Cassandra POV: "Ricky, you're... someone else's husband..." I reminded him of the fact that he was still legally married to Carina. "No no no..." He started chuckling a bit and stood up, walked to his desk, pulled out the drawer under it and took out a piece of paper. He brought it to me and let me read the content. Then he just knelt again. It was a divorce certificate between him and Carina that had been approved by the court and was stated to start being effective yesterday. This man in front of me right now was finally a single man again. It was really strange to realize that. I really thought he might have to stay in a marriage with Carina until she is found. This was too soon and I just didn't expect the divorce to be settled that fast. Not that I'm not happy with it, but still, I was just too perplexed to process this new information. Was that mean we're finally able to become a couple officially again? "Sergio just now... he came for this?" I asked passively. "Yes..." he
Cassandra POV:After breakfast, Ricky headed to the company. He was not supposed to work today as it was Sunday. But he hadn't been at the company for so long, so he tried to return as soon as he could. There were just a lot of matters being delayed since he was not around for two months.I pondered over his suggestion in the living room alone after he left. Get a hobby, he said. What hobby? I had been trying hard to manage my life before into a perfect routine of a career-oriented woman who had a nine-to-five job and went home to rest. Everything was in order and it was a perfect life for me before he decided to fire me from my job as his secretary. Now I was just bored. Previously, I was still allowed to go out and went shopping at the malls. Now, I couldn't even do that anymore.Two hours before noon and I noticed the sun outside wasn't shining that bright. I went to the backyard garden as how Ricky suggested with the intention of just enjoying the beautiful scenery. But then I saw
Cassandra POV:Minutes later, Ernesto showed up to help me with the paintings. Verona was there too, holding a tray of drinks in her hands. She placed it on the ballroom floor near me and started pouring a glass of water. She then just offered me the drink.I took it immediately and drank it in one go. I really felt like these people were really considerate of my well-being. Slowly, this mansion that I hated to come back to before gradually felt more like home right now."I have a question to ask your guys," I said as a thought just crossed my mind. Ernesto and Verona immediately gazed up to focus on me."Do you guys think I should marry your boss?"Instantly their eyes lit up and their faces showed intense joy. Verona caught both my hands quickly and started asking when did Ricky propose. Meanwhile, Ernesto just started to have that teary eyes as if he was really glad such an occasion finally happening. That just made me blush unthinkingly. I didn't expect them to be that happy with
Riccardo POV: The following Monday, I brought three of Cassie's paintings to the company, those that I had chosen the other night. She was reluctant to let me do it at first as she didn't feel confident to show them in public. I just didn't understand why she refused to believe my judgement when I said her paintings were good. They were the kind of sellable paintings in my thoughts and I could feel that if she kept doing a good job in this hobby, she could turn it into a business. A very convenient business since she only needed to do it at home. I knew how ambitious Cassie was. So, when I saw how she had a hidden talent in art painting, it just hit me that I should support her further in this activity. I wanted to help her raise again in a new career. That was why I took her paintings and placed them at the company. Who knew some of my clients might catch eyes on them and maybe start asking where I got them. If I could see potential clients for Cassie, I won't hesitate to invest in
Cassandra POV: If only it could work that easily. If only it would be as simple as Ricky said it would be. But I knew starting a new business especially one that you just learned wasn't going to be easy. I didn't think he would understand that since he already had millions of dollars in his pocket. Ricky had no fear at all about losing money over investing because he had more than enough for himself, maybe even for his next seven generations. It was different for me. I didn't have that much money, to begin with. It cost a lot to start my painting business and I rather did it alone than depend on Ricky's help. Besides, I also didn't have much confidence that this one idea might work. Maybe he was just joking about helping me start the business. He couldn't possibly be serious about it. He probably just trying to support me in dealing with my trauma. That would be more logical to my thought. I was not really aiming big with my painting hobby. They were just some activities that I did
Cassandra POV:I woke up the next morning quite late. Maybe because for the past few days, I had been so focused on doing my paintings, I didn't realize my body was getting really tired.Ricky had gone to the company when I came down for breakfast. I didn't know why he didn't just wake me up like he usually did. But maybe he too noticed my tiredness.As I ate my toast, my phone beeped and a message notification popped up on the screen. It was from Sergio and he informed me how my company had been registered legally this morning. Then half an hour later, I got another message from Ricky saying that my business bank account had been made and activated. Well, these two men sure worked hard to make this painting business happen. They seemed so eager to do it and I didn't know why with the rush.After breakfast, I went to the living room, bringing my laptop with me. I just opened it and let my business website appear on the screen. I started uploading more pictures in the painting showcase
Cassandra POV:Days went by and somehow the painting business kept getting better and better. My paintings were always selling out as soon as I uploaded new items to my business website. I still thought they were all crappy art, but maybe it was just the disadvantage of being the artist itself. You never felt like your piece of art was good enough.Finally, I could set a strong footing in my life again. I had found something that I could pursue more in the future. I started to broaden my view in this business and had the plan to open my own physical gallery some days and maybe hold a few art exhibitions. I also thinking about joining the artist community to enhance my skills and maybe learn a new type of art as well.Ricky also suggested that I tried to find a chance to collaborate with other publishers or fashion companies. He said that I could turn my art into printed stuff like books, bags and such. He made me believe that there were endless opportunities for me out there. Because
Riccardo POV:I wondered what it was that Cassie wanted to tell me later. It made me nervous somehow and I couldn't help but have my heart pounding hard at the moment. Not even a month yet from the day I proposed to her, and she already decided to accept me again. This was truly exciting and my heart was jumping in joy right now.I didn't want to make a fuss about anything or push her to tell me what it was that she wanted to tell me later. We just had a calm dinner and after the meal, instead of going to the living room to hang out together like we usually did daily, she just took my hand and led me upstairs with her.Inside the bedroom, she made me sit at the bedside. Then she went to the vanity table and took something from the drawer. She handed me the thing and I just stared at it for a few seconds. Now I'm not that naive to not know what a pregnancy test looked like. That was it and there were two of them."Twins?" That just crossed my mind and she started laughing while taking