Alexandra LexiI paced up and down the bedroom, skimming at the huge clock that was appropriately hung in the wall from time to time. As I glanced at the clock, I darted my gaze to my daughter, Isabelle, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed and then to the beautiful dinner date setting at the corner of my bedroom with candles lit around the chairs and tables to set the perfect atmosphere for the evening. Carefully, I carried Isabelle in my arms, took her to her bedroom, and tucked her in the bed. A beautiful smile was etched on my face as I stared at her oval white face that looked exactly like mine. She was the sole reason I hadn't gone crazy in this house. She was the reason I have been holding the humiliation and maltreatment in. "Goodnight, darling," I mumbled, pressed a kiss on her forehead as I coated her with the duvet. Afterward, I went to switch the lights off and walked out of her room."He has done it again," I said in my head, nibbling on my fingernails as I struggled t
Lexi"Ouch!' Emily winced, checking her elbow with a squinting expression. Ryan's action halted when he saw Emily on the floor, and my eyes dilated as if I were angry, even though I was only stunned by her act. He darted his gaze over Emily and then at me. With the glints in his eyes, I was convinced that he had analyzed the situation and he thought I was at fault. Scratch that. He was going to put the blame on me anyway."What happened here? Why is Emily on the floor?" He threw a question at me without sparing me a glance. Emily swayed her gaze over me and forced out false tears out of her eyes. "You can just tell me that you don't want to cook today, Lexi. Why did you have to push me?" She cried out in a croaky voice."What!" My brows snapped as I watched the drama unfold in my presence. Emily would become a superstar if she channeled her hateful energy on acting. I almost believed her tears too."Brother, I only came to beg her to prepare breakfast this morning since Auntie Cynth
Lexi"Daddy is so sorry, my cupcake," Ryan let out, running toward Isabelle as I carried her down the stairs. "My angel!" He mumbled, halting in front of me and jerking her away from my arm."Oh my baby!" He chuckled, throwing her up and catching her. He planted a kiss on her forehead and hugged her warmly."Dada misses you so much," he let out, closing his eyes. Dada was the first word Isabelle uttered, and she was referring to Ryan. "You would have come home if you missed her this much. I can't believe you chose that woman over your own." He sent a threatening glare to my side before I could finish my statement, causing me to swallow the remaining words. With my head lowered, I avoided his gaze."Let's go," he ordered coldly, walking toward the door. However, we hadn't taken more than four steps when he abruptly halted. A part of my brows raised in a questioning manner. "Is there a problem?" I questioned, curious and confused, why he stopped walking."I have some harmless advice f
LEXIRyan stepped into the field at the same time, and his eyes darted over Jasmine, who had just fallen into the pool. I don't know if she wasn't a swimmer, but she was struggling to get out of the pool. Or maybe she wasn't really trying to get out. She was just putting on a show. His footsteps slowed down as he was shocked by the scene he met."Oh my! What the hell happened here? Jasmine!" He called, jumping into the pool. He brought Jasmine out, carrying her in his arms in a bridal manner. They dripped with water.As he stepped out of the pool, he glared at me with accusing eyes. I didn't need to be told that he blamed me for everything, even without hearing from me or asking me what happened. How do I let him know that I didn't do it? How do I prove my innocence?"Is this how desperate you are, Wench?" Can you tell me how much more desperate you can be?" He shouted with spite; balls of hatred rolled in his eyes as he pierced them into mine. I felt lumps of tears clogging my throat
LEXI"You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Miss Jasmine Stephenson." One of the cops' voices echoed in my ears, causing me to blink incessantly. I thought I had a problem with my ears."What!" My brows creased and my face squished as I exclaimed. This isn't true. I must have heard wrong, right? I darted my stare over to Ryan, and I saw him standing by the door with no iota of guilt or conscience in his eyes. All I saw was hatred and the thirst for revenge. "I didn't do it, Ryan. I didn't push her. She jumped into the pool herself. I haven't even touched her," I confessed, sauntering closer to him with my hands tightly cuffed. The last thing I wanted to believe was that my husband would arrest me because of his girlfriend. "That girl is in critical condition right now because of you. She is battling with her life in the hospital right now. How can you be this wicked? I gave you an opportunity, and you misused it. Well, I don't expect less from a poor, covetous leech like
LEXI"Grandmother!" I shouted, a smile breaking on my lips as I ran toward her. The tears brimming in my lids flowed out freely."Oh, my daughter! You have really been cheated. I am so sorry," Old Lillian let out, wrapping her arms around me in a warm hug and patting my back soothingly. My emotions got the better of me, and tears slipped out of my eyes."Grandma!" I repeated, stifling back the snots that were planning to follow the tears out. "It's fine now. Nobody will be able to touch you now. Not even my clueless grandson. Wipe your tears, my dear." She whispered reassuring words into my ears, running her hands down my back soothingly. When the emotions swirling within me finally calmed, I broke the hug and pierced deeply into her eyes. "Thank you for coming to save me. I don't know what I would have done without you," I let out truthfully. It was so glaring that I would use weeks, if not months, in here if Old Lillian hadn't come. My husband, his family, and his concubine were s
