CHAPTER 26
The meeting was long and critical for their plan to acquire an old factory. The old owner wants a bigger pie on the buy-out.
Chris Duvier's acquisition officer was reporting to him about the demands of the owner of the property. "The man wanted to increase the price 10 million more. He said he was not selling if you wouldn't give the additional amount. Chris, are we going to give in to his demand?"
CHAPTER 27 Bern's Masquerade Ball is a spectacular event with only special people invited to participate in the event. It ranked as the top five of the most anticipated party of the year. The invitation is as coveted as praying for manna. Socialites, tycoons, artists, politicians, and the shaker and movers of the country descend on this small town every 9th of May to celebrate Bern's weeklong event. Agnes gasped at the grand ballroom turning into a fairytale land complete with a vast fountain splashing at the center. At a raised stage, an orchestra is playing the classic song of waltz and ballads, while at the ceiling are acrobatic fairies dancing and flying from one chandelier to another while sprinkling gold dust. The guest has masked on different creative shapes. Everyone is having a good time. To her, they seem more human than what she was used to seeing on television or reading in maga
CHAPTER 28- PULLING ALL THE STOPS She strategically seated herself from across the room to see the incoming guest of the restaurant. According to her very reliable source, which she paid a hefty sum just to get the information, Barbara Barry will be dining in the restaurant with friends. Lea Walden tried her sources just to get an invitation, but it seems everybody wants one. Everybody had a bidding war to get that Masquerade Ball invitation. A little bird told her that Barbara Barry could get her inside. She waited patiently, but it was already very late. Lea rechecks her watch, but it seems her informant has conned her. She was getting tired of waiting when a flurry of guests came,
CHAPTER 29 Everyone looked at them. Lea, who was facing Chris, did not see her approaching. When the actress heard Barbara's announcement, she turned around in surprise. Their eyes locked, and she blushed, then looked away guiltily. Agnes pushed herself towards them. "Hi Lea--" Awkwardly, her sister kissed her in greeting. "I did not know you would be here..." Lea blushed and glanced at Chris. "My husband must have forgotten to mention it. But wives do need to be with their husbands, right?" she looked at her husband directly. "Where you been, I have been looking for you." Chris Duvier ignored the silent jibe.
CHAPTER 30 Agnes woke up late in the morning. Her body felt sore and her hand aching due to the cut from the shrub she tried to avoid as she ran away from the mansion. Her feet, too, have bruises and cuts. Last night, Victoria and David were waiting for her when she returned from her walk. She took the back door to avoid seeing anyone. It was already dark, and the guest was already sleeping or winding down towards their apartments assigned to them. Agnes tiptoed to the stairs to not disturb the owner and the guests who stayed with them in the mansion. Upon seeing her when she entered her bedroom, the two were horrified to see her condition. Both gave her a warm hug and comforted her. David asked Victoria to help her bathe and change her clothes while asking the servant to bring her warm milk and medicine. She was too tired to refuse their help. Agnes was dozing in between bathing, and Victoria had to force her to drink the mixture an
CHAPTER 31 She touched her image in the mirror. Gone was the girl lost in her world. What she saw in the mirror was a woman who had seen and felt what it's like to love entirely with her whole being. She doesn't know if she can ever feel this way again. Every fiber of her mind and body is alive with the knowledge that genuinely and indeed, she loves Chris Duvier. "Chris Duvier..." she whispered his name." Hi, I'm Mrs. Agnes Duvier." Her image smiled at her. Her joy reached out to her heart." Mrs. Agnes Duvier..." Dreamily, Agnes hummed a lively tune. She smiled and twirled in front of the full-length mirror in front of her. She was dancing and singing, twirling with joy when Victoria dashed inside her bedroom when she heard her friend's voice. The young girl la
