I woke up with a rumbling feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want to get up just yet because I still wanted to lie down, but my hunger was getting unbearable.I rubbed my eyes before slowly opening them. As I looked outside, I noticed that it was already dark.I yawned and sat up, glancing at the small clock resting on the bedside table. My drowsiness disappeared instantly as I realized it was already eight in the evening.“No wonder I’m so hungry,” I said to myself.I stood up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Afterward, I quickly tidied myself up before heading out. However, I nearly jumped in surprise when I noticed a man standing beside the door, keeping watch.He was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and a black coat. He also had black slacks and black shoes. There was a gun holstered on his waist, and his hands were clasped behind his back.“Good evening, Madame!” he greeted cheerfully, displaying deep dimples as he smiled.I was used to seeing guards scattered around inside a
Nathalia’s POVAfter eating, I decided to watch TV for a while. Cole sat on the single sofa beside me and watched as well. Despite that, I couldn’t help but think about Stephen’s condition and his wound, wanting to know how he was doing and help him heal.But I restrained myself. I shouldn’t care about him. If he wants to end his life, it’s his own business. It might even be better for me if that happens.“How long have you been working for Stephen?” I asked Cole while my eyes were fixed on the TV.To be honest, I couldn’t understand what I was watching because my thoughts were wandering all over the place.I saw him smile from my peripheral view.“The truth is, I was just a child when I ended up under Anderson’s care. They found me wandering on the streets back then. I escaped from the orphanage I grew up in because I didn’t get along with the other kids there.”I heard him take a deep breath.“They took me in, cared for me, dressed me, educated me, and gave me a home. So, I owe them
I crossed my arms and gave him a bored look, trying not to show that I had forgotten about that detail.“You might be forgetting that we’re only married on paper. Now, I’ll take the bed, and you will take the sofa!” I pointed to the sofa on the side. “I don’t want to sleep next to you!”Just the thought of lying beside the man who made my life miserable was unbearable. Who knows? He might even try to do something worse to me!The thought sent shivers down my spine. If he dares, he’ll get a kick where it hurts.An evil grin formed on his lips.“You might also be forgetting who you’re talking to. Watch your words, woman.” His tone was threatening.I was slightly taken aback. He could still harm my family and friends.I swallowed hard and stared back at him.“I’m just stating the truth. We’re only married on paper. It’s not as if we’re in love or something. In the first place, why did you even offer to marry me? For the safety of your secret? But wouldn’t it be safer if you had just kill
Nathalia’s POVI’ve been locked inside the mansion for two weeks now. If it’s not the servants, I’m often talking to plants. I feel like I’m going to die or go crazy from extreme boredom.And to add to that, there’s Cole, who is always tailing me, and I rarely have a decent conversation with him. He never runs out of lame and corny jokes, which I find unusual for a bodyguard. I always associate that kind of behavior with someone serious and intimidating.But with Cole, everything is just cool. He somehow lightens up my mood.Mads and the others have visited me here several times, but because there are guards around, especially Cole, I’m not comfortable talking to them properly. It seems like they’re used to having so many guards all over the mansion.I tried to seize the opportunity to escape this hell for a while. I asked if we could go out because I miss bonding with them and to get away from this hellish place, even if only temporarily.But Stephen, being evil himself, managed to c
“Are you sure you’re really okay? I can carry the bags for you. Stephen won’t find out if that’s what’s bothering you.”I looked back at Cole, who was almost out of breath from carrying so many paper bags. I had been so engrossed in shopping earlier that I didn’t realize I had bought so much.“I’m okay, Madame,” he replied with a smile.I nodded before continuing to walk. I didn’t mind the curious looks from people around us.Is it their first time seeing someone with a bodyguard?I felt exhausted from the whole day of wandering and shopping. It was the first time I’d gone on a shopping spree like this because I’m not really extravagant. I usually avoid letting my Mom spend too much on me.But since the money I was spending belonged to Stephen, I might as well make the most of it. Who knows when my last day in this world will be? I might as well buy and eat all I want.We had just finished eating at a restaurant, and I decided it was time to go home. It’s not good to stay out beyond t
Nathalia’s POV“Just let me see her! You dumbass!”“She’s still resting! So, will you just shut your fucking mouth? You might wake her up!”“I don’t care! Besides, you still have a lot of explaining to do! What the hell happened? You promised us that you wouldn’t endanger her!”I woke up due to the loud shouting I heard from somewhere. I was about to ignore it when I suddenly realized that the two voices arguing were familiar to me.“Things happened. You know that no matter how careful I am, they’re always lurking around, waiting for the right moment to attack.”“I know, and I warned you before about that. But you didn’t listen. That’s why I’ll take her back!”“No! I won’t let you!”Because I was so annoyed by the noise, I finally opened my eyes. I blinked a few times to clear my vision. Slowly, the surroundings became clear and familiar.I sat up slowly, holding my head. I tried to recall what happened and how I ended up in our room.From what I remember, I went to the mall with Cole
