Chapter Nine•ADRIAN•I smirked as I watched Brianna step out of my office. She had no idea what was waiting for her if she walked out of the building. A few moments after she stepped out, Manuel marched into my office. With the look on his face, I figured he saw Brianna on his way here.“Wasn’t that the iron lady from the restaurant? The one that kicked your dick?” He mused.“Yeah, she’s the one. I decided to hire her so that I could punish her for what she did to me. And she’s already suffering for it.” I replied.“When I saw her, she was mumbling something like, ‘If not for the fact that I needed the money from this godforsaken job, I would have beat up his ass’. She looked so angry when she said that. She didn’t even notice I was in the elevator with her.” Manuel said, and I snickered. “I guess whatever you sent her to do must have made her mad.” “She must be crazy if she thought she could beat me up; she’s working under me, so she’ll have to do anything I tell her to,” I said wit
Chapter Ten•BRIANNA•Carlos kept trying to have a conversation with me, but I kept snubbing him because I wasn’t in the mood to talk.“So, where are you going?” He asked me in a cheerful manner, driving lazily and looking ahead at the road.“I thought I told you before my boss sent me on an errand.” I snapped rudely.“Well, forgive me for having a poor memory.” He joked.“I can clearly see that you have a bad memory,” I muttered, hoping he wouldn’t hear, but with the way he glanced at me, I knew he heard what I said.“Tell me about yourself.” He stated, looking at me and focusing back on the road.“My name is Brianna Jackson. A college dropout striving to make ends meet, care for her sick mother and get the best life for her younger sister.” I replied.“Why are you the one doing all the work? What of your father?” He asked, and I gave him a sour look, which he didn’t notice, and if he did, he acted reasonably in behaving like he didn’t see me.“He abandoned us when he learned of my mo
Chapter Eleven•BRIANNA•The cab stopped in front of my house; I paid the driver and alighted from the car. I walked into the house and saw my mom sleeping on the sofa. She opened her eyes a few seconds after I walked in and sat up on the tattered sofa she was lying on. She must have heard my footsteps because she is a very light sleeper.“You came back early. Didn’t you tell me you were to get off from work around 6 p.m. or so?” My mom uttered.“I ran away from work,” I said simply before sitting on the sofa.“What?!” She shouted incredulously.“Why would you do that?” She asked again.“Something came up, and I had to leave early,” I stated smoothly.“Hmm, hmm.” She hummed, clearly not believing me.“I’m telling the truth. A fire started in the cafeteria, and the employees were told to go to their houses so that nobody would get hurt. Besides, firefighters are there already putting out the fire, so I’ll go back to work tomorrow.” I explained with a serious look, as if I was telling th
Chapter Twelve•BRIANNA•I freshened up and put on my waitress uniform. It had gotten tighter, hugging my curves, and now reached just above my knees. I brushed my hair, letting it fall to my mid-back, and then tied it in a ponytail so it wouldn’t get in my way while working. I applied some lip balm because I didn’t want chapped lips. After picking up my black sandals from the shoe rack and slipping them on, I grabbed my handbag and left the room.Downstairs, I found Mom watching the news on our small television while Marie was working on her homework.“Good day, world. You are tuned to America Express Television Network. I’m your host, Camila Lopez, and beside me is…” The newscaster’s voice trailed off as her co-anchor continued, “Michael Collins. Here are today’s top headlines…”I sat beside Mom, who was completely absorbed in the news. I don’t understand why she finds it so captivating. To me, the news is boring. But I guess it’s the kind of thing middle-aged people enjoy.“Hey, Mom
Chapter Thirteen•ADRIAN•The car pulled into the compound and stopped in front of the mansion. I alighted, ignoring the guards who stood in line to greet me, and walked straight inside. In the sitting room, the maids halted their activities to greet me, but I brushed past them, climbing the stairs to the floor where the bedrooms were. I walked down the hallway to the master bedroom, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. Striding to the bathroom, I tossed my suit jacket into the laundry basket and began undressing. Once finished, I deposited the rest of my clothes in the basket and stepped into the shower. After washing up, I stepped out, dried off with a towel, and wrapped another around my waist.I moved to the vanity, grabbed my body lotion, and rubbed it all over. Once done, I went to the closet and dressed in a dark brown leather jacket and fitted jeans, finishing the look with brown cowboy boots. After styling my hair and spritzing on some cologne, I checked myself in the mirror
Chapter Fourteen•BRIANNA•I stared after Mr. Adrian as he exited the club with his drunk friend, who was mumbling incoherently. He looked incredibly hot in his outfit. I didn’t even realize I’d been standing there, staring, until I heard someone clear their throat behind me.“You were totally staring at him,” Cherry said casually.“Was I?” I asked, feeling dumb.“Snap out of it, dumbhead. He’s gone already!” Cherry yelled playfully in my ear, jolting me from my trance.“Your boss really looks hotter in real life than in all those magazines,” Cherry added dreamily.“Yeah, he does…” I blurted out before catching myself. My cheeks flushed as I clamped a hand over my mouth, wishing I could take back the words.“Wow! Is this the first time you’ve complimented a guy’s looks? Don’t tell me you’re already crushing on your new boss!” Cherry teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.“What?! Never!” I exclaimed. “You know I don’t have time for guys, let alone a crush. And how did you know he’s m
