*Tap! Tap! Tap!*My reverie was broken. My back felt a vibration from the hand that knocked on the door behind me. The knock was different from how the servant had broken in earlier, trying to force it open."Belle?" A man's voice came from behind the door. I realized that the servant seemed to have called Luke Davis to report what was going on.'How annoying. I don't even have time to think, huh?' I was annoyed. I uncovered part of my clothes, to hide the letter and photo.I won't let Luke Davis get his hands on it. I need to find out who sent this letter. And why a letter that was supposed to be in my hands was sent to this mansion?Before opening the door, I make sure the letter is tucked safely under my dress without raising suspicion. Luke Davis is the first one I catch sight of when the door opens.My eyes scroll to his left and right, but there's no one. The servant is gone. I assume that waiter has given up trying to persuade me, and now my opponent is Luke Davis."You can't ju
My emotions consumed my patience to the point of moving my hand to whatever object was in front of me, grabbing it, and throwing it at the man. A reward for his sickeningly cold demeanor."Satisfied? This is your way of getting revenge for me daring to enter your personal space?" I snapped.Luke Davis rolled his eyes up, matching my gaze, but not the color on his face. "Belle. You know my mom and dad came because of orders from your mom. What's the point of venting your emotions at me now?""So you're allowing me to contact my mom now? How about I ask her to cancel this engagement party?" I said.His back leaned against his work chair uncomfortably. My provocation made his hands clench into tight fists, hidden in front of his chest which was heaving against the sea of irritation in his throat."As you know about my feelings. For that one, I can't allow it," he retorted coldly.As expected, Luke Davis had no intention of walking away from thi
"Who are you?"My cries fell silent. His voice remained the same. The consistent coldness over the years of our marriage, the weight of his voice that never changed, everything was still exactly as I had stored it in my head.So, why didn't Mattheo recognize my voice? Was it because I was using the mansion's cell phone? There was no way Mattheo could forget the voice of the woman he was once married to."Honey, don't joke around. It's me, your wife," I said desperately. My trembling hands gripped the receiver, which was already wet with cold sweat."Mattheo, it's me. Please answer. Don't you recognize my voice?" I called for the umpteenth time.There was so much noise, so many people talking behind him. It was like he was picking up my call in a crowd of people."I don't recognize you. Don't call me again.""What? Mattheo! It's me, Belle!" I squealed spontaneously. I brought my lips right up to the speaker on the pho
"It's useless to rebel, Belle. Without my orders, you are no longer a lady in our family." My mother hissed, her eyes glaring at me who was dumbfounded by her cruelty.My hands were completely powerless to move. Aside from forcibly pulling me to the center of this vast courtyard, they weren't ashamed to make me a spectacle for the guests.The center of attention of the party, which was originally focused on the coherence of this event, was slowly dragged to me. The main character in the matchmaking party had no merit to bear the title.I looked around for the only human I could compromise with: Luke Davis. My eyes darted in all directions. From the food tent to the altar where the family elders were, to the dessert table, none of them showed any trace of the man.I had to find him. Before-"Madam! Congratulations on the smooth running of the event!"My inner voice stopped, on top of a voice that made my eyes widen in fear of facing the blasphemy of reality.My irises rolled on the figu
"Huh? What did you say?" I complained on the phone. His voice sounded disjointed, but still decent enough to be heard.To be more precise, I felt insecure about what Luke Davis had just said."What makes you believe your mother would dare invite to her former son-in-law, Mattheo Sinclair, when she still owes him so much?" he countered.My eyes opened wide, along with a trajectory of crazy ideas that raced through my head. "No way...""If you don't want them to see eye to eye, you better get your ass over here. I'll give you five minutes. After that, the two of them meeting is none of my business."*beep*The call was cut off unilaterally.My emotions were so high that my hands moved on their own, slamming my cell phone towards the table full of decorative food."Damn it! That fucking insolent! How dare he!" I growled in rage. I grabbed my hair until strands fell into my hands. Behind me, the guests who saw my
"Congratulate the future bride and groom!"The exchange of rings was accompanied by loud applause from the guest seats. The piano melody of the event's special orchestra, overlaid by the violin strings, signaled the completion of the main event.I couldn't move a step. Joseph and Tamara ascended the engagement altar as the pillars of the engagement ceremony. With their presence, my heart began to pump drastically thinking about the worst possibility if my mom also went up.Because Mattheo would witness everything. If that happened, then all my efforts would be over."My dear, Belle, what's wrong? Your face is so pale."My failure to hide my panic ended with Tamara Davis noticing the change in her future son-in-law's expression. Joseph heard that and also noticed my appearance which was too pathetic to be happy."You're right, dear. Belle's face is very pale," Joseph replied to his wife's words. "Are you tired? Why don't you two take a rest in the room? The party can be left behind. Yo
