I slumped onto the couch, exhausted, as we arrived home. I didn't expect that we would have so many customers until closing time. I closed my eyes, finding comfort in the position I was in, and decided to take a short nap. I sensed someone quietly sitting beside me, causing a slight frown on my forehead. Yet, tiredness prevailed, and I chose not to open my eyes. "Do you want a massage? I'm good at it." I shifted to my side to see where he was sitting, opening my left eye to glance at him. His head was resting on his arms, lifted from the floor, revealing a peaceful expression. My gaze focused on his nose and lips. The straightness of his nose and the natural pink of his lips caught my attention. I wasn't usually into handsome guys, as I easily get bored, but there was something about Alex's good looks that I enjoyed staring at every day. Why, though? "You're tired yourself. Maybe next time," I calmly replied. He peeked at me and smiled. "I'm not tired; I'm just resting. You've be
I strolled for about five hours, and I hurriedly finished cleaning inside and outside the house. People started coming around seven in the evening, and I completed my tasks by eleven. I noticed Ate Sadie passing by, so I approached her. "Ate, did you contact Kuya Anton? Aren't they done there yet? Maybe they're on their way home, so I'll just wait for them here." "Anton? He came back a while ago. He just went home briefly." "Wh-what? What time did he come back here?" She thought for a moment and looked at me. "Around nine just now. He said he'd come back to pick me up." Anxiety hit me when I heard that. He had been there for five hours and hadn't come back yet. I felt a bad vibe about this. He should be fine since his men were with him, but why did I still feel uneasy? I decided to go out and check on him. Despite the crowd outside, I didn't mind walking at night. For some unknown reason, it felt like someone was watching my every move, but I shrugged it off and walked towards th
THIRD PERSON Alexander wore a sharp charcoal gray suit with a sleek black turtleneck, giving off a confident and modern feel. A subtle chain necklace and well-chosen accessories highlighted his attention to detail, creating a stylish look and his black hair was carefully brushed upward, giving him a refined look suitable for the event he will attend tonight. Even though he was just a guest, he held one of the largest shares in the service. He carried himself with quiet confidence, as if every detail of his outfit and grooming reflected his intention to appear formal and polished at the event. He drove his Bugatti La Voiture Noire that cost 18.7 million dollars that he purchased when he was in Switzerland. This is the first ever car he purchased when he was 25 years old and now he is 28 years old, he has lots of it. He owns a total of six expensive cars, but most of the time, he prefers using the McLaren 720s when in the Philippines. He finds it more enticing since it's the first
After he dropped off Isabella at her apartment, he told her to go to Hawaii for their first week under the contract. On the same night, he instructed some members of his security team to patrol while they were away, and his suspicion was correct: Lavinia was involved. The apartment where Isabella lived was on the verge of exploding. He knew that if that happened, the issue would quickly disappear, and public attention would focus again because that's the problem when a name becomes popular—they can easily manipulate the media. He prevented that from happening through the skilled agents he hired specifically for that area. Lavinia followed them even in Hawaii, and he tried to divert his attention to other things when Lavinia was around. But when he saw Isabella with that man—Michael, it felt like veins in his head were about to burst! How could she smile with that jerk? She should only be with him and no one else! He disregarded Lavinia's threat and accompanied Isabella during the
Isabella Heyes Dasmond. Is this what they call the magic words? I suddenly became calm. The anger and pain from earlier slowly faded, though not entirely because I started overthinking again. "You love me?" He kissed the tip of my nose. "Yes. I love you, sweetie. Please, hear me out, and I won't lie to you. I'll explain everything, okay?" I pulled away, but he shook his head to dissuade me. "No, please, Isabella. Please hear me out." Wiping away the tears that escaped my eyes, I looked at him. "Will hearing your explanation be worth my time? Will it ease the pain when I hear what you have to say?" I asked bitterly. His eyes frowned, but he held onto my hand. "I-Isabella." "Let go of me, Alex. I'm tired." A hint of tears welled in his eyes upon hearing that. I avoided eye contact and wiped my damp cheeks. "I'm tired of standing, so let's just sit here for a while." "Does that mean--" "Start explaining if you don't want me to run away again and never show myself to you." He s
WARNING: not suitable for young readers and sensitive minds. Read at your own risk. We let the silent night consume our thoughts, and the only sounds we heard in our surroundings were the chirping of crickets and the insects awake at night. He was still hugging me, burying his face in my neck. I also felt that he is smelling it and I felt embarrassed, thinking I might smell sweaty. "I'm not fragrant. You've been sniffing my neck for a while now. What are you, a dog?" I teased, unable to stay still. Despite this, it didn't faze him, so I felt the warmth from his body until I was surprised to feel my back damp. "Alex?" I called out. "Hm?" "Why do I feel wet on my back?" He gently pulled away from our embrace, and I sensed the coolness on my back. I faced him quickly and touched his face, eventually reaching his wet hair. "Did you get caught in the rain? Or did you take a shower?" I touched his hair and combed it with my fingers, hoping it would dry. I actually had a towel here; I
I couldn't sit still as I approached Mama's place. We were outside the gate, and Alex was behind me. Mama greeted me with an emotionless look. I knew she was angry about what I did last night, disrespecting and quarreling with her sibling. "Tita-" Alex couldn't continue speaking as Mama quickly embraced me. "If it weren't for Alexander, I might have gone crazy looking for you. You always bring me problems, Isabella," she said, pulling away and looking at me. "Why didn't you tell me that your cousin was hurting you?" I couldn't utter a word. Mama had no idea about what I went through back in high school with my cousin Alohi. I didn't want Mama to be angry with her sister. I bowed my head. "If you're suffering because of their behavior, they're not family to me, Isa. You're my priority because you're my child, and I must protect you. Just because they're our relatives doesn't mean they can mistreat you. I brought you into this world without their help. I don't care if they get angry
Isabella's uncle named James stood on their doorstep, a twinkle in his eye, wearing a farm hat and his usual boots. He had a hunch that she would join him at the Orchard as she did once or twice a year. So, he informed her mother before picking her up to join their harvest. The couple glanced as he knocked; they were in the living room watching a show. Isabella leaned against Alexander, engrossed in a Hollywood movie on his laptop—something she always enjoyed, and he indulged her. Luckily, Alexander finished Addison's task and now had time for his girlfriend. Isabella stood to open the door, anticipating the familiar knock. "Isabella," he greeted her with a wide grin. "It's time to shine. Ready?" Isabella's eyes sparkled. She cherished her time in the orchard, finding fulfillment and relishing the juicy fruits from her uncle's farm. "Let's go, Uncle!" She was about to head to her room to change but remembered that Alexander wanted to come along. He was looking at her, and she ret