I never really cared whomever I ended up with. However, marriage is quite insufferable for a happy go lucky like me. Will she cooperate or will she let me die without mercy? "Hah! Laia... Is this what you were talking about that night? I feel like I'm a moth caught in a blazing fire," I sighed, covering my eyes with my right arm, lying flat on a soft and unfamiliar bed in a huge unfamiliar room, and guarded by armed men by the door. I felt like a prisoner whose life is about to end. I don't even know if I am already regretting jumping into this mess. I only felt sleepy and uneasy. Let it be if this will be the end of me. I wanted to think more about the situation, but my body suddenly shuts down on its own. It was already bright outside. "Did you sleep well, Mr. Elrod?" Mr. Adler asked. "I'm not sure if it's a good thing, but I did," I replied as I rolled out of the bed. I felt refreshed since they are no longer pointing their guns against me. Though I still feel jitters from see
I woke up early the morning on the day before my wedding, feeling restless and anxious. I tossed and turned in bed for a few minutes before finally getting up and deciding to go for a jog to clear my head.I quickly changed into my running clothes, put my headphone on while playing an upbeat song and headed out into the cool morning air at the park three blocks away from my apartment.I pounded the pavement with each step, trying to clear my mind as I jogged through the park."I couldn't believe that I am getting married tomorrow, especially to a woman I had once loathed," I sighed as I trudged with an overwhelming mix emotion about my situation.As I ran, memories of the night he had slept with Laia flooded back to me. I can still vividly recall her soft and luscious lips, her cool and refreshing scent that still lingers on my mind along with her soft moans that excited and peaked my desire to eat her whole that night without thinking too much about the consequence.I started asking
I arrived at the chapel early with Mr. Adler, clutching a bouquet of beautiful flowers that I had purchased for Laia. Feeling nervous and unsure about my decision to marry Laia. I am still not sure if I am ready for this kind of commitment.As I entered the chapel, I saw Mr. Adler stopped walking with me and stood by the door. I approached him and handed over the bouquet of flowers I had bought for Laia."Could you please give these to Laia?" I nervously asked Mr. Adler, my voice shaking slightly in nervousness as I looked at all the men surrounding me. "I want to apologize for the way things happened before and I want to surprise her before the wedding."Mr. Adler smiled genuinely and nodded, taking the bouquet from my hands. "I'll make sure she gets them," he said. I watched as Mr. Adler walked away and disappeared into the chapel. I took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves as he approached Mr. Dominique, who was standing in front of the altar beside the officiant with a wea
The villa that Laia's father had prepared for us was a beautiful, secluded property with stunning views of the ocean. As we arrived, Mr. Adler reminded us of the importance of our union and left us alone.As we settled into the villa with the help of the people arranged by Laia's father, we found ourselves feeling awkward and unsure of how to interact with one another. We had spent the past month apart, and our one night stand seemed like a distant memory.The butler and the head maid lead us to the room on the second floor that we would be sharing from today onwards. I was staring at Laia's face the whole time that I didn't even remember the name or the faces of the servants because she was so silent and it was making me extremely uncomfortable for some reason.I stopped by the door looking at a huge master bedroom with a huge window that could oversee the ocean in the distance. There was also a king-size bed on the left near the window and a huge bathroom on the right. The wardrobe
I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride just a few hours after our wedding. We still haven't had a good conversation because of Laia's condition. I don't even know the extent of her condition because she refused to see a doctor.“Try to take a nap. I'll wake you up when lunch is ready,” I suggested after she finished drinking the soup prepared by the maids.She nodded obediently and pushed the tray with the bowl towards me, so I took it away from her and placed it neatly on the table near the bed. Then, I helped her lay down on the bed properly before sitting back down beside her, stroking her hair to sleep.I may not know much about taking care of sick people, but I know how to lull someone to sleep because I used to take care of Sienna when we were young and my parents were busy with their respective jobs. Laia kept her eyes shut, hugging my waist tightly in pain. I wanted to help her, but I don't know what to do. I don't even know what exactly was happening to her.We were rival
Am I ready for this new chapter of my life? I still don't know if I am ready and I didn't plan to marry in the first place. My wife is pregnant and I wasn't even sure if the child was mine. Even though there's a high chance that the baby is mine, I still couldn't shake my doubt because of how she answered me vaguely.I was sure I was her first, that's why I felt a bit relieved when I learned that the daughter that Mr. Dominique was talking about was Laia and not another girl. Even though I have my regrets, I need to be responsible for the consequences of my actions. I need to be a man, at least for Laia and the baby.As planned, I accompanied Laia on her checkup."I'll drive the car. We don't need a chauffeur," I said."You know how to drive?" Laia asked, raising one of her eyebrows."Of course, I can! I have a license! I also use the company car every time we need to do a site visit for some projects," I explained."Then why didn't you have a car?" she asked."I... It's because I don