"Feeling better?"The excitement of our engagement party was still going on. Several guests from out of town started to arrive to show their joy at the success of the engagement.A night of dancing brought in the best Disc Jockey, portable bartenders were set to warm up the night even more.Managing to escape the guests' questions, Luke Davis was kind enough to give me a full hour of privacy in our bridal suite. I didn't expect to be able to pour out my sorrows alone, I was self-conscious of my position.However, Luke Davis is very different tonight. It's like he's transformed into another person, his kind demeanor making it hard for me to recognize him. He leaves me alone in the room, having prepared a bathtub complete with warm water in it.After full of crying, and wailing for a full hour, I've run out of energy. As if he could read the situation, he opened the door to my room with a full food cart that he had brought."I hope you don't m
"W-wait." I blocked his body as he was almost on top of me with both hands.Our faces fell so close together, it was thrilling. I was in a quiet room, in the midnight dance party music, my body half wet after coming out of the bathroom.'No matter how you look at it, it's like a wedding night, isn't it!?' I panicked inside. I shifted my gaze to the side to avoid colliding with his intense gaze.I didn't want to know which way he was looking at me. My hands were just trying to grip the hook of my bath pajamas with all my might, not wanting my upper body to be exposed in front of his face.I swallowed my saliva to calm my unbearable heartbeat. A moment later, the silence of the room is replaced with the sound of heavy yet soft giggling.My opponent backs away from his desire to press his body against mine. My eyes blinked in confusion. I thought Luke Davis was going to kiss me earlier. But it’s not!?Then I've been anxious for n
Belle's POV“Nggg~” Raven whined in tears when I separated him from his soft pillow. Not much different from her brother, Christ, who had already cried when his deep sleep was awakened. I really couldn't bear to wake them up in their unhealthy state.'However, Mattheo is already in Japan. It's only a matter of time until he finds the location of this hospital and my nightmare will come true.' I reminded myself not to let my guard down for a second in this critical situation.“Forgive your mother, my dear. I'm sorry.” I repeatedly apologized to my two babies who had to become victims of their parents' problems. I had to do this now or never.While Robert was still talking to someone on his phone, while the hospital was still too quiet for the guards to find me. Once again, I had to leave everything behind for my two babies. I'm not sure I would have survived if I hadn't hurried now.As soon as I found out Mattheo had reached Japan, the stitches in my stomach were excruciating. My stoma
Natalia’s POVI never expected to get a surprise like this, Mattheo's coming to the hospital and seeing me alone had managed to make my heart beat.I never imagined that Mattheo would even give me another surprise that was even more shocking than the previous one, not only did it make me do heart exercises, but it almost made my heart fall out of place because I was so surprised to see Mattheo in front of my eyes when I was just a few steps away from getting into the car.It was even more shocking that he was waiting for me there, like he already knew what I was going to do after this. Mattheo, he couldn't possibly know that I was going to leave and escape through the back door of the hospital and he couldn't possibly know that I kept a car in the backyard of this hospital either, right?''So, what are you going to say again this time? What are you going to explain about everything that has happened this time, where are you going and what made you decide to escape from this hospital?'
Natalia’s POVWho would have thought, a few moments after the phone call with Ragen had been disconnected, the doctor came back into the hospital room and he again checked my condition, which was still lying weakly on the hospital bed even though it had been assisted by drugs and also an IV tube that was still attached to my wrist.I will not waste this good opportunity. I will ask the doctor if I can get out of the hospital right now, so that I can meet Mommy Ragen without getting suspicion from anyone, including Mattheo if he finds me out there again.Unfortunately what I hoped for didn't really come true, the doctor stuck to his decision of not allowing me to be discharged from the hospital. My body that was still weak and not fully healthy was used as an excuse to keep me here.But I also can't stay here like this, I have to go and see Ragen before she does something much worse, she could tell Mattheo and twist the facts so that Mattheo only hates me.No, I can't let that happen!
