Alexandrine returned to her room, sat on the bed, and subconsciously thought, “ Why won’t some people let the past stay in the past? Why is it that every time I try to get over the past, it comes rushing back as if to remind me that I can’t set myself apart from it?”Alexandrine tried to sleep but instead of that happening, she recalled the past, that past that hurt her tremendously over the years. Waking up in horror, she went to the kitchen to get some water as she was feeling quite thirsty. As she was drinking her water, she subconsciously thought, “ Should I go check outside whether Johnson is still lingering there or not?”Recalling his pathetic act from earlier, she exited before finally deciding to go outside and check up on him. “ If he’s still there, I’ll call the police on him and they'll deal with him.” She muttered silently before heading toward the door and opening it.She closed her eyes for a moment and by the time she opened them to check whether Johnson was there, he
“ Did Johnson orchestrate all of this? Could he have done this?” Alexandrine subconsciously thought for a while. She recalled the times Nathaniel had lent her his support and assistance when she was going through a difficult time and thought about how she couldn’t let him down now that he was the one in need of help and assistance.“ First thing first, I need to make sure Johnson is truly the one behind this orchestration before anything.” Picking up her phone right next to her, she dialed Johnson’s phone number and set the call.Johnson, who was at the company at the time, picked up her call when he saw her name flashing through the screen. “ Yes, Alexandrine, what’s up!” He greeted with joy over the phone line to which Alexandrine responded straight away, “ There’s something I must discuss with you right away. When will you be back?”“ I’ll be at the villa in half an hour, so wait for me to get back and we’ll discuss everything then.” Johnson hung up the call right after terminating
As morning rose, Alexandrine slowly opened her eyes and stumbled upon Johnson holding her in his arms. “ I should get out of bed before he wakes up.” Alexandrine subconsciously thought but by the time she was about to attempt that, Johbnson awakened and joyfully muttered to her, “ Good morning, love! How was your night?”Johnson was grinning joyfully at her but Alexandrine kept silent instead of responding to him. The next time Johnson opened his mouth, he said to her, “ Our wedding date has been set and you won’t believe what day it is.” Johnson said jokingly, thinking Alexandrine might play along with him but he didn’t quite get the reaction he expected.Continuing from where he left off, he said, “ Our wedding will be taking place on your birthday which happens to be half a month away. Isn’t that exciting?” Looking at Johnson’s tender smile, her body involuntarily stiffened and she looked away from him without uttering a single word.Not taking Alexandrine’s ignorance as being an i
“ You—----, how dare you treat me like this? Release me immediately!” Tina screamed in pain. Alexandrine looked amused at the situation she was currently in and looked at her with a smug expression.“ Why are you looking at me like that?” Tina kept spreading her venom at Alexandrine and said, still smiling at her, “ Why are you screaming like that in my house?” Tina cringed when she heard her statement and said almost immediately, “ What did you just say? Did you imply just now that it was your house?”Alexandrine laughed at her question as she found it quite amusing. “ Tina, why are you so hilarious today, of all days?” “ You’re asking the stupidest questions today. Have you always been like that, or am I just finding out now?”Tina reacted even more strongly to her assertions. “ How dare you call me stupid and whatnot?” “ Just because Johnson took pity on you and decided to take you back, don’t you think you’re better than me?” Alexandrine smirked at her as her last sentence ended a
“ Alexandrine, what happened to you?” Johnson tried to wake her up by spilling water over her eyes, but nothing occurred. She remained unconscious and wouldn’t open her eyes. Concerned over her state, he picked her up and brought her to the room.Tina, having followed them, kept spreading her venom to Alexandrine although she was unconscious. “ What do you even find in her? What’s so special about her?” She asked Johnson who looked her way and said lovingly, “ She doesn’t have a wicked heart like you and treasures her relationships, unlike you.”Feeling quite offended by Johnson’s words, Tina provoked him by saying, “ Johnson, stop being so delusional! Alexandrine Claire isn’t as innocent and pure as you think. She wouldn’t have left you for that hot guy, Nathaniel Frost and she wouldn’t have left you all these years ago if she truly treasured her relationships as you said she does.”Being enraged at what Tina had just speculated about Alexandrine, “ Need I remind you thanks to whom m
“ Johnson, I cannot breathe. Could you please let go?” Out of breath, Alexandrine complained to Johnson, and realizing they had been hugging for quite some time, he released her, and looking at her with brightening eyes, he asked, “ Could I ask you something, Alexandrine?”“ Yes, what is it?” Alexandrine wondered before the question came what question Johnson could have for her. “ Why did you faint earlier?” Johnson forwarded the question to her but for some strange reason, she was unable to comprehend its meaning.“ What’s wrong, Alexandrine? Why are you staring at me like that?” Alexandrine looked as if she was staring into space. Johnson wanted to understand why she was being like that so when he confronted her, she muttered in response, “ I can’t quite remember the details but when I saw Tina’s necklace earlier, it looked kind of familiar to me. It looked as if I had seen it somewhere before. I cannot remember anything else past that, I’m sorry.”Her head started throbbing for som
