythmic pounding of rain against the window.

She fumbled for her phone and switched on the flashlight. A soft beam illuminated the scattered papers, the undone bed, and her worried face. She hurried to the window and peeked out, watching as other residents stepped out of their apartments, some with torches, others with phones, all equally confused.

"How could thunder hit our building? What could have caused this?" she whispered. Her brows knitted together. "So strange…"

Minutes crawled by before the lights flickered back to life. Relief washed over her, and she smiled faintly. "Finally," she murmured, returning to her desk.

But just as she lay back on her bed, a sudden BOOM! shook the silence.

Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest. "What now?!" she screamed, springing up from her bed. The sound had come from the kitchen.

Barefoot, she dashed down the narrow hallway, her pulse pounding in her ears. The faint smell of burnt wires filled the air. When she reached the kitchen, her jaw dropped.

Her refrigerator was smoking—literally. A small spark flickered near the socket, and she gasped in disbelief. "Oh no, no, no! Not my fridge!" she cried, clutching her head. "Do you know how much this thing cost, you stupid lightning?!"

The fridge was a gift from her best friend, Maya, who'd saved up for months to buy it after Harley's old one broke down. And now… it was gone. Just like that.

"Perfect," Harley muttered sarcastically. "Just perfect. What's next, the roof collapsing?"

She sighed heavily, crouching down to inspect the damage. As she reached to unplug the fridge, something caught her eye—a faint shadow on the floor, something large and out of place, half-hidden behind the refrigerator.

"What the…" Her breath hitched. She leaned slightly, the flashlight trembling in her hand.

There—beneath the edge of the fridge—lay a figure. A person.

Her eyes widened so much it hurt. She slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream.

"No. No way," she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. "This isn't real… it's just… it's the lighting, right?"

But when she blinked again, the image was still there—a tall man sprawled on the floor, his shirt torn, his body unmoving, a faint scorch mark on his arm as if lightning itself had kissed him.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "There's a body in my kitchen!"

Her hands trembled as she stumbled backward, bumping into the counter. She squeezed her eyes shut, whispering to herself, You're not crazy, Harley. You're not crazy. You just need to think.

Gathering what little courage she had left, she grabbed her mop from the corner and clutched it like a sword.

"Okay," she said under her breath. "You've watched enough horror movies. You know how this goes. Don't panic. Don't scream. Just… hit first, ask later."

Step by step, she moved closer. Her knees felt weak, her heartbeat loud enough to drown out the rain. The beam of her flashlight shook as it landed on the stranger's face—sharp jawline, dark lashes against pale skin, lips slightly parted as if caught mid-breath.

He was… alive?

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✿ Author's Note ✿

Hey, my beautiful readers ❤️

Welcome to UNEXPECTED LOVE — a slow-burn storm of mystery, destiny, and irresistible tension.

This is just the beginning. What starts as fear will soon twist into a connection Harley never saw coming…

If you love sizzling chemistry, emotional depth, and a touch of danger, make sure to check out my other heart-throbbing works:

💎 THE ALPHA'S OBSESSION —

A powerful Alpha. A defiant mate. A love so fierce it burns.

💍 MARRIED TO THE CEO —

A fake marriage. A cold billionaire. And a woman who refuses to be broken.

🔥 Upcoming: MY BOND WITH YOU —

When love becomes destiny, even fate trembles.

Thank you for reading! Don't forget to comment, vote, and share your thoughts — your support keeps the fire burning ❤️‍🔥

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