I nervously pushed Laia's wheelchair in her OB's office. The Nurses welcomed us politely while confirming our identity. Laia seemed to be familiar with them too."Welcome back Ms. Dominique! Oh! Who do we have here?!" one of the nurses greeted as she took over Laia's wheelchair leading her to another table."Are you her husband?" another nurse asked.I nodded, so she gave me the forms that needed to be filled in as the other nurse took Laia's vitals."Are you recently married?!" the nurse asked as soon as I gave back the papers."Yes. Since yesterday," I answered while observing Laia's awkward reaction.She seemed unsettled by the nurses' reactions."Wow! Congratulations!" the nurses gasped warmly. "Please wait in the waiting area. Dr. Santos will talk to your wife first."I nodded, smiling as I walked towards the waiting area. I felt nervous, but I suddenly felt the urge to play a mobile game while waiting for my name to be called. I placed my phone on "do not disturb" mode so that no
I was stunned upon remembering that I haven't explained to my parents about our situation yet. I suddenly felt nervous and pressured.She's right.How should I explain to them about our situation?My parents are strict with regards to traditions. They might think I'm being full of myself for marrying without their consent and without their presence at our wedding. I'd definitely get scolded big time."I... I'll tell them about the child and our marriage without telling them about your father," I replied hesitantly.She nodded silently and stood up with the bowl in her hand while looking at the sink in the kitchen. I grabbed her arm and pushed her back to her seat while taking the bowl and spoon away from her.“Just sit down. Don't do anything. I'll bring you your meds,” I said.She obediently stayed in her seat, looking at her phone as if waiting for a message or a call. I hurriedly gave her the pills that were scheduled for lunch and washed the dishes.After cleaning up and helping La
After Carlo and Sienna's exquisite wedding, Laia and I discovered ourselves in a serene corner of the resort's garden. The waning sun cast a gentle, warm glow over the surroundings as we distanced ourselves from the jubilant celebrations. The air carried the delightful scent of flowers, and in the distance, we could hear the soothing waves caressing the coast.We trekked together, our fingers entwined, and contentment surged through us. The brisk ocean breeze and the subtle saline sea aroma, nearly eclipsed by the flower's fragrance, stirred up cherished memories. With a grin, I inquired, "Recall our first New Year together?" as we settled on a nearby bench."That day was full of joy, shared with our friends and families," she chuckled. "I believe it's also the very same day when their relationship took off.""Who? Carlo and Sienna? How did you find out?" I asked, perplexed since I hadn't told her yet how I discovered Sienna's pregnancy two years ago, during her
Shortly after waking up, Daniel Adler quickly started sharing the truth with a detailed account of events. He came forward with additional evidence, determined to bring justice to the circumstances surrounding Mr. Dominique's death, my son's tragic fate, and the traumatic suffering my wife endured throughout the kidnapping ordeal.He revealed that after my father-in-law's hospitalization, he investigated Mr. Stone's company as part of his mission. Unfortunately, his independent efforts led to his discovery and capture by the Black Panthers. In a twist of fate, the day he first saw Laia in the same room where he was held captive was the beginning of his ruse. He feigned allegiance to their cause, providing them with intricate details about Mr. Dominique's assets and the contractual agreements we had in place.Mr. Stone, recognizing Daniel's potential, offered him a lifeline, allowing him to work within their organization. The day he and Laia disappeared was part of a scripted act, with
The twilight deepened as I paced back and forth in a silent and dimly lit corridor in front of the operating room. Daniel Adler's operation took hours due to the tricky position of the bullet inside his body, while Mr. Stone was already in the recovery room, surrounded by law enforcers who took turns keeping an eye on him."I have to go home now and check on my wife and Anika," Carlo said as he walked near me. "You should relax yourself a bit.""Carlo is right," Eric interjected, his voice a comforting anchor amid my turmoil. He urged me gently with a supportive tap on my back. "You should take a well-deserved break and entrust the rest to me. Go and be with your wife," he suggested understandingly.I muttered, glimpsing at the operating door, "But—""I'll stay here and keep you updated. Here's your phone, so go ahead and check your wife now," Eric insisted.Carlo then pulled my arm and said, "Let's go! The exit is also that way."Despite my excitement, I felt conflicted about seeing
