ruffatorres의 작품

**ONE YEAR LATER**Days had turned into weeks, weeks had turned into months, and the months had turned into a full year, but the bouquet of flowers, boxes of chocolates, and romantic letters never stopped coming. Not even for a single day in the entire year.With the amount of effort Grey had put into his courtship, it was hard not to soften and fall for him even more—especially when he visited home every single day to continue what he called “courtship service,” which included being a gardener, a car repairman, an electrician, a plumber, and sometimes a cleaner.I once told him it wasn't necessary for him to do anything like that since we are in modern times. Men no longer woo women and their families by doing house chores, but Grey was stubborn and wouldn’t stop. He told me it was his way of showing respect and dedication to me as his wife, so I allowed him to continue what he was doing and just enjoyed the moment while he was at it.After his ceaseless dedication, Grey's hard work

A few seconds later, the soft voice coming from the bed made Grey and me abruptly pull away from each other so we could look at the bed. We both saw our son looking at us. My heart jumped, and I immediately went to Dylan’s side and grabbed his hand.“Mama.” It was the first word that came from his lips. The sound of his voice made my heart swell with joy. Despite being away from me for years, he had never forgotten that I was his mother. I was so happy that tears welled in my eyes. From looking at me, Dylan’s eyes shifted to his father. He opened his small mouth and, in a soft voice, mumbled, “Papa.”Grey's throat moved as he swallowed hard. I could tell by the way he sucked in a deep breath that he was trying to contain his emotions. “Yes, my little boy, papa is here,” Grey replied, his voice thick with emotion as he spoke. Crossing the small distance between him and the bed, he gently pulled Dylan into his arms. He was trying his best not to burst into tears, but his eyes clearly sh

“For our children, Lily,” he replied, looking me straight in the eyes.For our children… Yeah, for Isabelle and Dylan… But was that enough reason for me to stay? I thought to myself, wanting to actually hear him say that he wanted me to stay with him because he loves me.Grey continued, “I know if you leave, you will take the children with you, and God only knows how long it will be before you return here so Dylan and Isabelle could be with me again. I know I could visit them anytime if you're in Europe, but it wouldn't be enough for me because I want to be with them all the time… I want them to have a complete family, which I never experienced in my life.” His eyes filled with even more emotion as he said those words.Even though I never experienced having an absentee father and an abusive stepmother raising me, I knew that it wasn't easy. To say it was hard was an understatement. Perhaps ‘hell’ would be the right word to describe the situation.Grey had the luxury that everyone want

The room was quiet and still, and for a moment, I thought I was alone. However, when I opened my eyes, I saw that my whole family was inside the room. The only one missing was my grandmother, Leilani, who I bet wasn’t allowed to leave the house considering the time of the night. Slowly, I got up from the sofa. As I did so, I cast a brief glance at the wall clock and was actually surprised to see that it was past three in the morning, which meant I had slept for a straight two hours. Feeling refreshed despite the short hours of sleep, I felt somewhat relaxed, and as the rollercoaster events of last night rushed into my thoughts, I realized how surreal it felt, as though what had happened was only a dream.My gaze surveyed the room, looking for Grey, but he was not inside Dylan’s room.“Lily,” my mom called after she finally noticed I was awake. Everyone in the room looked at me, and they all wore the same worried expression on their faces. I bit my lower lip at the sudden rush of guilt

Grey said nothing. I expected he would snap and lash out at me for keeping the truth from him all this time, but his silence was the reaction I didn't expect. The lack of reaction on his handsome face filled my chest with tension. I would rather see him angry and furious than see that blank expression on him.I held my breath, waiting for him to say something, but even after a minute passed, he didn't open his lips. The only sound I could hear was the hum of the monitor and the thunderous sound of my heartbeat as I prayed he would express how he felt.Please speak… Get mad at me… Lash out at me… Those were the words I wanted to tell him, but I couldn't let them escape my lips.The silence that seemed to go on forever was shattered when he finally opened his lips. “Why did you keep the truth from me, Lily?”His achingly soft voice left a sting in my heart. I bit my lower lip, folded my hands in my lap, and kept the tears from falling down my cheeks as I replied, “It was the best thing

The police finally arrived. Too tired to even move, I stayed in my place. I didn't know how long I'd been seated on the ground until I heard footfalls approaching behind me. Without looking back, I knew it was Grey. I just knew it was him.“Lily?” His soft voice confirmed my assumption, and he pulled to a stop beside me, kneeling on the ground. I raised my tear-streaked eyes to him and saw panic and fear shining through his hazel-green eyes.“Is Dylan alright?” The words barely emerged from his lips. He looked at me with a wretched expression on his face. That must have been the same look on my face when I first thought Dylan was gone.“He's still weak, but Dylan is alright, Grey,” I replied, warm tears flowing down my cheeks in abundance.Grey slumped beside me. The weight he seemed to carry heavily on his shoulders disappeared as he let go of the breath he wasn't aware he was still holding. His hands covered his face, and he stayed that way for a while.“Grey?” I called weakly, wond