Stephen’s POVI quickly got out of the car as soon as it stopped in front of a cream-colored bungalow house. It stood far from civilization and served as the headquarters of the Anderson Mafia.As I looked around, I immediately noticed several other cars parked side by side, but something still seemed missing.I adjusted my polo shirt before starting to walk. The scattered guards greeted me politely as I passed by.“Good evening, Sir Stephen!”I just nodded at them before heading inside. From the outside and within, the place seemed like an ordinary house, but its true nature was far from that.They swiftly moved aside a red carpet before opening the door on the floor, leading to a staircase. As I descended, two stainless steel doors greeted me, which would only open if the adjacent eye sensor security system recognized me.I positioned my right eye in front of it, and after a short moment, the words “Access Granted” appeared on the screen, and the doors slowly opened.I was greeted b
Third Person’s POVTHE WIND was cold. The surroundings were quiet and dark, and only the rustling of leaves could be heard.Not far away, there was a group of people who had been observing an old building for some time.“Stephen, aren’t we going to attack yet? My fists are itching to punch someone,” Ashter muttered beside him, his face scowling as he gazed at the abandoned building just a few meters away from their hiding spot.Stephen remained silent, knowing that his friend already knew the answer to his own question. He was just getting impatient.He sighed and quietly observed his scattered team and friends, as well as a few of their men, while leaning on the hood of his car. Cole was not with them at the moment; he left him and the others at the mansion to guard his wife.The security of the mansion was undoubtedly high. From the iron gate that could not easily be broken down to the CCTV cameras scattered around, monitored 24/7 by some of his men in the control room, everything w
TYLER woke up to the sound of his wife’s loud scream. He jolted out of bed and quickly searched for Sabrina with his eyes. He saw her lying on the floor, clutching her belly and wincing in pain. He rushed to her side immediately.“Wifey, what happened? What’s hurting?” he asked anxiously. However, his words caught in his throat as he noticed liquid flowing down her legs.“My water broke! I think I’m in labor, hubby!” She held onto his arm tightly. Her nails dug into his skin, but he paid them no mind.Tyler was at a loss for what to do. He had been about to grab their prepared items, but her screams continued to fill the room. He carefully lifted her into his arms and quickly headed out of the room. They had been sleeping in a room on the first floor for ease of access in case she suddenly went into labor.They were met by a startled Salome, who was still wiping her hands, probably from doing the dishes.“What happened? I heard Sabrina scream loudly,” she asked, her eyes moving down t
SABRINA couldn’t help but laugh when she noticed her husband’s sullen face. Today marks their second wedding anniversary. But it seems like it’s been hit by a stroke of bad luck. “Hey. You have nothing to worry about because we can still celebrate our anniversary tonight.” She cheered him up.Tyler let out a deep sigh before walking over to her and wrapping both of his arms around her waist.“I can’t help it. We are supposed to be celebrating already right at this moment. But suddenly, there was a problem in the company. Why does it have to happen on this day of all days?”She gently stroked his arm. “Let it be. What’s important is that we sort out the issue first. We can celebrate anytime.”He snorted before kneeling down and kissing her stomach.“Baby, just wait for Daddy, okay? Just behave there, alright? Don’t give Mommy a hard time. I love the both of you,” he said to their child.Tears welled up in Sabrina’s eyes. She never imagined that such a day would come. “We love you more
SABRINA blinked as she looked at herself in the mirror; she had no idea what was happening. It had only been a few minutes since Tyler left earlier, and she was taken aback when David suddenly appeared at the mansion’s door, accompanied by well-known stylists. Some of them she had even worked with before.“Wait. You still haven’t told me who sent you here or what kind of event I will be attending. Why don’t I know anything about it? I haven’t received any invitation,” she wondered aloud to the stylists.At first, she thought that her manager, Josefa, had accepted a project for her without consulting her. But when she called him earlier, he said there were none.“Just wait and see later, mamsh. For now, just sit back and relax,” said the makeup artist in a playful tone.She didn’t speak anymore and just let them continue with their work. When she tried calling her husband, his phone was turned off. So, for now, she will trust David. She’s known the man for a long time, so she knows he’
