11

I then pulled my hair into a loose bun and topped it with a diamond hair clip. I was dressed in a sky-blue costume and sang "Think of Me" from "Phantom of the Opera," with Frank as my audience.

My eyes were captivating and expressive.

When the song ended, Frank applauded and smiled sweetly.

Not bad! Celeste trained you well. In the good old days, you can surely win the heart of a prince!"

"Who needs to be a princess? If I have the option, I'd like to be a reigning queen!" I snapped my fingers crisply.

"Well, our three stepmothers definitely make you feel like a princess." Frank smiled wryly.

I looked down and sat next to my eldest brother. I felt sorry for my three stepmothers.

"Dera, they missed you so much during the last three years. They think about you a lot and have talked to me about you in private."

"What did you tell them?"

"Dera, when you moved out of home and joined Doctors Without Borders, I knew that you were doing that since you were upset with Dad."

Frank raised his hand and gently took my shoulders. He furrowed his brows and spoke with a hint of sadness, "But we can't control our father's actions. Besides, no one in this world is perfect. Even Kalus is not perfect. You loved him for so many years. Weren't you aware of all his flaws after three years of marriage to him?"

My long eyelashes trembled. I still had the cool jade bracelet on my wrist.

The only difference is that you have a choice to leave Kalus, but you can't ever sever the blood relationship with our father. Since you can't cut Dad off, why don't you try to accept him for what he is? Dad loves you so much. His three wives are nice people too. They've kept the house in good shape all these years, and they've been nothing but humble. I can guarantee you.

As a matter of fact, Frank did not know that I had already accepted my three stepmothers two years ago.

Ian dressed Kalus's wound and left the room.

Kalus got a headache imagining Lydia crying, making a scene, and breaking things. Lydia in his memory was gentle and sweet. She would never do anything unbecoming.

He sighed and thought it was only natural for people to change.

However, Lydia was his first love. She shared his darkest and worst times with him, so he was obsessed with her.

Kalus vowed to marry Lydia at all costs.

He endured the pain and signed some documents. Subconsciously, Kalus's eyes fell on the suit that was placed on the sofa.

Kalus stood up and went to get the clothes. He examined them thoroughly.

Although he was about the same height as Frank Denz, his shoulders were a bit wider than Frank's, and he was bigger in stature.

Kalus examined the suit and discovered it was nearer his size.

"How ugly." He despised.

In a few minutes, Kalus wore the suit.

He stepped before the full-length mirror and gave himself a look while stretching out his arms. It was a good fit, and the workmanship was comparable to designer labels.

How would a country girl have such exquisite taste in suits?

There was a knock on the door at this point. Wilma, the nanny of Kalus, came in with a cup of warm milk.

Oh? Young Master, you finally put on the suit the young madam made for you! She will be thrilled when she finds out!" Wilma was ecstatic.

No one in Tideview Manor, apart from Wilma, took Amara seriously. Wilma was Kalus's nanny, brought him up all by herself.

"What did you say?" Kalus was stunned.

Isn't this the suit which the young madam got made for you? I don't think I'm mistaken… The young madam got me to fetch it from a tailor's a month ago and asked me not to tell anyone, saying it's your birthday gift."

'Birthday gift?' Kalus was stunned.

His birthday was still quite far off.

"Wilma, I know you are friends with Amara, but she is not here anymore, so you do not have to take her side now."

Kalus scowled.

"Young Master, I have watched you grow up from when you were a baby. If there is anyone in this family that I have to take sides with, it would be you for sure!"

Wilma walked over and looked at the handsome man in the mirror. The young madam said that it takes a long time to have a suit tailored. She sewed each stitch herself and even selected and designed the cloth and buttons. She is usually busy with household work and can find only a short time every day to go to the tailor's.". That's why she made it a month ahead of time and stored it in her closet for fear that you'd spot it before your birthday." Kalus felt like he had been socked in the chest. He widened his eyes in surprise.

"If you don't believe me, look at the label. It even has your name on it."

Kalus immediately took off his suit jacket and flung it over the sofa as if it had been ignited. "We're divorced. I don't care what she has done for me. You should go back to your room and rest."

"Young Master, why do you want to divorce the young madam? She's a good wife who is completely devoted to you."

"Devoted to me?"

Kalus sneered. "How can she be loyal to me when she fell into another man's arms the moment she left me?"

"The young madam would never do such a thing!" Wilma was startled.

"It takes time to recognize a person's true colors."

Kalus stopped living on Amara. His face reddened with blood. "Why, if she did not love me, did she have to act for so long? Did she think that I would fall in love with her eventually? Did she think that I was a soft touch and that she could take me for a ride whenever?!"

Young Master, I think there must be some misunderstanding. I could tell how much the young madam loved you." Wilma shook her head sadly and went to pack the suit.

"That's enough. Don't make excuses for her."

"Young Master, you will one day regret losing her."

I would have preferred to sleep in, but my biological clock roused me at 5:00 a.m.

Usually, by now, I would have had to make breakfast for the Mikes.

Now I did not have to breathe in cooking odors and fix meals for a large family. I did not have to think about them anymore.

Divorce was great!

I simply tidied up and put on close-fitting sports attire. Then I went paddle-boarding across the lake behind the villa.

The lake was covered with beautiful flowers, and birds were chirping. My slim and elegant figure glided over the still lake, creating some waves.

I had breakfast and washed after exercising. Then I went downstairs, feeling invigorated.

Steven's eyes widened when he saw me on the stairs.

I bound my long hair in a tieback and wore thick makeup today. My skin tone was immaculate, and my eyes glimmered. I wore a long black jacket over a red lace dress that showcased my slim body. My lean and long legs made Steven salivate. 

"Hey, wipe off your saliva." I walked toward him and clicked my fingers. 

Steven's face flushed with shame. "Ms. Dera, you're beautiful today.

"Steve, you're Frank's top secretary. Can't you please stop behaving like a lovesick idiot whenever you see a beautiful woman?" I shook my head in disappointment.

My Rolls-Royce arrived in front of the Zz World Hotel.

The beautiful boss appeared at the restaurant unexpectedly. Although I was a world-class beauty, none of the employees dared to look at me. They were frightened, like mice that had seen a cat. They did not even dare to breathe audibly.

The employees were lectured yesterday and did not dare to slacken at work. The marble floor of the hotel was spotlessly polished, and all the ingredients they were preparing were fresh.

I did the rounds of the hotel, gave some instructions, and returned to the office.

"Steve, I can hold the fort here for the time being, so you may go back to my brother."

"I don't need to go back." Steven said smiling, "Mr. Frank said that I'll be your secretary from now on."

"What?!"

My beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. "Frank said that he has a present for me today. Could it be you?!"

Steven innocently blinked his big eyes and nodded.

I thought, 'What the heck! Frank really has a knack for giving gifts. He gave me a real person!

Seeing that I was silent, Steven panicked a bit. "Ms. Dera, you don't want me because I'm a second-hand secretary?"

I scowled. "That's nonsense! It's what they term as having a rich work experience!"

"Hehe, sure thing. I hope I'll learn a lot from you in the coming time! I won't ask for much, just a higher salary increment!" Steven joked.

"Is money a problem? If you do a good job, I'll make you obscenely wealthy. But if you don't do a good job, I'll make you a third-hand secretary." I rested my chin on my hands and gave a devilish smile with my beautiful red lips.

Steven swallowed hard and quickly reported the current progress of the hotel.

As you requested yesterday, all the bedding produced by Alia Furniture has been changed. We also notified all the hotels of the Zz Group to change bedding within one week."

Here, there was a knock on the door in urgency.