Natalia’s POV''Mattheo, can I talk to you outside? There's something I want to talk to you about,'' Robert said which made me turn my head, wondering to myself what Robert was going to talk to Mattheo about?Was he going to say something very important that I shouldn't know so Robert asked Mattheo to leave?Shit, why can't my brain think properly? Even if Robert asked Mattheo to talk outside together, I was sure that Robert wouldn't tell the truth. Yes, he is also the one who has always helped me, if what I hid from Mattheo was revealed, it would also drag his name and Robert would not do that, I'm sure.Never mind, I should just trust him for now. Trying to convince myself that Robert will definitely not do anything wrong, he must have thought about it and considered it carefully before doing something.''Talking together? What do you want to tell me, is there something important?''Robert without hesitation immediately nodded to confirm what Mattheo had questioned, confirming that
Natalia’s POV''Why does your face look so pale after seeing me? Your reaction is so exaggerated, it's like you're seeing a ghost.'' Mattheo mocking me again while I was still trying to convince myself that what I was seeing was real, that Mattheo's presence in front of my eyes was not a hallucination due to the effects of the medicine I had taken.But his coming to the hospital and visiting me was real.He was really in front of me and was even looking at me intently, my palms were getting wet when I saw the way Mattheo was looking at me. With my nerves getting the better of me, I tried to act casual despite the fact that my heart was almost out of place.I'm afraid that Mattheo knows the truth about me, I'm afraid that he knows what I'm hiding from him, and I'm also afraid that Mattheo knows what makes me here now.This stress that I'm feeling, I'm sure it has something to do with Mommy Ragen's request that told and forced me to follow her will, assist her to seize custody of both M
Natalia’s POVI never thought that things would never go as smoothly as Mommy Ragen wanted, the process of taking custody of the child that she wanted was not as easy as imagined.'There was too much drama to be done, too many lies that needed to be prepared in order to get everything that Mommy Ragen wanted.'However, the fire of desire that has been burning so big inside her makes she completely unadvised in any way, she still imposes her will and insists on doing everything possible so that her goal can be achieved immediately.Even I could only stay silent and pensive staring in disbelief at her in front of there who was still talking to the Lawyer to discuss what they would do next so that the custody of Belle's two children could fall into the hands of her grandmother who was none other than Ragen.I did not expect that her ambition to control all the assets inherited to the two babies would make her desperate to do anything, even to the point of trying to seize the custody of B
Ragen’s POV''Robert, no matter what happens. I hope you will keep your mouth shut from everyone, I don't want all this to leak out to others and put me in danger. Mommy would immediately suspect me if what she is planning to do is leaked to others, you want to help me right?''Robert immediately nodded his head, agreeing to what Natalia said to hide everything he knew. To keep everyone's mouth shut so that what was happening here wouldn't leak out.''Of course, you don't have to worry about me leaking it. I will definitely keep my mouth shut with everything that has happened, just relax.'' he reassured Natalia and managed to make her smile with relief, at least Robert could be trusted for now.''That's good, for the time being, we should hide everything that happened from everyone, especially Mattheo, he shouldn't know what his mother is planning. I myself am also reluctant to get involved with that oldman madness, I don't know what the end will be, but I can guess that things will d
Ragen’s POVFrom where I was sitting, I could see Natalia shaking her head, looking very distrustful of me who dared to go against the law to get what I wanted.Of course I dare because it's not the law that I will fight against that I have in mind, but the property that will belong to Belle's two children that will also belong to me if I manage to get custody of the two children.Whatever she thinks, I don't care what she thinks here either, I'm not asking for her opinion. But I'm just forcing her and the lawyer in front of me right now to do what I want.Yes, not just the lawyer. But Natalia must also comply with what I want, whatever I tell her, she must obey!''Why are you shaking your head like that, Natalia? What are you thinking?'' I asked her, furious too because more and more Natalia seemed very out of line with my mindset.''Nothing, Mom. Just.. I think I need to go to the restroom first, You just continue the conversation with Mr. lawyer.''Natalia immediately rose to her f
Ragen’s POV''Natalia, I only asked you to accompany me to the legal counsel. Why are you so scared of being found out by Mattheo? After all as long as we keep quiet and don't tell anyone then it will all be safe right, or do you really want me to do something to you first so that you will listen to what I say and make you want to obey my orders?''I stared at Natalia's two eyeballs so intently, giving off an intimidating aura that was so strong as to pressure Natalia and make her give up on her initial decision to refuse my orders.“Please, I can’t do this,” She’s still rejecting me.“You certainly know what I mean, Natalia. It's not a difficult thing to influence Mattheo to hate you by bringing up his children's names, I can do that if you continue to refuse me. Ah, how about I tell Mattheo that you secretly want to harm his children?''Natalia looked surprised when I suddenly turned my head to look at her, I also saw her body jumped up when I suddenly turned my head and looked at h