Vote!
****"I just recalled something.. Hmmm! The flowers are lovely," Richard murmured as he reached the sofa and slumped down next to Ana, who could not help but wrinkle her brow since she could sense the message behind his smile was different. "You are insulting Jackson's present to me, but let me tell you, I like lilies. Giving an expensive present is not always the most loving thing to do for a lady, at least not to me," Ana mumbled, casting an indignant glance at Richard, who nearly burst out laughing as if he had heard the best joke of his life.Richard moved his gaze to Ana, giving her a compassionate look; the wrinkles around his eyes softened as he retracted his grin, "Do you truly like them?" His silky voice sounded naturally soothing."Hmm," Ana mumbled, peering into his eyes, and she felt pulled to his face; his calm expression soothed her tiredness as she observed his hand move closer to her. "Why do I feel like you are alone, like you are lost in a throng, waiting for someo
*****"Emilia, to the best of my memory, you were never forced. You have plenty of time to think about your decision—we are not married yet—and I will not stand in your way. It is still up to you to decide what makes you happy. Do not let your dreams die," Richard stated gently, knowing how much Emilia was putting into this relationship to make it function like a regular one.Unfortunately, Richard was unable to feel that way about Emilia, which caused him to feel burdened by her feelings. At that point, all Richard wanted was for Emilia to be happy, which he was unable to provide."I know he is concealing something; argh! A true shameless man. He has a fiancé with whom he is planning a wedding, and here this man is attempting to impress my madam. Not at all; I will not let that happen!" Sinni said with determination before stepping away from the wall.*Sobbing!Emilia burst into tears because this was the only thing she did not want to hear from Richard, but every time she told him ab
**** "Madam, use caution around this man. Though he has appeal, he is a skilled deceiver," Sinni stated, taking the plate from the table before looking at Ana. Earlier, she grew concerned when she heard a loud shriek from the wooden chair as if it had been pushed violently. By the time she arrived in the dining room, the man had rushed out, his face etched with rage.That is why she reasoned that before his madam became further entangled in this man's trap, she needed to convince madam that the route she was taking was completely terrible."I will be careful if I ever become emotionally involved with someone, and let me assure you that I have no relationship with this man. It is not what you are thinking," Ana said calmly, leaving the seat after finishing her supper. "I can finally breathe comfortably. Ooof! The man has been talking to his fiancée on the phone and acting casually; he even instructed her to back off as though he was not concerned about their relationship collapsing,”
*****"Worry!? What is worrying you!?" Richard asked in a serious tone, as Emilia's countenance indicated fear."Ana!" With a deep breath, Emilia said Ana's name. She was hesitant to talk to Richard about her anxiety, but for some reason, she sensed that he was listening to her tonight, so she used the opportunity to let her heart open. She was also curious about Richard's feelings toward Ana."What did she do?" Richard questioned, lifting his brow and straightening his spine."She has not done anything!" Emilia responded in a nonspecific manner since she was still wondering how to convey this to him."Well, the sooner you complete the matter, the more time will be saved for both of us, so please finish your words or you can skip telling me," Richard offered two convenient ways for Emilia to choose. Although Richard was not expecting to hear Emilia's name, it pushed him to reflect on how Ana had become Emilia's worry.She had a crooked frown and a puckered forehead, indicating her unce
*****Fearing for Ana's life, Richard sped up and drove the vehicle directly to her apartment, without even worrying about the traffic. He was issued a threat to the restaurant, which indicated that someone was keeping an eye on them. Perhaps Ana's life was in jeopardy."Shit!" Like a powerful flood threatening to topple the dam, he was eager and only wanted to get to her as quickly as possible. Because of this quandary, he was unable to consider phoning Ana, nor did he think that by calling George, he would learn whether anything unusual was taking place at Ana's apartment.When his car was turned onto another road, there was a loud screeching sound against the road, and Richard, not caring at all, increased the speed further.On the other hand, Ana was having problems falling asleep since she believed that her life would not be easy in the future because Marx had resumed monitoring her every move and had not taken long to obtain her mobile number.She sat up, let out a breath, and t
*****They were both startled into silence and stopped in their position, unable to determine how to reply. Richard could feel her delicate body in his arms, and the silky skin beneath his hand made him want to caress it. His pulse throbbed like a wildling bongo as his face was attracted to kiss her nape. His entire body was fighting to keep control of the foreboding energy, while his mind had already spiraled into chaos."Ana, your motion is daring, and your skin against my hand is provocative. I cannot think anything but to feel you, and that is not because I was looking for, rather you have given me a reason to feel this way!" The back of Ana's neck hair sprang up as