“ I know you have a hard time believing my claims, given the thought that he had done so much for you, but believe me when I say he approached you with a purpose in mind.” Johnson’s words gave an end to Alexandrine’s reflections and as she stared at him confusingly, Johnson muttered, “ We shall be on our way now or we might get there late.”Johnson started the engine and drove off the villa while Alexandrine looked at the flier of the invitation to pass the time. According to what the flier implied, the cruise party was hosted by a wealthy British businessman. After reading the note, Alexandrine subconsciously wondered, “ As I have no choice but to attend this cruise party anyway, I hope I'll get to enjoy myself at least.”As her reflections ended, Johnson thought about how the atmosphere inside the car was so calm and thought of striking up a conversation. “ You are awfully quiet, Alexandrine. Are you thinking about something?” Alexandrine glanced toward him and asked, “ What do you
“ Alexandrine, come back here! I haven’t yet done talking to you.” Nathaniel chased Alexandrine around like a maniac. Alexandrine ran as fast as she could to escape from Nathaniel.As she continued running, she stumbled upon a path leading to a hallway and took it straight away. " I should be safe here." She subconsciously muttered as she hid somewhere in that location.Nathaniel, on the other hand, has lost her track. “ Where did she run off to?” Nathan ran to the opposite location from where Alexandrine had hidden.Alone, Alexandrine let her thoughts wander around in the breeze. “ How can someone change so drastically? Nathaniel, who used to be so sweet, has turned into a totally different person, and Johnson, who used to be a jerk, is becoming somewhat human. Is this what people call reverse psychology?” Alexandrine thought of the two various memories of her life. She first thought of Johnson’s unreasonable behavior in the past and how his indifference toward her led to her misery
Right after leaving the police department, Johnson headed straight to his company and the first thing he did as he arrived was to conduct a meeting." What's the purpose of this meeting?" One of the major shareholders asked Johnson who retorted, " This meeting has been staged to discuss the company's future going forward." Discuss the company's future?" Another shareholder intervened. " What is there to discuss? We've practically lost everything. Let's file for bankruptcy already instead of delaying the inevitable any further!"Responding sternly to the claims, Johnson uttered, " The J Consortium won't be filing for bankruptcy any time soon."???Johnson could see how everyone in the conference room was confused about the situation. " We've found the one behind the incident and he's currently in custody."………Looking over at the public relations department, The CEO of the J Consortium uttered professionally, " Release a statement in which everything is explained fully and explana
" Mommy?"?" Mommy, you've come about!" Before Joseph could understand what was going on, Marina ran into the ward with tears dripping down her cheeks.It was only after his twin sister was no longer blocking the view that he was able to finally see and grasp the situation before him." Mommy, I've missed you so much." Marina shed tears of joy in her mother's embrace. " Sorry to have worried you, Princess!"…Marina kept wetting when Alexandrine heard a familiar voice at the door. " Mom!" Joseph shouted to which Alexandrine grinned happily at him.Opening her other arm for him, she invited him to join them. " What are you doing there at the door? Hop in, my little prince!"Mom!" Joseph ran into his mother's embrace and the three happily hugged.Johnson, who was running after his children, finally caught up to them. With his eyes and face lowered, he uttered, " Finally, I have caught up with you two. Do you realize just how much you've made me run?"From his position, he could very mu
While all of this was going on, Nathaniel and Tina were on the run for their lives as Johnson's bodyguards were searching for them everywhere." What are you doing bringing so many things with you?" Nathaniel asked the latter as she was dragging suitcases with her. In retortion to his question, Tina said in response, " We'll be on the run for a while, so we might as well bring along all that we can for safekeeping."Looking toward Nathaniel, she said," I suggest you do the same."Nathaniel stared at her for a while without a word. He slowly walked away, guiding them on the road. Tina followed right behind him with her suitcase.At one point on the road, Tina complained to Nathaniel. " Why are we walking on foot when we could take transportation?"Nathaniel stopped in his steps at the relevance of those words. " If you enjoy transportation so much, why don't you go in alone?"…" Before you go though, you might want to leave your luggage behind because I don't think you'll be needing t
