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Kelvin's POV“Like seriously?” The groan escaped my lips before I could stop it as the doctor delivered the news: my mom was in a coma. It felt like a punch to the gut. He said it was up to her if she wanted to wake up, and only if she found this world worth living in. Those words echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of how fragile life could be.I had just decided to leave, tickets in hand when my phone buzzed. Racheal’s name flashed on the screen. I picked it up, expecting a work-related call. Instead, I was hit with another wave of bad news. As I turned the volume up to catch her over the network fluctuations, I heard a gasp from behind me. My heart dropped as I realized it was my mom, choking on her breath—trying to call out to me or Kim before the sound got caught in her throat.My dad had been so busy lately, hardly around, leaving my mom alone in this condition. It bothered me more than I could express, especially considering she wouldn’t even talk to me. I felt helpless.I
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Betrothed 164
Kelvin's POVI returned to the hospital to find my mom still lying helplessly in her bed. The sight only fueled my rage more. I knew I reeked of alcohol; the nurses shot me disapproving glares as if I were some kind of lunatic. But honestly, I couldn’t care less about my appearance. All I felt was an overwhelming urge to call Bella.Admitting it hurt, but I had developed a soft spot for her. She had a way of lifting my spirits when I was down, and now that she wasn’t here, it felt like a dagger to my heart. I had spent so long nurturing feelings for Racheal, only to realize that they had blossomed into something for Bella. I had admired Racheal, but it was nothing more than that.I couldn’t even go home. The house felt cold and empty without my mom. It hurt to think that she had chosen someone else over her son. I settled on the lounge chair in the hospital, allowing exhaustion to sweep over me. Just as I started to drift off, the doctor walked in, directing me to the room prepared fo
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Betrothed 165
Kim's POV“It’s stupid, Mom! It’s stupid!!” I screamed, my voice echoing in the sterile hospital room. “I was with Kelvin when he loved me, and I can’t play that game again, especially knowing it was just a game.” The frustration boiled over as I recalled his promise to call back once I was settled.I didn’t know how to react to the news, but I refused to go through that kind of pain again. I wanted love, care, and attention—everything I felt was missing. I couldn’t bring myself to be with a man who took me out of pity, as a bargain. I could still remember the disappointment etched on Kelvin’s face when I rejected him. He had never expected me to turn him down, and the memory stung. I shut my eyes tightly, unable to endure my mom’s relentless scolding any longer. The doctor had told me I was fine now and could be discharged, which only gave her more reason to unleash her fury.“Have you ever thought about my happiness for once? Have you ever asked me what I want or how I want things
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Betrothed 166
Noah's POVI groaned in frustration as I settled into my car, resting my head against the headrest. The events of the day weighed heavily on me. I stormed out of the house the moment Michela sent me a voice note, where Kim was crashing and splashing around, her distress palpable. It hurt to admit how far Kim had fallen into all these, and I felt nothing.Rachael had been acting strangely lately, and I decided to turn a blind eye, convincing myself it was due to Kim’s situation. I wasn’t ready to confront that yet. I knew how fierce and reckless Rachael could become if she decided to pick up the pieces again and lash out. I couldn’t let this opportunity of her being tied down in a marriage with Kelvin slip away. She needed to be monitored and kept under wraps.When I returned home, I found all the lights still on, which meant Racheal was still awake. I sighed, dreading how long and uncomfortable tonight would be if my instincts were right. My eyes fell on the mess in the living room—Ra
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Betrothed 167
Racheal's POV"Really? I shouldn't be going through his stuff. I have no right to go through his stuff... seriously!" I thought aloud, completely oblivious to Juliet standing before me."Are you okay, ma'am?" Juliet's voice broke through, pulling me out of my trance."Noah has been acting weird, and he told me I have no right to go through his things," I blurted out before I could even process her question. I felt a desperate need to confide in someone, and Juliet seemed like a safe choice."Ma'am, you can talk to me if you need someone to listen. It’s okay if you don’t want to share… But I think it would be good for you to confront Mr. Gordon and let him know how you feel rather than letting the guilt overwhelm you," she offered, her tone genuinely caring."Thank you, Juliet," I muttered, dismissing her. I appreciated her concern but felt too tangled in my emotions to act on her advice.This morning had been unbearable. I couldn’t bear to see Noah’s face, so I left for work, leaving
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Betrothed 168
Kayla's POVI hated to admit that I needed to look good for tonight's date. I didn't know why I thought Racheal could save my face, but it wouldn’t hurt if we did it together. As I drove into the company parking garage, I parked diligently and strode toward the elevator to the president's floor—the topmost level. On my way, I passed a guy in a nose mask pushing a cleaning cart. I nodded at him, barely acknowledging his presence.I waved at Juliet, who tried to keep me rooted in place, but I brushed her off, not even waiting for her to put Racheal on the call. I clapped my hands, making a loud sound that echoed in the empty corridor. When Mike called my name, I was surprised to see his attention shift from his work."Wouldn't it be a little polite if you guys could get a room or probably lock the door?" I scolded, eyeing the scene before me."You know better than to just walk in without knocking. What happened to your manners?" he replied, a hint of irritation in his tone."And what