CHAPTER 32 Chris Duvier smiled lovingly at the woman beside him. She is wearing a classic simple black dress and red Prada shoes. Her hair gently falls on her shoulder, framing a delicate face that made millions of men and women fall in love with her. She is enchanting, and he owns her. When she returns to his life, Chris knows that Lea is the only woman for him. True, he has many women in his life, but nobody can compare with what he feels for Lea Walden. They pale in comparison. Their relationship seems perfect except for one thing, Agnes. That woman can twist his inside and drive him to madness for an unknown reason. He hated her, and yet she could draw so much emotion from him that it blinded his reasoning and the will to resist her. It is also why Lea seems hesitant to plunge into a relationship with him. She told him frankly that Agnes might not be the best person, but she was her sister, and she loved her. Lea would need him to divorce her
CHAPTER 33 Chris Duvier arrived alone and very late. He took Lea to the jeweler then brought her to the private retreat he owns at the seaside. They dine and kiss and almost make love. It took a lot of strength to deny Lea in his bed. He is afraid that his action could jeopardize his marriage contract. He is worried that Agnes might know about their affair and run away. Not yet; he must fulfill his revenge before he can let go of Agnes. She is his only weapon to destroy Lady Elizabeth Walden. If Agnes gets hurt, so will the dragon lady. He learns that Agnes is Lady Elizabeth Achilles' heel. She doted on her. Hell, she even selected her husband for her. The eldest heir of Walden also includes Lady Elizabeth's love for her niece. As Lea had once said to him, that Agnes is Lady Elizabeth and Lady Elizabeth is Agnes. She never gets close to her aunt because she was never the favorite. And thinking of Agnes, his eyes scanned the lawn throng
CHAPTER 34 Agnes stared at the back of her husband longingly. He was standing by the window looking at the party below. She wanted to touch him, but something was not right. He seems more distant to her. As if their loving moment that morning did not happen. She sat down in one of the wing chairs in a corner. Her legs felt suddenly weak as if a heavy load descended upon her. In silence, Agnes watched him. She was waiting for the ice to break between them. He turns around as if realizing that he is not alone. His grey eyes pinned her down deeper to the chair she was seating. "I have something to tell you…" he said coldly. Chris decided to inform his wife about the ring and his relationship with Lea. He feared that she might discover about it from other people. The
CHAPTER 49 Agnes looked at David with eyes brimming with tears. Her beautiful green eyes looked like the misty forest of Winshord Castle moors. She was seating across from him inside a small cafe that operated twenty-four hours a day near the bus station. The cafe was deserted, except for the sleepy worker of the establishment and an aged man snoozing at a corner.Her hand was twisting the yellowed table cloth, as she nervously face David. “It’s okay if you will not forgive me,” Agnes said without preamble as the silence stretched between them.“You cause so much pain to your family and friends. I’m not sure whether I should wring your neck out of madness or just hugged you out of relief that you are still alive.”“David, I will not explain why I disappeared, only that I have a very valid reason that I cannot reveal.”David's jaw tightened in anger. “How could you say that Agnes? You of all people should know that what you
CHAPTER 48 “Duvier! What are you doing here?” Barbara tumbled into his arms as he bumped unto her. Chris gasped as he stared at the grinning elderly woman batting her eyes at him coyly. He pulled her up while looking around for Agnes. “Where is she---” “Who?” Barbara stared at him confusedly. He stopped himself from blurting Agnes' name. Instead, he collected himself and tried to smile, covering his blunder. “Lady Elizabeth, I need to see her.” “Ah…” Barbara stared at him for a long time. She got the feeling it was not Lady Elizabeth he was looking for. She wondered if the nosy
CHAPTER 47Agnes pulled down the hooded jacket to cover her face. She was embarking n a surprised if not most unpleasant decision of her life --- to visit her sister in the hospital. She had been hiding from her past until now when she saw her sister rushed to the hospital. Even her aunt and Barbara did not know that she was going to make this trip back to her old world. Yet, the idea of Lea being sick drove her with worry. Her sister was always healthy and she was not known to get sick easily. She wondered what drove Lea to get sick. She just wants to take a look at her secretly and disappear afterward.The hospital was surrounded by reporters and onlookers. All waiting for the news of the famous star. She can see flowers on the entrance filing up and letters of well-wishers. Agnes stopped. She wondered how to get inside without being noticed. The chance of her being seen was high yet only when she can see her sister would make her feel at peace.