TYLER was engrossed in reading the report sent to him by Rodel when, suddenly, his car came to a halt. He was hesitant to send his friend back to work, but he was insistent.He closed his eyes and gently massaged his temples before setting down the tablet he was holding and getting out of the car. The sound of the strong waves greeted his ears from the nearby sea that was right in front of him. Because the sun was still scorching, he accepted the shades handed to him by his assistant and friend, David.“Your ex’s chosen location is pretty nice, huh? Going for the seaside restaurant vibe?” David chuckled humorlessly.Tyler looked at his friend with an expressionless face. While Rodel was quiet during work hours, his assistant David was the opposite—noisy and playful.“Shut up. Why haven’t you found a woman to love yet? So, you won’t be messing with my love life and bothering me,” he retorted, exasperated.David winced. “Man, I’ve seen enough of what you and Rodel went through because o
SABRINA remained in a daze, trying to comprehend Tyler’s words. Ever since their child disappeared, he has reverted to treating her coldly.But she understood him. What she couldn’t accept was the accusation he made against her a few weeks ago, right after they returned to the mansion from the hospital. He claimed that she deliberately and willingly allowed what happened because she wasn’t ready to have a child.She felt as if her husband had stomped on her heart, shattering it into pieces with the sharpness of his words. He didn’t even consider that it was also her child that they lost. She carried that child within her, even if it was for a short time. Above all else, she too experienced the pain of losing their baby. However, she couldn’t properly grieve because of Tyler’s cold treatment of her.After a few minutes, she finally recovered from her shock. She never imagined that her husband’s actions would lead to such a decision.With a sudden idea forming in her mind, she gently sq
TYLER raised the beer bottle he was holding before letting out a loud cheer. In the past few weeks, the bar had become like his second home, as he spent more time there than in his mansion.“Cheers!” he said before taking a big gulp from the bottle.“Ty, you’re drunk. We’ll take you home,” his assistant David intervened.“Yeah, that’s right. And Sabrina might be looking for you. It's already late, huh? I’m sure your wife is getting worried,” his secretary, Rodel, said as he tidied up the scattered empty beer bottles from the floor and gathered them on the table.Tyler shook his head and shrugged off David’s hand, who was trying to stop him, before looking at Rodel.“You should go home. Your wife needs you, especially since she just gave birth. You’re supposed to be enjoying your leave. I’m sorry for bothering you,” he insisted, shooing Rodel away.“You didn’t really bother me. Besides, Mayen’s older sibling is at home right now, so she has some company. But my wife would scold me if I
SABRINA posed gracefully, looking serious as she gazed at the camera. Today will be her final photo shoot before she completely leaves the modeling world. She didn’t want to create any major issues, so she aimed to quietly bid farewell to the world she had grown accustomed to.It had been a week since she and Tyler visited the obstetrician for a check-up. The doctor mentioned that her pregnancy was delicate, but they prescribed her vitamins and medication to support the baby’s development.“That’s it. Now, lay down slightly on the couch with your legs crossed and look in front of the camera with your parted lips. Give us your fierce look,” the photographer instructed.She immediately followed the photographer’s instructions. She carefully made her way and laid her body down slightly on the couch. She was wearing high heels. Despite not wanting to, she didn’t have any other choice. Besides, it was the last one anyway.From the corner of her eyes, she saw the manager attentively watchin
TYLER let out a frustrated curse when his assistant, David, showed him the pictures on his cellphone. He never thought that a picture of him and Tanya lurking at the bar a month ago would actually leak out.He stood up abruptly and slammed his hand on the table. “Find out who took those photos. Make sure they don’t spread any further,” he demanded, his jaw clenching as he looked at his assistant. “You already know what to do.”David nodded, “Yes, sir.” He excused himself before quickly leaving Tyler’s office.Tyler swiftly organized his things. Even though he hadn’t received a call from Sabrina about her photo shoot, he was determined to go to her immediately. He wouldn’t allow her to see those pictures. He didn’t want anything to upset her during this crucial time for both of them and their unborn child.Tyler practically flew his car to the restaurant where he left Sabrina earlier. When he arrived, he hurriedly went inside and looked for his wife.“Tyler!”He looked back to where th
SABRINA reached for Tyler’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her husband was frowning, and she didn’t want to leave him while he was still upset, especially since they had just recently reconciled.“Do you still really need to go to work? I can talk to your manager, even the other companies you’re contracted with. For sure, they’ll understand once they find out that you’re pregnant,” he said with a mixture of irritation and concern in his voice.She released a deep sigh. “I can still handle it, you know. Besides, I plan to finish my other pending commitments while my baby bump isn’t too noticeable yet. Once I’m done with everything, I’ll finally take a break. I’ll also talk to Jose about that later,” she assured him.At that moment, he turned to look at her. “Fine. But please be careful, okay?” He held her hand tightly, as if not wanting to let her go.“I will,” she replied. She leaned in and planted a tender kiss on his lips before finally saying goodbye and getting out of the car.