Richard spoke against her nape, his voice pulling at her bones. "Stop saying such ridiculous stuff!" Ana muttered and pushed his face away from her as she moved on him to get off of his lap. Just then, his brazen hand tightened around her waist with the pull that came next, forcing her to knock against his chest. T
*****"I may file charges against you for causing me malicious injury. This on my shoulder does not look like self-defence; rather, it appears like you are conscious of what you are doing!" Richard threatened Ana, showing her a clear view of the bite mark on his shoulder, which had grown red and rather deep; luckily, no blood had come out of it."You are ridiculous, and everything you say is ridiculous too. How dare you kiss me in my house!" Ana yelled, clamping her teeth, her demeanour impatient because she could not comprehend how such a thing had taken place. He literally took advantage of her.Richard said naively, "You are proposing to me that we may kiss again somewhere else," but as he flung the shirt on the ground, a strong hint of cunning flickered in his eyes."You!" her eyes shot anger as she added, "I am not going to let you leave the house with your life." Ana took a pen off the table adjacent to the book she had previously flung at him, and she intended to stab his eyes w
****"You know, some individuals cannot acquire the talent of lying, and you regrettably fall into such a category," Richard muttered, abandoning Ana as he made his way to the couch and slumped on it.Just that moment, Sky approached Richard to sniff, and he immediately began wiggling his tail, which Ana disliked because, according to her, Sky should have barked at Richard, scared him with his teeth, and bit him, all of which Ana preferred, but the boy shamelessly wagged his tail in front of Richard.Richard stretched his hand to stroke Sky's face. "And I feel as though I do not care what you think!" Ana snarled as she stepped down from the table. "You were never kissed before, and I can guarantee that," Richard declared, staring at Ana who froze for a second since his declaration struck on the exact truth Ana had no thought of allowing him to discover, yet he felt it. "Thinking too much leads to confusion, I can see it! Besides, I do not want to waste my time trying to change your
Thank you for reading. Regarding the letters from Mr. Warner: I previously mentioned Richard confiding in Ana about the clot in his brain, revealing that he doesn’t have much time left. Richard's father was aware of this as well. Moreover, he didn’t want to tarnish his mother’s image in Richard’s mind, which is why he wrote those letters and kept them hidden, setting certain conditions. Ana received a letter where her father explained why he accepted the marriage proposal from Richard's father. After being betrayed by Richard's mother, Richard's father feared that if Selena gained control, disaster could befall Richard. To protect his son, Richard's father chose Ana to be Richard’s wife when they were children and conveyed this wish to Richard's grandmother. I didn’t mention the letter Ana received from her father because she never asked Richard for it. She placed complete trust in him and her father's decision for her to marry Richard. She believed that if anything serious were me
****** Ana spotted her mother in the crowd, her heart clenching with a mix of emotions. Despite the hurt and anger she felt towards her mother and those who had wronged her in the past, there was a part of Ana that longed for reconciliation, for a chance to mend the broken relationships. "You're late, the party started long ago," Ana said, her tone tinged with a hint of reproach. Her mother turned to her, her eyes filled with warmth and regret. "I know, Ana, and I'm sorry. But seeing you now, looking so beautiful and radiant, I couldn't help but be filled with pride and joy. You're glowing like a new bride, my dear. I want to give you all my blessings and wishes, and I pray that God, if there is one, will shower you with happiness for the rest of your life." Ana felt a lump form in her throat as her mother enveloped her in a warm embrace. It had been so long since they had shared such a moment, since Ana had felt the comforting embrace of her mother's arms and the familiar scent th
***** The party began with a flurry of guests and media personnel, all abuzz with the shocking revelation that Richard Hill had been secretly married for years. The news was a stark contrast to his highly publicized engagement with Miss Emilia, which turned out to be a complete hoax. "Mr. Hill, this is quite the surprise!" a reporter exclaimed, approaching Richard, who stood among his friends, holding a glass of whiskey. He looked every bit the charismatic figure, exuding an almost godlike presence. Richard smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, I suppose I’ve always had a knack for surprises." The reporter leaned in, eager for more details. "I believe there will be many wedding photos you would love to share with us. How did you manage to keep your marriage a secret for so long?" Richard chuckled softly. "It wasn't easy, I assure you. But sometimes, the most important things in life are worth the extra effort to keep private. My wife and I valued our privacy above all
*****One month later; There was a grand celebration at Hill Mansion, where Richard used to live. Grandmother had already arranged the event for Richard and Ana, so they couldn't cancel the party despite their initial plans. Richard had been bedridden for a month, resting. When he finally decided to take a vacation, Grandmother's request delayed their departure