I picked up my backpack and slung it over one shoulder, turning to leave the construction site. I had just finished meeting with the workers on site and looking over the plans for the new building. I was ready to go home and meet up with my cousin Ari and her husband Micah. I couldn't wait to see their daughters either. Those girls were so precious. My little munchkins.

As I was walking to my car, I was stopped.

"Hey, Vidal." I heard the same irritating woman from earlier say. She was batting her lashes at me and ogling me like a desperate idiot.

Could a person be more annoying?

I usually wasn't very rude, but I had reached my limit with these women. I continued walking towards my car and tried my best to brush her off quickly.

"Hi." I said, trying not to show my hatred for her.

"I need a little help with something back there." She said, pointing behind a large wall and stepping closer to me.

I wasn't stupid. I was not about to let this woman disappear with me behind a wall and have people spreading rumours. My family was largely successful and wealthy, which just meant that I received much more attention than I ever wanted to. I wasn't the type to look for attention nor enjoy it. I just wanted a simple life with my family.

I wanted to start my own little one as well and have some children of my own. I just couldn't imagine ever finding a girl at this rate. All of these girls threw themselves at me for my money and reputation and I wanted nothing to do with them.

"Ask Henry." I said, pointing to a colleague who was standing around back at the construction site.

"He's not as strong as you though, and I need someone to help me lift some things." She said, stepping closer and reaching out to touch my chest. I immediately stepped back, avoiding her touch.

"No, he's strong enough. I've got places to be." I said, walking away and leaving her looking shocked that I'd rejected her even though it was the third time today and it shouldn't have been a surprise.

I finally reached my car and accepted an incoming call from my mother.

"Hey, Momma." I said with a smile.

My mother always knew how to brighten my day.

"Hey, Sweetheart! Did you just get off work?" She asked me.

"Yup." I smiled.

"Your father and I are going to be late to the dinner tonight. Could you just let everyone know when you get there?" She asked me.

"Sure thing, Momma." I chuckled.

"How was my baby's day?" She asked me.

"I honestly much prefer working at the wildlife park with the guys, I don't like this job." I admitted to her.

"Did something happen?" She asked me in concern.

"Just the usual." I sighed.

"Another girl bothered you?" She asked me.

"Yeah. Two actually. But one of them knew how to take a hint, the other one was too persistent." I said.

"I'm sorry, baby. But hey, you're just an attractive man, I guess. Thanks to my genes, of course." She laughed, and I heard my father object.

"Hey!" He exclaimed. "Are you saying it has nothing to do with your tall, dark and handsome Italian stallion, Hazelnut?" Dad laughed.

"Dad, stop it." I chuckled, shaking my head.

I heard him kiss her and I cringed.

"Dad, please. I'm still on the phone. Can't I have a peaceful conversation with my beautiful mother?" I asked him.

"Can't I have a peaceful conversation with my beautiful mother?" My father mocked me in a high pitched voice.

"Dodo. Please relax." My mother sighed.

"Just for the record, Vidal. If you ever think to have children.... think again. They'll only steal your wife from you." Dad told me.

"Ok, go away now please." I said to him.

"Hey, be nice." Momma told me. "Come here, Dodo."

My mother was too much of a softie for her own good.

My mother and I continued to have our conversation over the phone and I went on about those annoying girls that bothered me wherever I went. My mother asked me to get her some almond milk from the store, so I dropped by while I listened to her telling me to relax and not to freak out about finding a girl. Everyone could see that I just wanted to settle down and find a girl. I just didn't think I'd ever find one.

I had been looking for years now, and my baby cousin, Arabella was able to find a man before I could find a decent woman. It honestly wasn't even fair. All of the women I'd met were so dense that I couldn't have a five second conversation with them without wanting to shoot myself in the brain.

As soon as I got my mother's almond milk and some kiwis for myself. I headed back to the car as my mother told me I was perfect and I shouldn't stress about finding a girl. She told me she just knew I'd find her soon and that everything would be ok. She told me not to rush things. I told her I would try but I was getting impatient and fed up.