Crimson couldn't shake Cleo's words from his mind; they felt like a puzzle he needed to solve, with the most important piece still missing.He pondered the idea that the child may have misheard what Celestine had said. However, his four-year-old daughter insisted with absolute conviction that she had correctly heard her name being mentioned.“You can ask Suh-les-teen’s pet. She knows it too,” Cleo had challenged him.“Suh-les-teen’s pet?”“You don't know, Daddy? The one who follows her like a doggie wherever she goes.”Crimson had trouble believing what came out of his daughter's mouth. The words seemed surreal and detailed, making it hard to dismiss the possibility that the child was telling the truth.If his assumption was correct, Cleo must have been talking about Amy, Celestine's personal assistant, who constantly moved like her shadow and complied with her every command.But even if he were to question Amy about it, he doubted she would ever reveal anything. As he could see, she

When Sapphire and I got back home, it was already past midnight.I headed straight to my room, taking a quick shower before changing into my favorite pajamas and collapsing face down onto my cozy queen-size bed.Despite feeling exhausted from the day's work and partying, sleep eluded me. My thoughts were consumed by Flintstone City and what awaited me there upon my return.Unfortunately, Grandpa couldn't go back to the city with me as he had passed away a month ago. He peacefully died in his bed, surrounded by friends and family. Grandpa lived a happy and fulfilled life, which may have been the reason he lived longer than the doctor had anticipated.However, before his death, I couldn't resist asking him the question that had plagued me for a long time: Who was responsible for Philip Phoenix's death?"Let go of what happened in the past. Uncovering what's buried will not do you any good." That's what he said to me.Grandpa had been unjustly scorned and accused of a crime he never comm

"Elizabeth Everheart, will you marry me?"I blinked in astonishment at the question. It was the fourth proposal I had received in a week, making it the 150th one in the last four years.Since arriving in the US, my family—brothers, Mom, and Dad—had persistently set me up on blind dates, which I occasionally declined.The blind dates eventually fizzled out, but my family's desire for me to settle down did not wane. Soon enough, marriage proposals were coming at me one after another. After turning them down I was branded the 'ice queen’. This should have deterred further proposals, but it only seemed to make other admirers persistent."Elizabeth, you're 28 years old, for heaven's sake, it's time to choose a man and settle down," Mom would constantly urge me to get married.However, I would always manage to win the argument by pointing out that if Louis, Henry, or David finds a wife first, then I would find a husband. Fortunately for me, none of them were in a rush to settle down just ye

Four years later."Daddy! Daddy! Celestine bonked my face!"A little girl, with shoulder-length curly blonde hair, dressed in a pink sleeveless lace dress, hurried past the doorway and approached the chair where her father sat. Her emerald green eyes filled with tears as she buried her face in his lap."She did what?" Her father asked calmly, but his eyes simmered with hidden anger, like a volcano ready to explode.Standing up, the little girl mimicked a slapping motion with her hand. "She did it like this," she demonstrated, her palms colliding with her right cheek.At only four years old, the child exhibited an impressive ability to converse like an adult, a trait likely influenced by her limited interactions with children her age and constant company of older people.Her father gently lifted her chin to look at her face. Sure enough, there was a red mark on her cheek."What happened, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice ominously composed."I spilled juice on her favorite dress! I didn

When I woke up Mom was gone. I had expected her to be there and felt a little disappointed that she left the room already.When I got up, the beautiful French evening white dress laid out on the edge of bed caught my attention. It was stunning, with delicate lace detailing and a flowing skirt. Next to it were sparkly silver shoes. There was also a note that read: Please put on the dress, sweetie. Love, mom.The dress and shoes fit perfectly. I felt like a princess and spun around in front of the mirror.Leaving the presidential suite, I noticed how quiet the halls were. No footsteps or hotel staff anywhere. Walking through the long halls, I found a rose on the floor. Then another one a few steps away.Following the roses, I reached the banquet hall. The silence behind the door felt strange.I pushed the door open, the darkness inside made me pause, causing me to briefly doubt if I should enter at all.When I turned to leave, the lights suddenly flickered on, the grand banquet hall was

Camilla sat on the bedside, her heart breaking with every word coming from Elizabeth's lips.It had been six long years since she had held her daughter like this, and now, as she listened to her recount the events of her life, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret for all the time they had lost.Her heart ached with the pain of knowing that she had missed out on so much.She had missed Elizabeth's graduation, her first job, her first love. She had missed out on all the little moments that made up a life.Elizabeth's voice was soft and tired, the words flowing out in a slow, steady stream. She spoke of the struggles she had faced, the challenges she had overcome, and the acquaintances who had stood by her through those difficult times."But you know, Mom, the pain of being shunned as an outcast by almost everyone for years was nothing compared to the hurt I felt when my own best friend betrayed me.”Camilla reached out and took her daughter's dainty hand, offering comfort a