We carefully scheduled our corporate celebration to occur precisely one week after the highly successful launch of Harmony Assist. The timing was deliberate, as we wanted to ensure that the project gained ample attention and coverage from the media all across the globe. The response to Harmony Assist had exceeded our expectations, and it had become the focal point of many news outlets and tech publications.The project had captured attention, not just for its innovative features but also for the rapid pace at which we had developed it. Our exceptional team of engineers and designers had worked tirelessly, sometimes through the night, to make Harmony Assist a reality. The result was a revolutionary product, transforming not just technology but also the quality of life.The media frenzy around Harmony Assist was so intense that it momentarily eclipsed other news stories, including the ongoing litigation against Mr. Stone, the former CEO of Stonewell Construction Enterprise. This legal b
I found myself in profound silence, staring at the room's ceiling. The pristine white expanse seemed to reflect my inner turmoil, a cruel reminder of the revelation about Olivia Harrington that had shaken me to my core. I sat at my desk, feeling overwhelmed. I forced deep breaths to steady my racing heart. Each beat resonated in my ears, echoing the emotions welling up inside. At the same time, my head throbbed with anguish, and tears blurred my vision. Each fleeting moment stretched endlessly, and the surroundings dissolved into obscurity as I grappled with the surge of intense emotions. It was as if the weight of the entire universe rested on my shoulders, and all I could do was hold my breath, adrift in the chaos of my thoughts and feelings. After I regained some composure, taking a deep, shuddering breath, I reached for the company phone. I summoned Carlo and Eric to my office, maintaining a steady tone despite my inner restlessness. They promptly arrived to discuss further enha
Following the downfall of my father-in-law's prominent business and my wife's kidnapping, the Black Panthers maintained a low profile. A confidential investigation revealed Mr. Stone's abstention from further actions, emphasizing their exclusive objective of eradicating the AD corporation from the corporate landscape. To steer clear of direct rivalry with his enterprise, I channeled my newly established venture into pioneering technological advancements, ensuring their covert development beyond the scope of Mr. Stone's scrutiny.During the initial weeks of rekindling my friendship with Tiffany, Mr. Stone grew suspicious to the extent that he had me surveilled by Black Panthers personnel. Unbeknownst to him, these individuals were spies working for Red Phyton under John's direct and discreet supervision.Mr. Moretti had surreptitiously penetrated the rival faction, skillfully breaching their sanctuary without alerting their senior leadership. Shortly after I managed to assuage Mr. Ston
I froze, my heart pounding as though it might burst from my chest. My hands trembled as I grasped my champagne glass, my fingers slick with moisture. It couldn't be her, I reasoned. My mind is scrambling to rationalize the absurdity of the situation. Laia had been missing for a year despite our best attempts, and the agony of not knowing her fate had been a continuous weight on my shoulders.However, the deeper hole kept opening up inside me as she moved nearer, and the facial features became apparent clearly. It was her. The same hazel eyes that once sparkled with frivolity and comfort are scanning the space in a vain attempt to locate someone. The edges of her lips curled up in a gentle smile that carried the power to dispel all anxiety.I put my champagne glass back on the table and started walking in the crowd, looking at them with mixed feelings of hope and anxiety inside me. Time seemed to have stopped, and I felt neither the piercing eyes nor the whispers behind my back. It was
As the night wore on, Sienna and Carlo prepared a makeshift bed in their living room for me. They insisted I stay the night since it was already late, and they couldn't let me go alone in my current state of mind. However, the events of the day had taken a toll on them. Anika, who had been relatively calm during dinner, began to cry, and Sienna had to tend to her. Carlo reluctantly left my side to help her soothe the baby.The frantic cries of Anika filled the apartment, echoing through the living room where I lay. But then, as Carlo and Sienna's efforts to calm her continued, a deafening silence enveloped the room. It was in this silence that my mood turned for the worst. I was overwhelmed with misery, despair, desire, wrath, and self-blame.I tossed and turned on the improvised bed, thoughts consumed by the day's events, the hunt for Laia, and the inquiry into the accidents. The heaviness of the universe seemed to settle on my shoulders, and I couldn't escape the feeling that I was
After more than half a year of attempts to find the perpetrator who caused both my father-in-law's and my wife's car accidents, the investigators finally caught him. The bittersweet relief clashed with my agony and rage, followed by self-blame as I lowered the phone, placing it slowly on the bed. "Was that the investigators?" Carlo inquired as soon as I hung up the call. "Yeah, they finally caught him," I replied. "It took them a while," he grumbled in disappointment. I clamped my jaws as I felt increasingly frustrated, then flopped onto the bed with desperation. A deep sigh escaped from my mouth as I yearned for a moment of relief. I tried to seek comfort in my mind, but my inner turmoil prevented it. Restlessness surged through me. I couldn't resist the urge to shift and turn on the mattress. It felt like a storm of thoughts and emotions was swirling within me, making any chance for rest seem like a fantasy. "Man, I know how anxious you are right now, but we need to sleep so we