Articles

BILLIONAIRE'S UNEXPECTED LOVE

Chapter 1

The soft chime of the diner’s entrance bell rang as Amelia Brooks rushed past the counter, balancing a tray of steaming coffee mugs. The place was packed Friday nights always were. The scent of grilled burgers and fresh coffee filled the air, mixing with the quiet hum of conversations. She sighed, tucking a loose strand of chestnut hair behind her ear, and forced a smile as she approached a table.

“Here you go,” she said, setting down the drinks with practiced ease.

The customers barely acknowledged her, too lost in their own world. It didn’t matter. She was used to being invisible.

Amelia had been working at Rosie’s Diner for the past two years long enough to know the regulars, long enough to know which customers tipped and which ones didn’t. But tonight, there was someone new.

He sat in the farthest booth, near the window. The dim lights did little to hide his striking presence. A tailored navy-blue suit hugged his broad shoulders, and his perfectly styled dark hair hinted at wealth. His sharp jawline and piercing gray eyes gave him an almost dangerous aura. He didn’t belong here.

Amelia’s breath hitched as she realized he was staring at her.

Quickly looking away, she grabbed her notepad and approached his table. “Good evening. What can I get you?”

For a moment, he didn’t answer. His gaze flickered to her name tag, then back to her face. “Amelia.” His voice was smooth, deep. “I’ll take a coffee. Black.”

She nodded, writing it down even though it wasn’t necessary. “Anything else?”

“That depends,” he said, closing the file he had been reading. “Do you always look this exhausted, or is tonight special?”

Amelia blinked, heat rising to her cheeks. “Excuse me?”

His lips twitched as if he found her reaction amusing. “You look like you’ve had a long day.”

She straightened. “I have. But I don’t see how that concerns you.”

He chuckled. “Fair enough.”

She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her. “Wait.”

She turned back.

He studied her for a moment before shaking his head. “Never mind.”

Confused, she hurried to fetch his coffee. As she poured it into the cup, Rosie, the diner’s owner, nudged her. “That man’s been sitting there for nearly an hour. You know who he is?”

Amelia frowned. “Should I?”

Rosie lowered her voice. “That’s Ethan Carter. The billionaire.”

Amelia’s heart skipped a beat. Ethan Carter. She had heard the name before who hadn’t? He owned half the city, his face often gracing business magazines. What was someone like him doing in a small diner like this?

Shaking off her curiosity, she carried the coffee back to his table. “Here you go,” she said, setting it down.

Ethan took the cup but didn’t drink. Instead, he watched her. “Thank you, Amelia.”

For reasons she couldn’t understand, hearing him say her name sent a strange shiver down her spine.

Rerouted to Love (Part 2)

In a bright hotel room, Kira stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress. It was a soft blue, flowing just above her knees. She couldn’t believe she was actually going to a wedding with a man she had just met.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Will.

Will: I’m waiting downstairs. No pressure, but my mom is already asking about you.

Kira smiled and grabbed her purse. When she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted Will near the entrance. He looked sharp in a navy suit, his tie slightly loosened.

“You clean up nice,” she teased.

Will grinned. “You look beautiful.”

Kira felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “So, how much trouble am I in with your mom?”

“Oh, just a little,” Will chuckled. “She’s excited to meet the mysterious girl who magically appeared in my life.”

Kira laughed. “Let’s hope she likes me.”

They arrived at the wedding venue, a charming garden filled with flowers and fairy lights. Soft music played, and guests were already mingling.

“Ready?” Will asked.

Kira took a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Will led her toward a group of people. “Mom, Dad, this is Kira.”

Will’s mother, a kind-looking woman with warm eyes, beamed. “Oh, so you’re Kira! I’ve heard so much about you.”

Kira shook her hand. “All good things, I hope.”

Will’s father chuckled. “Mostly good.”

Emily, the bride, approached in her wedding gown. “You must be the famous Kira.”

“Famous?” Kira raised an eyebrow at Will.

Emily smirked. “He hasn’t stopped talking about you.”

Kira glanced at Will, who scratched his neck, looking embarrassed. “Well, uh…”

Emily laughed. “Welcome to the family gathering, Kira.”

The ceremony began, and everyone took their seats. The bride walked down the aisle, looking radiant. Will leaned over and whispered, “You ever think about your dream wedding?”

Kira smiled. “Haven’t really thought about it. You?”

Will shrugged. “Maybe something small. Just the people who matter.”

Kira nodded. “Sounds nice.”

As the vows were exchanged, Kira stole a glance at Will. He looked happy, but there was something deeper in his eyes. A warmth, a hopefulness.

After the ceremony, everyone moved to the reception area. There were twinkling lights, laughter, and the sound of clinking glasses.

Will pulled Kira to the dance floor. “Come on, one dance.”

Kira hesitated. “I’m not the best dancer.”

“Good, neither am I,” Will said, taking her hand.

They swayed to the slow melody. Kira felt her heart race as Will pulled her closer. “I’m glad you came,” he murmured.

“Me too,” Kira whispered.

They danced in comfortable silence, the world fading around them.

Later in the evening, Will and Kira stepped away from the crowd, walking near a small fountain.

“Tonight was beautiful,” Kira said.

Will nodded. “Yeah. But you made it better.”

Kira looked up at him. “Will, what happens after this?”

Will sighed, rubbing his neck. “I don’t know. But I know I don’t want this to end.”

Kira bit her lip. “Me neither.”

Will hesitated before reaching for her hand. “Kira, would you stay a little longer? Just… see where this goes?”

Kira’s heart pounded. “Yes.”