RYANI couldn't believe my ears when I heard that the woman I loved had kidney failure. My eyes darted between Jasmine, who was lying weakly on the bed, and the doctor who was standing in front of me."What do you mean by she has kidney failure? But she only fell into the pool," I let out. I was just trying to know why she had something so critical when she only fell into the pool."Uhm... Mr. Ryan. Miss Jasmine has been having the symptoms before today, but the way she fell into the pool suddenly caused more harm to her. That was what prompted the diagnosis," the doctor explained, and I could feel anger coursing through my body like fire on dried leaves. To cut the long story short, Lexi, that bastard was the reason My Jasmine had a kidney failure. I am not going to forgive that bitch. She is going to rot in the cell and will never be saved by me."How much do you need to take care of her? I wanted her treated today. Find another kidney for her in an hour," I ordered, suppressing th
GeneralJasmine wrapped her arms around the doctor's neck as their kissing intensified. Jumping, she encircled her legs around his waist, and slowly they moved to the bed, where they made out quickly."Do you think the woman will agree to give you her kidney?" The doctor asked, wiping the beads of sweat that were shrouding his forehead and breathing erratically.Jasmine rolled her eyes, adjusting her hospital gown. She smirked, "It's not like she has a choice. She is so desperate to have Ryan that she is ready to do anything. And even if she declines, Ryan is going to force her to do it. He doesn't joke with me," Jasmine bragged, earning a light chuckle from the doctor."What do you intend to do with her kidney? We both know that you are healthy," he asked in a calm tone."I don't know. Perhaps flush it in the toilet or throw it in the river. Even if I were in need of a kidney, you don't think I would accept a kidney from a pathetic filth like her, do you?" Jasmine scoffed and eyed th
GENERALIsabelle ran out of the classroom when she sighted the chauffeur. "Uncle!" She shouted, running toward him. The chauffeur tilted his head in the direction of the voice and smiled brightly when he saw the young girl running toward him."How was school today, Isabelle?" He asked, holding her hand and taking the lunch box and backpack from her. "It was fine, uncle. It feels good to be in school again," she answered heartily, leaping and reciting a nursery rhyme as they walked to the car.Getting into the car, she hopped into the back seat, and he assisted her to do her seatbelt. Afterward, he went back to his seat to begin the trip.However, before he could do that, Isabelle stopped him. "Excuse me, uncle," she said. The chauffeur's hand froze. He left the key he was about to turn in the ignition and tilted his head to give her the attention she requested. "Is there any problem, Isabelle? Do you want me to do something for you?"Clamping her mouth, she shook her head. "Can yo
LexiDriving into the car park, I turned off the ignition and stepped out of the car. I walked into the elevator, and a ding sound ripped through the air as it reached the floor where my office was located. The moment I stepped out, a loud sound filled the air, startling me and causing me to take a few steps backward. Widening my eyes to look in the direction of the sound, I realized that it was a party popper. Before I could comprehend what just happened, I heard, "Welcome back to work, President Lexi. And congratulations on your recovery," my staff said in chorus, and that was when I saw everyone's faces. Aside from the staff from other departments, the office area is filled with staff from the Presidential Department.My heart tingled with admiration and excitement. I loved that. They all clapped their hands afterward. Donald sauntered out of their midst, holding a bouquet of red roses. "Welcome back to work, Lexi," he mumbled, handing over the flower to me.I narrowed my gaze as
GENERAL"Can you hear me?" Lexi asked again when he didn't answer her previous questions. She stood up and held his arm, her brows raising and her eyes widening.Since he couldn't talk because of the oxygen fixed in his nose, he blinked his eyes and nodded to her question.At the same time, Zoe and Emily ran over and intentionally pushed Lexi away. Thankfully, she was able to maintain her composure with the help of the bed. She knew the two witches were just trying to frustrate her and make her act like a madwoman, but she would forgive them today and deal with them another time."My son!" Zoe called. "Brother!" Emily spurted out, holding his arm. The duo smiled, looking at Ryan, whose gaze was focused on Lexi."How are you feeling?" Zoe retracted her gaze from him and moved it to Emily, "Go and inform the doctor that he's awake," she ordered.Nodding, Emily left the room and returned almost immediately with the same doctor who attended to Lexi. As soon as he saw Lexi, his brows cre
