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GENERAL"And what are you waiting for? Why are you still standing there?" Lexi growled, darting an irritable gaze over Ryan, who was still grinning because of the embarrassment Donald just received.Smiling arrogantly, Ryan folded his arms and took steps closer to her. "How can I leave when I still have an unfinished business with you?" He let out teasingly, swaying a flirtatious gaze over her body, and that nauseated Lexi. Anger ran through her like fire on dried leaves. She snorted, "As long as I can remember, we don't have any unfinished business, Mr. Ryan Middleton. Please find your way to the door. I was busy before you barged in like a stray cat." Expressionlessly, she strolled elegantly to her seat and reclined on it.Ryan chuckled. He was not ready to back down this time. His motive was to gain her attention, and he was going to do that before leaving no matter what she did.Without asking for her permission, he settled on one of the chairs in front of Lexi's table and rested
RYAN"Beep! Beep!!!!!"The incessant ringing of my phone caused me to twitched my face, half asleep, half awake. Who is the bastard disturbing my rest this early morning? I'm not going to forgive whoever is calling me.With my eyes closed, I trailed my hands to where my phone was kept, picked it up, and put it in my ears."Good morning, boss," Gerald's voice rang in my ear, filled with fear and anxiousness.So it was Gerald that has been disturbing my rest? My nose squished, frustrated and pissed up.Finally, I opened my eyes, and I simply said, "Say whatever you have to say and drop your resignation later before the day ends." I pinched the space between my brows."You have to come to the company as soon as possible, boss. The shareholders are about to hold an impromptu meeting and I don't think it's for your good," He reported swiftly and eagerly, causing my brows to crease and my eyes to widen."What!" I spurted out in disbelief. The shareholders are about to hold a meeting behind
RYAN "I am the CEO." A feminine voice reverberated across the room. The unwavering voice screamed of order and authority, causing me to raise my head and glance in the direction of the voice. My forehead crisscrossed when I saw the person standing by the door. It was none other than Lexi, my ex-wife. "Lexi..." My voice trailed with my eyes blinking continually. My gaze darted over Lexi with my jaw dropped. "President Lexi." Other shareholders in the conference room acknowledged, standing up and bowing their heads curtly. Elegantly, Lexi walked to the table, emitting a sophisticated and majestic aura. Stopping in front of the table, she tossed her designer handbag on it. "And why are you disrupting my meeting, Mr. Ryan Middleton?" Lexi questioned in a hoarse and cold voice, putting on a fierce and unfriendly countenance. Stupefied, my mouth opened but no words came out. I was beyond speechless. My brows creased as I was lost for words. I was disrupting her meeting? And she's the
GENERALLexi's gaze was unwavering and determined. She pierced it into Ryan's and deadpanned, "Guess what you did, Mr. Ryan." The gaze was so fierce and intimidating that it made Ryan gulp uncomfortably. He rummaged through his head, struggling to remember what he had done to request Lexi's wrath."Could it be because I claimed Isabelle as...?" His eyes widened when it finally clicked on his head. He returned his stupefied countenance to Lexi, who smirked evilly and nodded."Yes! You dared mention my princess's name with that filthy mouth of yours. And what did you say? She's your child?" Lexi remarked, clasped her lips and burst into laughter. "That must be the funniest joke I have ever heard in my life. I guess you've been misbehaving because you have a lot of time in your hands. You are going to realize that there's more to life than creating nuisance in my company and embarrassing your age around me when you start looking for a job to sustain your family and your lifestyle," she
GENERAL"We are here!" Donald announced, stepping on the brake. Isabelle stood up and glanced out of the window; a beautiful smile was etched on her lips. The glints of excitement and satisfaction glimmered brightly in her eyes."Wow! The mall is so beautiful," Isabelle muttered, grinning.Lexi and Donald shared stares and chuckled. Lexi knew she would like it, so she wasn't extremely surprised by her reaction."You are yet to marvel. Let's step into the supermarket at the mall first," Donald remarked, opening the side door for the little girl to step out. Excitedly, Isabelle descended from the car and leaped into the mall with her mother.Donald had asked to take Lexi and Isabelle out, and Lexi obliged after a brief hesitation and reluctance. On the other hand, Isabelle refused blatantly because she didn't like him and didn't want to choose a man like him for her mother. But when Donald showed her that he was behind and capable of taking care of her and her mother, she took a liking
GENERALThe little girl blinked and took a step backward, her eyes fixed on the strange man's face. Her body trembled as she clutched her fingers on her dress. She gulped hard."I am sorry, sir. I don't want toy again. My mummy will be upset if she doesn't see me," Isabelle fluently let out, her voice shaky.The man's dark lips curled into a sinister smile, sending chills down Isabelle's spine. Looking at the smile, goosebumps surrounded her and gripped her body tightly."You cannot reject my gift, darling. You just need to wait so I can pick up the money in my car. We are already beside the car, aren't we?" He muttered, grinning. With a horror glare, Isabelle shook her head and planned on taking steps backward. However, as soon as she did that, she hit her back against a strong surface, causing her to tilt her head. "Ah!" She gasped in fear when she saw who was behind her. It was a man who had different scars on his face, and his eyes were as red as fire. He had bad intent as he gla
GENERAL"Are you sure she came to this place?" Ryan questioned with a frown, holding his phone tightly in his right ear."Yes, boss. She went in with her daughter and a man." A masculine voice answered on the other side of the phone.With crinkled brows, Ryan heaved, pinching the space between his brows. "Okay then. Continue to keep watch and let me know as soon as she leaves here." He ordered, and the person at the other side shouted in understanding, "Yes, sir."Ever since the challenge between Ryan and Lexi, he has been trailing her and stalking her. He knew that he had lost the battle, and the only way he could take back all that belonged to him was getting Lexi to forgive him and perhaps fall in love with him again.It wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to give it what it takes. He wanted Lexi's love so that he would be able to get back his company, which she took away from him."You will be in trouble if I do not find her here," Ryan threatened coldly and disconnected the call.
GENERAL"You will be in trouble if you lay your filthy hands on my daughter," Ryan warned, his voice lingering in the air and interrupting the action the man was about to make, causing his hands to hang in the air as he tilted his head in the direction of the voice just to see what was happening.The little Isabelle's eyes widened when she sighted the man from the airport. She heard that he called her his child but never ascribed meaning to it. All she wanted was how to save herself from the dangerous men hovering around her. Just to make the plan go smoothly, she joined in and shouted, "Daddy!" For a few seconds, Ryan was dazed by the name Isabelle called her. Different questions ran through his head. "Does she know that I'm her father? Has Lexi told her already?" He thought. To be honest, he found the name he called her with her tiny little voice satisfying and relaxing. He enjoyed it and wanted more of it. When she was still two, she referred to him as "Dada." Thinking about it no
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