CHAPTER 46 Lina or Agnes in her real-life dropped the baking pan she was holding as she saw the news on the television. The anchor grimly announced the news about Lea Walden being rushed to the hospital by her fiancee, Chris Duvier. “The couple who been dating for a long time was last seen together in Duviers penthouse. It was rumored that Chris Duvier, the billionaire proposed to the beautiful actress tonight. Yet. Something had happened when the actress Lea Walden collapsed and was rushed to the hospital with her loving fiancee in tow. Stay tuned for more news.” “Are you alright, Lina?” Lina stumbled and tried to sit down on one of the stools near the counter. Worriedly, her assistant baker touched her forehead. “You seemed not well. Why don’t you go home and I will finish the baking here.” She sig
CHAPTER 45 The man put down the dossier of Lina Summers in front of the billionaire, Chris Duvier. The private agent which was hired months ago was surprised with the request and thought, he hit the jackpot. And he did. He cannot believe what he found out about Lina Summers---he has no doubt who she was. “Everything about her was in that document. The real Lina Summers died when she was very young. Ms. Agnes Duvier just took her name.” “Changing one’s identity was expensive and few correct connections. Agnes cannot do that. Even if she was a Walden, her connection cannot reach that point. How did she do it?” “Barbara Barry pulled all the strings.” The detective said gravely. “Her connection was enough to cover up your wife’s supposed death. The boat was her personal property and the reporter who broke the first news was her people.”
CHAPTER 44 Lady Elizabeth, listened to the panic-stricken voice of her friend as she told her about Chris Duvier's presence in Riverside. She was numb. The possibility, of being discovered did cross her mind. She was ready to face the consequence but when it happens for real, her knees buckled with apprehension. Chris Duvier is an exacting man. A dangerous enemy. What he hates most were liars like them. They managed to dupe one of the most powerful men in the country. It looks like the wheels had turned. Time to pay up for their misdeeds. She remembered too clearly when Agnes returns home from her visit to Chris Duvier. She was trembling when she entered the library where Lady Elizabeth was conducting her business. Agnes sat down at the big wing chair silently watching her. “What happened, child?” She looked in alarm at Agnes whose eyes were very red from c
CHAPTER 43 Autumn had arrived in Riverside. The trees have turned into a fiery glow of orange, yellows, and reds. It’s Lina’s favorite season and her son, Adam. They would go out in the afternoon and play underneath the maple trees in their backyard. She would pretend to shovel Adam inside a pile of leaves. Her son would growl and try to catch her while she pretended to be afraid. Their peals of laughter would ring the backyard. Later, Rita would call them back for a snack of muffins and warm milk. She felt at ease now. The money from their investor had been pouring on their bakeshop and she paid her bank loan diligently. Joan Rogers visited her every week to check on the progress of the business. She also brought a lot of consultants and big players in the food industry business to help her set up the bakeshop. Lina has started building a commissary near her first bakeshop and she was hiring more
CHAPTER 42 Barbara Barry and Lady Elizabeth retired to the study, to enjoy the tea and the goodwill cake which was served at dinner. Both of them had a sweet tooth and both loved teas. They both drink it all day long like water. Comfortably seated together with a burning fireplace near them, they assumed their usual gossip, especially what happens at dinner. “Poor Lea…” Lady Elizabeth murmured sadly. Barbara sighed, “It looks like Duvier is still stuck in the past.” “Yes...”, She sighed worriedly, “What have we done Barb? So much misery. Every time I look at Duvier, I wondered if we did the right thing.” “Shhh…quite somebody might hear us.” She look
CHAPTER 41 Everybody is tiptoeing around the boss. Since, the death of his wife, Chris Duvier had changed drastically. He was constantly working like he was driving himself to destruction. The stress level had affected the company. They are growing exponentially but they have more employees resigning because of the stress and demands of Chris Duvier himself. He never smiled too. He never goes out to date and lost interest in women. He dropped a lot of weight and his eyes have dark circles around them. He was practically like the ghost of a man. David Bern was so worried about his friend that he moves back and work with Chris Duvier again. It was a gloomy time for the company. Joan Rogers, his secretary, had faithfully worked for the man but she too, was on the brink of giving up. She doesn’t know when he will return to normal. When he strode into th