****"I am no gentleman, Ana. I am far more deadly than you think. It is only that this is my first experience talking to a female in such a polite manner," Richard grimly muttered, his eyes dangerously narrowing on Ana, who felt her calm nerves stiffen and a powerful anxiety rise in her heart. She attempted to look at him, but she could not because the tone he was using at the time felt too powerful for a normal heart to stand upright.Ana remarked as she started to suture his wound, "You do not owe me, Mr. If you believe that threatening or coercing me would make me listen to you, then you have the erroneous idea regarding me." Her concern stemmed from the fact that the guy remained silent and did not express any discomfort, even though he had not had any anaesthetic or numbing before the stitching.Richard turned to face the opposite side and said, "If you stay stubborn then I will make everything that you would not find humorous.""I am also not a weak girl who would be terrified b
******" Don't fret, Sinni—I am all right. Yes, Jackson is not with me," Ana answered, scratching her brow in frustration as the maid stood in front of her while she was on the phone. It felt as if the maid had been given orders to watch over her."Madam, you do not need to come home tonight because Jackson Sir is not with you," Sinni replied, her voice trembling slightly. Ana had experienced it previously as well, but she disregarded it since she believed she was wrong. However, she felt at the moment that she wasn't sensing wrong- there was something happened with Sinni."I do not think you should withhold anything from me, Sinni. Tell me, what is the matter with you? You are giving me heartache."While she was away from home and unable to ascertain Sinni's reason for being so agitated, Ana questioned with a composed tone to pull things out of her."They arrived, seeking for you," Sinni remarked with a pressured voice, "As Sky and I were strolling outside, several thugs barged out o
****Richard moaned, trying to open his eyes. When he felt the weight against his body, he groaned once again. He twisted his lips in displeasure, opened his eyes, and saw Ana's hand and leg on his torso, her head on his arm, but what made him not push her away was her ethereal face. Richard should have been upset and slapped the person who dared to touch him, but instead, his heart began to pound more loudly."Ana," he whispered softly as if he could not bring himself to be harsh or push her away from him."Hummm!" Anna's countenance turned irritated as if she did not want to be jolted up from her slumber, and her arm around Richard's neck tightened. Richard went through a period of intense struggle. He could not get out of this predicament or keep himself in it since his heart rate was driving him insane.His gaze abruptly halted at Ana's lips, which were the colour of rose petals. There was a change in his breathing also, and a warm sensation spread throughout his body. Richard acc
****Richard was trying to pull the trousers up from his crotch with one hand. While Emilia stood outside, she yelled and began beating on the door more aggressively, "Richard, what are you doing locking the door? Who is with you?"Richard grew irate because not only was Emilia screaming hysterically, but he was also unable to bring up his trousers to his waist with one hand. The other hand was still far too hefty and numb to move around."Let me assist you one more time, but you need someone with you, thus keep that in mind. If you try to move your damaged hand with too much force, the stitches can tear, allowing blood to gush out and triggering the possibility of infection," Ana shook her head in offence since, despite her reservations, she was caring for him.Ana grasped the rim of the trousers with both hands and added, “Push your item in a little with your hand so that the pant gets on top.”The item she was pointing at was his crotch, and it was the one keeping the trousers from
*****"Jack, I am all right! I had left my phone in your car and had no method of contacting you afterwards. Thank God you are uninjured," Ana muttered, massaging Jack's back, his hand tightly wrapped around her as if he was making sure she was all right. Maybe he was still quite terrified after the incident the night before?"I searched everywhere for you, but I was unable to locate you until Mr. George helped me find you and brought me here. He is the one who saved me last night from that gunfire," Jackson said and pulled out his head from the hug and noticed Ana in a red bathrobe which was far from being hers."Oh... This is Mr Richard's," Ana said, catching Jack's gaze on the robe, before continuing, "Hu, last night he was harmed to save me, as a result, my dress was ruined by his blood, thus I used this bathrobe for the night. Now he is alright, how about we leave?" Ana was relieved to see that Jackson was fine and that he had come right on time to pick her up because she just ha
****"Shh... Babe, they will hear you. That girl is quite helpful to you, and you allow her to sleep on the chair. Besides, she informed me that you did not let her remain in any of the other rooms even though this empty villa had plenty of space for her," Emilia said in a whisper, keeping her eyes on Jackson to see if he picked up on any words from Richard, who was not actually expressing his disapproval through a whisper.Richard furrowed his eyebrows when he discovered Emilia had been fed a falsehood by Ana. That girl did not sleep in the chair, but rather on the bed next to him, hands and legs resting on his body. She, too, touched his thing. But he was not going to lie: viewing her sleeping face was the most satisfying thing he had seen since waking up.Her silky skin and cherry lips had gotten into his thoughts and remained as memories. Her steady breathing slammed on the side of his face, jolting his pores and allowing him to experience what it was like to wake up next to someon
*****"Yes, I did forget to mention that. Simply put, I was a little distracted," Emilia remarked, gazing at Ana with intense emotions that she struggled to put into words. She was relieved that Richard's illness was treatable, but how could she accept this with a casual demeanour? Ana was a lady who could touch her fiancé, which Emilia found extremely difficult to deal with."It was surprising to me as well Miss Emilia and I have found no way to have the knowledge why I am the exception, however, I do believe soon there will be a way to cure him," Anastasia said urgently before the woman began making various assumption since Emilia thought every woman went crazy seeing her fiancé."Our family will always be grateful to you," Emilia responded politely, acknowledging that there was nothing she could do except accept the situation as it was. With this news about her son, Mrs Selena would be relieved and hopeful that Richard would recover and their marriage could happen as she had always
****"Jack, there is something you may not have known," Ana began unwillingly since she had no intention of implicating Jack."What?" Jack said, slowing down the automobile."Sinni informed me yesterday that there were several thugs that appeared in our flat, and she identified a face from them, which was Marx's man," Ana remarked, her head pounding violently. She was aware that they would not harm her since they had plenty of opportunities to do that in the past. However, it was also true that being observed by people all the time was also unsettling. In her undergraduate years, she had already experienced a great deal of this. All she wanted at the moment was to live a quiet life without anyone recognising her or pursuing her."What? I assumed he had moved on from you." Jack said, his face tight, that he knew how much Ana had suffered at the hands of the guy, how much she had to live in constant terror, and then that she had some respite after they had stopped pursuing her. Now again
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