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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
GENERAL Five Months Later The thump on the door caused Cinderella and Donald to raise their heads and look in the direction of the entrance. At the same time, the door opened slightly, and Lexi popped her head in, scrutinizing the whole place. When her gaze finally landed on the couple, she smiled and waved her hand. "Hello, mummy and daddy," she mumbled, strolling inside. She was followed by her husband, Ryan, and her daughter, Isabelle. "Lexi!" Donald muttered, walking up to Lexi and pulling her in a tight hug. "You didn't tell me you would be coming when we talked on the phone yesterday," he added, breaking the hug and darting his gaze over her. He was surprised to see her at the hospital. "Yeah! I didn't tell you, but it would be bad of me not to come to see my godson as soon as he was born," she said, sauntering past Donald to where the baby was. "Oh! My little pookie. You look so handsome," she complimented, taking the bed from his bed. "He looks just like you, Cinderella,"
GENERALThe sounds of gunshots reverberated across the building. Jasmine was shot in her legs and was forced to stagger into the fire she just created. Like a flash, the fire spread quickly and engulfed the whole building.Zoe and Emily screamed their lungs out for help. The cops who had arrived at the scene earlier rushed in before the fire could get to the people who were tied. Expertly, they released them from the hold and carried them out one after the other. Fortunately, nobody sustained burns except Jasmine, who fell into the fire. The fire was quickly quenched, and she was saved before she could be burnt beyond recognition. Her face, hands, and legs were burnt like an offering. Just when they thought the storm had calmed, Isabelle, who hadn't revived from her blackout, started breathing with difficulty in her mother's arms. Her chest hurled up and down.Lexi's jaw dropped and her eyes blinked as she looked at the girl in her hands. "Isabelle! My love! What is wrong with you?
GENERAL"What! What are you saying?" Zoe let out a stutter. Her lips shook with her eyes dilating in disbelief. She was certain that she didn't hear right. Jasmine would never say that.Jasmine prodded into her eyes, and her lips curled into a sinister smirk. "You heard me, Zoe Middleton. I still have unfinished business with your son," she repeated herself."No, Jasmine. You promised me. This wasn't the agreement. Don't you even try to go back on your words?" She interjected, "I don't like when you try to act sly. I hate betrayals, and I don't pity them." She spurted out, her eyes revealing anger.Jasmine snorted, unfazed by her reaction. "Well, I lied, Zoe. Feel free to call me a betrayal," she asserted.Lexi burst into a peal of hysterical laughter, throwing her head backward. "Such a fool! You think you are smart. Nobody knows Jasmine better than I do. She is just a desperate attention seeker. You are doomed," she muttered amidst her laughter.Angered and frustrated, Emily walked
GENERAL Ryan's eyes blinked when his sister, Emily, and Zoe, his mother, walked in. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was forced to shut his eyes and open them back, and they were still there. They didn't change. "Mum!!!" Ryan muttered, stupefied. It was as though he had just seen horror. If he had been told that he would be betrayed by his own family, especially his mother, he would have argued blindly. What pushed his mother to this? Zoe and Emily strolled closer to them and folded their arms. "Surprised?" She muttered, and he gulped. "What are you doing, mother? Why are you here? Why are you with Jasmine? Don't tell me you've joined hands with her..." He mumbled, and his mother shrugged her shoulders, asserting his speech. His mouth opened and he scoffed. "What are you thinking, Mum? What is wrong with you? Why would you do such a thing?" He retracted his gaze from his mother and moved it to his sister, Emily. "And you? Can't you tell her that this is wrong? Did you join an ou
