ENGLANDRYANDescending from my car, I strolled into the house. Emily hurriedly sprang up from the couch she was seated on before I stepped in and rushed towards me."Brother, welcome home. I...," She tried to talk, but I tossed the bag I was holding, flinging it over an empty couch, and I quickly dashed over the stairs into Lexi's room.My face fell with disappointment when I found the room empty again. What was I even expecting? Have I really gone mad? Do I expect a woman I mistreated and chased out of my house to be sleeping in her room? I knew that was a crazy thing to ask, but I really wished it happened that way. Every day for the past four years, I have been coming into Lexi's old room, hoping that I would meet her here. It took me six months to accept that I was really worried about her, and it took me a year to accept that I was actually in love with her. Why did it take me so long before I realized? Why does it have to be when I have deserted her and chased her away?Ever s
ITALYLEXI"Thank you for the patronage. Please, do come around next time." The cashier said, handing over the things we picked at the mall to us. I collected it from her and returned a wide smile. With Isabelle's hand intertwined with mine, we trekked home since the mall we visited was just down the street. It was Isabelle who suddenly requested chocolates and creamy yogurt who made us step out of the house at that time of the night.Just as we were about to step into the house, I sighted a bouquet of flowers by the entrance, wrapped with a blue wrapper. A part of my brows creased as I looked outside, trying to see if the owner was around, but I couldn't find anyone."Mum, is that yours?" Isabelle asked, letting my hands go.With creased brows, I shook my head negatively. "No, darling. It's not mine. I don't know who owns it," I responded.Isabelle rushed to where the bouquet was kept, picked it up, and removed the letter from it. Before I could reprimand her for picking up what doe
LEXI"Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent into England. Please turn off all portable electronic devices and stow them until we have arrived at the gate. In preparation for landing in England, be certain your seat back is straightened and your seat belt is fastened." The announcer's voice wafted into my ears, and I obliged, doing what he asked me to do for myself and Isabelle, who was sitting beside me.After what seemed like forever, our plane landed, and we trudged out after clearing our bags and taking them.I shut my eyes and opened them back as I inhaled the fresh air of England, the same country that held most of my memories. I wouldn't say that I had the plans of returning now, but my father's situation forced me to come back. Yesterday, when mom called me again, she told me that his condition is now stable, but the little girl in me wouldn't want to stay back in Italy knowing that her father is in a critical condition, which was the reason I booked the next flight
LEXIStepping out of the airport, we luckily found an empty cab and hopped into it after tucking our luggage into the trunk. The drive began, and a deafening silence fell in the car. It felt peaceful and surreal. I loved every bit of the atmosphere. "Isabelle, I hope you didn't do anything when I left you at the reception." I asked, breaking the silence. I didn't know why I felt like Isabelle shouldn't be trusted. Maybe because she was too quiet and behaved when I returned from the bathroom. That wasn't who Isabelle was. She lifted her head, glanced at my face, and gave me a knowing look. "What do you mean, Mum? Do you think I have committed a crime?" She questioned. I swallowed hard, piercing into her gaze. As I had suspected, the glimmers in her eyes were filled with eagerness, which meant she was hiding something from me."What is it, Isabelle? Say the truth right now. You know very well that I didn't train you to be a liar." I held her hands, looking into her eyes as I muttered
RYANI searched the crooks and crannies of the airport for Lexi and Isabelle but never found them. It was as though they appeared for a second and vanished into the thin air afterward."Maybe they had gone this way," I told myself, hopping into my car."Drive!" I ordered, and my chauffeur started driving. However, I never caught a glimpse of her. My heart twitched. It was as if thousands of hands were squeezing it. "Where are you, Lexi? Where did you go?" I mumbled, sweats shrouding my body like a cloak. My breathing was unstable.After an hour of driving aimlessly on the streets of England, I commanded, "Pull over!" My chauffeur glanced behind me briefly, "Huh?""Can't you hear me, or are you just dumb? I just asked you to pull over. Stop the car, you fool," I yelled, exasperated. And immediately, he swerved his hands to the side and stepped on the brake. The car made a screeching sound before it stopped.I jumped out of the car and scrutinized the vicinity with my eyes. Hopefully,
LEXI"Father!" I shouted, running toward my family, who was already seated on the bed. His pale face had become fresh and alive, and his whitish lips had become plum and succulent. When he gaped in my direction and saw me, his perfectly molded lips curved into a sheepish smile."My daughter is here!" He muttered before his gaze darted over Isabelle, and his smile widened. "Oh my God! My princess is here!" He exclaimed, reverting his gaze from me as he focused on Isabelle. He totally forgot that he was about to greet me, and that almost made me jealous of Isabelle. But I was the one he knew before knowing Isabelle. I am his daughter."How are you doing, grandpa? You were sleeping when we got here yesterday," Isabelle asked in her tiny yet sharp voice.My father ruffled her hair and pulled her cheeks gently. "I'm okay now, my damsel. Seeing your beautiful face is enough to heal me," he affirmed, grinning.With pouty lips, I went to sit beside my mother while I watched Isabelle and my fa
