"Mum, please. Just listen to what I have to say first, befo-" "It's okay, Sergio." I feigned sadness. "If your mother doesn't want me here, I can just leave. I told you this was a bad idea. Please allow me to leave." "That's nonsense! Where will you go? You have no one. You told me that yourself. You're in this situation because of me." He said.. "I won't run away from my responsibility. Just allow me talk to her." "No, please." I continued. "I don't want to be a burden to you and your family. I told you I didn't want to stay here, didn't I? Please just take me to the streets and leave me there to fend for myself." I shut my eyes tightly, trying to squeeze out tears. "Come on, mum. What's the harm in letting her stay here for just a few days? It's not like she's going to stay here forever and besides, Sergio was the one that got her into his mess. I actually feel bad for her." I covered my face with both of my hands and smile. It seemed my plan to gain their trust was working pre
"Alright then." He averted his gaze to me one more time, before walking out of the room. Immediately he left, I gazed at the nurse in disdain. "Patricia, come closer, please." I started. "It's Priscilla." She corrected with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Whatever." I muttered and then smiled broadly too. "My bad."She walked over and stood directly beside the bed. "Do you need something?""Oh, yes, I do." I responded, an evil glint probably shimmering in my eyes. "I need you to help me to the bathroom. My bladder is full to the brim. I can't wait for a minute longer." "Okay." She smiled, obediently and bended a little, helping me off my back. "Carefully!" I yelled. "I'm so sorry." She was quick to apologize. "Are you hurt?" "Just keep quiet and do your work instead!" I snapped. "Sorry." She muttered and tried to put me on the wheelchair, but I purposely made it difficult for her to do. "I don't think I can do this." She voiced out. "Of course you can. What are yo
"What's happening here?" Sergio Fernandez boomed, walking into the room. . "Sir..." She trailed off, obviously searching for the right words to use to defend herself. "Keep quiet!" He pointed a finger, directly to her face. "I hired you to take care of her in my absence, not to treat her this way." "Believe me, sir, I didn't do anything. She poured the cup of hot coffee on herself." I shrunk, hoping he wouldn't believe her. "Oh really?" He chuckled, humorlessly. "Who in their right state of mind will do that to themself? Come on, you should have come up with a more believable lie.""I'm not lying," She yelled. "This woman is witch." It was finally time for me to intervene. "Because I politely asked you to get me a cup of coffee?" I faked my tears. "Had I been able to walk, I wouldn't have asked you." Sergio swallowed; the quilt written all over his face. AGAIN. Served him right. "You and I both know you're lying." Her brows arched in exasperation."You're fired!" Sergio Ferna
"Nicole?" I heard Sergio's voice from the other side of the door. My eyes widened and quickly, I ran back to the wheelchair to continue the act of being crippled. When I wheeled myself to the door and opened it, his gaze trailed on me for a bit longer than normal. "Is everything fine?" He questioned. "Why did you lock the door?" I..." I trailed off, thinking hard for another lie to tell. "I...wanted to change and the nurse isn't here yet, so... Did you forget something?" "My cellphone. Oh! It's over there." He walked into the room and picked up the phone. "I was looking for it everywhere." "Anything else?" I asked, trying to even my breath. "No." He shook his head. "I'll leave you to change. Are you sure you can manage? Should I call a maid to help?" "It's fine. I will be able to manage. Thank you." I said, practically chasing him out of the room. I couldn't wait for him to leave for I was scared of messing up. Immediately he shut the door, I quickly went to it and locked it,
Mr. Eduardo Fernandez smiled at me, then turned to his son, and patted him on the shoulder. "Well done! That's a wonderful deed, but," His demeanor changed into an emotion I couldn't quite read. "Couldn't you have found a hotel for her to stay in, since your mum doesn't want her here?" I swallowed a lump in my throat — the way they were speaking about me as if I wasn't there was uncalled for. "Dad, we have already had this talk with mum. She has agreed to allow her stay. It will just be for a while. I'm not planning to keep her here forever." I suppressed the urge to laugh at his words. "We'll see about that." I muttered to myself. "Yes, dad," Diego continued from where Sergio stopped. "I honestly don't get what the fuss about." He shrugged. "Nicole is a beautiful, petite, young woman. Just take a look at her; what harm can she possibly cause? You guys should just let her stay. So far, she hasn't done anything alarming. So sending her out to suffer all by herself...will be a wicke
My eyes dilated. "Mo...motive?" I managed to stammer out. Panic gripped me as I wondered whether he had somehow unearthed my carefully laid plans or perhaps he was beginning to grow suspicious of me. It was a mystery how he managed to piece it together. The thought alone had me insides quivering. I would be doomed if those were the case. "I don't understand." "Come on, I was only kidding around." He chuckled, breaking the tension. "You should see your face. You looked really scared. It seemed as if I just exposed your secrets." "Hahhhh." I forced a laugh and replied hastily. "I have no secrets. I'm as plain as a sheet." "Yes you are." He concurred with a knowing nod. "I should leave you to have a rest. The nurse will be here in few minutes, to check up on you." As the door closed behind him, a sigh of relief escaped my mouth as I released a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. "Thank God he doesn't know anything. I was so scared," I murmured, pressing a hand over my rapidly
My eyes fluttered open at the sound of a knock on the door. My brows furrowed and I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. Due to the excitement and anticipation of what I had planned today, I couldn't bring myself to sleep. I had only fallen asleep about an hour ago. "Nicole?" Sergio's velvety voice called through the door, a soft presence that seemed void of agitation. It had always been like that ever since I met him. It made me wonder if beneath his calm exterior lay an angry and evil man, waiting to be unleashed; after all, he was Mr. Fernandez's son. And there is a saying that goes; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. With a scrunched up demeanor, I rose from my bed and made my way towards the door. But just before my hand could grasp the doorknob, I realized I had forgotten that I was supposed to be crippled. Suppressing a gasp of alarm from emerging from my mouth, I retreated to my bed and responded in a low-pitched voice. "Come in, Sergio. The door isn't locked." S
My heart rate skyrocketed as Diego Fernandez's piercing gaze bore into me. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and my heart continued to race erratically. The walls seemed to close in on me as I realized I had been caught. In that moment, I couldn't bring myself to think of an escape route. It was over for me! "Nicole?" Diego's brows twitched as he called my name. In that split second, my heart stopped beating as I tried my hardest to fabricate a plausible explanation but to no avail. I ended up closing my mouth as no words could emerge. The intensity of his stare rendered me completely speechless and sent chills down my spine."You can walk?" His eyes broadened in surprise. "And you were talking about giving someone an extra reward. Who were you speaking to on the phone?" "It was..." My voice trailed. I tried again to come up with an excuse, but my brain seemed to have stopped functioning. I mentally cringed at my carelessness. "It was who?" He probed. "My...my friend, Ro...Ro