"It's perfect.""Yeah, right?." Maria smiled, relieved to hear Lola's reply. She had been a little hesitant at first about moving in when Richard had brought it up, but then she was reminded of the meeting with Noah's family which was going to happen soon. She did not want Lola to appear shabby before them nor did she want their daughter to be looked down on by anybody."Yes, Mom," Lola responded and dropped her bag on the couch. "Where's dad?.""Richard stepped out for a minute. He should be back any time from now." Maria returned and moved over to the long rows of photographs on the wall. Then she selected a few framed photographs of Lola and herself.Lola nodded as she looked around the still-busy living room. If they were indeed moving out today, then there was still a lot of packing left to be done. Still feeling giddy, Lola changed her outfit into a more comfortable homewear before returning to lend Maria a helping hand. ~"What?!. That brat's at the gate?."Grandfather Sanche
Shame.The sound of laughter rose from behind Ava and got distant as she walked away from the resting room. She wasn't meant to feel this way, the people in there were her own family, yet why did it feel like she didn't belong there?Ava ignored the silent bows from the maids and walked past them hurriedly as she searched for a place to breathe, a place to breathe and think.She flinched at the sudden rush of cold breeze that caressed her skin. Sure enough, her feet had led her to the family's large garden.The weather out there was a sharp contrast to the warm atmosphere of the mansion from which she had stepped out, but Ava welcomed it and walked even deeper into the garden until she came across a familiar space that brought back a rush of memories. The night of her son's marriage. It was in this very space that she had stood the very first time she conversed with Lola and Ava remembered every line of their conversation clearly. Her son's marriage was meant to bring her happiness
"Still can't believe I asked my cousin out." Lola chuckled at Josh's sudden outburst. Breakfast with Maria and Richard was over and her parents were too excited to explore the estate together. They had gone off again for the second time that day, leaving Lola all alone with Josh who proposed to also show her around the mansion since he was familiar with the grounds.Even though it's been two hours since the discovery of their relationship, Josh still seemed to be a little.. out of it. "Well.. you had no idea about it at the time, did you?.""It's just so embarrassing. What if you had said yes to my proposal? What if we’d made out or even ended up getting married without knowing we were related? What if we had kids and then found out we were both cousins..." Josh pointed out again and Lola tried not to laugh too hard at his far-fetched assumptions and too many what-ifs. "...what if?..""Wow, easy Josh. You are overthinking this. There is no way in hell that any of that would have hap
"Hurry up you two! Don't keep my granddaughter-in-law and her family waiting!." Grandfather Sanchez ordered impatiently as he settled into the backseat of his car while waiting for his son and daughter-in-law to get into theirs.He frowned as he recalled how he had woken up earlier than he usually did two days back to order a special outfit for the occasion. He had taken good measures to make sure this day was flawless, but how could they think of messing it up by making him late?"Senior Master. The elder master and the madam are settled in. We are now ready to be on our way." Mr. Henry, who was seated in the passenger's seat beside the chauffeur informed Grandfather Sanchez."Humph!." The old man huffed still annoyed. "What are we still waiting for then? Let's go."~The vehicle conveying Ava and Andy to their destination made a turn and steadied on a road leading up to an estate which the couple was very familiar with.Andy's eyes narrowed as they moved but he said nothing and inst
"Ahem!."The sudden sound of a throat being cleared behind Ava's back woke her up from her thoughts. She turned to see Grandfather Sanchez staring straight right back at her. "Father.." Ava called out and wondered how long he had been standing there for.Lazarus Sanchez let out a meaningful sigh before moving closer to stand side by side with his daughter-in-law. "I hope that you've learned your lesson?." He started.Ava's head lowered. She knew what exactly it was that the old man's words meant. She was filled with shame at her unruly behavior in the past months. When she lifted her head again, her eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to fall and despite the old man's annoyance at his daughter-in-law for her stupidity, he gave Ava a gentle pat on the back. "I'm sorry father." "I'm not the one in need of that apology, Ava. Gather your thoughts for now and give that girl a proper apology when you have it all sorted out up there." He advised and cleared his throat once again as he
Richard Kings raised an eyebrow when a familiar tall figure walked out from the hallway of his mansion's east wing."Hey, will call you back in five minutes." He hurriedly said into the phone and ended the call he had been receiving despite the other person's protests. Then he pocketed his phone.The Sanchez family members had all been lodged in the opposite wing of the house, including Noah. Why then was Noah Sanchez walking out of that hallway where his daughter’s room was located this early in the morning? He thought as his eyebrows furrowed.Noah noticed the man standing at the entrance of the hall and fought the urge to let out a groan at what his soon-to-be father-in-law would possibly think about seeing him in that area of the house when he was meant to stay in the opposite direction."Morning, Richard." He greeted."Morning, Noah," Richard responded and sighed as Noah walked away. He fought the urge to facepalm himself for being ridiculous. Noah and Lola were already legally ma
"...In this life and the next and all the lives that could come after, Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?."• • •"This is so beautiful." Maria swooned as she lifted her left hand to appreciate her engagement ring once more. It was a dazzling 24-carat diamond ring with a delicate square cut. "I should have a picture of this taken and sent to Lola.""It doesn't compare with your beauty, my darling," Richard said and clapped twice.Suddenly, a slow romantic music started to play and the rest of the lights came on at once to reveal the musicians in the background. It was then that Maria fully realized where they had been standing all along. Her eyes widened as she did so, and then they brimmed up with tears and unspoken feelings. They were on the stage of Rosewood's old theatre hall. It was on this very stage that She had met Richard many years ago. Their agencies had been participating in the same competition and she and Richard, well.. they had been the worst of enemies,
Infinity Jewels Headquarters."CEO Sanchez?." Noah's newly hired secretary called out.Noah frowned as he looked up from his laptop to stare at the secretary who was still standing after previously delivering a message to him."Yes? Is there a problem?." He asked impatiently, hating the fact that he was being distracted from his work. He still had lots of contracts agreements and documents to cross-check and sign. He had checked up on Lola briefly in the afternoon and had promised to call back later. Yet, it was evening already and he wasn't halfway done with work, despite working his ass off since the early hours of the morning."The directors from Haven companies called last minute for a quick dinner meeting by 8 pm, today...""I won't be available. Kindly pass the message across to Tyler to represent in my stead.""But sir.." The secretary protested. "They were pretty specific about you being the..""Goddamn it, Paul. Cancel the meeting and set up another one that fits both our sch