GENERALAnger coursed through Zoe's veins as she heard what Lexi said. It was as though she was slapped hard in the face. Her face turned crimson red with lines of anger scribbled on her facial features. She gritted her teeth and took steps forward. "What! What did you just say? How dare you call me by my name?" She shouted, her veins popping out due to anger.Lexi chuckled nonchalantly, "What was I supposed to call you with? Your daughter's name? Zoe is your name, so I will call you by that. Or... What were you expecting me to call you?...." She paused, raised her brows, and glanced at her quizzically. When she finally thought of something, she erupted into laughter, covering her mouth with her hands, "Don't tell me you are expecting me to call your mother? Oh my goodness! Have you forgotten that you are not my mother? You reminded me many times back in the days," She taunted with her words, ignoring the murderous glares emitting from them. She was less concerned. She loved it. Tha
GENERALLexi darted her gaze between her parents. She found their reactions suspicious and scary. Her mind missed a beat. Has something happened to Ryan? "Mom...? Dad...? Where is Ryan?" She asked again, her eyes dilating in anticipation of what her parents' response would be. She just hoped that it wouldn't be bad news. She owed him a lot. She would have been dead before they got saved if he hadn't intervened and stalked enough time for them. The last thing she wanted to hear was that he was gone. "The doctor said that he was in a more critical situation, and it was only by a miracle that the bullet didn't get to his heart because it was just a tiny space between his heart and the spot the bullet pierced into. He has been operated on and is out of danger, but he hasn't opened his eyes since then," her mother explained calmly. There was guilt in her eyes. Even though Ryan had once maltreated their daughter, they couldn't help but feel indebted to him. It would have been a differ
GENERAL FLASHBACK TO 12 HOURS AGO Ryan sat in his car, resting his arm on the steering wheel and staring at the mansion in front of him. He was contemplating whether to enter or not. He was there to check on Lexi, but he was scared to step in because he didn't know the reaction he would meet. The memory of the humiliation he received at the hospital was still vivid in his head, and he wouldn't want to suffer the same thing again. "You just need to go. Isabelle isn't her daughter alone. She is also yours," he mentally told himself. Shutting his eyes for a few seconds, he sighed and opened them back. Just as he unlocked the door and was about to step out, he sighted Lexi running out of the house with an oversized gown that she clutched to avoid stepping on as she walked. His brows crinkled. Why was she running? Where was she going? She looked like she was in a haste, yet she didn't take a car with her. He suspected something and decided to discreetly follow her to find out what was h
GENERALSilence overwhelmed the atmosphere at the sound of the gunshot. Ryan glared at Jasmine, shocked and afraid. What was that sound? Where did it come from? "Mommy!" Isabelle cried out, her voice lingering in the air with a lot of worry mixed with it. Her voice jerked Ryan out of his reverie, and he looked behind him. That was when he realized what was happening. It turned out that the gunshot that reverberated in the room was real and Lexi had been shot instead. Blood gushed out of her side as she clutched it tightly with her hands. Her body shook. "Argh!" Lexi winced as her body hurriedly wallowed in the pool of pain. An excruciating pang of pain coursed through her like fire on dried leaves. Ryan blinked with his mouth widened, his eyes darkened, and tears rushed to his lids. What! Jasmine really did that...? "How dare you, Jasmine?" He growled. His voice resounded like thunder, sending fears down the spines of Jasmine and her men, but they were smart enough to conceal th
GENERALLexi flinched in fear as she felt a liquid substance splashing over her. Unlocking her eyes swiftly in fear, she was shocked to find Jasmine, standing over her and pouring water over her and her daughter. The craziest part of it was it wasn't clean water, and it was already emitting a stench odor. She almost puked as the horrible smell drifted into her nose. Thankfully, she had shielded Isabelle, which protected her from the water. "What are you doing, Jasmine? What water is this?" She yelled at her, hovering over her daughter. Her voice was shaky and pathetic. None of her words wafted into Jasmine's ears. She didn't stop pouring the water until she finished the one in the bucket. Then, she flung the bucket away. "What do you think I am doing? I am trying to wake you up. Is that a bad thing to do?" She responded to her with an indifferent expression. She was totally not bothered and nonchalant about her actions. "And you think waking me up this way is the best way? How
GENERAL "She is not picking up," Lexi's mother informed with concern in her voice, bringing her phone from her ear and staring at the screen, which was displaying her daughter's name.Mr. Alexandra's eyes skimmed over the clock that was glued at the top of the entrance. It was already 8 pm, and she hadn't gotten back since she left home. She didn't dress extra when she left in the afternoon, so they didn't think where she was going was far. They wondered if she was still with Donald, as she had said before she left the house.Mr. Alexandra picked up his phone and put a call across to Donald, who picked up on the second ring. "Hello, President Alexandra," Donald greeted on the other side of the phone the moment he picked up. For some reason, he found the call surprising, and he was curious. Did something happen to Lexi? It had been days since he last saw her because he had been busy at the office. Since the CEO wasn't around, he had to take over so that there wouldn't be any flop i