My sister's finally managed to drag me to a party I didn't want to go to and despite their efforts I still felt this empty void inside me, I couldn't just let go of the memory of David overnight. I walked away from the crowd and headed outside to get some fresh air and just clear my thoughts when suddenly a voice came up behind me.

"Adeline?"

It was a man's voice and it was surprising to hear my name come out of his mouth, I know lately I've been distracted with everything around me but I could easily remember one's voice if I've met them before but this man's voice didn't seem to ring a bell no matter how hard I tried, I turned back to look at him and still couldn't figure out who he was his smile was so enticing and I could see the excitement he got from seeing me.

"umm do I-do I know you?"I said as I wrinkled my forehead with a dazed look on my face.

" Earl, no? Doesn't ring a bell? "

I shook my head and even though I felt pretty bad I just wanted him to end this mystery and tell me who he was.

" Earl Butler, from college, we were together in Mr Clarkson's class and and we talked on numerous occasions but we.... "

Suddenly his memory appeared and I felt embarrassed for not remembering him early enough.

"oh my gosh, Earl? Oh my... Oh I feel so embarrassed" I said as I cupped my cheeks

"come here, no need to be embarrassed" he said as he held me in his arms
"I know it's been a long time so there is no need for you to feel bad about it, since graduation you disappeared from the face of the earth and I couldn't get a hold of you, how've you been?"

“I've been okay, I just needed to figure out certain things in my life and I just decided to move to the city. How've you been?"

"good, good, wow you moved to the city? That was a pretty bold move for you to make, why go so far though? I mean look at you you look so incredibly beautiful, I bet that one guy is pretty lucky to have you."


"yeah if he exists" I said as I tried to make a joke out of it, I wasn't going to stand here and talk about love knowing that it's the one thing that has made me this miserable so I decided to change the story.

"so umm how bout you? What have you been up to?"

"ehr nothing much honestly, since graduation I've been working like a maniac I hardly have time to go out and you know meet girls" he then chuckled and let out a smug smile.


I tried to pull myself away from the conversation after he started giving me signs of flirtations, after what happened with David I wasn't looking for any relationship or fling. I completely closed all doors to love and David proved to me everything I've ever known about love, it doesn't exist. I walked right past Earl and said my goodbye to him.

"before you leave can you give me your number, I would love to get in touch with you after all these years."

"you make it sound like so many years have passed, anyway here. It was nice seeing you Earl, take care"

He smiled at me and that was it for the night, my sisters and I reached home pretty early and all I wanted was to get some rest. I noticed a car was parked just right in front of the house and I didn't think much of it probably it's one of mom's friends so  my sisters and I went inside the house. I was heading up the stairs then mom called me. Honestly I wasn't looking forward to interact with her friend but her call sounded urgent so I went in the living room and sitting on the couch was somebody never in a million years I could have guessed would be here. For starter how does he know my mom, how did he find out where I live? I had all these questions piling up in my head and at the same time emotions started coming out.

"what are you doing here? How did you find me? After everything you've done to me you still have the guts to show up at my house? How dare you?!!" I was shouting and as much as I wanted to cry and hug him I was so upset and just wanted to hit him.


"calm down sweety, David just wants to talk at least let him explain" mom said as she came to hold me.
I was shaking and it was hard to stand in front of the man who hurt me not once but countless times.

"listen I know you are very mad at me and I deserve every word that comes from you as well your actions towards me, I was a jerk and I wasn't thinking straight but after you left everything became clear to me, what I wanted, who I love. Adeline I love you and I'm sorry that it took this long to tell you "


" get out, "I said as tears rolled down my eyes and my hand pointed at the door.

" Adeline I.... "

" I said get out!!! "
My mom pulled me away and he stayed behind along with my sisters, mom took me to the bedroom and sat me on the bed then looked at me for a while and hugged me so tight.

"I can't bare to see you like this sweety, I know you are very mad at him but give him a chance to explain. I don't know David that well but from the conversation I had with him he seemed pretty genuine and remorseful, please"

Mom's hug and words calmed me down and knowing my mom she wouldn't just let any man come close to me especially someone who hurt me, she must have seen something in David that I haven't seen. She wiped my tears and I headed down stairs to talk to him despite the anger I felt towards him. He was talking to my sisters and as soon as I walked in they all got up and my sisters came up to me then Alexa leaned in closer and whispered in my ear.

"don't let emotions get the best of you, listen to what he has to say" she then pecked me on the cheek and so did Adrienne.

So there I was standing face to face with the man who hurt me so much, I tried as much as I could to control my temper, I took a deep breath and slowly let it out then walked up to him.

"why now?"

"space, space gave me time to figure out what I want, I'm sorry I hurt you and you must be thinking I'm the worst man alive and I understand. When you left I thought everything was going to fall in place with jade but non of that happened, I felt so empty and alone despite having her around, she seemed so happy and telling her that I had feelings for someone else wasn't easy but I had to. I don't expect hugs and kisses from you after everything I've done to you but I just want you to know that I love you Adeline "

Everything about his words seemed so true and am not the type to immediately run into a man's arms after an apology but there's something about David I can't run away from no matter how hard I try, I let out a soft cry as I fell into his arms and he embraced me with so much warmth and love and *I'm never going to let you go *kind of feeling.
He kissed me on the forehead and all I could do was cry and just let everything out.


"we knew you would do the right thing" mom's voice came from behind and I turned around and she was standing next to my sisters, they were all smiling and too emotional from the moment. I ran to them and hugged them so tight and they covered me with kisses all over my face. I then went to David and kissed him so hard and everybody started clapping. It was such a joyous moment and I couldn't contain the joy I felt inside. Later that evening we had dinner and mom welcomed David into the family. After dinner he proposed and it wasn't something I was expecting from him so soon, we celebrated to our engagement and the next day we went to seek for my dad's blessings, everything went so well and I was so glad he accepted him too. It had been weeks since David came here and we finally decided to go back to the city and start our lives together, we broke the news to our work colleagues and everybody was happy for us including Mr Thompson who welcomed me with open arms in his work place.
All it takes is to get out of your comfort zone to  discover who you really are and what you can accomplish, so love does exist, after years and years of telling myself that love was a myth somebody proved me wrong and  never did I expect to find it in the most complicated situations, had I not broken the rules I created about how I had to live and treat people around me, I wouldn't have been standing next to the most handsome, generous, wonderful, caring, crazy, loving man in the entire world.





                               *
Hi everyone this is finally it, "RULES" has come to an end and I just want to thank you for been on this long ride with me, I know I took longer than I said I would to update new chapters and I'm so sorry about that,.I am so thankful for everyone who took their time to read my book I just want you to know that I appreciate it a lot. Hope you liked the story and if you have some thoughts about the book feel free to comment or send me a message. 😊😊😊And also check out the song "new rules" by Emma heesters I got some inspiration from the song too.