"You know you're a good man, Vidal." Momma told me.

"Thank you, Momma." I said to her.

"I'm so proud of you. You're the perfect son, and I just know life will turn out great for you." She told me.

That really made me emotional. One of the few things that mattered most to me was my mother and father's approval of what I'd done with my life. Deep down I knew I'd made them proud, but when I heard it from them, it just hit different.

"Aw. Thank you, Momma. You know the thing I want most in this world is to make you and Dad proud." I said to her.

"Yes. That and to find your woman." Momma laughed.

"That too." I smiled.

"You'll find her, but just... take it easy. It doesn't have to happen immediately. It'll come." She told me.

"Alright. I'll keep that in mind." I chuckled, finally finding my car in the parking lot.

I got into my car, driving straight to my father and uncle's mansion. I finished my call on the way and then focused on arriving as soon as possible. I needed to see Micah because I had a lot of ranting to do about that irritating woman and I knew he would understand. Micah understood what the other guys didn't.

Romeo didn't care much if girls flirted with him for his money, he had a way with words that got him out of situations like that and not a single care in the world about anything. He knew how to handle a persistent woman who didn't want anything but our family's fame and money.

Evan kept to himself, and didn't allow for any girls to even see him let alone try to get his attention.

Then there was Theo. Theo was in another world. He was dead set on his girlfriend from back when we were sixteen. Only she wasn't around anymore. She bought him a ring way back then and every time a girl tried to look his way, he ran his fingers through his hair and flashed her the ring that his high school sweetheart had gotten him. It honestly looked like a wedding band and scared them all away.

But Micah was different. Women threw themselves at him knowing he was married but hoping to turn his head. He just brushed it off and usually tried having Arabella around because no one approached him when she was with him.

We didn't mind it if girls flirted, that was fine. How else do you really find someone and get their attention. But after repeatedly telling them that we weren't interested, they would still continue their efforts. They didn't have an ounce of respect for us, they only wanted the Ferrari fame and our money and they didn't hesitate to admit it.

I arrived at home in no time and was met with two blonde munchkins latching onto my legs. I set my backpack down and took my jacket off, leaning down to pet their heads and tickle them a little. Arabella walked up to me and smiled, taking my backpack and pulling the chocolates I'd bought her out of it as well as the bag with milk and kiwis.

"Girls, leave Uncle Vidal alone." She told her daughters. I laughed when she scurried away, determined to have all the chocolate immediately.

"Ease up on the chocolate, Ari!" I called after her, waddling to the living room with the twins attached to either one of my legs. They giggled and squealed as I made my way to the couch, then I plopped down on it and I pried them off my legs. I placed them on my lap and fixed their messy hair.

"Vee, we gots flowers today with Mommy." Mila giggled, showing me the little vase on the coffee table.

"Wow, so pretty." I smiled down at her.

"I gots a flower fow you." Mia smiled, bouncing off my lap and pulling the purple flower out of the vase. Then she jumped back up onto my lap and tucked it behind my ear.

"Pwetty!" Mila squeaked.

"Daddy!" Mia yelled, climbing my shoulder and launching herself off of me, only to be caught by her father.

"Hey, what's up, bro?" He asked, sitting down beside me on the couch.

"Daddy's flower!" Mila said, putting a yellow flower behind her father's ear.

"Wow, thank you, My Love." He said, kissing her forehead and doing the same to his other daughter.

"You look like you've had a rough day." Micah laughed, examining my face.

"I'm just about done with all females that aren't a part of this family." I sighed.

"What happened?" He laughed.

"Vidal! Come here I need your help lifting something because you're strong!" I mimicked the woman from work today.

"Oh, God." Micah said, chuckling nervously.

He knew exactly what it was like. He'd experienced it as well.

"I know. I'm just done. Isn't there just one decent girl in this world that I can have a mutual attraction to? Like she needs to be into me, but not throw herself at me shamelessly." I said.