Will smiled, and under the stars, he gently kissed her.

And in that moment, neither of them wanted to be anywhere else.

The next morning, Will and Kira planned to meet again for another adventure. Will waited at the café, sipping his coffee, looking at his phone every few minutes. But Kira never showed up.

He called, sent messages—nothing.

Days passed. Then weeks. Then months.

Will eventually stopped waiting. He focused on his work as a civil engineer, burying himself in projects. But sometimes, late at night, he would wonder where she had gone, why she disappeared without a word.

Two years later…

Will walked through the airport, pulling his suitcase behind him. He glanced at the departure board—his flight was canceled.

He sighed and rubbed his temple. “Not again.”

Then he heard a voice.

“Will?”

He turned around, his heart stopping for a second. Kira stood a few feet away, looking almost the same, except her hair was a bit shorter, and there was a tired but relieved look in her eyes.

“Kira?” he breathed.

She took a shaky step forward. “I—I can’t believe this.”

Will swallowed, emotions swirling inside him. “You never showed up. No messages, no calls.”

“I know,” Kira whispered. “I wanted to. But I couldn’t.”

Will stared at her, waiting.

She took a deep breath. “I’m a doctor. That morning, I was called for an emergency. There was a massive earthquake in Myanmar. I had to leave immediately. I barely had time to grab my things. No signal, no way to reach you.”

Will’s chest tightened. “For two years?”

Kira nodded. “I was stationed there. Assigned to remote areas for over a year, helping, saving lives. And when I got back…" She exhaled, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I thought maybe you had moved on.”

Will ran a hand through his hair. “I tried. But I never forgot.”

Silence stretched between them before Kira spoke softly. “I never forgot you either.”

Will exhaled, then took a step closer. “So… what now?”

Kira gave a small smile. “Well, our flight is canceled again. Maybe fate is giving us another chance.”

Will chuckled. “Maybe it is.”

And this time, neither of them wanted to waste it.

Open When... by Dr. Julie Smith is a compassionate and practical mental health guide crafted like a supportive friend offering advice exactly when you need it. It’s structured around the concept of “open when” letters—each chapter is written as if it’s a letter for a specific emotional or psychological moment in life. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, insecure, heartbroken, or simply stuck, this book offers encouragement, understanding, and real tools to help you move forward.

Dr. Smith, a clinical psychologist and bestselling author of Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, uses her expertise to demystify common mental health struggles and guide readers through them with empathy and science-backed strategies.

🧭 Book Structure

The book is divided into three major parts:

1. When It's Hard to Be With Other People
2. This section focuses on external difficulties—relationship challenges, communication breakdowns, conflict, boundaries, and managing toxic dynamics. It helps readers better understand others while learning to stand up for their own needs.
3. When It's Hard to Be With Yourself
4. This section turns inward. It covers issues like low self-esteem, impostor syndrome, shame, and self-criticism. Dr. Smith helps readers confront the inner voice that often says, “You’re not enough,” and offers methods to replace self-judgment with kindness and curiosity.
5. When It's Hard to Be With Your Feelings
6. This section is about emotional regulation and resilience. It offers strategies to deal with strong emotions like anxiety, sadness, grief, fear, and anger. Dr. Smith emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and processing emotions instead of avoiding or suppressing them.

💡 Core Themes & Takeaways

1. Self-Compassion is Foundational: Instead of pushing through pain with toughness alone, the book encourages gentle self-talk, validating emotions, and responding to yourself like you would to a dear friend.
2. Emotions Are Messengers, Not Enemies: Dr. Smith teaches that emotions—no matter how uncomfortable—have a purpose. Learning to listen to them without being controlled by them is key to emotional well-being.
3. Practical, Not Just Theoretical: The book is filled with actionable advice: grounding exercises, journaling prompts, reframing tools, and mindset shifts that can be applied immediately.
4. Personal Responsibility with Compassion: While validating struggles, Dr. Smith also encourages readers to take small, manageable steps toward change, even when motivation is low.
5. You’re Not Broken—You’re Human: Many struggles people feel ashamed of (like intrusive thoughts, burnout, or self-doubt) are normalized here, with science-backed explanations that reduce stigma.

✉️ "Open When" Letters Format

Each chapter starts as if Dr. Smith is writing directly to you at a particular moment in life, such as:

1. Open when… you feel like a failure
2. Open when… you can’t stop overthinking
3. Open when… someone has hurt you
4. Open when… you’re grieving
5. Open when… you’re burned out

These chapters act as a lifeline during specific emotional states and provide support in a non-judgmental, deeply human way.

🛠️ Notable Tools & Exercises

1. "Name It to Tame It": Labeling emotions to make them feel more manageable.
2. Grounding Techniques: Methods for calming the body and mind during emotional distress.
3. Reframing the Inner Critic: Turning harsh self-judgments into growth-minded dialogue.
4. Creating a Self-Compassion Ritual: Small daily actions to boost resilience and inner peace.
5. Writing Your Own "Open When" Letters: Encouraged as a way to self-reflect and prepare for future challenges.

🧠 Psychological Depth in Everyday Language

One of the book’s strengths is how it takes complex psychological concepts and distills them into everyday language. Whether you’re a mental health professional or someone who’s never read a self-help book, the tone is warm, relatable, and accessible.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Open When... is more than just a self-help book—it's a toolbox, a therapist's notes, and a supportive friend all in one. It acknowledges that life can be chaotic, painful, and confusing, but also that with the right mindset and tools, it's possible to find strength, clarity, and healing. Dr. Julie Smith writes not to fix you, but to remind you that you were never broken.