by a couple of days."Ana, what is taking you so long to pick a dress for the party?" Phoebe asked, clearly stressed. Ana's indifference and laid-back attitude about the event were getting on her nerves."This dress makes me feel like a billionaire," Ana grumbled, flopping onto the bed. "It's too much. I prefer a low-profile look."Phoebe sighed, exasperated. "Ana, this isn't just any party. Grandmother has called the media to announce your marriage. Can't you make an exception just this once?"Ana looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "I know, Phoebe. I just don't want to stand out too much. But for Richard, I'll
****** "Are you alright?" Sonia asked Mason, who had just undergone surgery to remove a bullet from his arm. Despite his critical condition, no one had come to visit him except for Selena. "I don’t need your sympathy," Mason replied coldly. "Knowing about my health won’t gain you anything. You can leave." Sonia frowned, feeling hurt by his harsh words. "Mason, I’m not here to gain anything. I was with you the entire time, talking to the doctors and making sure you were okay." Mason’s expression softened slightly, but he quickly masked it with a scowl. "Why would you do that? I didn’t ask for your help." Sonia took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "You didn’t have to ask. I care about you, Mason. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing while you were fighting for your life." Mason looked away, his jaw tightening. "You shouldn’t care. It only makes things more complicated." Sonia stepped closer, her eyes filled with determination. "Why? Why does it have to be complicat
******Ana blushed further, like a young girl who had just felt her heart flutter upon hearing the truth from the man she had taken a liking to."Then who was that girl with you, and why did you let her touch you?" Ana asked, her brow furrowed in displeasure."She was Mr. Warner's daughter," Richard explained gently. "I met with her to discuss the letters from our fathers. Her touching me was accidental. I quickly moved away, worried my body might react again. It wasn't the right time to fall ill," he added with a soft smile."The blood clot in your brain was the reason for this unusual reaction in your body. It was never your disease," Ana revealed the truth to Richard.Richard smiled lightly, causing Ana to raise her eyebrows in confusion. "What’s so funny about what I said?" she asked."Are you hiding something from me?" Ana probed, her voice tinged with concern."No, I'm not hiding anything," Richard replied, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "When I read the letter
******It had been two long days since Richard was staying to the emergency room. Following the surgery, Ana had instructed everyone that he needed ample time to rest and recover, so they had purposefully kept him sedated to aid his healing process.On the morning of the third day, Richard's fingers twitched, signaling the first signs of awakening. Slowly, he opened his eyes, the room coming into soft focus around him. As his vision cleared, he noticed an abundance of flowers surrounding his bed, their vibrant colors filling the room.He sat up with a cold expression, immediately sensing something was amiss. Reaching up, his hand brushed the side of his head, where he discovered a significant chunk of hair missing. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to piece together what had happened.Just then, a nurse entered the room, her cheerful demeanor contrasting with his bewilderment. "Sir, you're awake! We've been expecting this. How are you feeling?" she asked with a bright smile."Wha
*****"Ana," Phoebe called softly, tugging lightly at Ana's hand as she stepped out in her surgical gown."Are you really sure about this?" Phoebe's voice trembled with concern. "What if Richard doesn't even remember you? Do you want to go through with it so hastily?" Her eyes were filled with worry, her brow furrowed as she stared at Ana's face for reassurance."His life means everything to me," Ana said, taking a deep breath. "Right now, it doesn't matter to me whether he recognizes me when he wakes up or not. I'll accept whatever fate has in store for us."Phoebe looked at her friend, noticing the cold, almost clinical expression on Ana's face. It was a look she'd seen before—one Ana wore whenever she prepared for a major work. Ana believed that feelings and emotions had no place in critical moments, and today was no exception."But Ana," Phoebe pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation, "how can you be so detached about this? This isn't just any operation. This is Richard. Your R
"I had very carefully put Ana to bed last night," Sonia said with confidence. "I'm sure whatever happened must have occurred this morning. At the same time, I messaged Jackson and asked him to send you home," she explained, her voice steady. She had left Ana safely in another room before heading over to Mason's room. However, when she returned to Ana's room in the morning, she didn't find her there, which made her think Ana might have left for home. Phoebe looked puzzled. "So, you're saying Ana was fine when you left her?" "Yes," Sonia confirmed. "I made sure she was safe and asleep. I wouldn't have left her otherwise." Phoebe's voice quivered as she spoke, "I'm sorry if I sound judgmental, but I can't shake this feeling that I should have been more careful last night." Tears welled up in her eyes as she fretted over what could have happened to Ana while she was safe at home. Sonia responded with empathy, "I understand. Right now, all we can do is hope and pray for the best." She r