Chapter Fifteen|NEXT MORNING|•BRIANNA•The annoying sound of my alarm clock pierced my sleep, jolting me back to reality just as I was getting the best of my rest since I spent last night plotting devious ways to use the powder on Mr. Adrian.With a groan, I sat up and stretched, letting out a loud yawn. The first ray of sunlight made its way past the curtain, illuminating the room.I climbed out of bed, slammed the alarm off, and blocked out the thought of crawling back onto my bed to enjoy more sleep, knowing full well that Mr. Adrian has a thing for punctuality, and I can’t afford to be in his bad graces this morning—especially when I have something daring to do. Besides, I can’t afford to lose my job.After taking a cold shower, I picked one of the dresses Cherry bought for me—a knee-length black and white polka dot dress. I wore wedge pumps to go with it, applied a little makeup, packed my hair in a bun, and then headed out, grabbing my bag along the way.When I got downstairs,
Chapter Sixteen•ADRIAN•After I had settled down, I called all the employees into my office. They stood in front of me, nervously glancing around. But they shouldn’t be worried if they had nothing to do with it.“Now, who knew about the powder incident that happened earlier?” I asked calmly, locking eyes with each one of them.“I don’t know anything about it, sir. I wouldn’t dare pull a stunt like that on you,” one of them quickly chirped.“Well, I wouldn’t know if you had the guts to do something like that, considering I might have wronged you and you wanted to get back at me. But right now, I’m asking calmly: WHO THE HELL KNEW ABOUT THE POWDER?” I yelled, slamming my hand onto the desk.They jumped back, eyes wide with fear, all denying any involvement. “We haven’t stepped foot in your office this morning,” one of them stammered. Some even claimed they never entered my office unless I was present. While they all fumbled with their denials, Brianna stood at the back, smiling quietly,
Chapter 83 - Epilogue Three (Final)•AUTHOR•The soft murmur of voices filled the house, a cacophony of excitement that had grown louder over the past few days. It was a week since Eleanor had been born, and Brianna and Adrian had finally brought her home. Life had changed again, in ways both expected and unexpected. The twins—Evelyn and Evan—were eager to meet their new sister, bouncing around in the living room with restless energy. Brianna couldn’t help but laugh at their enthusiasm as she stood in the doorway, cradling the baby in her arms.“Okay, you two, take a deep breath,” Brianna called, trying to keep the situation calm. “Remember, she’s tiny. Gentle hands only.”Evelyn, always the more composed twin, stepped forward first, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of her baby sister. “She’s even smaller than I thought,” she whispered, reaching a hand out slowly, as though unsure of how to approach the fragile little bundle.“She is,” Brianna confirmed, her smile tender as she
Chapter 82 - Epilogue Two•BRIANNA•I stirred awake, letting out a yawn as I peeled my eyes open. My eyes first drifted to the open window, and I saw that it was still dawn. The sky at dawn was a gentle wash of colors, soft pinks and warm oranges blending seamlessly into pale blues, with the faintest traces of lavender lingering at the horizon. The world outside the window was bathed in a delicate golden glow as the first light of morning filtered through, casting everything in a serene, dreamlike hue.A cool breeze drifted in through the open window, brushing against my skin and carrying with it the faint, earthy scent of dew.I turned my head, expecting to see Adrian sleeping beside me, but his side of the bed was empty, and it seemed like he had been gone for a while.I shifted awkwardly, trying to sit up, one hand instinctively cradling my rounded belly. A small grunt escaped me as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, each movement slow and deliberate. The mattress dipped und
Chapter 81 - Epilogue One•AUTHOR•Today was a special day for the CARTER family. It was the third birthday of Adrian and Brianna’s twins, Evelyn and Evan. They had been eagerly anticipating this day for quite some time because it meant they could finally reunite with their loved ones. It had been a while since they had all gathered together—busy schedules and various commitments to work, school, and family had kept them all apart for too long.“Walk quietly!” Brianna whispered urgently to Adrian as they tiptoed toward the twins’ bedroom.“I’m trying!” Adrian quipped, rolling his eyes as he followed closely behind her.A few moments later, they reached the door of the twins’ room, and Brianna slowly pushed it open. They entered the room as quietly as they could, careful not to wake the children. Adrian stood still in the middle of the room, holding a small birthday cake in his hands. The cake was decorated with the twins’ favorite colors—white and purple. Atop the cake was a small bir
