Amihan's POV, "I know I missed you more," Derrick said, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise."What do you mean by that?" I asked, feeling slightly defensive."I've tried contacting you online for years, but you never responded to my messages," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "I thought maybe you didn't want to hear from me anymore.""You should know that Amihan is not very good at checking her social media notifications," Judith said, coming to my defense. "It's not that she doesn't want to talk to you, it's just that she doesn't make it a habit to check her messages.""I suppose that's something I should keep in mind," Derrick said, his voice still tinged with sadness."I think it's important to cultivate the habit of regularly checking my messages, as they often contain unexpected treasures," I said, trying to convey my meaning with more nuance. "It was through online communication that I met my baby, Maxwell. I've missed out on a lot by not being more attentive to my mess
Amihan's Pov, "You sound like you still have feelings for Derrick," Judith said in a low voice, a mischievous grin on her face.I shushed her, worried that Derrick might overhear our conversation. "Don't say that," I whispered. "He'll hear you!""Oh come on, relax. I'm sure he's too nervous to eavesdrop," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "But seriously, I want to know. Are you still in love with him?""No, of course not," I said, trying to sound convincing. "I have nothing but fond memories of our time together, but I'm not in love with him anymore."Even as I said the words, I couldn't help but wonder if I was being completely honest with myself. Were there still some lingering feelings for Derrick buried deep down? I didn't know the answer, and I wasn't sure I wanted to.Judith studied my face, searching for any signs of hesitation or doubt. Hmm... I see," Judith said in a teasing tone. "I admit that I have some affection for Derrick," I said, choosing my words carefully. "Bu
Maxwell's POV, The moment I arrived at Amihan's apartment, I knocked at the food. A few moments later, the door swung open to reveal a guy I had never met before. He looked at me with a friendly smile and said, "Hello, Good evening,""Good evening," I replied. His eyes met mine with a friendly glint. He was a handsome guy and I suspected he was Judith's boyfriend. I had expected to see the guy Judith had kissed in the parking lot as his date for tonight but perhaps, she had seen another reason to dump him and this was her new boyfriend. No matter what the case may be, I was happy for her. All I wanted was to get her off my back. "You must be Maxwell," the guy said, extending his hand to me. I took it and returned his firm handshake, feeling a sense of unease as I studied his face. "It's nice to meet you," I said, hoping my voice sounded more confident than I felt."It's a pleasure to meet you too," he replied, and then his eyes shifted to something behind me. I turned to see Ami
Dalisay's POV,Everything seemed to be moving well since the arrival of my daughter, even our company was able to enjoy a sustainable increase as a result of the cooperation with Amihan, well everything seemed to have happened at the same time and it filled me with contentment and satisfaction, I had found an inner strength and another reason to live for, she had filled me with the courage I needed to get right back on track,There was this peace I felt deep within, and after a very long time of persistent downturn, I was glad I could take a deep breath again without any nudge in my heart.I had just finished putting my daughter back to sleep when my mom came into my room ready for work, "How is your granddaughter faring, my dear?" my mother inquired, her footsteps gently padding towards the cot where the infant slept peacefully. "She has returned to slumber, at last," I replied, my voice soft and soothing, mirroring the tenderness that glowed in my heart. "I can see you're ready f
Judith's POV, As I walked through the office doors on that fateful Monday morning, a smile of contentment played upon my lips, lingering from the delightful weekend I had just experienced. From the dual date that kept Maxwell on his toes to Amihan and Derrick bonding like lovers during our outing on Sunday. In no time, I'm sure they would find their way into each other arms again. As I entered the conference room, I saw Maxwell's eyes flicker towards me, and I responded with a polite smile. But instead of a friendly greeting in return, his expression remained impassive. I held my head high and kept my expression neutral, determined not to let his disapproval get to me. "Good morning, Mr. Julius," I greeted my boss with a cheerful smile as I took my seat in the conference room. I was a bit late, as usual, but I was determined to make the most of the meeting and contribute in a meaningful way. I straightened my tie and sat up straight in my chair, ready to be an active participant in
Amihan's POV,As I gazed out the window of my office on that crisp, autumnal Monday morning, the cool breeze that wafted through the room brought with it a flood of memories from the day before. I remembered the outing I'd had with Derrick and Judith, and the many laughs we'd shared. I couldn't help but smile, replaying those moments in my head. It had been a magical day, one I never wanted to forget. Derrick had been like a soulmate, completing me in a way that was both unexpected and profound, even though I tried to be careful around him, I couldn't deny I had something for him. As my thoughts began to clear, I realized that the serenity I had felt after my recent achievements had been replaced by a storm of questions and doubts. The appearance of little Bella and the return of Derrick had muddied the waters of my mind, blurring the lines between friendship and something more. I tried to convince myself that my feelings for Derrick were purely platonic, but I couldn't shake the nag