Back a few hours earlier, Johnson was at the hospital when his phone suddenly started ringing. Looking at the screen, his face brimmed with joy when he saw his love's name flash through the screen.As he was attempting to attend the call, he heard Tina's sarcastic voice on the other side stating, " You've always been curious about this jade necklace's origin, didn't you?"…" If you must know Alexandrine Claire, the one who saved Johnson back then, years ago was none other than yourself."Johnson was stunned by the revelation. " What is this woman talking about?" " How could Alexandrine be the girl from back then?" Johnson subconsciously thought as the narration continued." When you fell down the cliff, I claimed your necklace as mine." She huffed before adding sarcastically, " While you begged for Johnson's love, I didn't have to do anything to gain his love."As Tina continued narrating that tragic day, Johnson's head started to seriously hurt. The hurt brought back memories that w
" So this is what happened?"Still, in the abyss of her long-lost memories, Alexandrine subconsciously thought as she was unconscious, " So that means, I was the girl who saved Johnson long ago! I remembered everything as clear as day."" Due to me falling down the cliff, our history was changed and Johnson undoubtedly believed Tina was the girl who saved him."" She took advantage of my absence to take a place that wasn't hers in Johnson's heart. The reason why Johnson never looked my way was simply because he was keeping his promise to me."Recalling Johnson's promise once more, she subconsciously thought, " Although he forgot all about me, he didn't forget his oath. It's just that he got the wrong girl all along. Now that I've recalled my forgotten memories, I need to make sure Johnson knows the one who saved him that day was me all along and not Tina as he was led to believe all those years ago.Gathering her strength and energy, Alexandrine managed to break free from her unconsci
" Why do you look so shocked upon learning the truth about that necklace?" Tina glaringly revealed to her nemesis that she was the little girl who had saved Johnson Santos all those years ago and not her as she presumably led him to believe all those years ago.During the silence, Alexandrine subconsciously wondered, “ What is Tina talking about?” “ The one who saved Johnson years ago was me! How is that possible?”The next thing Alexandrine knew, Tina was joyfully clapping her hands and when she was done clapping, she said, “ I must thank you, Alexandrine Claire.”…“ If not thanks to your necklace, how would I have been able to foul Johnson for so long?” She smirked joyfully before adding, “ Had you not left your necklace out that day, I wouldn’t have been able to take your place in Johnson’s heart, so thank you so much, Alexandrine Claire.” She laughed hysterically at the end of her sentence.Alexandrine was too stunned by Tina’s craziness to ask any questions whatsoever. All she d
" What would you want me to do for you to prove my fidelity to you?" She asked and pondering on the matter some more, he uttered unconvinced, " No, this might not be a good idea, go away!"Tina hung on to his hand and said in retortion, " If you don't tell me the task you have for me, how will you know for sure that I'll fail without even giving me a chance to prove myself?"Pondering on her words for a while, Nathaniel uttered convinced, " Alright, I'll give you a chance to prove yourself but if you don't meet my expectations,-------------" Before he could conclude his statement properly, Tina cut him short and stated confidently, " I'll meet your expectations, you can be sure of that."" You won't find a better partner in crime than me. Besides, I'm used to getting everything I desire for myself and that's not about to change anytime soon." She ended her statement in a stern tone.Nathaniel chuckled maliciously, " I like the confidence you are harboring and so I decided to give you
“ Who would want to team up with you?” Alexandrine glared at her former friend and supporter with extreme coldness. “ What? Why are you looking at me like that?”“ Did you seriously think I’d allow you to use ema as a peon once more?” Nathaniel didn’t dare answer. Alexandrine wasn’t done telling him his four truths. “ You mentioned just now that whatever was happening was due to me standing by Johnson’s side, correct?”“ If that wasn’t truly my fault, then answer me this, would you?” Nathaniel flinched at the sound of that. “ Was it also my fault to befriend you and offer you my unconditional trust?” Once more, he was stuck and couldn’t answer her questions.“ Why won’t you answer me, Nathaniel?” She shouted as she added, “ Why won’t you admit once and for all that meeting you and letting you evade my life as you did was nothing but a mistake?”“ After all, had I not met you, I wouldn’t be in this situation and would certainly not have been used as a vulgar peon with no consideration
The moment Alexandrine awoke after a few hours, she realized she was bound in an abandoned clothing factory. “ Once again, I was bound to something. When will all of this ever stop?” She subconsciously thought before hearing noises not far away from where she was bound.In a daze, she heard Tina and Nathaniel in conversation with one another. She could hear what they were talking about. “ Why have you kept her alive instead of killing her?” Tina was the first to speak and she was followed by Nathaniel who muttered in response, “ This isn’t as easy as you think it is, okay?”“ What’s not easy to do?” She retorted coldly, “ Instead of playing this game with me, why don’t you admit before me the real reason why you’re adamant about killing her?”…“ Why don’t you admit before me that you’re still infatuated with her and that’s the reason why you don’t want her dead?” Alexandrine kept listening in on their conversation and subconsciously thought, “ Those two have been working together all