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Betrothed 169
Mike's POVThis is the first time Noah has decided to keep things from me. My gut tells me something is weird about Juliet, but I can't quite put my finger on it. And now, with the way Noah dashed out, I knew he knew something I didn’t.When I lost my parents back in high school and had to live on a scholarship, it was tough—very hard. It’s a memory I’ve always tried to avoid, but now it has been triggered. For the past week, I’ve been battling with it.Noah made my stay in high school memorable when it should have been miserable. I was a victim of bullying, and the hidden squad freed me from that nightmare. I was taught how to mask my feelings and emotions, and how to be stone-hearted. The only battle I fought was within myself, hiding my vulnerability until this moment.I was afraid to let Rayla in, but I couldn’t believe I wanted more from the relationship. I wanted to feel more now, but it came with a price: my nightmare. The pain of watching my sister scream in agony, helpless as
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Betrothed 170
Noah's POVIt was still daylight, and the company was well-illuminated. Employees bustled in and out, ID cards swinging against their chests as they hurried to complete their tasks. I noticed their anxiety and nervousness, likely stemming from the last email Racheal sent.I was so lost in thought that I barely registered what Racheal and Rayla were saying until Juliet's name surfaced, agitating my well-being. I wished I could do more than I was currently doing. With each passing day, my wife left home, a quirky feeling crept in, knowing Juliet would be around her.Micheal hadn’t found anything substantial about her. She seemed too clean, too perfect. The only information he managed to get was a family picture showing she had a sister. They didn’t look much alike, except for the unique eye color they shared, which they inherited from their father. The photo was likely taken during Christmas, given the festive attire of the younger girl. It baffled me that we couldn’t dig deeper, but I
Last Updated : 2024-12-31
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Betrothed 202
Noah's POVOne week later...I stood beside Racheal, who was propped up on the hospital bed, still struggling to fully recover. The sterile scent of antiseptic hung in the air, but it was the sight of her fragile form that gripped my heart. Kelvin and Bella had flown back to New Coastal two days ago, insisting on leaving after Racheal woke up. Their departure felt like a hollow echo of the chaos that had consumed us.Juliet was locked away, and sentenced to life imprisonment. I made sure of that. She deserved every bit of it. A maniac like her wasn’t meant to walk among the living.As I watched Racheal adjust herself, attempting to sit upright, I instinctively reached out to help her. But she slapped my hand away with a surprising force. The sting of her rejection hit me like a cold wave. She had done the same thing when she first woke up, and it scared the hell out of me. I rushed to the doctor, fearing she was suffering from amnesia, but my worries eased when he assured me she had b
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Kelvin's POV"You left us, remember? You gave us hope, Ana! You let us all believe you would come back! We waited for you, Ana. I waited. Mom waited... You broke your promise! You broke your fucking promise because of your selfish interest, your lust for revenge!"I pulled Bella into an embrace, which she calmly accepted. Juliet, whom I now realized was Anabella, had recently been caught at the same tournament Bella had described. She had a lot on her mind and plenty of tools at hand. If not for Bella, we would still be in the dark; no one would have thought that this old tournament, long neglected, would be used to commit such a devious act.Just two days ago, Bella had been crying in my arms. So much was uncovered—so much I hadn’t expected at all.After coming to terms with the fact that Bella was Juliet's younger sister, it occurred to me that Juliet wasn't who we thought she was. Her initial aim in entering R.A. was to cause harm to the Houston family. As she had said moments ago,
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Kelvin's POVI was on the brink of tears the moment I set my eyes on Kim. The fact that she was breathing with the aid of oxygen wasn't enough; she was hooked up to a life-support machine. I felt a flicker of irritation that Noah had signed the forced labor consent form, but perhaps I was wrong—maybe that was the best decision.Bella had a tough time going back to sleep after mentioning a random name that only gave me a hint amidst the shattered debris of my thoughts. I tried not to force any conversation on her, at least keeping my promise to Noah until she opened up. Until then, I remained silent.We couldn't go into the ward, so we decided to stay back, looking through the transparent glass that separated us from the lobby lawn. Bella couldn't control her tears anymore; I had been hearing her trying to stifle the sobs since we arrived. Her soft gasps said it all. It made me reflect on my decision to stay outside; I didn’t think I could keep my emotions in check once we entered.Lin