Maxwell's pov, I knew if I ever wanted to escape from the clutches of Judith's torment, I had to take a bold step towards freedom. And the first step was quitting my job at the company. My girlfriend, Amihan's birthday was coming up and I wanted to make it as special as possible, especially since I had begun to feel threatened by Derrick's presence. He seemed to be a rival for Amihan's affections and I was determined to show her that I was the one she truly belonged with.Three days had passed since I had made the bold decision to quit my job, and I had to admit that I felt more liberated than ever before. The constant pressure from Judith was finally gone and I felt a new sense of freedom and energy that I hadn't felt in a long time."So, how did you like the movies?" Amihan asked, breaking me out of my thoughts as we drove back to my house. We had spent the entire day together, doing everything from shopping to dining out and even taking a long walk in the park. It had been a wonde
Judith's Pov, After being publicly humiliated by Maxwell at the office, I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to salvage the relationship. I called his mother and told her about how Maxwell had treated me and even resigned from the company.As I sat on Maxwell's couch, waiting for his mother's arrival, I felt a sense of comfort and anticipation. I couldn't wait to be the one in control of his heart and his life.Amihan had confided in me about her experience meeting Maxwell's mother. She had been treated coldly and she was determined to win over her approval. Even though I had advised her to keep calm and give it time, I was secretly glad that she was finding it difficult. Amihan was a romantic who believed strongly in family love and acceptance. She wouldn't feel settled with Maxwell until his mother accepted her. This was working in my favor."I'm sorry for the delay," she said as she joined me in the living room. "I was busy making some food for my son. We argued last night about y
Three years later, Amihan's Pov, Three years had passed, and everything had changed. I stood at the window, looking out at the world below, and a wave of mixed emotions washed over me. Nostalgia, regret, wistfulness, pride, hope. It was a complex stew of feelings, impossible to separate or label. I closed my eyes, letting the memories wash over me like a summer rain.As I thought about the journey that had brought me here, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. It had been a long road, full of twists and turns, but I was finally where I wanted to be. The funeral for Dalisay was a somber but beautiful affair, a fitting tribute to a life well-lived. As she was laid to rest, it felt like her soul was finally at peace.In the weeks and months that followed, Karl and Adams threw themselves into raising Bella. They loved her fiercely, determined to give her everything they could. And as she grew, she began to resemble her mother more and more, both in looks and in spirit. With little Bella by
Amihan's POV, I tried to sit up, but the pain in my head and stomach was excruciating. I could feel the grogginess of sleep slowly fading away, and I became aware of my surroundings. It was a hospital room, and the memory of the shooting came flooding back. "Mom," I said weakly, my voice hoarse from disuse. "Where is Dalisay?""Dalisay's getting the best care possible, honey," my mom said, her voice gentle and soothing. But even as she spoke, I couldn't help but sob. I felt so guilty, knowing that Dalisay had risked her life to save me."She's going to be okay," my mom said, rubbing my back comfortingly. "And you're going to be okay too. We're all going to get through this together."I wanted to believe her, but my emotions were still too raw. I couldn't stop crying. My gaze shifted to the corner of the room, and I saw Judith standing next to my father. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked like she had been crying. I felt a surge of anger well up inside of me."What is sh
Two weeks later, Judith's POV, The last two weeks had been a blur of pain and anguish. My best friend, Amihan, lay comatose in the hospital, clinging to life by a thread same as Dalisay. I blamed myself for everything that had happened. It was my selfish desire for Maxwell that had caused all of this. I had been so jealous of Amihan's relationship with him, that I had pushed her to move into the mansion, even though I knew it was dangerous. And now she was fighting for her life, while I was left with nothing but regret and guilt."Judith, you look exhausted," Amihan's mother said, her face filled with concern. "Why don't you go home and get some rest? You've been here at the hospital for days now."As soon as they had received news of Amihan's incident, her Foster parents had flown down from New York, arriving the next day. They had been at the hospital ever since, taking turns to stay with Amihan. She was right. I hadn't slept in days, and I was running on empty. But I didn't want