Chapter Eighty•CHERRY•It had been six months since I started working for Manuel, and I had enjoyed every single moment of it. I was fortunate to have a friendly, understanding boss, a comfortable working space, and a few colleagues who were more like friends. There was a sense of camaraderie that made the workdays feel lighter, and for the first time in a long while, I actually felt like I belonged somewhere.But, like with any job, there were a few challenges. One of them was the snide comments from some of the other female coworkers. The way they shot me dirty looks or whispered behind my back whenever I walked past—like they were certain I couldn’t hear them. Well, I could hear everything, but I chose to ignore them. If they didn’t stop soon, though, I was prepared to throw all decorum aside and confront them. There was only so much I could tolerate.My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ring of the office phone, slicing through the quiet hum of my workspace. I picked up the
Chapter Seventy-nine•MARIANA•I stirred awake as I felt the warm rays of sunlight on my face. Reluctantly, I peeled my eyes open and tried to get out of bed. I rolled to the edge of my queen-sized bed, sat up, swung my legs to the side, and slid my feet into my pink flip-flops.I made my way to the bathroom and got ready for the day. Once I was done, I came out, dressed in my school uniform, and put on a pair of black shoes. After that, I made my way down the stairs, grabbing my backpack as I went.“Good morning, Mum,” I called out as I spotted her at the dining table, eating breakfast.“Good morning, sweetie. Did you sleep well?” she asked, her voice warm as I sat down in one of the chairs.“Yes, Mum, I slept well. What about you?”“I slept like a baby,” she replied, and I smiled.“What’s for breakfast?” I asked, glancing at her plate.“Toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Should I ask Susan to make you a plate?”“Yes, please,” I responded eagerly.“Susan, darling! Please make a plate
Chapter Seventy-eight•ADRIAN•Two months ago, when I discovered that Brianna was pregnant, I immediately insisted that she move in with me. I wanted to ensure both she and our baby were well taken care of. She was reluctant at first, offering excuses about needing to stay with her mom and sister, but they reassured her that it was perfectly fine for her to be with me.She even tried to distract me from my decision by claiming she had to work. I reminded her that I was her boss and that she wouldn’t need to work a single day if she lived with me. After much back and forth, she finally gave in. That was the happiest day of my life—the day she agreed to live with me.Now, here we were, lying on my bed. Brianna’s head rested gently on my lap while I attempted to braid her hair. I wasn’t exactly skilled at braiding, but I was determined to keep trying.“Babe?” she broke the silence, her voice soft and casual.“Yes? What’s on your mind?” I responded, glancing down at her.“I’m starving,” s
Chapter Seventy-seven|TWO MONTHS LATER|•BRIANNA•Adrian truly kept his promise about paying for my mom’s treatment. After we returned from our trip to Spain, Adrian contacted his personal doctor, and my mom was admitted to their hospital. She’s been there for over a month now, and today, she’s finally home.“It’s so good to have you back, Mom.” I said, hugging her again. She looked healthier and wasn’t as skinny as she had been before.“It’s good to be home.” She chuckled, hugging me back. I inhaled deeply, savoring her familiar flowery scent.“Thanks for everything, Adrian. I can’t even imagine this happening without your help.” I said to Adrian, who was sitting on the couch. He gave me a brief smile.“It’s fine, no need to thank me.” He replied, his voice warm but modest.“Okay! What does everyone want for lunch? Should we have homemade food, or should we order something?” I asked enthusiastically.“We should definitely order!” Mariana chimed in excitedly.“Pizza and soda, anyone?”
Chapter Seventy-six•BRIANNA•I was jolted awake by the loud hum of the blender coming from downstairs. The sound was so intense, it almost felt like a machine was operating inside the house. Groggily, I blinked my eyes open and scanned my surroundings. I was lying in bed, comfortably tucked under the duvet. When I pulled it back, I realized I was completely naked beneath it. The realization hit me like a freight train—everything that had happened the night before flooded back into my mind.My cheeks flamed hot with a rush of embarrassment as the memories replayed, each moment sharper than the last. How would I ever face Adrian after everything that had transpired? The thought of it made my stomach twist.A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I buried my face in the pillow, wishing I could just will myself back to sleep and forget it all. But the sound of footsteps approaching my room soon broke through my thoughts. I quickly shut my eyes and pretended to be asleep, hoping to escape th
Chapter Seventy-five|EVENING, AROUND 7 P.M.|•BRIANNA•We were just getting home after a long day of visiting Museo Nacional del Prado. I must admit, that was the best museum I have ever been to in my life. Not like I have been to any museum, but I have a feeling that that would be the best one ever.We saw a lot of paintings by popular artists. Some of them were The Garden of Early Delights, a triptych oil painting by Hieronymus Bosch; we also saw Las Meninas, a painting by Diego Velazquez and we saw the painting “Saturn Devouring His Son” by Francisco Goya.Saturn Devouring His Son was the one that captivated me the most and I didn’t even know the reason why.Back to the present time, Adrian and I just stepped into the house with me on his back. He gave me a piggyback ride on our way home because of how tired I was. Now, he was helping me take off my sneakers.“You’re so sweet.” I murmured while playing with his hair as he knelt on the floor in front of me.“I do my best.” He joked.