“I didn't know you were an orphan, Ms. Heart.” Alexander spoke with a frown scrunching his forehead.She wasn't the type to easily open up with anyone but there was something about Alexander that made her feel she could trust him with her secrets. “I discovered I was adopted just recently.” A sigh escaped from her lips. “Mom had been furious because I'd done something she didn't like and she spilled the truth at the spur of the moment.”“That must have been so devastating…” He lowered the wine glass on the table and sighed, “I can't imagine growing up and suddenly learning that my father and mother were not my biological parents. It will make me question my whole life and wonder where my real parents have been all this time.”“Exactly,” Ember replied. She was surprised how well he summed up what she felt in just a few sentences. “You said it so well, Mr. Lockhart.”“I assume you came to the orphanage to find information about your parents?”Ember nodded her head. “I'm surprised how wel

Ember swallowed the lump in her throat. Her eyes momentarily closed as she suddenly became aware of emotions surging inside her. She couldn't explain what she felt but she was certain of one thing, she was jealous even though she didn't have the right to. She is just Icen's secretary and yet, she couldn't stop how she felt after seeing him with another woman.Telling herself to stop being jealous is like preventing herself from breathing.With difficulty, she forced her eyes open and that's when she saw the woman released Icen from her tight grasp and looked up to him. “I love you, Clayton.” She mumbled under her breath with tears in her bright green eyes.Who was this woman? She couldn't help but ask herself. Slowly, the woman leaned closer to lay a kiss on his lips but before she could even witness their lips touch, Ember immediately left the room.As she closed the door behind her, she became aware of the ache in her chest. She had never reacted like this way before to any man, n

For a fleeting moment, Ember almost believed Elizabeth. But after seeing her crocodile tears, she realized her mother was lying. Call it instinct or intuition, she knew she was keeping secrets to herself and no matter what she's not sharing it to anyone.Her mother was doing it on purpose — for her own personal gain.Elizabeth had crushed her last hopes in ever finding her biological parents. Now that the only person who knows about her just told her a straight out lie, it would be difficult to ever trust her again, thinking everything she says was nowhere near the truth.Ember was desperate but she couldn't force mother because once Elizabeth made up her mind, she always stood by her decisions.She's back to square one, and she didn't even know who to ask so she could find out about her past. If only her adoptive father was alive, things would be much easier for her. When he was still alive, only her father treated her well. Though Ember was not his favorite child, he expressed how he

“I know you would return, Amira.” The words reverberated on Ember's mind, sending unexplainable shivers down her spine. She wasn't Amira, but still, her heart lurched forward as if her name had just been called. As though her arms have minds of their own, she hugged Sister Anne back with equal warmth, feeling that for the first time in her life, she felt like she found her way back home.Ember was certain she and Sister Anne had never had the chance to meet before. Yet, she was caught off guard by the strong and undeniable connection she had with the old woman as though she'd once played a big role in her life.Upon letting her go, Sister Ann framed her cheeks with her thin and wrinkly fingers. “I waited for you for twenty-years… I couldn't believe you're finally here….” She murmured under her breath with tears in her eyes. “I know I'm not wrong for making that decision two decades ago.”“Do you know who I am?” Ember looked at Sister Anne with hope in her eyes. Could this be perhaps th

ST. ANNE'S ORPHANAGE. The words were written in bold, capital letters in front of an expansive three story white building.Ember wasn't sure if it was the same St. Anne's orphanage her mother was talking about, but it was the only orphanage with the same name that has been built for more than forty years. To add to that, it was also the only orphanage named St. Anne in the city.She decided to visit the place where she came from to find out more about her past, hoping to uncover some clues that would lead her to her biological parents, if she has any. She felt excitement and fear rush inside her as she walked towards the colossal gate, wondering what secrets the orphanage held for her.Taking a deep breath, she pressed the buzzer once. The sound echoed through the silent building, but no one was coming, and she wondered if it was past visiting hours that is why no one was answering.She pressed the buzzer again just to make sure whoever was inside would hear it and after a few secon

ANDERSON INVESTIGATION TOWERAce Alexander Lockhart strode past the door of a plush office and made a beeline straight to the chic wooden table while holding a neatly folded torn newspaper page in his hand. Kathryne Anderson, owner of the thriving investigation company was seated on her swivel chair, eyebrows furrowed in intense concentration while reading a file in her hand.Perhaps she was so occupied that she didn't notice him until he placed the newspaper on top of her table to capture her attention and spoke in his authoritative voice. “I want you to know everything about this girl.” Kathryne abruptly raised her head in annoyance. Her smooth forehead scrunching into an inelegant frown, making her arched eyebrows to almost meet halfway. “Don't you know how to knock, Mr. Lockhart?” She snapped. By how her nose flared, he could tell how annoyed she was at him. “Could you go back to where you came from? It seemed, you forgot to pick your manners there.”Unaffected, he nonchalantly