Karl's POV,"We have to be fast with whatever we have to do, because Chloe or Susan whichever you want to call her, is a crazy woman and wouldn't hesitate to do anything, her words shouldn't be taken lightly," I said to them who had been listening to me without interruption with my eyes wide open, I swallowed hard in an attempt to quell my panic that had gotten a grip of my heart,I was scared as I spoke which made my voice shake, I was scared if revealing the truth about my status with Chloe, the fear of making Luciana and Dalisay find out that I had been lying to them about my first wife made me pick my words with care."So, what are we going to do now? Because as long as I'm concerned, everyone of you here are suspect, and I'm going to get you all arrested." Maxwell responded unflinchingly, without any iota of panic in him, his expression was grimly as he spoke making everyone shift uneasily on their spot, except Luciana who had been sitting quietly with her fingers resting on her
Dalisay's POV,"Then who did?" he demanded, slamming his hand down on the desk, sending the files scattered across its surface into disarray. His eyes blazed with anger, and his frustration was palpable. "Who was the last person to see her? I need answers, and I need them now!"As I rolled my eyes in thought, a sudden realization hit me. It dawned on me that my mother could be behind Amihan's disappearance. My eyes widened in horror, and I bit my lip, trying to keep my composure. I knew that if I let my emotions get the best of me, this man would see through my facade. "Please calm down, we'll get to the bottom of...""I can't calm down!" he shouted, cutting me off in mid-sentence. His breathing was labored, and his eyes flashed with anger. The look on his face was terrifying, and I felt my heart skip a beat. He looked like a man possessed, and I knew that I had to tread carefully. Fear gripped me as I tried to find the right words to say. I knew that I had to diffuse the situation,
Maxwell's POV,My heart skipped a beat as I saw Amihan's name flash across my phone's screen. I hurriedly picked up the call, but the noise of the airport around me made it difficult to hear what she was saying. She sounded upset, her voice urgent and panicked. I tried to make out what she was saying, but it was impossible. I needed to find a quiet place to take the call.I began to look around for a secluded spot, but the airport was crowded and bustling with activity. Everywhere I looked, people were rushing around, their voices blending together into a cacophony of sound. I had been planning to move to the United Kingdom and start over, but Amihan's call had given me pause. "Babe," I said, my voice quivering as I answered the phone. "I'm sorry. Are you there?""I'm here," she said, her voice trembling. "Please...help me." And then, the line went dead.My heart sank, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me. What had happened? What could she need help with? I tried to call her back
Amihan's POV, "Bella, please wait!" I heard Adam's voice calling after me as I ran from the mansion, but I ignored him. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to be alone. "Leave me alone!" I shouted, not even bothering to turn around. I just kept running, my feet carrying me further and further away from the pain and the betrayal.My heart thumped as I hurried away from the mansion, its weight pressing against my chest as if to crush me. Each step I took reverberated in my head, a pulsing reminder of the hurt that lay ahead. As memories of the betrayal that followed my misplaced trust flooded back, they threatened to drown me in despair. The images of the accident that had almost claimed my life ten years ago flashed before my eyes, a maelstrom of chaos and pain. I threw myself into the car, slamming the door shut as if to keep out the demons that pursued me. I could barely breathe, my chest rising and falling in rapid, panicked breaths. I knew I had to get away, to put
Karl's POV,"Where do you think you're going, sneaking off like that?" Luciana's voice rang out behind me, causing me to freeze in my tracks. She was sitting comfortably, cigarette in hand, a smirk on her lips. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, and I knew I had to think of something quickly."You're... here," I managed to stammer out, trying to regain my composure and collect my thoughts."I was just... I was just getting some fresh air," I stammered, my voice trembling with nerves. "Of course I'm here," she replied, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Her gaze was fixed intently on me, as if she were sizing me up, her eyes boring into mine. "I've always been here, and my eyes have always been on you."I felt myself flush under her gaze, feeling like a bug under a microscope. I knew I had to say something, anything, to break the silence that was hanging heavy in the air. But I couldn't think of a single thing to say."You have something urgent to take care of?" she asked, rais
Judith's POV,Despite the shame and pain coursing through my body, I climbed into my car and slammed the door shut. I had no destination in mind, I just wanted to get away. As I sat there, I realized that my hands were shaking and that my entire body was trembling.In a desperate attempt to relieve the pressure building within me, I let out a primal scream. But it did nothing to soothe the turmoil inside me. At that moment, I realized that Maxwell's mother was to blame for much of the mess I was in. She had played a part in orchestrating the events that had led to this moment, and she needed to take responsibility for her actions.The more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that the only way out of this situation was to confront her directly.With shaking hands, I rummaged through my bag for my phone. As soon as I found it, I dialed Maxwell's mother's number. The phone rang and rang, and just when I was about to give up hope, she answered. Her voice was cold and uninvitin