LEXII blinked, uncertain of the suitable expression to make to the surprising revelation and turn of events. The famous Donald Simeon turned out to be the fake taxi driver and the one who sent me a bouquet the previous week. "Lexi, this is Mr. Donald Simeon, the partner who will help you when you become the CEO." My father's voice lingered in the air, causing me to veer around so that I could focus my attention on him."Uhm... Oh! Okay," I mumbled, my eyes flickering continually as my mouth widened. "Hello, Miss Lexi. I'm Donald Simeon, your COO," Donald introduced, stretching forth his hand for a handshake, which I took after a brief hesitation. There was something surprising and suspicious about the attitude he pulled up. There wasn't an iota of surprise on his face, as though he already knew I was the one he was coming to meet. I found it weird, but I shrugged the thoughts away as I shook his hand. "I'm Lexi Alexandra. Please, let's achieve a lot together." I mumbled with a lop
GENERAL"I welcome you all to the most anticipated unveiling ceremony of the Alexandra's Conglomerate." The host's voice reverberated across the hall. Men and women of class and elite families trooped into the event hall, dressed in their best dresses. The decoration of the hall screamed luxury and exquisite. You don't need to be told before you know that they are worth fortunes.Reporters were seated at a side of the hall, clicking their cameras but not moving to the guests because they had been warned to do whatever they wanted in the corner provided for them unless they wanted to be sued.Ryan and Jasmine sauntered into the hall with their arms locked. Their eyes flickered briefly, astonished by what they were seeing. "Fuck! This isn't a wedding ceremony, but it looks heavenly. Just how wealthy is the Alexandra's?" Jasmine gasped, her eyes broadening with satisfaction and admiration. "I made the right choice to be here today," she whispered. "Maybe I can see great Alexandra himse
RYANLike a madman, I zoomed off to Jasmine's house. Thankfully, it was already dark and safer to break the traffic rules without having to pay any fines. I was able to reduce the journey from fifty minutes to thirty minutes because of the speed I drove the car. I dashed out of the car and stormed toward Jasmine's door without closing the door of the car.Impatiently and angrily, I thumped on her door. I could hear a response from inside, but that wasn't what I wanted. I need to see her horrible face and teach her a lesson she will never forget in a hurry.Again, I punched her door fiercely. Another response came, but harsher this time. Just as I was about to knock on the door one more time, the door opened and an unfamiliar face came into view. Her expression was hard, but it instantly became soft when she saw me.For a reason, I could discern that this person knew who I was because why would her expression change the moment she realized I was at the door? But I didn't even know he
RYANI am tired. I am really tired of the constant trouble I have been fighting with ever since Lexi returned to the country. If it wasn't this, it would be that. There hasn't been a day of resting. Either I am dealing with this or with that.Just when I thought Lexi was warming up to me, dirty news was revealed on the internet about us. My pictures and our pictures have been flying all over the Internet, and Lexi didn't want to believe that I wasn't the one behind them. Yes, I wanted her. Yes, I wanted my company back, but I wouldn't stoop so low to do something as embarrassing as that. She didn't believe it. I could see the disappointment and pain in her eyes as she looked at me. The last time I saw this was four years ago when she signed the divorce papers. I could remember those eyes because they had been engraved in my head ever since. "Whoa! I don't think you can ever win her back," Casper let out, taking the cocktails from the bartender who was standing in front of us and pu
GENERAL"Are you sure this will work?" Jasmine asked, worriedly, glancing at the news headline and reading comments under the blog posts. Emily chuckled, "That shouldn't be a question. I am one hundred percent certain it has worked. My brother must be on a hot seat right now," she let out with a dark smirk."I am just scared. What if they find us out?" Jasmine mumbled, tossing her phone on the couch and settling beside it.Emily was shocked by Jasmine's behavior. The lady she had always wanted for her brother wasn't a coward. What happened? What caused her change? "I didn't know you to be a coward, Jasmine. I have always known you to be brave. How would they even find out that we are behind the pictures flying over the internet? They're not going to know, my dear," she explained, hoping to relieve Jasmine's tension.Despite everything Emily said, Jasmine was still terrified. Her heart beat faster and it almost jumped out of its position. She put her thumb in her mouth and nibbled on