"Bro. You're going to find her, just relax. Give it time." He said to me.

"Says the man who's already been married for ages." I sighed.

"I've only been married for close to three years, relax." He laughed.

"Bro. I'm never going to find a girl who doesn't want me for my money. Do you think I should just see if maybe one of them isn't half bad? Maybe she'll learn to love me for more than my money eventually." I sighed.

"Bro! What is wrong with you?!" He asked me. "Can you relax? It'll come. Do not go for any of these girls."

"I've been looking for five years, dude. It's not going to happen." I sighed.

"Ok. Just calm yourself." He sighed. "I'll make it happen if I have to, ok? I'll set up a few blind dates with Arabella if you really think you can't find the one on your own."

I sighed, looking up at the ceiling and thinking whether I wanted Micah to set up a date or if I wanted to leave things the way they were and wait. All of a sudden a pair of green eyes appeared in front of me and strands of blonde hair fell onto my face. I laughed and made the little one giggle.

The twins were a lot like their mother. They liked getting attention from the people they loved. I took pride in the fact that I was one of those people. The girls constantly needed my attention when I was with them.

I tickled her until she looked like she needed air and then I set her free.

"Oh, no. Daddy hasn't had lunch!" Arabella said from the kitchen behind us.

"You need me to take something to the hospital, Ari?" I asked her.

"Yeah! It's already near dinner time, he's probably hungry. Will you just drop some food off and tell him to meet us here for dinner?" Arabella called out from the kitchen.

"Sure thing. Give me a minute. I'll be right there." I said to her. "Oh and Momma's going to be late with Dad."

"Goodness, what are they doing now? Jumping off cliffs together." Arabella sighed, knowing that my parents were incredibly adventurous.

I chuckled as I willed myself to get up. I was honestly really tired. The twins each kissed me on the cheek when I got up, knowing I needed to go now. And Arabella handed me a big bag of lunch to take to her father.

She walked over to her husband after that and she curled up beside him. She planted a kiss on his forehead and she started running her fingers through his hair. I saw him relax under her touch and the tension left his body.

That's what I longed for. I just wanted someone who I loved and who loved me to be there for me and be supportive like those two were with each other.

I walked out the door eventually, not needing to watch Micah and Arabella be affectionate any longer. I got into my car and went straight to the hospital to feed my hungry uncle. The poor man worked really hard and relied on us to feed him.

When I arrived at his office, he wasn't there. So I just placed his lunch down on his desk and set off to find him. I could've just sent him a text and left, but I felt like I should find him.

"Oh. Vidal!" A woman said from behind me, a little too cheery and squeaky for my liking.

I turned to see the short brunette nurse who was always popping up out of nowhere whenever I was here. I didn't even respond, not wanting to get her more excited than she already was about my presence.

"Your uncle is in room five-six-one." She said to me.

"Oh... alright. Can I go there?" I asked her.

"Yeah. That's fine." She said.

I found my way to the elevator and got to the right door. I opened the door and called out to my uncle immediately.

"Uncle Rico!" I called out, stopping dead in my tracks when I saw a little blonde woman sitting on a bed, bruises scattered across her arms and a few on her face. She looked horribly frightened.

I felt anger bubble up within me at the sight of her.

Why would anyone harm such a small little beauty so badly?

The thought of someone inflicting pain on her didn't sit well with me at all. My blood was boiling a little, but her eyes calmed me almost instantly. Those large green orbs stared into my soul as if she was searching for just a little bit of humanity in me.

The fact that she was this horrified and desperate to find something humane in my eyes made me wonder what had happened to her.

She was shaking, her eyes darting between me and my uncle in horror. She clutched her stuffed bunny tightly as she watched us. It was as if she was waiting for one of us to attack her. But that wasn't going to happen. Part of me was already dead set on making sure she was safe and trying to make her feel safe.

But who was this pretty little thing and why did she already have such a strange effect on my heart?