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Kelvin's POVI couldn't believe I had given in to my lust once more. The last time something like this happened, I apologized and vowed it would never repeat itself. Now, as I sifted through the files Noah sent me, I still struggled to admit that Juliet and Bella might be sisters. Our alliance was built on a shared goal, and the last time we had met like this was to reveal the truth behind RA. Now, we were here because of Racheal, but my purpose was to uncover Juliet's identity.*I didn’t start this relationship on a clean slate just to end it because of a culprit sharing her blood.*“You seem early!” Noah remarked, his voice laced with sarcasm.“And you seem late,” I shot back, eyeing him. He looked lean and disheveled, a total mess compared to the Noah I knew.“Is she with you?” he asked.“Why would I bring her with me?” I replied, my irritation rising.“You have no reason to call me here, then—”“What makes you think they’re related? Even if they are, I doubt she knows about her ex
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Bella's POVEvery part of my body ached from the journey, and I could barely feel my legs. But it was worth it. It had been a long time coming—discussing the idea of flying down here to visit Kelvin's parents. He had been overly protective, worrying I wasn’t ready for this. Yet, here we were, on our way to meet both my idol and his parents. The former excited me; the latter filled me with dread.Kelvin noticed my uneasiness and pulled me into an embrace, planting a soft kiss on my forehead—a gesture I had grown so accustomed to. We had just landed, and as we headed to the lobby, I spotted Kelvin shaking hands with someone I didn’t recognize. Others bowed slightly to him, showing their respect.*What should I expect?* I thought. *He is one of the youngest renowned businessmen, linking a channel between New York and the USA is no small feat.* I mustered a smile for those who acknowledged me.We would head home before leaving early to visit Racheal in the hospital. My gaze was caught in
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Kelvin's POVI had barely settled back into my office when the news hit me like a freight train. Rachael had been in an accident? My heart sank as I slumped into my chair, the weight of the world crashing down around me. I had just returned, hoping to find some semblance of normalcy, when everything spiraled out of control again.“Kelvin, are you okay?” Bella asked, moving toward my chair, her eyes scanning my face for any sign of reassurance.“No, not really,” I replied, rubbing my temples to ease the pounding in my head. She could see how close I was to Racheal, and I knew she understood my worries. “Rachael is in critical condition. I need to get down to New York,” I added, my voice strained.“Do you want me to come with you?” she offered, concern lacing her tone. I hesitated for a moment, the urgency of the situation clashing with my instincts to protect her. “No, I’ll travel alone,” I said, pushing myself to my feet. I grabbed my phone and shot a quick message to my secretary,
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Kim's POVI could remember feeling utterly drained when I returned home, free from Kelvin's silence, the weight of everything pressing heavily on my shoulders. My parents welcomed me with open arms, their warmth almost overwhelming. My dad, who had been distant for so long, embraced me tightly. The love in that moment nearly brought me to tears.“Kim, we’ve missed you so much,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve missed you too, Dad,” I replied, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. It was a bittersweet reunion, knowing what lay ahead. I wasn't expecting such a reaction from my dad and hearing how he missed me made me feel like I was close to my endThe last time I went to the clinic for a check-up, I had received the results I had dreaded. I had known, deep down, that choosing to keep the baby while battling cancer was a gamble. The odds were stacked against me, and I felt the looming shadow of my mortality.My mom had sensed something was wrong, even when I tried to keep
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Racheal's POVI couldn't take Noah's silence anymore. It was suffocating me, and it was terrible for Ariella to witness all of this. My heart raced as I stormed into Noah's study, furious and desperate for answers. My hands trembled with anger and confusion as I stumbled upon a collection of files and documents, all centered around Juliet.I picked up every picture I could find. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at the images of Juliet and her family. There was one of a man smiling lovingly at a woman—Juliet's parents, I realized. The man’s coat struck a chord in my memory, though I couldn't pinpoint why it seemed so familiar. As I traced the photos, my eyes fell on a little girl who looked strikingly like Juliet. It had to be her sister. A shiver ran down my spine as I pieced together the fragments of my discovery. But then, my gaze landed on a guillotine with a body labeled "XAVIER'S." My heart dropped. I was about to open it when Noah’s voice shattered the silence.“You're
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Kelvin's POVThe air between us hung heavy with unspoken words. I could see Bella processing everything I had just said, her brow furrowed in thought. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to bridge the gap that had grown between us.“Kelvin, I don’t understand why you didn’t tell me sooner. I could have helped you,” she said, her voice steady but filled with a hint of disappointment. “I thought I was protecting you,” I replied, my frustration mixing with regret. “I didn’t want you to be dragged into the chaos of my life. But now, I realize that keeping you in the dark only hurt us both.”She fell silent, staring at the ground as if searching for answers in the cracks of the pavement. I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but I hesitated, unsure if she would welcome my touch again.“Do you think this is something I could just forget?” she finally asked, her voice breaking slightly. “You made me feel like I was special, and then you pulled the rug out from under me.”