GENERALLexi's grip on Donald's phone tightened as she read the news on his phone. The news headline says, "Alexandra Lexi and Ryan Middleton set to walk down the aisle as they got engaged yesterday in Korea." There was a picture of them at the hotel when Lexi was drunk and stumbled over Ryan's body. The angle the picture was taken made it seem as though they were in an intimate position. Lexi's eyes darted between the phone and Ryan. Her eyes darkened as inexplicable irritation swirled within her. It was glaring. It didn't need to be investigated. Ryan was the only person who could gain access to the photos because he was the only one who knew about what transpired between them aside from her. She snickered bitterly inwardly. She couldn't believe that he could be this desperate. This was the same man she had a plan of returning his position to when they returned to England. Meanwhile, Donald was brewing with anger where he was seated. Even though he was trying his best to suppress
GeneralKoreaLexi descended from the cab, wired the money to the driver, and scurried into the hotel. She walked fast as though she was chased by some people. Getting into her suite, she locked the door and rested her back against it. Scoffing, her breath became deep and rapid. She couldn't believe what happened at the hospital."Am I a fool?" She asked nobody in particular, her chest hurling up and down. She let go of the door handle, sauntered to the bed, and collapsed onto it, sprawling with her arms widely spread while she faced the ceiling. Staring blankly, she rested a hand on her chest, and she listened to the way her heart was beating rhythmically.Blinking, she asked rhetorically, "What is wrong with me? Do I have a terminal disease? It cannot be that I am still in love with Ryan, right?" Frustrated by her unanswered question, she hissed and punched the air a few times. She blamed herself for allowing her emotions to take over. She blamed herself for going to the hospital
GENERALPresident Alexandra and Madame Alexandra were seated in the living room when Jasmine walked in, with Mr. Ricardo, his PA, beside her. Mr. Ricardo bowed curtly and strolled away when they got to the living room.As soon as Madame Alexandra saw Jasmine, she stood up and closed the gap on her. "And what were you talking about? What was that shit you were clamoring all about?" She asked, swaying an irritable and hateful gape over Jasmine, who was terrified for a moment when she saw the wealthiest man in the country for the first time. That man—she had always seen him on TV. His aura and demeanor were as strong as it was on V; in fact, it would be safe to say that it was stronger. "Cat got your tongue? Don't you have a mouth?" Madame Alexandra yelled, exasperated that Jasmine didn't respond to her question. "Abigail! President Alexandra called his wife's name, which was unusual of him. The woman's body froze, but she knew what he was trying to imply. He just indirectly told her
GENERAL Jasmine glanced at herself in the full portrait mirror and smiled widely, satisfied with the way she had dressed. Her outfit was perfect for her outing. Since it was more like she was going to a war, it was better she dressed like a warrior. Taking her bag, she wandered out of her bedroom and met Gina on the way. "Good morning, ma'am. Breakfast is ready. Should I serve it already?" She asked, darting her gaze over her. She wouldn't be surprised if her boss flared up at the question. She had become used to her mood swings and her bad temperament. As expected, Jasmine didn't find it funny and growled exasperatingly, "And so? Did I tell you that I'm hungry this morning, or is food the only thing you can think of? Is that the only thing your empty skull could install?" Gina dropped her head and mumbled, "I'm sorry, ma'am. Forgive me, ma'am." She knew better than anyone not to argue with her unless she wanted to put herself in deeper trouble. Swaying an irritable gaze over her
GeneralThe kissing started slow and languid, but as they got engrossed in it, the kissing intensified, and it became rough and aggressive. It was as though they had been denied it for years. Or maybe it was true. They nibbled on each other's lips hungrily, their hands roaming all over one another's body.They both knew it was wrong. Lexi knew that she might regret it. Her brain was telling her to stop, but she couldn't. She just didn't find herself stopping what she had started and tasted. Maybe it was because it had been long since she kissed someone; she found herself craving more as the kissing deepened. She wanted more. More than kissing and touching.She stopped thinking about her regrets. She stopped chiding herself to stop. Since it had happened, she could as well enjoy it to the fullest and just pin the blame on Ryan when they were done. At least she would be satisfied.Her hands moved to his chest, and Ryan's body trembled as her fingers rubbed his nipples, tickling him and
GENERAL "What! Jasmine exclaimed, springing up from the couch. She clenched her hand on the phone she was holding in her ear as anger coursed through her like fire on dried leaves."We are sorry, ma'am. A man appeared from nowhere, and he was crashed into instead of our target." The man on the other side of the phone explained to her, but she wasn't having it. She had been thinking about the task she gave the men in Korea. Her instinct had told her something would go wrong, but she decided to clear her doubt by giving them the opportunity, and this happened. Who was the fool who saved Lexi? Why did she keep getting help anytime she tried to attack her?"You are so incompetent. I am such a fool for trusting you guys with such an important task. I want my money back right now. You have five minutes to refund my money back to me, or else you wouldn't like it if I came to that side myself." She threatened, gritting her teeth and seething with anger. She would have pounced on the incomp