GENERALRyan drove like a madman to the spot where he was told his wife's car was found. Getting there, he met some cops doing their work. "Mr. Ryan," one of them called the moment he stepped out of his car. "Did you find any clue? Have you checked the dashboard? Isn't there any CCTV in the street?" He hurled questions at the cops, scared. "The card in the dashboard has been removed. We guess the kidnappers took that with them. And for the street CCTV, we've asked the residents here, and they said it isn't working. It was just there as a camouflage," the cop explained, and Ryan hissed. What was happening? Why did bad things keep happening anytime he was happy? Who would dare kidnap his wife and daughter?He ran his fingers through his hair and placed a hand on his waist. He hated that he was helpless. His child and wife had been kidnapped, but he didn't know what to do. How would he save them? Where were they taken to?* "What! My Lexi? Never!" Mrs. Alexandra's eyes widened when
GENERAL "Please, have your seat," Donald said, pulling the chair out for Cinderella to sit on it.She scrutinized the restaurant they visited with admiration in her eyes. She didn't know where they were going before they left home. Donald just told her to dress nicely. She blushed as she took her seat. He walked to the other side and reclined on his seat. "Welcome, ma'am. Welcome, sir. What would you like to take?" A female waitress walked up to them as soon as they settled.Donald picked the menu and skimmed through it. "Seafood, and a bottle of champagne," he responded, handing his debit card over to the waitress. She took the card, bowed curtly, and left to prepare their order. The seafood he chose was Cinderella's favorite. Soon, the waitress arrived with their orders and arranged them on the table. She returned Donald's debit card. "Enjoy your meal," she said and left.Cinderella's eyes sparkled with hunger as she saw the seafood. The urge to dig in surged within her, b
GENERAL "Finally! You've come to visit me," Ryan's grandmother said, grinning as she went to welcome Lexi, Ryan, and Isabelle, their daughter. "Oh, my Goddess! Is this my little Isabelle?" Grandmother asked, ruffling the little girl's hair. "Hello, grandmother," Isabelle greeted with a smile. "Hey, granddaughter. You've become so big," Grandmother said with admiration in her eyes, and they laughed.Lexi went close to her. They prodded into each other's gazes and embraced each other. Tears brimmed in Lexi's eyes. There was no way she would count her blessings and not count her grandmother. In fact, she would count her twice. She was the only one who never looked down on her despite her poor status in the past. She took her like a daughter and made sure she never lacked a thing. Seeing her again after five years brought back memories, and tears strolled down her eyes. "Thank you for everything, Grandmother," Lexi said with a croaky voice. A lump clogged her throat.Breaking th
GENERALLexi and Ryan weren't surprised by their presence. They glanced at them indifferently, waiting to hear why they were there.Zoe swallowed hard. "Hey, son!" She mumbled with a fake smile.With an emotionless expression, Ryan said, "Why are you here, ma'am?"Her eyes widened. She stuttered, "What... What do you mean by that? Why would anyone ask why I am at my son's house?" She darted her stare over Lexi and threw her deadly and hateful glare. Lexi didn't mind the looks from her. In as much as she didn't step her foot into the house. "I thought I told you not to bring your legs here unless you are ready to repent." Why are you here with the devil you birthed?" He snapped at his mother, fixing a cold gaze at her sister, who was hiding behind her mother.Zoe's face changed into horror. She wore a squinty countenance. "What! Did you just call your sister a devil? What has gotten into you? Has this witch messed with your sense of reasoning?" She hurled questions at him, throwing
GENERALJasmine's step slowed as she neared her hideout. It was evident that she was scared. Perhaps not scared. She wasn't just ready for the drama that would follow once she got to where she was staying. As expected, she saw the man she had been staying with, standing outside and looking fierce.With the way he paced up and down, Jasmine discerned that it wouldn't be a good day for her as usual. He was drunk and exasperated. She was going to get beaten for the umpteenth time. When she escaped the prison some weeks back, she met this grumpy man who offered to help her if she agreed to be his wife. Without thinking, she accepted since she was in dire need of help. And that marked the beginning of her misery. If she was beaten today, she would be sexually abused the following day. Should we talk about the dirty streets and the stinky houses? If she was the previous Jasmine, she would have puked the first time she stepped into his house. "Look who is here. The Almighty Jasmine," The